I saw this ad last year but forgot to post it. What I find interesting is the way that “peace” has been both stripped of any real meaning and presented as something easy to achieve:
So while a plaid shirt might cost you $44.50, peace is free. This makes sense only if “peace” has been turned into a completely apolitical feel-good abstraction, as opposed to an end result of social and political processes that require effort and may or may not be particularly cheap. But “peace” is, here, entirely empty of political meaning, so much so that the company could use the word in an ad without worrying that they would be accused of making a political statement about, say, either of the two wars the U.S. is currently engaged in, or the Israel/Palestine conflict, or any number of other situations that a politicized meaning of peace might bring to mind.
Comments 9
Anonymous — December 25, 2010
I'm glad we haven't reached the point (yet) that we see ads saying "W-A-R The Present You Can Give For Free". Although, come to think of it, was is pretty darn expensive these days.
Candice — December 25, 2010
Marketing gimmicks cheapen any meaningful expressions. I see nothing wrong with the word 'peace' being used 'apolitically', in fact, it seems naturally separated from politics. Peace has meaning on many levels and in many ways. It is not simply the opposite of war. It CAN be free, and it can be something you can give at no cost, like goodwill and forgiveness. It is a state of mind and a way of being, both of which can affect your world without any 'political process'.
Jason — December 25, 2010
Reminds me of the great political theorist's, David Mustaine, aphorism: peace sells, but who's buying?
Boycott — December 26, 2010
BOYCOTT AMERICAN WOMEN
Why American men should boycott American women
http://boycottamericanwomen.blogspot.com/
I am an American man, and I have decided to boycott American women. In a nutshell, American women are the most likely to cheat on you, to divorce you, to get fat, to steal half of your money in the divorce courts, don't know how to cook or clean, don't want to have children, etc. Therefore, what intelligent man would want to get involved with American women?
American women are generally immature, selfish, extremely arrogant and self-centered, mentally unstable, irresponsible, and highly unchaste. The behavior of most American women is utterly disgusting, to say the least.
This blog is my attempt to explain why I feel American women are inferior to foreign women (non-American women), and why American men should boycott American women, and date/marry only foreign (non-American) women.
BOYCOTT AMERICAN WOMEN!
Boycott — December 26, 2010
Why American women should boycott American men
http://boycottamericanmen.blogspot.com/
I am an American woman, and I have decided to boycott American men. In a nutshell, American men are the most likely to cheat on you, to divorce you, to get fat, to steal half of your money in the divorce courts, don’t know how to cook or clean, don’t want to have children, etc. Therefore, what intelligent woman would want to get involved with American men?
American men are generally immature, selfish, extremely arrogant and self-centered, mentally unstable, irresponsible, and highly unchaste. The behavior of most American men is utterly disgusting, to say the least.
This blog is my attempt to explain why I feel American men are inferior to foreign men (non-American men), and why American women should boycott American men, and date/marry only foreign (non-American) men.
BOYCOTT AMERICAN MEN!
Did I do this right?
jeff wong — February 1, 2011
There's an excellent book chapter from military historian Gwynn Dyer explaining the historical background of the UN and the "international system", what can and can't be expected of it.
http://www.gwynnedyer.com/chapters/futuretense5.htm
Great reading and a very readable description of the context of the UN and how achieving peace is a long, imperfect, and sometimes disappointing process. But it's better than the alternative.
jeff wong — February 1, 2011
BTW, thanks for this post.
Definitely for me, Christmas cards and wishes of Peace do not necessarily conjure war, violence, and injustice. Easy to do that if you live in relative peace.