Kent State 39 Years Later

I just finished reading Tom Brokaw’s book, “Boom!” about the 60’s. Much like his bestseller, “The Greatest Generation” and the children of the Depression and World War 2, this book attempts the same with the turbulent 1960’s, a decade that Brokaw says really began in 1963 with the assassination of President Kennedy and culminated with the resignation of Richard Nixon in 1974.

One of the era’s darkest chapters occurred on this date in 1970-the shootings at Kent State. Although four people were killed and 9 injured, there never was justice-as all charges against the 8 National Guardsmen were eventually dropped.

“Boom!” was a terrific book-and the multitude of events of the 1960’s could never be adequately covered in a HUNDRED blogs, let alone one. I’ll no doubt return to this topic again.

As a grade school student growing up on the edge on American University during the war, I was routinely on the scene at multiple antiwar protests. Why? Well, we had no political sense or moral outrage at the time-we were too young. However, the culture to which we were exposed caused most young people to rail against the war—and the protests were simply something to do. If the police showed up, all the better. I was even tear-gassed at one of the demonstrations-unbelievably uncomfortable! (to say the least)

I sometimes think-“What would have happened if I were at American U. and the police opened fire on US?” Like those Kent State students, simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time cost them their lives.

Below is a video of CNN’s coverage of the story on it’s 30th anniversary-still chilling:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lo9yI-p5jqU

If we are to refrain from the mistakes of the past, we need to remember the past.
If you’d like my blog in your box, let me know! Tim.moore@citcomm.com