Social Movements for Peace with the Peace Sign, Its Evolution and Its Effects - Essay Example

?Social movements for peace with the peace sign, its evolution and its effects As centuries unfolded, humans have transformed a primitive earth into an optimally developed one. However, at the same time, the human activities have also resulted in various forms of destructions. Destructions in the sense, in course of history, people segregating themselves into groups or individually have harmed fellow lives, with minimal peaceful overtures. Although, harming and violent actions against fellow human beings are carried out individually in a daily setup, those violent actions are maximally carried out by them under the tag of a particular nation. That is, from early centuries, humans have ‘segregated’ themselves into different territories or kingdoms or nations. Each territory or nowadays country always want to protect its territorial integrity and could also want to 'dominate' other countries. As the race for domination and power intensifies, conflicts, wars and violent actions in various forms are increasing, resulting in destruction of lives as well as properties. Disputes and other conflicting issues, which could be solved through peaceful means, are handled with weapons and wars. Particularly the threat of nuclear war is rising once in a while. In course of world history, these destructive actions of certain humans have been condemned and are being condemned by other sections of people, who want to give peaceful means a chance. There have been numerous movements by many individuals to spread the message of peace through various means. From giving protesting and at the same time peaceful speeches, writing articles, singing songs, etc, to indulging in other non-violent actions, individuals have spread the message of peace. One subtle and at the same time effective social movement to spread the message of peace, particularly against nuclear threat is the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament with the peace sign. Early historical precedents As mentioned above, through the course of history, numerous initiatives were adopted to convey the message of peace, including use of certain symbols. One of the earliest peace symbols is the Olive branch, with Dove being included with it in the later stages. The practice of using Olive branches as a symbol of peace started sometime in the 5th century BC in Greece. In course of centuries, this symbol evolved, with the picture of Dove being added. That is, symbol of Dove holding the Olive branch in its beak came into prominence in 18th century America, and came to be used as a representation of peace in other parts of the world as well. These early representations of Dove and Olive branch as symbol of peace became widespread after it was popularized by the well-known artist Pablo Picasso. After his initiatives, the symbol became even more popular in the post-Second World War period as part of peace movements. Many peace groups and organizations prominently used it, with the organization that was established to maintain world peace, in the post-Second World war scenario, United Nations (UN) also incorporating the Olive branch but without Dove in its flag. Even while, the symbol of Dove and Olive branch were used in combination or singularly as a symbol of peace in various contexts, another symbol was started to be used more prominently as a peace sign particularly in relation to the social movement of Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament Origination and background of the Peace sign The hope for peace is an ideology that is recognized and shared universally across the world, and so this new peace sign, which got originated as part of nuclear disarmament campaign, became a popular symbolic representation for peace. The symbol, created by Gerald Holtom in 1958 was originally created during a time of despair in the designer’s life and was to be part of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, also known as CND. The peace sign was developed by Holtom based on the request put forward by famous writer, philosopher and head of the British campaign for Nuclear Disarmament as well as the sponsor of mass protest in London, Lord Bertrand Russell. Russell requested Holtom to come up with a design that denotes and promotes peace against nuclear armament and which can be worn as the badge by the members of the Direct Action Committee against Nuclear war (DAC), for their march from Trafalgar Square, London and demonstration in front of “Aldermaston (a British research center for the development of nuclear weapons) in 1958.” ("Peace Symbols."). Holtom, a professional designer and also member of the CND movement (which maximally supported the march of DAC), came up with the sign after considering various options including Christian cross symbol within a circle (which was not welcomed by various priests). The symbol is said to be a “combination of the semaphore signals for the letters “N” and “D”, standing for "nuclear disarmament". In semaphore the letter “N” is formed by a person holding two flags in an upside-down “V”, and the letter “D” is formed by holding one flag pointed straight up and the other pointed straight down. “Superimposing these two signs forms the shape of the centre of the peace symbol.” (Rosenberg). This current representation of symbol as of a man standing upside down with two hands stretched was not the original design. Holtom’s initial design had the man standing straight with arms stretched upwards and not as inverted. As mentioned above, he came up with this design in moments of personal despair and that reflected in the design. He once wrote to Hugh Brock, editor of Peace News, explaining how the design got originated as a reflection of his personal