Readers Respond -- Letter writers analyze fashion logos

As the school year comes to a close, I thought I would be able to end

the year avoiding getting involved in potential controversy. However,

after reading the letter to the editor written by Luke Burrett and the

“brief history lesson” he gave (“Silver Star clarifies use of cross,”

June 18) concerning the Maltese Cross, class cannot be dismissed just

yet.

It should be noted that I am of Maltese descent; both my parents

emigrated from Malta after World War II. Consequently, I have been to

Malta numerous times to visit relatives and absorb its unique culture. In

particular, I have visited both the ancient ruins that pockmark the

islands, as well as the more modern (if you call 16th century modern)

cathedrals that have their walls adorned with Maltese Crosses. During my

last visit in 1997, I spent some time at St. John’s Co-Cathedral, where

the modern Maltese Cross originated. Most scholars agree that the origins

of the Maltese Cross began with its depiction at St. John’s Co-Cathedral

in Valetta, the capital of Malta, sometime in the 1570s.

Thus, Burrett is correct about the meaning behind the Maltese Cross,

specifically that it is a symbol of “charity, chivalry, gallantry and

generosity.” However, the cross I have seen being promoted by Silver Star

is not the Maltese Cross. Further, as one who has Maltese Crosses at home

on trinkets brought back from the islands, I find the implication that

Silver Star is using a logo derived from the Maltese Cross for its

inherent historical meaning to be stretching the imagination.

The Rev. Michael Foster, a historic researcher working on a history on

the Order of St. John, defines the Maltese Cross as “a cross made from

four straight lined pointed arrowheads, meeting at their points, with the

ends of the arms consisting of indented Vs.” The cross used by Silver

Star (which I have seen in the front window of their establishment on the

Balboa Peninsula) more closely resembles the Iron Cross, which Burrett

also admits to using on his clothing, in its derivation because the ends

of its arms do not end in Vs, but are flattened out.

Why does Burrett imply that the derivation of symbols used on his

clothing come from the Maltese Cross? Why does he spend so much effort

attempting to “educate” readers on why he is using a logo like it? I

suspect that Burrett is searching for a noble foundation for images he

uses that have been recently interpreted by reasonable, intelligent

people as symbols of hate. While Silver Star may have derived the symbols

it uses on its clothing from the Maltese Cross, its juxtaposition with

other chilling images clearly obfuscates any lesson on the meaning behind

the Maltese Cross.

If Burrett wants to produce clothing that can “be worn with pride and

reflect the company positively,” then use an authentic, historically

accurate depiction of the Maltese Cross, not some manipulated knockoff.

Not only would it be closer to the truth, but the Maltese Community of

Orange County (read: my parents and relatives) would praise you.

PHIL D’AGOSTINO

Laguna Niguel

EDITOR’S NOTE: Phil D’Agostino is a Newport Harbor High Advanced

Placement American history teacher and director of Magellan Academy For

Global Studies.

I’m sure impressed with Luke Burrett’s wealth of knowledge

acknowledging the history of the Iron Cross. He must have got out his

World Book Encyclopedia or surfed the Net for that discourse. If his

jewelry and T-shirt business wasn’t doing so well, he could always become

a historian.

But I have one question: Was Burrett so well-versed on the cross’

distinguished history prior to printing it on the back of T-shirts or was

his intention just to sell T-shirts?

This issue is almost becoming as big as fireworks permits in Newport

Beach, for crying out loud (which it seems a lot of people are, but

that’s for another letter).

With that said, I was in line behind someone at Taco Mesa at breakfast

last Sunday wearing one of these T-shirts, and Burrett’s argument might

have held some sway if Silver Star hadn’t overprinted his company’s

initials, SS, in a completely Nazi-style fashion over the cross in

question. Putting those two logos together certainly seems like an homage

to Hitler and his secret police, but hey, whatever sells, huh?

Kids eat this stuff up, whether they are aware of the meaning or not,

or whether Silver Star meant anything or not.

MIKE MCNIFF

Costa Mesa