Can the word “totem” be used as both a respectful and troublesome symbol?

Solution 1:

I believe the writer meant token:

Something serving as an indication, proof, or expression of something else; a sign. (AHDEL)

Googling a totem of the problem yields only one result (repeatedly): that sentence about Hillary Clinton.

Googling a totum of the yields: otter, Mother, Northwest, United States, tree, group, horned god, great blue heron, goddess, emperor, modern age, and other similarly appropriate results. So I think it's safe to say "No, it shouldn't be used that way."

I did find this sentence, which confirms your suspicion:

His contract looked like a millstone rather than a totem of the Angels' revival as they slogged through two disappointing seasons. - New York Times, Oct 1, 2014.

Edited to add: The article starts by describing a stamp, a rubber stamp, of the words “Document Produced To Independent Counsel” (meaning the documents were turned over to an investigating body). This stamp is an emblem, a token, a sign... and it might have been a clever phrase, considering a token is also

A piece of stamped metal used as a substitute for currency: subway tokens.

Solution 2:

Note - as Medica has identified it's simply an error for "token".

There's nothing more to it.

Regarding "totems" (just for the hell of it...)

ie, providing answers to the other questions you ask...

Yoichi, I feel

(a) that is an extremely poor use of the word "totem".

{What word to use there in that sentence? It's not a "symbol" and has no connection to "symbol". Really the sentence should say something like: "... an example of the type of problem which has ...". Another typical phrase is "it's the prime example of the sort of problems...". For example, it would be completely strange to say "the 500SL is a totem of Mercedes cars," because, the "500SL" is not in any way a "totem" (symbol, monument) - it's just, literally, "one of the cars!" There's utterly no connection to symbol, monument, marker, etc. A "totem," "monument" or "symbol" of Mercedes cars might be something like -- oh -- their famous headquarters building, or indeed the three-pointed logo they use. It's nonsensical to describe "a thing", one of the things in question, as a "totem" or other symbol-related concept.}

(b) regarding your question, can "totem" be used in both a negative and positive conversation?

The answer is sure, absolutely.

"I was under impression that the word, “totem” is basically used as a respectable symbol in positive way."

Not really, no. You know what an actual totem pole is in native Americas culture...

(It can also be any other "totem" object, particularly associated with concepts like "shamans" and so on in native cultures. I'm sure you've read up on this.)

If you're going to use the word figuratively, one would use it based on what a totem is. So, exactly as in the defintion you quote, it's something (an artefact) of powerful spiritual or perhaps religious symbolism, which particularly (say) brings a group together.

Negative examples abound: I believe the Nazis before WW2 made a "totem" of some particular blood-stained flag from an incident where some nazis got killed in a street protest. And positive examples abound, you could say, oh, the new Apple building has become a real totem of their corporate drive, or whatever. (Proving that totems can look totally stupid :) )

In short (a) the example is a very bad use of the word. (b) in answer to your other question, you could certainly talk of the concept in either a very positive or very negative setting.

{Looking at the original "totemic objects" in sundry native societies around the world .. think of some object the "shaman or with doctor uses" .. I would imagine that very much, sometimes those were essentially evil or entirely bad and/or warlike! Perhaps being the "totem" for something like "our ability to slaughter that damned tribe over the hill!" ... sort of thing. As opposed to the more positive and cuddly "our totem pole gives us energy to grow fantastic corn together!" vibe.}