Any Artists Here? We May Need A Symbol...

[polichick]

I'm thinking about a simple symbol people could wear daily as a small button that is instantly known to mean the wearer won't tolerate racism, sexism, anti-gay bigotry (or any other flat-earth, Christofascist bullshit).

The people destroying this country with fear and hatefulness are fewer in number, but much louder and more active than the majority. Maybe we need to be much more obvious and unified about our opposition to what's happening.

People feel comfortable driving around with huge Confederate flags waving from the beds of their trucks and that's not the only symbol meant to threaten people, but I'm not sure there's one identifiable symbol that says no to today's brand of fear and hatred.

(Unfortunately, the American flag really doesn't do it anymore.)


What do you think?

[calimary]

1. Good point.

I guess the closest we have is the equal sign. But we need something more, I think.

[polichick]

6. There's the "coexist" thing too, but it has to be something...

that directly relates to what's happening right now in America.

I was also trying to think of a known artist who could come up with something - someone like Shepard Fairey.

[Neoma]

2. I'll get to work on it.

[Pathwalker]

3. "Does this hoodie make me look like a hoodlum?"

I want a button that says that. I am a white senior citizen who wears hoodies.

[polichick]

4. I wear a hoodie too - an old gray one that I love.

[Neoma]

5. Loose idea.

If this is a symbol for something else, apology in advance.

[polichick]

9. Interpretation please!

[Neoma]

15. Well the colors can change I guess but it's more about what the shape could be.

The middle is trolls, the red and yellow is our seething hate for them.

[HolyMoley]

12. Military aircraft roundel for Cameroon

Well close, anyways.



Others here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_aircraft_insignia

(Damn, now my eyes are bothering me from looking at all that)

[Neoma]

17. Noted.

[RC]

7. For a button

[polichick]

10. This is interesting but very specific to Trayvon...

rather than symbolic of a broader set of rights being trampled.

Love how simple and bold this image is!

[Cleita]

19. I think it's right on. Trayvon is a symbol for all those things you listed.

[polichick]

20. Would people know you mean women and gays too?

[Cleita]

22. I believe some words are needed too.

Something like "end all intolerance" but maybe less klutzy.

[polichick]

25. Yeah, something like that could work...

That image is striking.

[Cleita]

16. I like this one.

It's also something everyone will instantly recognize too.

[murray hill farm]

8. That is a wonderful idea!

I love it! Pins, shirts, flags! I would want them all! It is an idea that I would like to see promoted. How about giving the idea to Rev. Al, Rachel, Lawrence, etc. and let them come up with something and let them promote it nationally via the media.

[polichick]

11. Thank you. I was just thinking that it would be nice to express...

our support for all those whose rights are being trampled - people of color, women, gays, etc.

But it would be nice if it was a grassroots thing rather than corporate network led - some starving artist could make a name for him or herself and do something important at the same time.

[MineralMan]

13. Rather than a symbol, which won't be universally understood,

why not a campaign to speak up whenever someone does or says something that displays intolerance? Just speak up. We don't do that often enough. The sexist joke, the casual racial slur, and other intolerant speech or actions are pretty common. Often, we hear or see such things and hold our tongues. Perhaps we should stop doing that.

Perhaps we should say, "I can't believe you just said/did that." Or, "That was very intolerant of you. Why did you do/say that?" Or, "Please don't use such expressions/do such actions around me. They make me lose respect for you."

Maybe that's the real answer. Passively wearing a symbol that not everyone recognizes is easy. Speaking up isn't so easy, but it's far more effective, I think.

[arely staircase]

14. This ^^^^ nt

[polichick]

18. I already do that - and get in plenty of trouble sometimes...

Yes, there needs to be a whole lot more of that. Even lefties yell at me for speaking up because it "rocks the boat" - and I do it politely.

Another thing I've thought of is volunteering to be frisked in NYC when you see someone profiled and frisked. (For those of us who go to NYC or live there.)

[MineralMan]

21. I'm sure you do. So do I. I'd like to see more of it, though.

If people are not confronted with their intolerance by others, they feel as if what they think is OK. If everyone who doesn't think it's OK spoke up, it would be much clearer that such intolerance is not acceptable.

