Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

freshwest

(53,661 posts)
56. Civility ends in the face of immenient death. When I was your age, you would either have to flee
Mon Aug 17, 2015, 05:53 PM
Aug 2015

Last edited Mon Aug 17, 2015, 07:16 PM - Edit history (1)

the country to escape prison, or allow yourself to be shipped off to fight a war you didn't believe in, but still not vote on. 'You're old enough to kill, but not for voting.'

There was 'nothing civil' about it from either side. The only thing was the name, 'civil disobediance.' That term is obviously misunderstood today. And there was a reason we went after Democratic politicians - they were supposed to be the party of the people. We weren't civil, although most were peaceful and our fight was against all oppression of every type at home and the end of the war itself.

Nixon freaked when we came with half a million to shut down the federal government. Well over ten thousand were arrested the weekend I was there. We organized, mobilized and traveled from one coast ot the other. We also prepared to be gassed, beaten, jailed and worse.

Because people were dying for the pride of the comfortable and wealthy. It was more violent than BLM interrupting a talk. This is mild stuff, and the cries of 'how dare they' sound like the arrogant ones who yelled at us, 'America love it or leave it.' Certainly not the words of the radical liberals of the generation that BS is cited for. If we hadn't loved the ideal of what America was believed to be, some could have stayed home and enjoyed good times.

But for a young male like yourself, your body was a step away from the meat grinder. Young men had to choose if going to fight an unpopular war was worth dying or being maimed for. They, especially veterans against the war like John Kerry, disrupted every place in the country they could, every meeting. No matter what it was about.



I don't see any difference between those days and this where as Thom Hartmann said, 'Black people are sick and tired of being shot!' Americans have surrendered the moral argument to commercial media, which has none.

Where is the love for one like Bravenak who sent out her MAYDAY and SOS to beg progressives to help POC?

It's past time to change the structural basis of America as we said then. We did do as Kerry said, vote those who would not do the will of the people out of office. We did make progress on civil rights that have since been eroded.

Because the battle never ends, it's never over. The aging and dying of each generation is the stark proof of how the rich outwait our struggles. Each new generation must be wary and take up the cause of equality and of survival.

You aren't doing anything new even if it is new to you. You are now part of a proud tradition of Americans joining with each other to change the nation and the world. So keep it up, look ahead to the end results, be willing to grow in understanding and just doing whatever works.

