'Toy' panda may be result of Nazi plot to destroy Christmas in Alberta

national | miscellaneous | news report Wednesday January 01, 2003 01:33 by Don Domino

A 'Nazi' panda bear that popped out of several 'Christmas crackers' managed to dampen the holiday spirit for several Albertan families over the holidays.

'Toy' panda may be result of Nazi plot to destroy Christmas in Alberta

by Don Domino

Calgary - Some Alberta families got a test in cultural symbolism over the holidays. According to CTV, when the families cracked their “Christmas crackers” at dinner, several of them discovered a little toy panda bear. But this was no ordinary panda bear. This one wears a small “military cap with a swastika-like emblem on it”, and what “appears to [be]… a military medal painted on his chest.” The bear also has its arm raised in what looks like a Nazi salute.

The swastika symbol has been widely associated with Hitler’s Nazi party in Germany ever since they attempted world domination in the 1940s.

Christmas crackers traditionally bring lots of party-fun for dinnertime at Christmas and New Years. Not this year for Lynda Tomilin from Calgary, however, who “was disgusted” when she saw the toy at her family dinner. Taking no chances, she quickly confiscated all unopened Christmas crackers from her family members and guests.

“Of course the girls were saying ‘Can I have one?’ But we said no,” she told the media.

Martin Walpert is president of Walpert Industries Incorporated in Lachine, Quebec, the company who profits from the crackers’ manufacture. He estimates that “no more than 10 swastika-bearing pandas” were produced in the Chinese factory where they were assembled. Still, novelty shops and party stores are removing the product from their shelves, and consumers are being warned about the cultural taboo disguised as a party toy.

Mr. Walpert “intends to ensure it doesn’t happen again”, said the corporate media, but he also defended the incident as a cultural misunderstanding. In Christian dominated society we are accustomed to the swastika symbolizing Nazism and anti-Semitism. But according to many non-Western religious beliefs like Buddhism and Hinduism, the swastika can symbolize prosperity, good luck or other positive meanings. The swastika’s origin is actually from the Sanskrit word for ‘well-being.’

The symbol has found its way into many cultures throughout history, many of them hundreds of years before Hitler tried to take over the world. There is evidence for example that several ancient Hindu, Celtic, and Germanic cultures used the swastika symbol, as did some central Asian and pre-Columbus American peoples.

Still, some believe the toy is inappropriate, especially one Jewish man, who appeared on CTV evening news on Dec 30. He found one of the swastika-bears during a Hanukkah celebration with his family. While he was shocked to discover the bear, he hopes it is just a misunderstanding and not the result of “sinister intentions.”

Whether or not the toy foreshadows another Nazi attempt at world domination remains to be seen. But for now the toys have been recalled, and parents like Ms. Tomilin can rest assured she won’t have to tell her children about the Nazis at least until they are sixteen.

For the CTV report go to: http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1041275598599_67//

Edmonton Journal: http://www.canada.com/search/story.aspx?id=e0d62c89-b64e-4607-84e3-3396107535d5