Yes, it sometimes causes problems, but those problems are not equivalent to the problems intolerance causes. Speaking up doesn't mean shouting. It's possible to express disapproval without that.

That's the campaign I'd like to start, encouraging people to speak up instead of keeping silent. I think it would work.

[polichick]

24. Reminds me of the campaign to speak up when someone is bullied...

I think that's going through the schools right now.

[MineralMan]

26. Yes. And it works.

If everyone speaks out against unjust things, the message goes out. It's peer pressure. Peer pressure can work for good or ill. It just depends on who applies the pressure.

It can start in the workplace or the classroom. It can begin anywhere, from a cocktail party to city hall. If someone is intolerant, don't tolerate the intolerance. Speak up. Tell that person. Others will join you.

One time, in a crowded McDonalds, a group of older teen boys were throwing fuck and shit around the room. I was there with my wife, and there were families there after church on Sunday. I was annoyed. So, I walked up to the table where the boys were. I said, "Please watch your language, guys. You're being really offensive here." I said it fairly loudly, so that people at tables nearby could hear me. One of the boys told me to mind my own fucking business. I didn't have to say any more. A couple of other guys who were there with their families stood up, came over, and repeated my request that the boys knock it off. They got quiet really quickly, gathered up their stuff, and left the place. Applause followed.

When one person speaks up, it encourages others to do the same. But...someone has to speak first.

[polichick]

28. Try calling some right winger out as a racist - even politely...

in a place with a lot of other right wingers.

[MineralMan]

29. Common sense is always needed, of course.

My answer to being in a place with a lot of other right wingers is to leave.

I wouldn't confront someone in a biker bar, either. Mean drunks can't be reasoned with.

Just use common sense. I'm talking about situations where you can do this safely.

A bar story: I was in a bar, in my USAF uniform. The bar was full of other people in uniform. One drunken Army guy came up to me and said, "The Air Force sucks!" My answer, which defused the situation was to say, "Damn right it does." He bought me a beer. He was looking to pick a fight, so I defused the situation.

[polichick]

31. You'd have to leave a lot of places to avoid right wingers these days...

Even churches are filled with racist right-wingers.

And it's not usually the lefties who are going to say racist things.

Plus, many of the wingers are packing.

It's a different world with different rules for survival, that's for sure. I've always stood up to bullies and always spoken up when I hear anything racist, sexist, etc. But these days I do first think, "Does this guy have a gun?"

[LiberalEsto]

23. The hand sign meaning "fed up to here"

You wouldn't believe how hard it was to find an image of this gesture. This is from an article on American Sign Language gestures.

[polichick]

27. This could be great - simple and bold...

I guess the meaning would have to get around the net.

[Scootaloo]

30. A symbol for anti-racism? Maybe something similar to this...

[polichick]

33. It didn't show up.

[Scootaloo]

35. Should be fixed now, thanks n/t

[polichick]

36. That's pretty cool - maybe a couple of the hands...

could look more feminine though.

[edhopper]

32. Take your pick

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[polichick]

34. Ha! I see your point - but then people will blow it off...

as just politics.

[Coyotl]

37. Peace Man

Just click Images:

http://www.google.com/search?q=peace+symbol

[polichick]

41. Well, as you can see, I'm pretty fond of that symbol...

I'll bet a lot of racist, sexist, anti-gay bigots think they're peaceful too. Their kids might even wear the peace sign on their t-shirts and backpacks.

[Aerows]

38. I envision two hands entertwined

one brown, own white, with a circle of rainbows on the pinkie knuckles, the symbol for women on the next knuckles, the symbol for peace in the middle fingers, and the index fingers have the symbol of justice. The thumbs point up.

Like an entertwined set of hands that believe in the same thing. The symbol could be two thumbs together with the fingers together.

[polichick]

39. That's really interesting - wish I could draw!

[Aerows]

40. Me too

I'm better at writing than even daring to draw.

[Aerows]

42. Kick and Rec