best answer to the first to tell me...?

It was a popular anti-Vietnam war slogan as "What if they gave a war and nobody came?"

It is from a poem usually attributed to German poet Bertolt Brecht criticizing French pacifists (but also attributed to others):

What if they gave a war and nobody came?

Why then the war will come to you!

He who stays home when the fight begins

And lets another fight for his cause

Should take care:

He who does not take part

In the battle will share in the defeat.

Even avoiding battle will not avoid Battle,

since not to fight for your own cause really means

Fighting in behalf of your enemy's cause.

It was a slogan used in the 1960's during the VietNam War. I think it was talking about soldiers or those who were drafted not wanting to go to war (going to Canada) It was a part of the anti-war rallies at the time. I don't know the author. It is also a take off of "what if we gave a party and noboby came."

SUPPOSE THEY GAVE A WAR AND NOBODY CAME was a film in 69 the original storyline by hal captain, but think title was based on a slogan alrewady in use.

Bertolt Brecht

Carl Sandburg

This was a political poster from 1969 by a person named Beshi.

It was a T-shirt slogan in the Sixties and the title of an early-Seventies movie.

Carl Sandburg, also they are closing his childhood home in Illinois, because we have no money anymore!

I believe it was Jerry Rubin. But they also said, correctly: "If you remember the 60s, you weren't there".