By: Deshna
I have been traveling for the last few weeks down in Southern California and I noticed that so many people, young to old, were wearing shirts, bathing suits, hats, etc. with peace signs on them. Now, before I go on, I have to admit that I myself recently purchased a bathing suit, shirt, and a hat that all have peace signs or the words peace on them.
Living in Portland, it is clear that peace is certainly not a new logo or fad- cars, shirts, signs, and houses have been dressed in peace for years here- and I myself have been a big peace fan for as long as I can remember. Often, friends and family members have affectionately made fun of my optimism and "hippie" attitude- calling peace an impossibility. As I watch peace become more and more popular- I have conflicting feelings. On one hand, it gives me hope that the next generation is courageously making a statement, wearing their beliefs, standing up for what they believe in. At Disneyland, there were so many people with peace logos that I found myself wondering if we were possibly going to see another 60's like revolution in my lifetime and my heart surged with the power of numbers. On the other hand, however, I worry that peace in this moment- especially when I go to Old Navy or Target and see all the latest peace-wear- is going to just be a passing fad.
It is similar to how I felt when many of the large production companies started creating "green" products. Like Clorox, for example with their "green" cleaning products. At first, I was excited and relieved to see people waking up to the reality of how harmful and toxic common cleaning products can be. But then I saw that those companies had simply added another product for a certain demographic, rather than decreased their production of their regular products. So, right next to "Green Works" was a shelf full of clorox bleach products. I realized then, they were just getting on the green wagon so they could expand their market, not to help the environment in any real way.
So, are the big companies- you know- the ones that basically run this country like Nestle- for example- just using this peace fad to sell more products? And where are those shirts made? The ones you can find at Target and Old Navy with their proud peace and love symbols- were they made in sweat shops in China? Are they using the same harmful dyes and chemicals that have been polluting our environment for decades? Are they made from cotton that was grown using pesticides- pesticides that are created by the same pharmaceutical companies that create needless drugs- you know the companies that really don't want us to be healthy?? (pharmaceutical companies are the second highest lobbyists in DC and make billions of dollars each year on cancer causing pesticides and pharmaceutical drugs). There is no doubt in my mind that there are very dangerous revolving doors in our country and that the handful of the very wealthy people in our country really do NOT want us to be aware, educated and healthy.
I'm not sure where the peace fad comes into all of this, but I am thinking that though I am on a budget and really can't afford it, the next peace shirt I buy will be from the locally owned shop down the street and not from Target, etc. and that it will be locally made. Or maybe, I'll just find some plain organic cotton shirts and draw my own peace sign on them...
And one final note: I really thought I had voted for a President that believed in peace. I'm starting to wonder if he, too, was just jumping on the peace fad...
Yes, I think because it is the 40th anniversary of Woodstock this year, the fashion industry is reviving the peace fashion. And, I believe companies will use any fad to their advantage and monetary gain (and you're right - the "go green" movement is another).
I bought a peace-love-themed shirt this summer, because the theme resonates with me. I'm glad it is available again! I hope it subconsciously rubs off on people.
Time will tell about the President :-)
Posted by: AllInTheNameOfProgress | August 12, 2009 at 09:57 PM