The Freedom Movement Needs a "Symbol"!!!

[BuddyRey]

I was just on eBay looking for some warm winter hats, as a slight cool snap in my neck of the woods just reminded me that I'll probably need one soon. I was looking at Russian ushankas, and got my mind set to buying one, except I was disheartened to see that they all have those Soviet "Hammer and Sickle" pins on them, and I'd hate to be thought of as endorsing Communism just for the sake of being warm and fashionable! I started thinking of something I could replace it with; something that stands for the complete opposite of Communism, but drew a blank!

It was then that I realized, the Libertarian/Freedom movement has no "symbol"! Don't get me wrong, of course, symbols mean nothing if your message is good, but many intelligent people overlook the influence of symbols, icons, and emblems on people's minds and emotions. We need an identifier that will not only enhance morale and spread our message, but provide a way for folks who think in terms of symbols (many right-brain people can be characterized this way) to easily recognize us without having to question obscure slogans and in-jokes. Comments? Ideas? Wanna tell me I've lost it? Go ahead! :D

[DaronWestbrooke]

How about a wig like the Founding Fathers used to wear and they still wear in UK parlament?

[DaronWestbrooke]

Here-
http://www.costumewigsdirect.com/colonial-man-wigs.htm

http://www.costumewigsdirect.com/images/colonial_man_wigs.jpg

[Man from La Mancha]

http://ancapistan.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/06/15/ron_paul_best.jpg

[micahnelson]

why not coopt a current american symbol, the eagle. Strong and Free

[LizF]

You could consider Lady Liberty (on the website of the Libertarian Party):
http://www.lp.org/

Or the American Bald Eagle (on the website of the Constitutional Party): http://www.constitutionparty.com/

Or simply the torch (of freedom):
http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&client=firefox-a&channel=s&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=ggd&q=torch++of+freedom&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi

[BuddyRey]

Of course Ron Paul is the ultimate personification of the Freedom Movement, but I had more of a "logo" in mind. The Free State Project has the porcupine, for example, which is a really great idea. Only trouble is, that would probably have to be explained to a lot of people.

[apropos]

A sprig of hemlock would be a great logo.

Some soldiers in the American Revolution and later on in Shays Rebellion would tuck a sprig of hemlock into their hats to identify themselves and to symbolize how they would always fight against tyranny.

They first wore this symbol against the British in the American Revolution. In the decade after the war, farmers began to suffer under heavy taxation and debt. Failure to repay these debts and taxes meant imprisonment in debtor's prisons or the claiming of property by the state. Threatened to lose everything they had fought for, Shays again called his men to arms.

They put the hemlock in their hats because they were about to be evicted from their farms and lose their right to vote (as you had to be a landowner to vote in those days). These events led directly to the dismissal of the Articles of Confederation and to the Constitution of the United States.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1093/537389584_47eebb8413.jpg?v=0

[kylejack]

http://blog.thetrenchcoat.com/uploads/v_vendetta_logo.gif

[DaronWestbrooke]

http://blog.thetrenchcoat.com/uploads/v_vendetta_logo.gif

That's cool!

[murrayrothbard]

BuddyRey's avatar is probably one of the best ("don't tread on me" flag). You could also go with a solid black flag, but I know that's probably scrary to a lot of folks here. :(

[kylejack]

BuddyRey's avatar is probably one of the best ("don't tread on me" flag). You could also go with a solid black flag, but I know that's probably scrary to a lot of folks here. :(
The FSP flag would be neat if it wasn't already in use, heh. Gadsden flag is fine with me, though.

[1000-points-of-fright]

I was just on eBay looking for some warm winter hats, as a slight cool snap in my neck of the woods just reminded me that I'll probably need one soon. I was looking at Russian ushankas, and got my mind set to buying one, except I was disheartened to see that they all have those Soviet "Hammer and Sickle" pins on them, and I'd hate to be thought of as endorsing Communism just for the sake of being warm and fashionable!

