What does the peace symbol represent...

to the Chimp War II supporters? Every other damn car in this little town has a little yellow "Support the Troops" and/or a red-white-and-blue "God Bless America" ribbon decal. Even the local "establishment" Dems sport these. I have put a prominent "Support the Troops...Bring them Home" poster on my back window and am proudly flying the Blue-and-White peace/disarmament flag from my side window. Has the concept of "peace" gone beyond the grasp of mainstream America, or is this a Vietnam thing?

On the first score, I think that people want to believe Bush is doing what's right because otherwise we are so fucked it defies articulation.

Second, if you want one of those Yellow Ribbon Magnets that says More than "Support Our Troops", Come visit us over at http://watchingthewatchers.org/carmags.php

~A!

(Please excuse the yelling, I'm quoting) "THE HIPPIE PEACE SYMBOL IS AN UPSIDE-DOWN CRUCIFIX WITH THE ARMS BROKEN TO MOCK CHRISTIANITY!"
-circa 1984, That guy was an opportunist jerk, preaching on rock music and satanism.

"IT'S THE FOOTPRINT OF THE GREAT AMERICAN CHICKEN" - I heard this in the 70's and 80's mostly - recently a reactionary coot on my bus made that comment on seeing it on a smaller (VW) bus.

I like the peace symbol myself but I bet on the subconscious level most people see it only as a symbol of the 60's. It has long been co-opted by marketers and as usual they have ruined it.

I've been flashing people the peace sign (with my hand) since the election. Some smile approvingly, others look completely confused and a little pissed off and more than I thought have just looked outright mad. As if to say, "how dare she flash the stupid hippie peace sign..." I don't care. I'm going to continue to do it until this war ends and our guys are brought home.

Thanks for the link. I will definitely check it out! :)

http://www.peaceday.org/pcsign.htm




The people who would criticize the concept of "peace" wouldn't spend the energy or thought required to formulate an informed opinion beyond "They make me look stupid. They are bad."

I can't verify that any of this information is correct. As for how they see it. I would suppose they're so wrapped up with the easy to purchase/easy to apply merchandise they don't really think about it. Personally, I got the computer "cling sheets" and printed my own "Support our Troops/ Impeach Bush" sign to stick to my windows.

But here's the history I found on the internet (where else?).

http://www.sims.berkeley.edu/%7Elcush/PeaceSymbolArticle.htm

One of the most widely known symbols in the world, in Britain it is recognised as standing for nuclear disarmament – and in particular as the logo of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND). In the United States and much of the rest of the world it is known more broadly as the peace symbol. It was designed in 1958 by Gerald Holtom, a professional designer and artist and a graduate of the Royal College of Arts.

(snip)
Gerald Holtom, a conscientious objector who had worked on a farm in Norfolk during the Second World War, explained that the symbol incorporated the semaphore letters N(uclear) and D(isarmament). He later wrote to Hugh Brock, editor of Peace News, explaining the genesis of his idea in greater, more personal depth:

I was in despair. Deep despair. I drew myself: the representative of an individual in despair, with hands palm outstretched outwards and downwards in the manner of Goya’s peasant before the firing squad. I formalised the drawing into a line and put a circle round it.

Eric Austin added his own interpretation of the design: "the gesture of despair had long been associated with the death of Man and the circle with the unborn child."


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for the two finger peace sign, I found this blurb. Have to go to link for their embedded links http://www.worldhistory.com/wiki/g/gesture.htm

Peace / "V" for Victory

This is the reverse side of "flipping the bird," made by lifting the middle and index finger with the palm of the hand facing the recipient (and the remaining fingers clenched). It was associated with the catchphrase "V" for Victory in World War II. In the 1960s, it came to be known as the "peace sign," the gestural equivalent of the peace symbol. It was associated with British prime minister Winston Churchill and U.S. president Richard Nixon. The sign also was famously misused by George H. W. Bush in Australia, where he intended to make the peace sign at protesters, but did it the "wrong way" causing great furor in the Australian tabloids. See also V sign.

Half the people I went to high school with wore SANE buttons. Then when the first nuclear test-ban treaty was signed (in '63, I think), the symbol fell into disuse. It was revived by the anti-war movement a few years later and eventually became a generalized hippie thing.