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Ralph Waldo Emerson
Ralph Waldo Emerson critiques the glorification of war by viewing it as a result of pride and nationalism. He argues war is driven by the pursuit of power and material gain at the expense of unnecessary suffering. Emerson was a strong advocate for human rights and intellectual growth rather than the destruction of humanity. -
Women's Peace Party
In January 1915, feminists Jane Adams and Carrie Chapman Catt organized a three day conference in Washington D.C. to discuss how if women involve themselves in politics and global issues such as WW1 they could instill global peace as well as the rights of women. The conference led to the Women’s Peace Party, advocating for a wider suffrage movement. After WW1, they pushed for global disarmament. The Women’s Peace Party aimed to outlaw war and foreign invasion, remaining active today. -
Valentin Bulgakov
Valentin Bulgakov (1899-1979) was a Russian writer and translator. His works reflect a critical stance on the destructive impact of war. Living through World War 1 and the Russian Civil War shaped his opinions. In his writings he critiques the unnecessary violence and chaos caused by war. -
Old Man at the Bridge, Ernest Hemingway
Hemingway wrote this story as a commentary on the Spanish Civil War. The Old man is alone and isolated from the other evacuees, he claims to have no politics and he seems to have no family other than his animals which represent the victims of the war. In the end the man is too weak to move on, he has accepted that death may be a favorable outcome compared to living in Barcelona, far from his home town without his animals. -
Public sentiment matters- The difference between anti war protests of the 1960's and now
A YouTube video from a news clip that describes the differences between protests during the Vietnam war vs now. -
Thomas Boylston Adams II
Thomas Boylston Adams II is a descendant of John Adams and is named after the brother of John Quincy Adams. He was critical of the Vietnam war, and while not being extremely involved, he did speak out about U.S. involvement. He believed in peace and the moral responsibility of the government when it comes to international relations. -
Beyond Vietnam - Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr. condemns the Vietnam war by linking it to the issues of poverty, racism, and inequality. He argues that the military actions undermine moral authority and worsen social issues. MLK advocates for the government to shift priorities and focus on peace, justice, and human rights both at home and over seas. -
Bella Abzug
Bella Abzug, nicknamed "Battling Bella," was a Lawyer, Politician, and Social Activist. In the 1970's she avidly advocated for the impact the Vietnam War had on both the American Soldiers and the Vietnamese civilians. Her strong opposition to militarism made her a key figure in many social justice movements. -
If War is the answer, we're asking the wrong questions
A podcast about anti-war protests in the 70's on the University of Illinois campus. -
Napalm Ladies
The Napalm Ladies refers to an unofficial organization of women who became symbols of the horrors of the Vietnam war. They became popular after a picture of Kim Phuc was published. In the image she is severely burned due to a Napalm attack. The Napalm ladies represent the tragedy and innocent lives lost in the Vietnam war. -
Leslie Cagan
While being a social justice activist during the Vietnam war, she also had heavy involvement in opposing the U.S. invasion of Iraq. She organized large scale protests and advocated for disarmament and military de-escalation during the cold war. -
Flower protests in Russia
In response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russian civilians created a chain of peaceful and anonymous protests. They created memorials for the innocent Ukrainians by laying out flowers at places connected to Ukraine. This started in January of 2023 and spread to 73 cities by May of the same year. This is not the first time flowers have been used as silent protest in Russia due to strict laws and mass arrests made at more obvious protests.