Peace Signs: The Anti-War Movement Illustrated

Rating:
Summary: disappointed
Review: I ordered this as a gift and returned it due to some of the crude messages,foul language and pictures. It's an interesting book to look through but not what I had in mind for a book supporting peace.

Rating:
Summary: A wonderful capturing of the anti-war spirit
Review: There is a certain wonderful energy in the air at anti-war protests. I was reminded of it this past weekend when I attended the protest in Portland to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the illegal US-led invasion of Iraq. (By the standard of international law, yes, the war is illegal.) There's something wonderful about being in a crowd of thousands of like-minded people who oppose war and know that peace is preferable, people who understand that economic gain is behind the invasion of Iraq and that it has nothing to do with "liberating" anyone; see BEHIND THE INVASION OF IRAQ. In the setting of a mass protest one feels a sense of solidarity and resolve that is not always possible in everyday life.

Last weekend while standing in Pioneer Courthouse Square, I looked out at the crowd of thousands and wished there were a way of capturing this spirit in a more panoramic sense than what my little snap camera can afford. Knowing that protests were taking place at that time all over the world, I felt a sense of connection to the international community that I've never felt before. If only I could have a more tangible manifestation of that connection. PEACE SIGNS: THE ANTI-WAR MOVEMENT ILLUSTRATED is exactly what I had in mind! Though there are no pictures of the masses of humanity that formed the historical and international protests over the last year (for such pictures, I recommend 2/15: THE DAY THE WORLD SAID NO TO WAR), the spirit of the protests is preserved in this collection of the most graphic and inspired signs and posters that were held in marches across the globe: Bush depicted as he truly is, a dimwitted man whose finest moment was serving as a high school quarterback; W as the "empty warhead" found in Washington D.C.; a humorous acronym for "The War Against Terrorism" - "T. W. A. T." My favorite poster, however, comes from a German artist in a series called "Make Love Not War" - two naked and well-built models face one another and fondle each other's special places; Bush's face superimposed over one model's head, Saddam's over the other. Very psychologically revealing and accurate, if you ask me.

Long live dissent!

Andrew Parodi

Rating:
Summary: Great Tool for a Protest this Season!!!
Review: This book was passed down to me the night before I ws going to protest Bush in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It has many Posters that relate to any war or Bush protest. The best part is, you can reproduce these images for your own personal use. The posters keep their quallity when enlarging, and the binding is perfect for photocopying. Need a protest Poster? GET THIS BOOK!