It was the most iconic anti-war image of the Vietnam era: A flower, set against a yellow background, with the words — suggesting a child’s handwriting — “War is not healthy for children and other living things.”
Designed in 1965 by activist/artist/mother Lorraine Schneider, it became the logo for an organization called Another Mother for Peace.
It was incorporated into posters, flyers, newsletters, datebooks, buttons, cards and jewelry, and became an internationally recognized plea for peace.
More than half a century later, it’s back.
Westporter Cathy Utz and Fairfield resident Grayson Craddock have resurrected, redesigned and redeployed it, to fight another war: the one against social media.
Cathy Utz
A 1979 graduate of Staples High School, Utz was too young to participate in anti-Vietnam marches or rallies.
But she knew the poster well. It hung for years in the home of Estelle Margolis, the mother of a family friend and a longtime Westport peace advocate.
Today, Utz is a therapist. Her 3 sons are adults. But in her work she sees the negative impacts of social media on young people, and their families.
Craddock’s children are 15, 13 and 7. He too knows the pressures and problems caused by social media.
Craddock — a graphic designer — works with Utz’s husband, Tom Greenwald, in Broadway advertising.
Grayson Craddock
He was unfamiliar with the “War is not healthy …” design. But when Utz came to him with the idea of recreating it for the modern era, he understood the need.
And what was needed.
He had to transfer the feel of the poster, without infringing on creative rights. And it had to feel as if a young person made it.
Craddock worked with paper. He spent a day cutting out pieces, and arranging them with a glue stick. Then he took photos.
When Craddock showed his work to friends, they understood immediately. Even more tellingly, they noticed it evoked child’s play, like crafts, which have fallen out of favor lately.
Because of the pull of social media.
In the 1960s, Schneider’s art raised money for Another Mother for Peace.
Utz and Craddock — who donated all his time and talent — searched for a modern-day non-profit that could benefit from this one.
They found the Organization for Social Media Safety. Called “the first consumer protection organization exclusively focused on social media, they help protect against social media dangers like cyberbullying, sextortion, sexual harassment, anxiety, depression, suicide, self-harm, eating disorders, substance abuse and trafficking.
They work with schools, youth groups and corporations, and have developed both a K-12 curriculum and free program for parents.
Craddock also designed a website: SocialMediaIsNotHealthy.com. Through it, he and Utz offer merchandise with the updated design, including posters, mugs, t-shirts, hoodies, tote bags, bumper stickers, decals — and smartphone cases.
“We are well aware of the irony that our message has to go out via social media,” Utz says.
“Social media by itself is not bad. But we have to be aware of its bad effects.”
The website, she and Craddock hope, will “remind us to be more mindful, and dial our use back.”
(“06880” encourages limited social media use. But before you shut off your device today, please click here to contribute to “06880.” Our blog IS healthy, for children and other living things. Thanks!)
