I see this, nearly every week at Mass..

MarieVeronica · #1 Feb 25, '12, 5:42 pm

Adults, teens and children.. wearing this symbol.. the so-called "Peace Sign".

.. and I just have to wonder why it is that people do not seem to know the origins of this symbol.

Parents, especially.. before you allow your precious children to wear items of clothing or jewelry, with this symbol.. please Google it, and do your research!

The origins of this symbol are not good.

I just wanted to put this out there. It's up to you, parents.. to research this thing. Because it doesn't stand for "Peace".

God bless.

**Holly3278** · #2 Feb 25, '12, 5:43 pm

I wonder if it is some sort of "gay pride" symbol or something? I ask because it has rainbow colors in it. Perhaps you have a bunch of gay activists coming in to your church every week wearing these things as a sign of protest. If so, that is extremely disrespectful.

MarieVeronica · #3 Feb 25, '12, 5:46 pm

No, Holly.. it doesn't stand for Gay Pride.. I just happened to pull a multi colored one out of Google Images. I'm not referring to the color of it. But the symbol, itself. It is widely regarded as standing for "Peace".

But if you Google "origins of the Peace Sign".. you will be shocked, at it's history.

I have seen no Gay Pride Activists at my parish. But I do regularly see, young children.. teens and yes, even adults wearing items of clothing with this symbol.

It doesn't mean, what they think it means.. is the point I was trying to bring forward.

Tarpeian Rock · #4 Feb 25, '12, 5:51 pm

The "classic" peace symbol, which I believe originated in England in the 1950's, was a graphic representation of the semaphore signals for "ND" -- standing for "nuclear disarmament." Long before the whole rainbow / gay thing. Anything else is urban legend.

MarieVeronica · #5 Feb 25, '12, 6:10 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tarpeian Rock

The "classic" peace symbol, which I believe originated in England in the 1950's, was a graphic representation of the semaphore signals for "ND" -- standing for "nuclear disarmament." Long before the whole rainbow / gay thing. Anything else is urban legend.

If you Google it, you will find out that it was in "use" before the 1950's. I don't know if I'm allowed to post the links I found, on this subject.

But there were some very "infamous" and evil people.. who used this symbol.. in years past. How it was ever adapted as a symbol of peace.. I don't know.

All I'm saying is, to parents.. research this thing.. before you allow your precious children to adorn themselves with it.

Allegra · #6 Feb 25, '12, 6:10 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarieVeronica

Adults, teens and children.. wearing this symbol.. the so-called "Peace Sign".

.. and I just have to wonder why it is that people do not seem to know the origins of this symbol.

Parents, especially.. before you allow your precious children to wear items of clothing or jewelry, with this symbol.. please Google it, and do your research!

The origins of this symbol are not good.

I just wanted to put this out there. It's up to you, parents.. to research this thing. Because it doesn't stand for "Peace".

God bless.

I am confident that the symbol is indeed a symbol for nuclear disarment. However, even if it has been used to signify other, more sinister messages, it is clear that its current and almost universal meaning is "peace". There's no harm in it.

DeniseNY · #7 Feb 25, '12, 6:16 pm

I googled it. One lone site (which I didn't click on) said something about it being satanistic.

cmscms · #8 Feb 25, '12, 6:28 pm

To the OP just curious but what is it's origins? I tried googling it and nothing offensive came up

CM

anp1215 · #9 Feb 25, '12, 6:31 pm

The peace symbol is on the very first page of "Little Black Book" of Lenten reflections for this year, distributed by the Diocese of Saginaw. It reads: "On this day in 1958, graphic artist and peace activist Gerald Herbert Holtom created the peace symbol. Holtom, who worked with the Direct Action Committee Against Nuclear War, said, "I drew myself: The representative of an individual in despair, with palms outstretched and downward in the manner of Goya's peasant before the firing squad." The symbol made its debut in England over Easter weekend in 1958 during a march against nuclear weapons. It was eventually picked up in the United States where it was used in civil rights marches and anti-war protests. This peace symbol is also sometimes called Nero's Cross, or St. Peter's Cross, depicting the upside down crucifixion of St. Peter."

So there you have it.

Catholic1954 · #10 Feb 25, '12, 6:31 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarieVeronica

Adults, teens and children.. wearing this symbol.. the so-called "Peace Sign".

.. and I just have to wonder why it is that people do not seem to know the origins of this symbol.

Parents, especially.. before you allow your precious children to wear items of clothing or jewelry, with this symbol.. please Google it, and do your research!

The origins of this symbol are not good.

I just wanted to put this out there. It's up to you, parents.. to research this thing. Because it doesn't stand for "Peace".

God bless.

It stood for peace back in the 60's! Just about every Viet Nam War protester wore one.

PerfectTiming · #11 Feb 25, '12, 6:32 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeniseNY

I googled it. One lone site (which I didn't click on) said something about it being satanistic.

There are many conspiracist groups that like to claim it's something more sinister than what it is. Same groups that go on about the Illuminati, New World Order, etc. It's all ridiculous.

jannes · #12 Feb 25, '12, 6:35 pm

The Nazi cross was adap[ted from I believe the Jesuit scross

faithfully · #13 Feb 25, '12, 6:51 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by anp1215

The peace symbol is on the very first page of "Little Black Book" of Lenten reflections for this year, distributed by the Diocese of Saginaw. It reads: "On this day in 1958, graphic artist and peace activist Gerald Herbert Holtom created the peace symbol. Holtom, who worked with the Direct Action Committee Against Nuclear War, said, "I drew myself: The representative of an individual in despair, with palms outstretched and downward in the manner of Goya's peasant before the firing squad." The symbol made its debut in England over Easter weekend in 1958 during a march against nuclear weapons. It was eventually picked up in the United States where it was used in civil rights marches and anti-war protests. This peace symbol is also sometimes called Nero's Cross, or St. Peter's Cross, depicting the upside down crucifixion of St. Peter."

So there you have it.

LOL! I just grabbed my "little black book" to quote it.

Sorry, OP, but if this sign has ever meant anything negative it no longer does.

Kind of like how we Christians have taken the Cross to not be a symbol of evil.

As the execution on a cross was reserved for some major wrong doing. Certainly, our Lord was not deserving of such an evil way of execution.

anp1215 · #14 Feb 25, '12, 6:53 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by faithfully

LOL! I just grabbed my "little black book" to quote it.

Sorry, OP, but if this sign has ever meant anything negative it no longer does.

Kind of like how we Christians have taken the Cross to not be a symbol of evil.

As the execution on a cross was reserved for some major wrong doing. Certainly, our Lord was not deserving of such an evil way of execution.

I saved you the time! haha, yeah, I was like, hey I just read about this the other day...don't think they would have included it if it had any sinister meanings...

Bballer32 · #15 Feb 25, '12, 6:55 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarieVeronica

No, Holly.. it doesn't stand for Gay Pride.. I just happened to pull a multi colored one out of Google Images. I'm not referring to the color of it. But the symbol, itself. It is widely regarded as standing for "Peace".

But if you Google "origins of the Peace Sign".. you will be shocked, at it's history.

I have seen no Gay Pride Activists at my parish. But I do regularly see, young children.. teens and yes, even adults wearing items of clothing with this symbol.

It doesn't mean, what they think it means.. is the point I was trying to bring forward.

In one of the parades in my town, there was this small group of Gays and Lesbians walking with signs and wearing tshirts that had the "Rainbow Peace-Sign"

I think the original origin of this sign is horrible but that people are starting to use it (As Holly mentioned) to promote homosexuality. So, i also think you are experiencing protests.