Peace, y'all
–Daniel B.
So you though you knew, eh? Maybe so, but you'd be one of the very few.
The traditional "peace sign" is really a representation of semaphore
for "ND" or Nuclear Disarmament. I believe it originated with the British
"Ban the Bomb" movement in the 1950s. I also know that one of,
if not the very first use of it in this country was by Committee for Non Violent Action,
West (CNVA-West) which sponsored a disarmament walk from Point Loma (San Diego)
to the Mare Island Naval Shipyards in Northern California in the summer of 1966. I walked with them
as far as Salinas until I had to turn back to start school in the fall.
So I have a strong personal connection with that symbol. And if anyone gives you some
nonsense about "broken cross" or such, feel free to laugh condescendingly and
then gently inform them.
By the way, semaphore flags straight up is "D" and flags at 4:30 & 7:30 mean "N".
So. I took the positions for "U", "P" and "J" for Universal Peace and Justice
for my Pacifist Nation symbol (collectively, flags @ 9:00, 10:30, 12:00, 1:30 & 3:00.)
The colors, from midnight blue, then pale to bright yellow, represent the dawning of a new
millennium from the dark of night with the promise of that peace and justice.
I really believe it, folks, or I wouldn't put it on the world-wide-web for
the whole world to snicker at. 'Course they will. People are slow learners, but
they get there eventually. And if I didn't believe that I'd just give up
and get a job that pays real money and be one of the snickerers and deserve my
ignorance.
Peace, y'all
–Daniel B.
