In the world today, the peace sign is seen everywhere.

Its seen on t-shirts and bracelets, its popular with tattoos and graphic design, even spray painted on stop signs. The simple sign has really become an icon, a common symbol in this time period. With the growing popularity of the sign, one might wonder how many people actually support peace, or if it is just used as a fashion statement. If the sign promotes peace, why isnt the world filled with less violence? Or is the real problem that humans as a whole dont really know what peace or the peace sign really signifies? Peace: A five letter word, one single syllable. Most people wouldnt think peace is a very complex word with a deep background. However, most people are misinformed of the true meaning. Peace originated from the Latin pax, meaning freedom from civil disorder. The English word came into common use in various personal greetings from 1300 as a translation of the Hebrew word shalom. Through this translation, multiple other meanings come about, including justice, good health, safety, well-being, prosperity, equity, security, good fortune, and friendliness. Today peace is defined more commonly as a state of harmony characterized by the lack of violence, conflict behaviors and the freedom from fear of violence (Peace Etymology, 2013). Besides the actual word, the peace sign has a very interesting past as well. The very famous sign was created by Gerald Herbert Holtom in 1958. It is said that Holtom created the symbol for his job; he worked with the Direct Action Committee against nuclear war in Great Britain. In an interview with the BBC, Holtom stated, "I drew myself: the representative of an individual in despair, with hands palm outstretched outwards and downwards in the manner of Goya's peasant before the firing squad." The sign quickly crossed the Atlantic Ocean to the United States with Bayard Rustin. Rustin was a close partner with Martin Luther King who had come over from Britain to participate in a civil rights march. The symbol became very popular during these marches and the Civil Rights Movement in general (Teach Peace Foundation, 2013). Today, the peace sign is still not copyrighted and can be used freely by the people.

When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will see peace, Jimi Hendrix. This quote is a perfect description of why the world today does not see widespread peace. It is a mutual understanding that countries go to war to defend themselves when attacked, however most wars today are promoted by self-interest. In other words, countries dont go to war; its more accurate to say that the leaders of countries go to war because there is an undeniable want for power in this world. Most leaders of countries arent focused on world peace, but rather on where they stand in the world and how much power they have. Going to war should be the last option killing others should be the very last action. Most recently, mass shooting and violent attacks have become monthly occurrences, especially in the United States. After each traumatic event, there has been an outpouring of love and support from the nation. It is very common for people to post on social media networks pray for peace and other related phrases. Most of the nation will become obsessed with a saddening event, like the Boston Marathon Bombing, and immediately will be glued to their TVs and talk about it nonstop. Horrific events like this make people say they want peace and for the world to be a better place. Then, a couple weeks go by and people arent as interested in the event anymore, and there is less and less talk about it. Soon enough, society returns to their daily life and slowly forgets about it. Everyone says they want peace on earth and world peace. Nevertheless, do societys actions today support peace? People are misinformed on what peace really means and really entails. Peace isnt something that is just wished for, peace is something that, collectively, the people need to work towards by taking action. People think that they, by themselves, cant make a difference, or it is out of their hands and that billions of people are necessary to make a change in the world.

It is rare that everyone can agree on something in the world today. The United States cant agree on gay rights, the war in Iraq or the economy. If we cant even agree as a country on issues like these, agreement on peace seems impossible. In order for peace to work, mutual consensus is essential. On the positive side, even though there are more ways of killing each other in this day and age, the world has witnessed fewer and fewer wars between countries. This is a step in the right direction in many peoples eyes. To add to that, as globalization grows, so does better communication and understandings between countries. Also, there are many talks of establishing a non-governmental institution to promote peace. As Gandhi once said, Be the change that you wish to see in the world. Peace isnt going to just happen overnight. The world isnt going to see lack of violence, loss of conflict behaviors or no fear of violence anytime soon. Until the want of peace is greater than the want of power, harmony is this world will be unheard of. Unless society starts taking action for peace and quits just talking about, peace is far off. We must take action as a society to make the world a better and more peaceful place.

References
Peace Etymology. (2013, May 19). Retrieved May 22, 2013, from Wikipedia website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peace Teach Peace Foundation. (2013). Teach peace moment: Peace symbol history. Retrieved May 22, 2013, from http://www.teachpeace.com/peacesymbolhistory.htm