Ezra Taft Benson, The John Birch Society, and the Peace Symbol

[Mike Reed]

New Blog Post explains where ETB evidently got the following idea (about the peace symbol) from:

Have we... "polluted the holy church of God?".... The auxiliaries of the Church are to be a help, not a hindrance, to parents and the priesthood as they strive to lead their families back to God. Do any of us wear or display the broken cross, anti-Christ sign, that is the adversary's symbol of the so-called "peace movement"?

[frankenstein]

opps

[volgadon]

Self promote away, Mike. I'll read it when I get the chance, this subject is very interesting to me.

[Droopy]

As best I can make out, the symbol originated as a feature of the original Soviet "peace offensive" in the late fifties (the "ban the bomb" movement") among western European "peace" groups seeking nuclear disarmament (apparently at the request of socialist intellectual Bertrand Russel, who was at that time leader of the British Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. Many of this group's founders were faithful "fellow travelers" of the Soviet Union and the revolutionary communist project, as it existed at the time, and were proponents (as was the CND proper) of unilateral western nuclear disarmament. The symbol itself apparently made its way here via Bayard Rustin and the early civil rights movement, to the degree that movement also became a part of the anti-Vietnam war movement. Then of course, the burgeoning New Left and later sixties anti-war movement made it a cultural icon.

As to the Birchers, a number of leading 20th century intellectuals, including William F. Buckley, were at one time members. When the leadership of the group moved into extremism, however, (nativism, nationalism, antisemitic etc.), Buckley and others left.

As to the ultimate origin of the peace symbol, I don't know. It may have a much older origin that late fifties Britain/Europe, but I'm not sure what that would be.

So was the peace symbol a Satanic/occult icon? I really don't know at this point. Is it a symbol of evil?

Without any doubt.

[Droopy]

So, is Mike "by this ye shall conquer" Reed about to become Mike "peace at any price" Reed?

[Mike Reed]

So, is Mike "by this ye shall conquer" Reed about to become Mike "peace at any price" Reed?

Ha! You've got to expand your appellation now, eh?

[Droopy]

Ha! You've got to expand your appellation now, eh?

Well, it would have to be expansive, as I'm not sure how one could combine the Emperor Constantine and Code Pink.

[USU78]

You accept Hiss was framed and all sorts of interesting things follow.

[Facsimile 3]

As to the ultimate origin of the peace symbol, I don't know. It may have a much older origin that late fifties Britain/Europe, but I'm not sure what that would be.

So was the peace symbol a Satanic/occult icon? I really don't know at this point. Is it a symbol of evil?

Without any doubt.

The peace symbol was designed by Gerald Holtom originally for the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament in 1958. The symbol consists of a magic circle (which is pretty much the Target logo) with an inverted rune Algiz inside instead of a dot.

Algiz: (Z or -R: Elk, protection.) Protection, a shield. The protective urge to shelter oneself or others. Defense, warding off of evil, shield, guardian. Connection with the gods, awakening, higher life. It can be used to channel energies appropriately. Follow your instincts. Keep hold of success or maintain a position won or earned. Algiz Reversed: or Merkstave: Hidden danger, consumption by divine forces, loss of divine link. Taboo, warning, turning away, that which repels.

http://www.sunnyway.com/runes/meanings.html

[Marmonboy]

I thought it was a combination of the semaphore symbols for N and D, meaning nuclear disarmament.

[USU78]

I thought it was a combination of the semaphore symbols for N and D, meaning nuclear disarmament.

That the originator of the symbol intended "A" doesn't necessarily mean that others didn't intend "B" by it, or that people had reason to accept uncritically what the originator published as his reason for its shape was what was actually intended.

Iconography acquires a life of its own once its sent skipping out into the ether.

In any case, ETB's views were formed at a time when he was a cabinet secretary, receiving briefings on a periodic basis on matters that may well never make it to public view. To assume he was wrong, and to infer therefrom that the Church's leaders, including Prophets, are wrong generally, is to make a leap that is as unwarranted as the little exercise I engaged in above.

Besides, declassified dox from the KGB going on 20 years ago established that not only ETB, but also the junior senator from Manysota were pretty much right.

That doesn't mean everybody who employed the 'peace' symbol meant by it what others did. The SDS president at USU when I was there, enjoying as he did scholies and living stipends from Moscow, probably meant something different from what I when he and I were both there in the college of HASS.

[Mike Reed]

to infer therefrom that the Church's leaders, including Prophets, are wrong generally, is to make a leap that is as unwarranted as the little exercise I engaged in above.

Who has made such an inference?

[USU78]

Who has made such an inference?

Many, many people. Benson's own grandson, for instance, to great effect in the Arizona Republic (over and over and over and over and over again, especially when ETB was Prophet), the Sunstone crew and, to a lesser extent, the Dialogue crew, and various other, lesser lights in that there constellation.