I have a couple of ushankas... an East German and a Soviet. Those pins can be removed. I just leave them on, but then I'm a big fan of totalitarian iconography and design.

Say what you will about the Nazis, but aesthetically they were bad asses. How do you get a nation of young men to follow your crazy ideology? Get Hugo Boss to design cool uniforms that chicks dig.

PS: I like the old "Don't tread on me" logo.

[beerista]

The FSP flag would be neat if it wasn't already in use, heh. Gadsden flag is fine with me, though.

Yup, always liked the Gadsden flag. Really like the FSP take on it though:
http://www.freestateproject.org/files/images/PatchDToM_0.150.JPG
While the association with the FSP could be troublesome, I think the porcupine generally is a great mascot/symbol for the freedom movement for the same reason the FSP chose it (generally peaceable but "strong on defense" if forced into a corner). Also think the eagle is a poor symbol for anything freedom related for the same reasons that Franklin opposed it as our national symbol (predator, smacks of royalty).

[CurtisLow]

There's no need to fear! Underdog is here!
http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/4858/underdogat9.jpg

when criminals in this world appear
and break the laws that they should fear
and frighten all who see or hear
the cry goes up both far and near
for Underdog! Underdog! Underdog! Underdog!

speed of lightning, roar of thunder
fighting all who rob or plunder
Underdog. Underdog!

when in this world the headlines read
of those whose hearts are filled with greed
who rob and steal from those who need
to right this wrong with blinding speed
goes Underdog! Underdog! Underdog! Underdog!

speed of lightning, roar of thunder
fighting all who rob or plunder
Underdog. Underdog!

http://www.delorie.com/users/dj/tidbits/underdog.wav



...lol

[constituent]

^2nd. Underdog all the way.

[Matt Collins]

.....

[Matt Collins]

....

[alicegardener]

Yeh, like the peace sign both the circle thingy and the hand sign, were/are both great symbols, SIMPLE to draw, easy to flash . The hemlock was a good one because it was growing everywhere at hand. Of course we can't do a plant because no plant goes in all 50 states. The American Sign Language symbol maybe? "Freedom" is fists together as if tied up then hands moving away from each other as if freed. Hands are difficult to draw so there would have to be a different written symbol. I like a square because its solid, like gold is solid. It represents security and strength. Inside the square there could be something simple, an equal sign maybe except I think that may be the symbol for equal opportunity lender or something like that.

[alicegardener]

Hey if you really like a particular symbol, we can co-opt it. Happens all the time. For Pete's sake the Nazi symbol is an ancient symbol for the sun used in many cultures. We could use that hand symbol for I love you or Texas longhorns whichever it is. Ron Paul has already used it in public and some people thought it was something nefarious, the secret sign for CFS, if I remember correctly. That was nonsense, of course.

[ItsTime]

I thought it was the porcupine?

[mtmedlin]

how about the symble from the Disturbed album "Believe"
It has its roots in bringing all people together

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000069KN8.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

[Syren123]

http://media.bluedistortion.com/cat-in-tin-foil-hat.jpg

[TVMH]

http://ancapistan.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/06/15/ron_paul_best.jpg

I must say, the good doctor ties a smart-looking double windsor knot! :cool:

[TVMH]

http://media.bluedistortion.com/cat-in-tin-foil-hat.jpg

Himalayan?

Whatever he/she is, he/she looks REAL happy about posing for the photo. :D

[BuddyRey]

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Up yours socialism, communism, fascism, and authoritarianism!

Thread winner!!!

