The Anarchy Sign in America

by Annie

The Anarchy "movement" is symbolized by a capital "A" with a circle around it, known as an Anarchy Sign. It is most often seen in the public realm sloppily hand drawn and graffitied on walls o r carved in the cement. Text handouts on the different aspects of anarchism will usually have a typed "A" in a perfect circle. Although both typed and hand drawn versions of the symbol represent the same basic ideology, it might be relevant that the h and drawn ones in the public realm are often the product of teen angst or misunderstood exploitation of anarchy in the punk rock subculture.

The origin of the "circle-A" as an anarchist symbol is hard to track down. Many think it started in the 19 70s punk movement, but it goes back much earlier. "On November 25, 1956, at its foundation in Brussels, the Alliance Ouvri ere Anarchiste (AOA) adopted this symbol." There is earlier evidence in a BBC documentary on the Spanish Civil War which shows a n anarchist militia member with a "circle-A" clearly on the back of his helmet.

In the U.S., the anarchy sign takes on many meanings to many people. In fact, almost everyone who writes about it views it slightly differently. Since there is not one person or group of people considered the leader, everyone is encouraged to write their own thoughts that may be based on other people's ideas. Ownership is not of much concern and people are honest about who inspired them. According to one pamphlet on anti-authoritarianism, anarchists "have a specific understanding of what authority is, how it leads to injustice and how we can organize society without it; based on freedom, social equality and cooperation."  To those who understand it or at least can comprehend many of the concepts, it is considered a struggle toward utopia. It is not about bombing federal buildings and assassinating the president. It is about standing up for our right to have a better life without fear of being persecuted for this action. It is not about a type of music, but I believe that punk was and still is a good way of bringing about the environment necessary for anarchist minds to prosper. The anarchist and punk both have a common term for their mentality called "D. I.Y." or do it yourself. This ethic encourages thinking and creating for oneself and others and ultimately gives a person the skills to make an impact on society around them.

Anarchism is an economic/political/social/environmental movement of the working class, which includes about 75% of this country. Let me explain the anarchist view of class structure to better under stand what they believe in. The working class includes anyone who has to work for someone else, has to work because they don' t own property or stock, and anyone who isn't working. Everyone else is either middle "business" class, or upper "ruling" clas s. Anarchists recognize the futility of the modern work environment. Instead of a stressful, assembly line, hard labor/low pay environment they believe in one of direct democratic decision making, no bosses, and equal say in what happens to them. Hi story has been proven that these 'anarchist' environments can exist. There are many successful co-ops, but most have been shut down by various capitalists who see co-ops and free thought as a threat that may deplete them of 'their' work force.

The ci rcle-A has come to represent all the people throughout the last few hundred years who have fought and died for the common peopl e's rights and benefits. Anarchy is based on the ideas of co-operative working and decision making, free thought and association. It tries to work with the natural balance of things, not against it. In other words, it is more democratic than "democracy" has turned out to be. I think this is a key to understanding the importance of the anarchy symbol. Many people who would burn a flag as freedom of speech and risk being called unpatriotic are really the people who care the most about their country. "We, the people" have a right to say something is wrong and something should be done about it. America is well known for its own birth as a nation on this founding principle of freedom.

Defined by the 1984 Funk & Wagnall's Encyclopedia as: "polit ical theory opposed to all forms of government, anarchists believe that the highest attainment of humanity is the freedom of the individual to express himself, unhindered by any form of repression or control from without. The belief that all governments rest on violence to control their subjects". Another important aspect of "peaceful" anarchism is ending the unnecessary suffering of all forms of life (including the planet as a whole). That is why many anarchists are vegetarian or vegan and are involved with activism of all sorts. The activism covers all areas from helping political prisoners and police brutality marches to releasing caged animals on fur farms.

By what I've just said, it seems like the symbol for anarchism should be the peace sign right? Anarchy, like the fashionable peace signs of the 60's and 70's hippies may be a short-lived fad for a revolutionary mentality that has been alive since the beginning of this "democratic" country. A big difference between the peace and love era of hippies and the anarchist era of punk is direct action. "Direct Action is the distinctive contribution of anarchists in the realm of political method...It aims to achieve our goals though our own activity rather than through the actions of others." Examples of direct action include blockades, pickets, sabotage, squatting (living in otherwise useless housing), tree spiking, lockouts, occupations, and strikes. Direct action is not only a method of protest, but also a way of "building the future now".

You might wonder why so many people are working class and yet more people are not trying to make these wonderful ideals a reality. The current education system is highly at fault. It trains people from a young age to follow orders from authority without question. We have been taught to enjoy mediocrity. A child who is different from the average is bad and gets peer criticism. Instead of being in a creative learning environment, students must compete with each other for grades which only give the appearance of learning. When we recognize that we are molded (or brainwashed in some cases) by the time we graduate high school, it isn't hard to see why most people don't believe they have the capability to change anything. In fact, they may not even recognize the problems. Even many anarchists aren't sure. In the words of one anonymous youth, "Personally, I think that we are not ready for anarchy, we are not civilized enough. If there was total Anarchy, we would all die! If there was no police, we could kill someone without a care. But it is something to dream about, or even try for. "

One other reason that people aren't rushing out to get circle-A's tattooed on their forehead everyday is because it is highly misunderstood by the public at large. The media plays up the negative aspects without explaining why they happened in the first place. Various references (controlled by the ruling class) offer negative definitions of anarchy so the general public stays away from it.

The symbol says a great deal about this country. The fact that we can wear an anarchy sign and not be oppressed for doing so is because of the anarchists who have been fighting all through the years. Without people standing up against the "system", this country might still be a British colony run by the labor of slaves, women and children. It also says a lot about the capability of human beings. The symbol summarizes much more than a set of beliefs. To anarchists, it is the only path to freedom.

*All quotes are from anonymous pamphlets, unless stated.