Some of us old farts wish we were well enough to break shit with you REP Aug 2015 #1
Thanks. Respek knuckles ;) nt F4lconF16 Aug 2015 #19
Hm. ladyVet Aug 2015 #2
I have talked about that in other threads. F4lconF16 Aug 2015 #10
Civility ends in the face of immenient death. When I was your age, you would either have to flee freshwest Aug 2015 #56
+! Chemisse Aug 2015 #60
The future only unfolds in the present.Focus on the now not some fantasy bjobotts Aug 2015 #170
+2 brer cat Aug 2015 #66
Post of the day! GitRDun Aug 2015 #75
+1000000000 azmom Aug 2015 #76
Well said. n/t lumberjack_jeff Aug 2015 #77
Well said...vrey very well said. dixiegrrrrl Aug 2015 #78
PLUS 1000! trof Aug 2015 #80
Thanks trof and the rest. I'm never going to diss the young, but we were also helped by others.... freshwest Aug 2015 #86
Well said +1000 sheshe2 Aug 2015 #89
Bravo Freshwest! Matariki Aug 2015 #91
+ another Scuba Aug 2015 #96
+1 jberryhill Aug 2015 #103
....x10+ 840high Aug 2015 #110
I read your post and relayed what you said to a couple of people at work. F4lconF16 Aug 2015 #114
Outstanding! H2O Man Aug 2015 #130
Exactly! abakan Aug 2015 #137
Wow! Well said. Unknown Beatle Aug 2015 #148
Amen and Amen!!! uponit7771 Aug 2015 #150
Wow, probably one of the best posts I have ever read in my 12+ years here.... Spazito Aug 2015 #151
Spazito! Thank you very much. n/t freshwest Aug 2015 #172
+++++ mountain grammy Aug 2015 #156
excellent post, freshwest! nt steve2470 Aug 2015 #161
Thanks, Steve! And Free Bravenak! n/t freshwest Aug 2015 #164
There is no "right way" to protest. murielm99 Aug 2015 #146
400 Yrs of being ignored, enslaved, lynched, shot, Jim Crowed, and they yell a little at a randys1 Aug 2015 #152
Oh hell yeah MuseRider Aug 2015 #3
They may call me an idealist... F4lconF16 Aug 2015 #11
I too am an idealist MuseRider Aug 2015 #15
I wouldn't have said no to the Civil Rights Act, despite it's many faults. F4lconF16 Aug 2015 #18
Idealist - that was one of the biggest names they tried to call us but jwirr Aug 2015 #46
Young people like you give me hope, F4lconF16. Keep on keeping on. pnwmom Aug 2015 #4
+1 KMOD Aug 2015 #5
Why thank you. nt F4lconF16 Aug 2015 #20
As a former 20-year-old, I'll say that you're MineralMan Aug 2015 #6
+1 romanic Aug 2015 #9
The goals are important elehhhhna Aug 2015 #13
I was at Bush's ranch, too! flying_wahini Aug 2015 #147
Yay! we're you there when Steve Earle came? elehhhhna Aug 2015 #173
Hell no. I'll protest non-legally, too. F4lconF16 Aug 2015 #16
Old Yippee and SDS here. Fuddnik Aug 2015 #142
Above all, keep writing. LiberalArkie Aug 2015 #149
You really get it. My hope has increased. Do your best and know millions are with you. ancianita Aug 2015 #174
"a whole new fight" jberryhill Aug 2015 #7
'Tis a fine line to walk. Thanks for your words. nt F4lconF16 Aug 2015 #21
Make love not war. Yes, I remember it well lunatica Aug 2015 #8
Thank you. F4lconF16 Aug 2015 #22
They did kill our heroes though lunatica Aug 2015 #24
And that is only part of the list of dead. jwirr Aug 2015 #48
... GummyBearz Aug 2015 #70
Thanks! I've corrected it lunatica Aug 2015 #118
"Enough" turns out to be a very effective way of looking at things duhneece Aug 2015 #115
Yep, Nixon referred to us as bums. Nixon was one of the worst. n/t RKP5637 Aug 2015 #28
I got two things RobertEarl Aug 2015 #12
I was thinking similarly earlier today as I continue to downsize for the future. Vote for RKP5637 Aug 2015 #34
It is the wise way to live RobertEarl Aug 2015 #38
My advice for how you protest Lee-Lee Aug 2015 #14
Excellent advice!!! n/t RKP5637 Aug 2015 #35
+1 Good advice! nt jonno99 Aug 2015 #43
I'm so there. I worked on Bobby Kennedy's primary campaigns 99th_Monkey Aug 2015 #17
I was one of the SDS radicals (still am!). Kip Humphrey Aug 2015 #68