despair. “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.” (“CND logo”). It was only little later that Holtom realized that peace is not something that can be represented as a symbolism of despair, instead he felt that peace is something important, which has to be celebrated and so he inverted the symbol, leading to the current version. “American pacifist Ken Kolsbun, who corresponded with Mr Holtom until his death in 1985, says the designer came to regret the connotation of despair and had wanted the sign inverted. “He thought peace was something that should be celebrated," says Mr Kolsbun,” (Westcott). Thus, this symbol, which got originated to denote a man’s despair, became ‘inverted’ and became the symbol of peace against nuclear disarmament, and then in course of time came to be used in various occasions as a symbol of peace. Adaptation and popularization After being prominently used in the Aldermaston protest march, CND adopted it as its logo and is still using it now. The symbol was adapted to small ceramic lapel badges by Eric Austin shortly thereafter Holtom’s creation. Aside from the banners and signs featuring this peace sign, which were carried by that group of protestors, a member of the CND, Eric Austin, made the sign into a badge, by coming up with the “first black-and-white peace-sign “buttons” made from fired pottery.” (Gable).Without patent or any restrictions on the symbol, and expanding from its association with nuclear disarmament, the peace sign became widely recognized in the United States and in other parts, in the hands of peace activist groups. In US, it was first observed during the civil-rights movement in 1960s. Baynard Rustin, a friend of Martin Luther King Jr. and also a participant in the 1958 Aldermaston march, was considered as the likely importer, as he popularized the symbol by displaying it during Civil Rights marches. After being prominently featured during the civil rights movement, the symbol was started to be used by any groups, which wanted peaceful steps instead of oppression and subjugation. It became a part of counter culture becoming visible in various parts of the society. Between 1960 and 1964, huge numbers of the lapel badges featuring this peace sign were sold at many Universities across America. “Mr Kolsbun charts how it was transported across the Atlantic and took on additional meanings for the Civil Rights movement, the counter-culture of the 1960s and 70s including the anti-Vietnam protests, and the environmental, women's and gay rights movements.” (Westcott). It was particularly used during the anti-Vietnam war protests, with that symbol being portrayed on the helmets of the US soldiers on the ground in Vietnam, who morally opposed US invasion. “…though reciprocity is a moral ideal, it is an insufficient one” (Durham 61). The hand gesture version of the peace sign is when one raises and then parts the index and middle fingers while clenching the remaining three into the center of the palm. Originally meaning “V” for “Victory” in Europe during World War II, the hand signal became a symbol for the freedom from occupying forces during the Vietnam War, with many US soldiers photographed showing the hand version of this peace sign. “The sign really got going over here during the 1960s and 70s, when it became associated with anti-Vietnam protests," he (Kolsbun) told the BBC News website. As the combat escalated, he says, so did the anti-war protests and the presence of the symbol.” (Westcott). So, much like the peace sign designed by Holtom, the hand version of the sign became hugely popular in the United States at the beginning of the 1960’s and into 1970’s and certainly has not been forgotten by main stream, popular culture. In addition, it is being used in many current social movements to exhibit the peaceful nature of the movement. For example, in the movements relating to World Social Forum, many persons are known to carry the peace sign. Actually, the World Social Forum has peace as one of its key themes. As Green (217) points out that “Democratic world order, the fight against militarism, and promoting peace” forms a key thematic are in many social awareness marches and meeting of World Social Forum. Thus, it is natural for the marchers to show the peace sign, and this can be seen in the Opening March of the U.S. Social Forum in 2007, “when one black-haired man standing alone on a balcony shyly flashed the peace sign.” (“The Opening March of the U.S. Social Forum,”) The prominent featuring of the sign during the Vietnam War by anti-war protestors, in turn led to some people (mainly the ones favoring the Vietnam war) criticizing the sign as anti-USA and communist sign. In those times also, Holtom clarified how the original meaning of the sign is nothing but peace proliferation. “Various far-right and fundamentalist American groups have also spread the idea of Satanic associations or condemned it as a Communist sign. However the origins and the ideas behind the symbol have been clearly described, both in letters and in interviews, by Gerald Holtom.” (“CND logo”). With the symbol becoming widely adopted as being part of large anti-war movements all over the world, the peace sign soon after became the universal symbol for the word “peace”. Further evolution due to the influence of culture and also how it in turn influenced the culture As the public sphere has progressed, so have the meanings of the word peace, however the signs and symbols have stayed the same. It is not uncommon now to hear someone say: “peace” when they are actually saying: “goodbye” to a friend. The same is used as a way to say: “hello”. In Japan, flashing the “V” sign when someone is about to take your picture is so common, most people don’t even think about their reason for doing it! In the same period as the civil rights movement and anti-War movements, the peace