Old Bridge student's holiday drawing causes stir
www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20130103/NJNEWS/301030040/
OLD BRIDGE — Township school district officials have apologized to an unidentified elementary school student and the youngster’s parents after the child’s holiday drawing caused a stir.
The 8-year-old child of Hindu heritage drew a tree and a swastika as part of a third-grade holiday assignment at James McDivitt Elementary School in December and “was subjected to traumatic reprimand and racial bias counseling without parental approval,†according to Thomas Kaenzig of Las Vegas, a Raelian guide with the International Raelian Movement.
School officials said the counseling was administered to assure the child that he had done nothing wrong and to let the child know that the swastika is perceived differently by different cultures.
The International Raelian Movement, with about 70,000 members worldwide, includes a swastika in its most sacred symbol, Kaenzig said. It represents infinity in time, he said.
According to its website, Raelian philosophy contends that all human beings on Earth and all of its other life forms were created by highly advanced scientists from another planet known as the Elohim. They used advanced genetic engineering techniques to create human beings in their own image, and they also helped our early ancestors by sharing some of their knowledge.
“The swastika is an ancient symbol of good will for nearly a billion Hindus worldwide, and Middlesex County, where this incident took place, is home to a large Hindu minority,†said Kaenzig, who wrote letters of protest to the Middlesex County and Old Bridge superintendents of school on behalf of the group.
“It’s not the child who needs counseling but the teacher’s aide who complained about the child’s drawing, the counselor and the principal who approved the counseling,†Kaenzig wrote. “They need to know the beautiful, original meaning of this symbol, which can be found throughout the world. For thousands of years before the Nazis hijacked and distorted it, it signified peace, harmony and good luck. And for billions of people, it means those same things today.â€
Although interim Old Bridge Superintendent Timothy Brennan said he could not comment on the specifics of the incident, he said the Board of Education was alerted and the family has received an apology.
“The great challenge of our country, as well as it’s great tradition and great promise, is that we welcome everyone,†Brennan said. “Everyone here can be an American and can live in America, but that does not mean that we are not going to encounter from time to time things that we don’t understand or things we have never seen before.
“Because we have the First Amendment to our Constitution as a foundation to build on and, in this case, a very gracious family and very responsive Board of Education, we feel we can put it behind us.â€
Each year, the International Raelian Movement celebrates Swastika Rehabilitation Day, Kaenzig said.
“We hold rallies to educate the public and assert the right of people everywhere to use this traditional symbol of peace,†he said. “Discrimination against those who use it needs to be eliminated once and for all.â€
Last summer, the group caused a stir in New Jersey when beachgoers saw a small plane flying overhead pulling a swastika banner over Long Beach Island.
“What we want to do is make sure the swastika is fully rehabilitated in the western world so people understand what it truly means for the majority of people,†Kaenzig said. “This will prevent incidents like this from ever happening.â€
The identity of the family involved has not been disclosed.