Cool. We used to have great conversations about the 'big picture', tactics & such ...nt 99th_Monkey Aug 2015 #79
Indeed! 2 of my most memorable: Kip Humphrey Aug 2015 #83
That's what I did in my 20's too. Same sort of things. Bluenorthwest Aug 2015 #23
Yeah, me too passiveporcupine Aug 2015 #29
It takes an existential threat in most cases....it's sad but true. Bluenorthwest Aug 2015 #33
Recommended. H2O Man Aug 2015 #25
"My generation is fighting a whole new fight" < Your ego would like to tell you that, but it's the jtuck004 Aug 2015 #26
Yep, it's very similar to the 60-70s all over again. n/t RKP5637 Aug 2015 #36
Don't Trust Anyone Over 30 jberryhill Aug 2015 #57
I have to agree the situation today is very similar to the 67-72. I was always suspicious of the Monk06 Aug 2015 #93
We do grow up, but it doesn't mean we need to become the mean, fat bastards we are. jtuck004 Aug 2015 #94
Well to us boomers, mean fat and white is an all too common feature of those born between 1950 Monk06 Aug 2015 #104
I'm 60. It was weird to watch it. We come out of WWII and have a world to rebuild, and jtuck004 Aug 2015 #105
My attitude is if revolution just leads to tenured teaching jobs for the leaders then you aren't Monk06 Aug 2015 #107
Plus a zillion. 840high Aug 2015 #111
"I've changed minds and had mine changed." Hoppy Aug 2015 #27
Whether you realize it or not, bvar22 Aug 2015 #30
No, the young people now have invented sex, too jberryhill Aug 2015 #58
"My generation did not do a good job protecting our grandparent's hard won rights." Matariki Aug 2015 #90
Excellent reply. Scuba Aug 2015 #98
My advice so far? Erich Bloodaxe BSN Aug 2015 #31
Very well said! n/t RKP5637 Aug 2015 #37
That is valuable advice! MuseRider Aug 2015 #52
your perspective is perhaps NOT as valid as you think hfojvt Aug 2015 #32
And no doubt, as we age, we reconsider ourselves to be wise old men. LanternWaste Aug 2015 #59
We did not know what we were doing in the 60's either. LiberalArkie Aug 2015 #39
Exhibit A jberryhill Aug 2015 #55
Nixon, a crook. Enthusiast Aug 2015 #81
Best of luck to you. jeff47 Aug 2015 #40
My sons are 28 and 18 mcar Aug 2015 #41
"We have a new perspective, one that's just as valid and important as yours--if not much, much more" hamsterjill Aug 2015 #42
The Times They Are A-Changin' - courtesy of bob dylan fantase56 Aug 2015 #44
Good choice! n/t MuseRider Aug 2015 #54
Very apt. Chemisse Aug 2015 #62
Funny! My first thought as I was reading the Post. denvine Aug 2015 #139
Thank you F4, I send safety, triumph and peace on your way! Dont call me Shirley Aug 2015 #45
I can actually remember when I was 20 ... staggerleem Aug 2015 #47
Things are worse now than during the Vietnam War era. Elwood P Dowd Aug 2015 #49
I'm so happy that a 20 something spoke up... N_E_1 for Tennis Aug 2015 #50
Kicked and recommended. Uncle Joe Aug 2015 #51
Huge respect... OneGrassRoot Aug 2015 #53
Welcome to the fight randr Aug 2015 #61
We welcome you. PowerToThePeople Aug 2015 #63
People like you 'scuttled' the movement in the Reagan years, people like me were in the streets Bluenorthwest Aug 2015 #121
People like me? PowerToThePeople Aug 2015 #128
good reply, PowerToThePeople SCantiGOP Aug 2015 #132
Sad thing is, I alerted and jury let stand PowerToThePeople Aug 2015 #133
I was juror #5 SCantiGOP Aug 2015 #165
Ah so you were a kid. So that's why you are apparently unaware of the massive activism in the 80's. Bluenorthwest Aug 2015 #134
You have to rralize it is the older generations who are screwing you. AngryAmish Aug 2015 #64
Yes, your generation carries the burden of change again sadoldgirl Aug 2015 #65
This is nto the first itme or last itme nadinbrzezinski Aug 2015 #67
I was going to comment on the many thoughts swirling around in my head zeemike Aug 2015 #69
Stay strong Person 2713 Aug 2015 #71
