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NSA posters from the 50s and 60s [pdf]

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Re: NSA posters from the 50s and 60s [pdf]

#52

Some trippy posters in there. My favorite was the one where all of the NSA employees had lock mouths. I was surprised how religious some of these were, beyond just "Merry Christmas, don't forget about security" e.g "Christian ideals created freedom"

Ivan is an atheist, you see. This way we all know we aren’t soviet. I’m reasonably convinced that explains a fair bit of the “we are very publicly religions”part of the 1950s.

I agree, I feel that's the reason. Since the ideology of the Soviet Union was explicitly anti-religion, the US doubled down on being pro-religion.

Re: NSA posters from the 50s and 60s [pdf]

#53
post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A little off-topic, but clicking imgur "direct" links on mobile redirects you to the standard m.imgur.com URL now? Eww.

They started enforcing this pretty strictly in the last few weeks. It's a massive turnoff as a service, but considering they're a "social network" now and not just a reddit-specific image host, it's not a surprise.

Ah, the undending cycle of image hosting services. First they start clean and useful, then they gradually degrade in an increased effort to be profitable, then they get replaced by something new that's clean and useful...

Re: NSA posters from the 50s and 60s [pdf]

#54

Some trippy posters in there. My favorite was the one where all of the NSA employees had lock mouths. I was surprised how religious some of these were, beyond just "Merry Christmas, don't forget about security" e.g "Christian ideals created freedom"

Ivan is an atheist, you see. This way we all know we aren’t soviet. I’m reasonably convinced that explains a fair bit of the “we are very publicly religions”part of the 1950s.

You're exactly right. Religion was used as a foil against Communism in the Cold War. It was the Good Christian USA vs the Evil Atheist USSR.

"In God We Trust" was adopted as the official motto of the USA in 1956. "under God" was added to the Pledge of Allegiance in 1954.

Regarding putting "In God We Trust" on currency, Representative Charles E Bennett said "In these days when imperialistic and materialistic communism seeks to attack and destroy freedom, we should continually look for ways to strengthen the foundations of our freedom" [1].

[1] http://history.house.gov/Historical-Highlights/1951-2000/The...

Re: NSA posters from the 50s and 60s [pdf]

#55

A had a few NCSC security posters that look like they came from the same art department, which I scanned: Uncle Sam pointing: I want to protect the information in YOUR computer. https://i.imgur.com/e0a67w9.jpg Santa shooshing: He does not give away PASSWORDS. SHOULD YOU? https://i.imgur.com/ZZDXBBn.jpg Pirate and Spy: Pirate or Thief? Respect Copyright. It's the law. https://i.imgur.com/Oa8DDeU.jpg And I took screens…

That poster with safe dials on their mouths looks horrifying.

Re: NSA posters from the 50s and 60s [pdf]

#56

A had a few NCSC security posters that look like they came from the same art department, which I scanned: Uncle Sam pointing: I want to protect the information in YOUR computer. https://i.imgur.com/e0a67w9.jpg Santa shooshing: He does not give away PASSWORDS. SHOULD YOU? https://i.imgur.com/ZZDXBBn.jpg Pirate and Spy: Pirate or Thief? Respect Copyright. It's the law. https://i.imgur.com/Oa8DDeU.jpg And I took screens…

That poster with safe dials on their mouths looks horrifying.

TPC (The Phone Company, in The President's Analyst) would rather put phone dials in everyone's mouth.

Re: NSA posters from the 50s and 60s [pdf]

#57

A had a few NCSC security posters that look like they came from the same art department, which I scanned: Uncle Sam pointing: I want to protect the information in YOUR computer. https://i.imgur.com/e0a67w9.jpg Santa shooshing: He does not give away PASSWORDS. SHOULD YOU? https://i.imgur.com/ZZDXBBn.jpg Pirate and Spy: Pirate or Thief? Respect Copyright. It's the law. https://i.imgur.com/Oa8DDeU.jpg And I took screens…

A little off-topic, but clicking imgur "direct" links on mobile redirects you to the standard m.imgur.com URL now? Eww.

(This also happens on non-mobile browsers.)

Re: NSA posters from the 50s and 60s [pdf]

#58

Some trippy posters in there. My favorite was the one where all of the NSA employees had lock mouths. I was surprised how religious some of these were, beyond just "Merry Christmas, don't forget about security" e.g "Christian ideals created freedom"

Ivan is an atheist, you see. This way we all know we aren’t soviet. I’m reasonably convinced that explains a fair bit of the “we are very publicly religions”part of the 1950s.

I've always wondered how the political right in the West ended up with such seemingly odd bedfellows as capitalism and religion. e.g., the Jesus of stories seems like a potentially Socialist sort? A friend of mine thought that it was likely that the pairing was a reaction to the communism and atheism of the USSR.

Re: NSA posters from the 50s and 60s [pdf]

#59
post #47
post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Today, it's hilariously illegal to put this kind of thing in an official employee communication. No government agency would even dream it. Even in the 1960s, that kind of overtly religious appeal would have been very, VERY controversial. This kind of material _never_ appeared in military stuff, and I am very surprised to see it in NSA publications.

> Even in the 1960s, that kind of overtly religious appeal would have been very, VERY controversial. This kind of material _never_ appeared in military stuff... The Air Force barred an airman from reenlisting because he would not say "so help me God" in his oath, in 2014.[0] [0]: https://www.yahoo.com/news/atheist-must-swear-god-leave-us-a...

To be fair, the military doesn't want to accept people who would disobey a direct order over something so petty. If they aren't mature enough to say "so help me God" and move on, they don't want them.

Re: NSA posters from the 50s and 60s [pdf]

#60
post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They started enforcing this pretty strictly in the last few weeks. It's a massive turnoff as a service, but considering they're a "social network" now and not just a reddit-specific image host, it's not a surprise.

Ah, the undending cycle of image hosting services. First they start clean and useful, then they gradually degrade in an increased effort to be profitable, then they get replaced by something new that's clean and useful...

Only for as long as initial investor money lasts I guess. There's just no money to be made in 'free' image hosting without starting to do some nasty tactics, mostly involving direct (hot) linking.
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