Sunday Sampler of Anti-War Ads

[write-light.livejournal.com]

World Peaceways (1930s pacifist/anti-war organization) produced some of the boldest propaganda posters of that era, largely aimed at looking at what had come about in the aftermath of the First World War, including the Depression, and death on a scale the world had not seen before, as well as lasting enmity that was quickly brewing into the Second World War.

The name "World Peaceways" was used in the famous Star Trek episode "City on the Edge of Forever" to represent the pacifist movement that Edith Keeler belonged to.  The story claimed that her peace work would keep America out of the war for too long and thus lead to Germany winning and taking over the United States. Kirk HAD to let her die - because if he saved her (as he apparently had) then all of history would change.



Full size (and very interesting and legible too): 1275x1600

Several others:











A quite interesting letterhead can be found HERE.

While kind of a "Debbie Downer" of the time, they did hold up the truth of war's effects on ordinary people in some truly striking (and for America, quite impressive) ads - back when we had an actual left wing element to our politics.  It's important to remember that this is not "post-war" - the milieu is entirely without awareness of what followed and what was "right" or "wrong" from OUR point of view. Most people adopt a more pragmatic "speak softly and carry a big stick" attitude - try not to fight but fight if you feel the cause is just.  For others, war is just endless death.

Comments

[nyxalinth.livejournal.com]

Considering how veterans have been treated since the Vietnam War, and with spending cuts making things even harder on them, these ads were scarily prescient. It could be that poor treatment of vets has gone on even longer, and I just don't know it. I know these ads weren't just about that: just as a Navy vet they stood out to me the most.

[agirlsgarden.livejournal.com]

These are some of the saddest "ads" I've seen :(

Talk about some hard, uncomfortable truths.

[suzycat.livejournal.com]

These are amazing... and I wonder how such ads would go down today if directed to the "war on terror". I imagine there would be massive massive outrage, Which is funny, considering people think they have more freedom of speech than before...

[gillianinoz.livejournal.com]

Very confronting! And I imagine they must have enraged some people at the time, especially with "The Field of Dishonour".

I really liked where it asked who died in the last war. Not politicians or statesmen or business leaders. I guess that part never changes.

Certainly some of the text could be used effectively today, although in hindsight, calling a war 'silly' was a bit, well, silly. Korea, The Suez, Vietnam, Afghanistan, The Falklands, Iraq, all wars or actions you can argue against - but it's hard to argue with a war that ended Hitler and killed Nazis.

(some Nazis. Not the really rich or smart ones obviously.)

Very very interesting stuff - thank you for sharing!

[pikkewyntjie.livejournal.com]

They don't mince words, do they? Interesting images, too. You could change a few words and place names and update the art a bit in any of these ads and they would be just as relevant today--or any time. Some things never change. They never change.

I also didn't realize that "City on the Edge of Forever" referenced an actual organization. Even Memory Alpha doesn't mention that. I will have to watch that episode again soon. Hey, any excuse to watch TOS! :)

[thudpucker.livejournal.com]

So, in other words, other than ending slavery, Fascism, Nazism, and Communism, war has never solved anything? Is that about it?