History: What are the different things an upside-down peace sign can mean?
It was based on the semaphore signals for "N" and "D" and used as a logo for the great Nuclear Disarmanent marches in Europe. Then came the "Age of Aquarius." The symbol was embraced by popular culture and came to mean peace.
The peace symbol's association with "hippies" in a time of great social strife and activism heavily influenced the use of "upside down" versions:
- Right wing conservative Christian groups tried to use the upside down version as a statement against the "Generation of Love," claiming their version stood for "The Tree of Life."
- White supremacist groups attempted to co-opt the symbol.
- Anarchist organisations (a contradiction in terms?) favoured the logo.
- Satanic groups saw a Christian connotation in Peter, "the Father of the Church" being crucified upside down and used the inverted version.
- ǝɔɐǝd ou
There are almost no "good" reasons to invert the symbol. The upside down version has been appropriated by pressure groups of all kinds, ranging from fringe to mainstream, each with their own agendas.
1. Life instead of death
2. Existence instead of nonexistence
3. Designer of the peace symbol wanted it corrected in 1958 to "arms up" peace symbol.
4. Tree of Life - everything grows up and out...including you and me.
5. Peace instead of death and despair
6, Semaphore flags U D - Unilateral Disarmament or Universal Disarmament.
7. Matches your other peace symbol...yes, your Hand Peace Symbol. Go ahead and compare it, take a look , side by side.
Thanks for almost answering the other question related to the peace symbol David. Caune and for correcting your posted answer to "almost" no circumstances. Lack of knowledge is the real reason for it remaining the same. I can site 4 circumstances why it should be corrected now...one being the designer of the current symbol Gerald Holtom, admitting to his mistake in 1973 and changing his own peace symbol in 1958 and in all correspondence to friends and family.
On my facebook page "Get Peace Right", i have a photo album called :"Pieces of the Peace Puzzle" full of documents that explain why the symbol is incorrect, and what should be done to correct it. It include excepts from multiple sites and includes excerpts from a book published by National Geographic "Peace the biography of a symbol" and then a video album with even more info...no agenda here except to right a wrong. it's been 58 years now. 8.5 billion people are not aware of this information.
Lets "Get Peace Right" it is not that difficult...turn your symbols over...Lets try it for 58 years and compare the results with last the 58 years... Peace
