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Logic, Reduced: “Coexist” Bumper

Sticker

The popular “Coexist” bumper sticker utilizes logos in its synthesis of both
religious and visual appeals to promote social and religious tolerance. It is
quite ironic that religion, the set of all systems of belief pertaining to the
world’s peaceful Creation, has been among the principal sources of human
conflict – i.e., lack of peace – for thousands of years. Numerous religious
disputes persist today worldwide, and this bumper sticker seeks to preach
unity in but one word.

Though it is far from explicit, the “Coexist” bumper sticker essentially asks
its readers, “Why can’t we all get along?” without directly stating it. In
appealing to all the world’s philosophies and ideologies, the bumper sticker
aesthetically unites and intertwines them under the same “umbrella,” so to
speak, of the word “coexist.” This word possesses a positive connotation;
indeed the “co-” prefix signifies, “together, mutually, in common” (Co-
word origin, Dictionary.com), thus implying a state of mutual being when
paired with the verb, [to] “exist.”

This bumper sticker is a pilthy statement because it is concise, direct, and

artfully creative in its message. The bumper sticker assumes that religious
views are commonplaces, and it presupposes that the driver peering at its
contents will be religiously or ideologically affiliated. In instructing its
readers to live in mutual harmony, however, the “Coexist” phrase logically
implies that the current state of the world is unsatisfactory. In other words,
there are always new improvements to instill for greater unity between the
respective affiliations.

Visually, the bumper sticker’s alphabetical combination logically arranges

various religious representations to express a reconciliation of interreligious
differences and/or conflicts. The bumper sticker correctly presupposes that
Islam, Judaism, pacifism, Christianity, and other religions/ideologies are
commonplaces and widespread. Indeed, the Muslim crescent moon with its
accompanying star (“C”); the universal peace symbol (“o”); the female and
male gender emblems (“e”); the Jewish Star of David (“x”); the
Pagan/naturalist pentagram (as the dot above the “i”); the yin and yang
symbol from Daoism (“s”); and the Christian cross (“t”) all unite to form
the larger entity of, to reiterate, the word “Coexist.”

Ultimately, this bumper sticker’s logical implication is clear: that, while

believing in larger, divine entities, human beings must also put aside their
differences and unite themselves in the larger entity of earthly existence.

***

Image Credit:
https://www.amazon.com/Peacemonger-0079PM-MBS-COX-V2-Coexist-
Magnetic-Sticker/dp/B002MAJAES

sck5271 / September 20, 2018

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