atbman

~Wearing balck armbands as a sign of respect for the dead long predates the Black Panther movement, the armbands worn by Nazis included the swastika, so I don't see the relevance, I'm afraid

rvabiker

Doesn't matter what it predates or disincludes. All that matter is conotation. I could wear a swastika and argue all day that it is an ancient hindu symbol. I'm probably still gonna get my ass beat by an orthodox jew. Black arm bands conotate(word?sp?) those things.

Johnny_Monkey

Maybe in America only?

I-Like-To-Bike

Johnny_Monkey,
Do swastikas connote something good where you live in "Λονδίνο"?

Johnny_Monkey

I thought we were talking about black armbands.

Wearing a swastika armband would be considered inappropriate for the purposes of mourning in Λονδίνο.

new_dharma

actually, until the Nazis appropriated the symbol, that's exactly what it connote...something good.

Check out this site , which is just one of many.

new_dharma

what it DID connotate...sorry...bad English this morning...

slagjumper

Black arm bands. Connotations. Denotations. Rah. I think this has been usurped. Too many connotations. Seems like "death" or "loss" is the common meaning.


1) the black armband movement
As a way of expressing our opposition to the illegal war against Iraq
www.furnitureforthepeople.com/armband.htm

2) Extreme "guys" from broken back mountain.
www.roguedenim.com/Black_Denim.htm

3) Calvin Coolidge, full-length portrait, seated at desk, facing front, holding pen and paper, wearing black armband in mourning for President Harding
https://www.americaslibrary.gov/jb/ja...lidge_1_e.html

4) Zimbabwe's cricketers protest loss of demacracy.
https://www.theage.com.au/articles/20...725740786.html


5) Jordan wears black armband to "support the worldwide resistance"
https://www.infoshop.org/inews/articl.../09/27/4064490

6) Robbie McEwen wears a black armband
https://www.abc.net.au/reslib/200507/r53127_143209.jpg

rvabiker

I believe you are confusing conotation and denotation. While the swastika may denote a good thing to hindue it will always have a evil connotation.

rvabiker

Too bad those people I pass on the street won't have the luxery of looking up the meaning of a black armband before labling me as a disedent instead of noticing my solidarity for a fallen comrade.

Johnny_Monkey

I don't think anyone is forcing you to wear one.

Maybe you shouldn't wear one if you feel this strongly about it.

atbman

Where on earth did you get the idea that wearing a black armband will get you mistaken for a Nazi or a Black Panther? It is, throughout the Western world, a universally recognised symbol of shared grief/respect for the recently dead.

I repeat, the Nazi armband included the swastika. A black armband without a swastika does not indicate sympathy with, nor membership of, any fascist organisation.

However, if you know that your ride takes you past idiots who believe otherwise, then feel free to hang it from your handlebars, stem, seat pillar or whatever.

slagjumper

I think that there are too many connotations of a black arm band for it to stand for any particular thing. Black arm band denotes black arm band. I would not think "NAZI" without more signs, like evident racist attitudes, or swastikas.

I think that it is a fine way to show solidarity for a fallen person of importance. Since there are so many connotations it would probably evoke questions and then more people would know the reason.

Could also use a crimson colored Lance band.

Keith99

A black armband has long been and still primarilly is a sign of mourning/respect for a dead friend. Almost all other uses in western culture (look at those sited in previous posts) make use of that symbolism.

michaelbriscoe

Hello from England. I'll be wearing a black armband tomorrow (Sunday) when I go on my ride. It's a mark of respect for fallen cycling comrades...the rest is bull****. The guys were from a Welsh cycling club. Since it happened, there's been a lot more respect to cyclists from drivers...but I doubt it will last!

cc_rider

Update on the BBC website
https://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales...st/4629484.stm

royalflash

so the usual hand wringing and back to business as usual

bluebottle1

My thoughts, exactly. Shouldn't any definition of what constitutes a "safe speed" take into account weather and road conditions? A road that is not dangerous in warm, clear, dry weather may be dangerous in cold, icy conditions.

scottmorrison99

I'm not Nazi, Black Panther, nor Hindi, only another cyclist. I will wear a black armband tomorrow in solidarity with our lost fellow cyclists. That's all the armband represents. A simple symbol of respect, as many previous posters have mentioned.