I recently had an encounter with your generation. gordianot Aug 2015 #72
Hey, Warrior Generation Android3.14 Aug 2015 #73
This old lady brer cat Aug 2015 #74
Kicked and recommended to the Max! Enthusiast Aug 2015 #82
This could have been written by my 20 year azmom Aug 2015 #84
If you're not playing pissing people off you're not doing it right Gman Aug 2015 #85
Never ask permission; just appear. Alkene Aug 2015 #87
When you're an 'older folk' you'll realize that none of this is new Matariki Aug 2015 #88
Nicely put, young man! Left coast liberal Aug 2015 #92
You remind me of Bernie Sanders when he was getting arrested for protesting aikoaiko Aug 2015 #95
Gotta wonder about those "riots" seveneyes Aug 2015 #97
Great OP and many excellent replies make for an outstanding thread. Scuba Aug 2015 #99
young folk always think they invented sex and partying and protesting Skittles Aug 2015 #100
Yep, the world is the same old same old. Always shoveling shit against the tide. nt valerief Aug 2015 #101
We got the voting age lowered to 18 jberryhill Aug 2015 #102
Fight for your future gwheezie Aug 2015 #106
I am an Old Fart and Still Protesting burrowowl Aug 2015 #108
Above All True Blue American Aug 2015 #125
Excellent post! ismnotwasm Aug 2015 #109
Your profile picture... F4lconF16 Aug 2015 #113
My dad got me into politics as as a teen marlakay Aug 2015 #112
I suppose my own son will be "your generation" lostnfound Aug 2015 #116
What is the Instagram link? Facility Inspector Aug 2015 #117
you are the reason us old folks have always fought and continue to do so. daybranch Aug 2015 #119
You are me at age 20 DFW Aug 2015 #120
Keep going to college...and fight the good fight. ileus Aug 2015 #122
Not Sure If Anyone True Blue American Aug 2015 #123
I can't believe you're only 20 - TBF Aug 2015 #124
Thank you! True Blue American Aug 2015 #126
I'm so glad to see the youth stepping up. Reminds me of the 60's. Just be careful, once I was going RKP5637 Aug 2015 #127
It would be tough to protest the M.I.C. when your handle pays homage to a killing machine. nt TheBlackAdder Aug 2015 #129
Rock on! Love you F4lconF16. lovemydog Aug 2015 #131
I disagree on one point, I know exactly what I want Fearless Aug 2015 #135
Sorry for what my generation has left you. Lunabell Aug 2015 #136
First thing we learned in the Hippie Era was to forget about getting permission.... Spitfire of ATJ Aug 2015 #138
Beautifully stated. silverweb Aug 2015 #140
I am encouraged to see your post! denvine Aug 2015 #141
HUGE K & R !!! - THANK YOU !!! WillyT Aug 2015 #143
Mostly I'm tired of all the selfies Orrex Aug 2015 #144
Sounds like exactly what I would have written in 1972. Nitram Aug 2015 #145
From an old fart... Thespian2 Aug 2015 #153
We're not so different you and I. Glassunion Aug 2015 #154
You sound just like my son PumpkinAle Aug 2015 #155
This is your world; you own it Onlooker Aug 2015 #157
K&R. Thanks for posting. JDPriestly Aug 2015 #158
You protest against things or people. JDPriestly Aug 2015 #159
You should come to NC and look at the protesters here (especially Moral Monday Forward Together). mmonk Aug 2015 #160
Awesome! tazkcmo Aug 2015 #162
When young people like yourself have the passion to care, it gives everyone hope for the future! DrewFlorida Aug 2015 #163
Turning point of life on this planet PATRICK Aug 2015 #166
Fight for what is right, not what is self-serving. Waiting For Everyman Aug 2015 #167
Yes! Thanks for all the musical accompaniment to these years of movement struggle. Much appreciated! ancianita Aug 2015 #169
Glad you liked it, Waiting For Everyman Aug 2015 #171
THIS. I'm with bvar, freshwest, WaitingForEveryman and YOU! Thanks for the inspiration back! ancianita Aug 2015 #168
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»To the older folks at DU ...»Reply #56