[LeSellers]

to infer therefrom that the Church's leaders, including Prophets, are wrong generally, is to make a leap that is as unwarranted as the little exercise I engaged in above.

Who has made such an inference?

Who knows? However, it is clear that many have implied such a thing. Perhaps not here, perhaps only subtly, but it has, does, and will happen.

Lehi

[Mike Reed]

Many, many people. Benson's own grandson, for instance, to great effect in the Arizona Republic (over and over and over and over and over again, especially when ETB was Prophet), the Sunstone crew and, to a lesser extent, the Dialogue crew, and various other, lesser lights in that there constellation.

They've inferred such from a single example? Really? CFR. A quote or two from those you listed above would be nice. Thanks.

[Droopy]

We now know, as a matter of public record, that Joseph McCarthy, despite his obnoxious personal attributes and misuse of his political powers, was, in the overwhelming majority of the cases of the people he pursued, correct about their loyalties and associations. This included the once famous, but now, to anyone who has done their homework, infamous Hollywood Ten.

President Benson was active in politics in the 1950s, precisely the time when the federal government was quite substantially infiltrated by both indigenous agents of the Soviet Union (CPUSA members) and "fellow travelers", or people sympathetic to the Soviet Union and its ideology, but who remained aloof from official party membership. After everything that has come to light from the Soviet archives, Venona, and other sources (we have the entire Stasi archive for our perusal, the Mitrokhin papers, not to mention other sources), maintaining that President Benson's concern for his country and its security, and the threat posed by the international communist movement headed by Moscow was somehow misplaced, could only be understood as willful blindness to history.

[thesometimesaint]

Yep and Eisenhower was a commie.

Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency?"

[USU78]

They've inferred such from a single example? Really? CFR. A quote or two from those you listed above would be nice. Thanks.

Are you really unaware of what was going on, especially during ETB's final years?

ETB has been the AntiMormon's favorite Prophet, next to JSJr and BY, precisely because of his views on Soviet expansionism and activities in the US through agents, proxies and "useful idiots."

[thesometimesaint]

USU78:

I respect and honor ETB as a prophet of God. I still find his political ideas repugnant.

[selek]

USU78:

I respect and honor ETB as a prophet of God. I still find his political ideas repugnant.

While I respect and honor you as a Latter-day Saint and a child of God, SS, I feel precisely the same way about your political ideas as you do about ETB's.

The difference, of course, is that HIS ideas have proven largely correct, whereas yours.....

Lotsa love, though, brudda

[LeSellers]

Yep and Eisenhower was a commie.

That's unlikely. He was not as scrupulous in his choices of advisers as he could have been, but personally, he was nearly apolitical. It was only because his barber was a Republican that he ran on the GOP ticket. (Or so I've heard.)

Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency?"

What are you talking about?

Either there were Communists in the government or there were not. Since there were, it is hardly a question of "decency", it's a matter of record.

Lehi

[Mike Reed]

Are you really unaware of what was going on, especially during ETB's final years?

I am unaware of any of those you listed above inferring from a single example that Benson, and all other church authorities, are "generally" wrong.

ETB has been the AntiMormon's favorite Prophet... precisely because of his views on Soviet expansionism...

Yes. I am aware of that. I am not questioning this fact. What I question is your assessment that the "anti-Mormons" you listed have inferred from a single example that Benson, and all other church authorities, are "generally" wrong.

[selek]

That's unlikely. He was not as scrupulous in his choices of advisers as he could have been, but personally, he was nearly apolitical. It was only because his barber was a Republican that he ran on the GOP ticket. (Or so I've heard.)

What are you talking about?

Either there were Communists in the government or there were not. Since there were, it is hardly a question of "decency", it's a matter of record.

Lehi

Sometimes Saint is quoting the lawyer who justly shamed Joseph McCarthy during the infamous televised inquiry into whether the Army was a hot-bed of Communism.

Of course, McCarthy's greatest sin was not harassing the Army- it was being right about the Communists far more than he was wrong- as the extensive archives proved after the fall of the Soviet Union.

There's nothing a left Liberal hates more than someone telling the truth about their brothers-in-arms, which is why ETB is so hated even thirty years after his death.

[USU78]

I am unaware of any of those you listed above inferring from a single example that Benson, and all other church authorities, are "generally" wrong.

Yes. I am aware of that. I am not questioning this fact. What I question is your assessment that the "anti-Mormons" you listed have inferred from a single example that Benson, and all other church authorities, are "generally" wrong.

Why else bring it up? LDS Prophet wrong on moonmen = LDS Prophet not prophet and, therefore, all LDS prophets are not prophets and, therefore, LDS Church is a sham. That is the logic of bringing up moonmen in the first place. This is what the Godbeites were saying in the last century and the one before it. That's what the Tanners have been saying for 40 years. That's the point of Sunstone's efforts. Pity that last, as I was one of them early on, and they used to make room for all opinions. Not so any more.

[Chaos]

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