I’m sure you’re right. I for one did not recognize it. Though I don’t tend to pay attention to nazi symbols, except the main one… Nazi symbols is not exactly something they teach in schools. You can easily learn about the history while never seeing the symbols.

I have been in the military before, and I understand the brainwashing that takes place. I can understand the team choosing something and the individual not really caring what it means. Even if they understand its history. If he really knew what it meant and was supportive, I would think he would have covered it up before getting into politics. I think he genuinely did not think about it till he was running.

If you look at his Reddit comments, he absolutely does not come across as an “out and proud Nazi”. He clearly didn’t remove his problematic posts, but there isn’t anything that aligns with him being a Nazi. When I listen to what he has to say about his past, and I read the comments he made on Reddit, he sounds consistent and genuine.

When I hear people call him “out and proud Nazi”, I think they clearly have an agenda that aligns very closely with the people that want Collins to win reelection.

Many people educated by the United States school system have a very surface level understanding or knowledge of the Nazi’s, even if 99% is exaggerated I think anybody that has a deeper than surface level knowledge would be surprised how much ignorance a typical American citizen has about Nazi’s, especially symbolism beyond the swastika. It is likely intentionally so given how many Nazi’s were integrated into the US.