sign was also started to be associated with Hippies and the Hippie culture. That is, in the 1960’s, when the Hippie culture showed its origins, the peace sign become their main symbol, being featured in their clothes, other accessories and even in their faces. Due to their peaceful leanings and their participation in peace campaigns, they came across the peace sign and started adopting as part of their culture in various contexts. They used the sign mainly as part of what they wore including their clothes, headbands, etc. and importantly went to the extent of painting or tattooing the peace sign in their bodies. “It was not unusual to find flowers and peace signs painted on faces for everyday wear. The Hippie fashion style was to exhibit their theories of life by painting it and wearing it on themselves as if they personally were a canvas to express the message and the art of their unique times.” (Woods). Thus, it is clear that peace sign has influenced many cultures particularly the Hippie culture, and with the Hippies favoring peace as part of their daily existence, it evolved and got incorporated into their culture and lifestyle. “Peace, love and understanding were the values espoused and in the undertones in all things connected to the Hippie culture, and that theory of life was best symbolized by the peace sign.” (Woods). This peace sign was portrayed in a negative way by certain sections and that led to further evolution. That is, in 1970, the conservative John Birch Society in its June edition of the magazine American Opinion equated the peace sign to a Satanic symbol, which consisted of a “broken” cross in a upside down manner. Titled “Peace Symbols: The Truth About Those Strange Designs,” the magazine’s “article lambasted the peace movement by associating their symbol with a broken cross, Communism, anti-Christ, and a Satanism.” (Adams). They viewed the symbol as Anti-America, and condemned the way thousands of people particularly youths parading that same symbol as part of peace campaigns particularly during the Anti-Vietnam War demonstrations. To counter these charges, pro-peace sign groups argued that the sign only had noble intentions and to actualize peace everywhere is their only motive to use that sign. In addition, the peace sign became more integral, but at the same time dubious part of culture, when they were used as part of commercial products and services. That is, with DAC and CND never registering or getting patent on the sign, it was used by many sections of the people, and that including businesses including advertising companies, which featured the sign in various products. Although, it promoted the symbol in a more diverse ways, reaching even more sections of the people, its usage in some of controversial products gave it a dubious image. “CND has never registered the sign as a trademark, arguing that "a symbol of freedom, it is free for all". It has now appeared on millions of mugs, T-shirts, rings and nose-studs. Bizarrely, it has also made an appearance on packets of Lucky Strike cigarettes” (Westcott). So, the peace sign has integrated into the culture in different contexts and thereby evolved into different forms or avatar Thus, it is interesting to note how the notion of the word “peace” is constantly shifting due to the context in which it is being used. Whether Holtom’s sign of peace is being displayed on a flag during an anti-war march, a group of Japanese tourists are flashing the “V” sign in front of a camera, or the actual word “peace” is used as either a greeting or fair well, the ideology of harmony is one that most countries and humans seek alike. “While it remained a key symbol of the counter-culture movement throughout the 1970s, it returned to its origins in the 1980s, when it became the banner of the international grassroots anti-nuclear movement.” (Westcott). Conclusion Thus, the original meanings of the peace sign shifted to becoming what eventually would be recognized as meaning “peace”, as quickly as the signs entered into popular culture. With huge anti-war movements taking place all over the world in the 1960’s, people were looking for universal symbols that did not require words that could be recognized without there being any sort of language barrier. That is, after its origination in 1950’s as a symbol of peace against nuclear disarmament, it became the symbol for peace campaigns during civil rights movement, Anti-Vietnam War movement, even impacting the culture and lifestyle of Hippie culture and various other cultures including the Japanese. Although, the peace sign came into the danger zone of becoming a retro fashion item, its usage in anti-Iraq war protests and still being used in Britain as Nuclear Disarmament symbol, it has reemerged to fulfill its original purpose of peace. Works Cited Adams, Jon. “Ezra Taft Benson: The peace sign is “the adversary’s signal.” USU Shaft, 27 Aug 2010. Web. 28 Nov 2011. “CND logo.” Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, n. d. Web. 28 Nov 2011. Durham, Peters J. "Dialogue and Dissemination." Speaking into the Air. US: University of Chicago Press, 1999. Gable, Gene. “Origins of the Peace Sign.” The Nuclear World Project, 27 Feb 2008. Web. 28 Nov 2011. Green, Ducan. Silent revolution: the rise and crisis of market economics in Latin America. Monthly Review Press, 2003 "Peace Symbols." Design boom, n. d. Web. 28 Nov 2011. . Rosenberg, Jennifer. “Peace Symbol - The History of the Peace Symbol.” 20th Century History, n. d. Web. 28 Nov 2011. . “The Opening March of the U.S. Social Forum,” The Progressive, n. d. Web. 28 Nov 2011. http://www.progressive.org/mag_wxld062907 Westcott, Kathryn. “World's best-known protest symbol turns 50.” BBC, 20 March 2008. Web. 28 Nov 2011. Woods, Kate. “Help With Hippie Clothing & Style.” ehow.com, n. d. Web. 28 Nov 2011. Read More