Not at all, brother! I'm the one who should be apologizing for going so off-topic about the significance of a religious symbol in the REOlounge, just trying to pick things up since poor Deboodoo can't do it all on her own
Speaking as a bi-racial 'n multi cultural dude currently livin' in Amish country, ya can image I feel where ya coming from.
RhP
No need to apologize, none, ok?
Here's a little blurb form Wiki regarding the ZIA symbol, also New Mexico's flag, and the symbol for the Zia Tribe, here in NM, they are one of the Pueblo tribes, speak Keresan.
The Zia Sun symbol
The Zia Sun Symbol is featured on the
New Mexico flag.
The Zia Indians of New Mexico regard the Sun as a sacred symbol. Their
symbol, a red circle with groups of rays pointing in four directions, is painted on ceremonial vases, drawn on the ground around campfires, and used to introduce newborns to the Sun.
Four is the sacred number of the Zia and can be found repeated in the four points radiating from the circle. The number four is embodied in:
- the four points of the compass (north, south, east and west);
- the four seasons of the year (spring, summer, autumn and winter);
- the four periods of each day (morning, noon, evening and night);
- the four seasons of life (childhood, youth, middle years and old age); and
- the four sacred obligations one must develop (a strong body, a clear mind, a pure spirit, and a devotion to the welfare of others), according to the Zia's belief.
The symbol is featured on the
Flag of New Mexico and in the design of both the
New Mexico State Capitol and New Mexico's
State Quarter entry as well as the
state highway marker. But given its history, the Pueblo would like people to first request permission before using it.
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We Lakota celebrate seasons, dances etc. as part of the sacred hoop(cycles in life), the 4 main directions and such, with
tobacco of course, makes quitting cigs hard. I don't say too much about our native ways anymore, we're trying to close off from Euro-centric culture to preserve what little we have left.
Nowadays, usually last part of June, the tourists who come to see Wiwanyang wacipi (Sun Dance) and H'anblecha(piercing ceremony) and maybe a taste of our magic herbal P---te tea(careful you don't barf) kinda get to see the 'show' we choose to give y'all.
We do have Prairie Wind Casino, there is a god, now we have a casino, legalized scalping. Bring your money, gold teeth, clear titles and negotiable fiduciary paperwork and we'll give y'all a show.
The real thing is only for mitakuye oyasin.
End of December comes Howi wacipi, spirit dance, Ghost dance. Oyate Lakota only. This dance,which was a take-off of a very primitive conception of christianity, led to Dec. 29, 1890. My dad's mother, my grandmother, was one of the 51 survivors of the travesty that followed.
I can imagine living where you do Pat can be more than a bit dicey at times. I know, for me, trying to not live everyone's stereotype of "Indians" is provoking at times. Heck, we're just human beings and that's about it.
Jup! 
