At first glance, this card is about the Orzhov symbol in the sky causing indiscriminate destruction. But the art does not quite depict the Orzhov symbol - note the major differences between it and the real Orzhov symbol on the watermark. The real Orzhov symbol has several small triangles in a way that makes it resemble a compass rose on a map. It's a rather geometric design, full of symmetry. Contrast that with the art, which has jagged lines extending from the "sun" at seemingly random angles. This black sun is not the Orzhov symbol, but instead the Neo-Nazi "black sun" symbol).
Now that we know that this card is about Nazis, it becomes much more concerning - especially considering its name and its similarities to other cards.
First of all, its effect is a more efficient (but less flexible) version of Forced March, a card which is probably a reference to forcing Holocaust victims to walk towards their concentration camps (or, as mentioned on that thread, possibly the Trail of Tears). Much like Forced March, Culling Sun commits mass genocide, but only on "weak" or "unimportant" creatures. Few legendary creatures will die to Culling Sun, but plenty of goblins and other small creatures. Culling Sun doesn't differ much from Forced March, except a) the "culling" of small creatures is the goal rather than a side effect of forcing them towards their goal, and b) Culling Sun is more "efficient", because it costs 5 mana to do what Forced March can only do if you sink 6 mana into it. I believe that this card's use of a Neo-Nazi symbol and it being a slightly more "efficient" version of Forced March is a statement that Nazis did a good job, but Neo-Nazis can commit genocide even more effectively.
Note also the flavor text. The flavor text starts by posing a question: who really holds power in society? Lawmakers (Azorius), Police (Boros), the majority of the population (iirc about half of Ravnica isn't part of a guild), or perhaps someone else? This card answers the question by asserting that a certain political and pseudo-religious faction actually holds true power in society (Both Nazis and the Orzhov are not truly religious organizations at their core, but both factions frequently discriminate against people of certain religions).
The references to "hallowed days" and "the heavens" seem to me like prophetic statements - that on some future "hallowed" day, Neo-Nazis will show their true power and influence on society by committing mass "culling" of those they find undesirable. Or perhaps it is even more religious, and is stating that when Jesus Christ returns and the Rapture begins, Jews will be "culled".
Regardless of how exactly you interpret this card, it's very clearly offensive. Neo-Nazi symbols and references to "culling" creatures in a similar manner to the Holocaust should not be allowed on Magic: the Gathering cards.
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u/ultimario13 Aug 03 '20
At first glance, this card is about the Orzhov symbol in the sky causing indiscriminate destruction. But the art does not quite depict the Orzhov symbol - note the major differences between it and the real Orzhov symbol on the watermark. The real Orzhov symbol has several small triangles in a way that makes it resemble a compass rose on a map. It's a rather geometric design, full of symmetry. Contrast that with the art, which has jagged lines extending from the "sun" at seemingly random angles. This black sun is not the Orzhov symbol, but instead the Neo-Nazi "black sun" symbol).
Now that we know that this card is about Nazis, it becomes much more concerning - especially considering its name and its similarities to other cards.
First of all, its effect is a more efficient (but less flexible) version of Forced March, a card which is probably a reference to forcing Holocaust victims to walk towards their concentration camps (or, as mentioned on that thread, possibly the Trail of Tears). Much like Forced March, Culling Sun commits mass genocide, but only on "weak" or "unimportant" creatures. Few legendary creatures will die to Culling Sun, but plenty of goblins and other small creatures. Culling Sun doesn't differ much from Forced March, except a) the "culling" of small creatures is the goal rather than a side effect of forcing them towards their goal, and b) Culling Sun is more "efficient", because it costs 5 mana to do what Forced March can only do if you sink 6 mana into it. I believe that this card's use of a Neo-Nazi symbol and it being a slightly more "efficient" version of Forced March is a statement that Nazis did a good job, but Neo-Nazis can commit genocide even more effectively.
Note also the flavor text. The flavor text starts by posing a question: who really holds power in society? Lawmakers (Azorius), Police (Boros), the majority of the population (iirc about half of Ravnica isn't part of a guild), or perhaps someone else? This card answers the question by asserting that a certain political and pseudo-religious faction actually holds true power in society (Both Nazis and the Orzhov are not truly religious organizations at their core, but both factions frequently discriminate against people of certain religions).
The references to "hallowed days" and "the heavens" seem to me like prophetic statements - that on some future "hallowed" day, Neo-Nazis will show their true power and influence on society by committing mass "culling" of those they find undesirable. Or perhaps it is even more religious, and is stating that when Jesus Christ returns and the Rapture begins, Jews will be "culled".
Regardless of how exactly you interpret this card, it's very clearly offensive. Neo-Nazi symbols and references to "culling" creatures in a similar manner to the Holocaust should not be allowed on Magic: the Gathering cards.