[pacelli]

I thought we've already addressed the idea of symbolism with "Slave Uprising". Take a stand, wear the band!!

http://www.slaveuprising.com/images/header2.jpg

http://www.slaveuprising.com/

http://i38.tinypic.com/mtkykj.png

http://i34.tinypic.com/t02338.png

http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?t=158816&highlight=Slave+Uprising

http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?t=157440&highlight=white+arm+band


Slave Uprising discussion sub-forum:

http://www.ronpaulforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=279

[RileyE104]

Liberty Penguin FTW!!!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3141/2799098337_79cd82ac7b.jpg

http://campus.udayton.edu/~liberty/lglp.gif

[sratiug]

http://www.freedomforceinternational.org/logo.cfm

[RileyE104]

http://www.libertypenguin.com/wp-content/themes/libertypenguin/images/lp.png

[georgiaboy]

my first thought was a tree symbol - the tree of liberty.

[AdamT]

DailyPaul user Quiltingsando created this symbol (http://www.dailypaul.com/node/110200) last year. They have stuff on Zazzle (http://www.zazzle.com/quiltingsando) with the logo, and flags (http://www.dailypaul.com/node/130056) too.

I think it's awesome, and made a scuffed up dirty version for our 2010 CPAC flyers (http://alcpac.com/?p=38).

http://alcpac.com/images/libertysymbol.png

[Matt Collins]

Thread winner!!!
I always win the thread :p


But anyone here reading currently should know that these posts were authored by me prior to my involvement in politics many years ago when I was much younger. :o

[dr. hfn]

revolutionary flags...wild west gun belts lol...a sweet looking liberty tree

[pcosmar]

http://www.libertypenguin.com/wp-content/themes/libertypenguin/images/lp.png


“Some people have told me they don't think a fat penguin really embodies the grace of Linux, which just tells me they have never seen a angry penguin charging at them in excess of 100 mph. They'd be a lot more careful about what they say if they had.”

Linus Torvalds
:D

[puppetmaster]

if i knew how to post a picture that would help.......help

[pcosmar]

if i knew how to post a picture that would help.......help

Copy the image location, then click on this,
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/images/editor/insertimage.gif

Paste the image location (url) in the pop up box and click OK.
:cool:

[catdd]

Copy the image location, then click on this,
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/images/editor/insertimage.gif

Paste the image location (url) in the pop up box and click OK.
:cool:

thnx

[idirtify]

V-Mask gets my vote. Plenty wrong with all the other candidates. V-Mask is a unique, simple, recognizable, basically unclaimed, strong image. It could also be multifunctional; get yours here
http://www.amazon.com/Rubies-Costume-Co-Vendetta-Mask/dp/B000UVGLHU
and wear it to events; maybe to someday recreate the awesome scene in “V”. It would not even have to be officially announced; just start showing up masked – everyone will (begin to) know the meaning of the symbol. The only down side I foresee is a convenient cover for COINTEL agents; showing up masked and starting violence, yet remaining anonymous. OK – never mind; that’s a big problem.

[puppetmaster]

well its on my pc....and it did not show up

ty pcosmar

[speciallyblend]

if i knew how to post a picture that would help.......help

your not alone hehe, My Symbol is the 5 pointed leaf;)

[GunnyFreedom]

well its on my pc....and it did not show up

ty pcosmar

it has to be online for embeds to work. like tinypic.com

[Austrian Econ Disciple]

No need to try and re-do the symbol. This is the symbol of liberty, used also, by the forerunners to our Founders and the Founders.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phrygian_cap

[GunnyFreedom]

your not alone hehe, My Symbol is the 5 pointed leaf;)

not seven? :confused:

[Nate-ForLiberty]

http://libertymaven.com/wp-content/uploads/mock2flag.jpg


like this.....duh! :p



get whoever made the art for the documentary to make a logo out of it.

[puppetmaster]

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_KgBT8kIRgBo/S60uyOoivHI/AAAAAAAAGfU/J6dU8Lhdaao/s1600/fuck_police_brutality.gif


there ya go

[puppetmaster]

big muther....sorry

[speciallyblend]

not seven? :confused:

haha i hear you:)

[speciallyblend]

big muther....sorry

big and kewl;) my fav is the guy throwing flowers;)