Happy birthday, peace sign

The peace sign turned 50 yesterday. It was unveiled April 4, 1958 at a British ban-the bomb rally.

As the images at right show, the peace sign has become so iconic because it has adapted and expanded far beyond its original message. Greenpeace and others, of course, starting from the first Earth Day, have incorporated it into environmentalism, which does have a similar theme, in essence — be at peace with nature.

The peace sign, of course, came of age with the Vietnam War. So did environmentalism, and, so did many other movements. From peace activitism, through environmentalism, the peace sign gained credence as a symbol of protest, and a symbol of empowerment.

From there, it’s gone elsewhere, such as into gay/lesbian rights, as shows by the “equality” peace sign. It’s a call for peace rather than discrimination or persecution.

So, peace on and peace out.

Fight the power that be, but on the 40th anniversary of April 4, 1968, fight peacefully.