I Would Like to Talk About the Sixties

[The Whiskey Priest]

Today, it seems appropriate to talk about the Sixties. In respect for the man who did more to stop an insane war and a man who gave me laughter in the time of that war. The Sixties were a time of great hope and valley’s of despair.

We took a look at American society and found it wanting. A thirsty child could not get a drink of water in the South, because they were black, everyone was standing on their own little island of commodities as the society rained more crap over them, our best were taken from us in a hail of gunfire and the worst seemed to become the norm.

We had our Wavy Gravies and our Tom Haydens. We wrote impressive manifestos and “Dead Skunk in the Middle of the Road.” We came together at People's Park, Columbia and Woodstock. We saw our friends die at Khe Sanh, on the floor of the kitchen in the Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles, on a balcony of the Motel Lorraine and we died each night in front of the television.

We ran from gas in Chicago, we fell to bullets in Kent State and we shut down the New York State Thruway and in the end we saw Nixon come to power. We gathered in Washington D.C to wade in the reflecting pool and to confront the pentagon, but Norman Morrison had been there before us.

Thoughts of the Sixties would not be complete without “Clean” Gene the poet who lost in New Hampshire, but started us on the road to winning the end of an insane war. As for Richard, what is to be said, the man was a genius and he let me laugh when I needed that laugh.

Richard, Gene...you are missed already. I will be there shortly, I shall look forward to having a beer with both of you.

[Skink]

1. Yep. RIP my friend.

[tularetom]

2. It is depressing, especially coming

just days after the 25th anniversity of the murder of John Lennon perhaps the greatest 60's icon. But you gotta look back at what we accomplished - the country came around to the insanity of government policies in Nam and the draft was ended. It can happen again if enough Americans get pissed off about it -- unfortuately I'm afraid a lot of young men and women will have to die before that happens.

"Dead Skunk" - my favorite song from those days. Well, except for "Don't Bogart That Joint".

[MuseRider]

4. "Don't Bogart That Joint"

a true classic!

[liberaltrucker]

3. It ain't over yet

We may still have gas to run from, bullets to dodge. Richard and Gene are gone, and it's up to us to carry on. Let's make them proud. We may be long in the tooth, but the fire's always gonna be there:patriot:

[NVMojo]

5. Right on!

And I mean it!

[EFerrari]

6. Is it a trick of age that makes me think, now, these were men.

They had a kind of courage that we don't see often now. It was rare enough then -- before homogeneity in public life became some kind of religion. They were as different as possible except in their commitment. Their talents, taken together, map what seems like the infinite variety of the Sixties. And, we needed them all, didn't we. We'll need them again.

[newspeak]

7. I remember Pope John XXIII

we had folk masses, parts of the church were really involved in civil rights, social justice, poverty. It was inspiring to see so many people of different beliefs come together for social causes. I don't remember this fake family values thing or war on homosexuals or all of the hate thrown around by churches as it is today. Maybe it was there, but I don't remember it. At the forefront, was the civil rights movement and getting us out of Vietnam. Where is this new pope today? The same as the old pope. And, there archaic, dark age positions will kill the Catholic church. If the church is not evolving, growing; then it is dying. Oops, I said evolving!!!! naughty, naughty. I grew away from the church a long time ago and seeing these Opus Deis cons in certain political positions is starting to remind me of the Inquisition. We have taken one step forward and two steps back. At least that's what I'm thinking about now.

[Chipper Chat]

8. I am from that 1960s "Vatican II" generation.

It was an exciting time in the Catholic Church. The Latin music was suddenly gone from the mass. Guitars took over. Our nuns, the Sisters of Providence, were such great mentors. Many of them played guitar and led folk masses. They also were now at liberty to question things and pass them on to us "young minds,' instead of towing the doctrinal Pope Pius line. They really got us thinking.
But what a difference the 21st century is. The church has retreated into the Middle Ages. I am still appalled that John Kerry was threatened with communion refusal BY A BISHOP!!!should he come to a Missouri church. While I still consider myself a Catholic I now attend the United Methodist Church where the pastor welcomes persons of all creeds. He even said it was OK to be pro-choice which amazed me. With this new homophobic and regressive pope, I dont see any future for the world-wide Catholic Church but a continual slide into mediocrity. Sad.

[OneBlueSky]

9. the sixties were an amazing time . . .

mainly because people were both informed and passionate . . . the media was not all owned by multi-nationals, and the real news was actually reported, even from Vietnam . . .

it's a whole different story today . . . most people, who still get their information from television and newspapers, have absolutely NO IDEA what is really happening in this country and in the world . . . mention something that hasn't been on CBS News (e.g. the impossibility of the official 9/11 story) and their eyes glaze over . . . and young people, who were in the lead in the 60s, are more concerned with the newest electronic gizmo or video game than with what's happened to our elections . . .

if the people knew the truth, the passion might be re-kindled . . . but as long as the perception remains that truth is a function of tv coverage, there's not much hope, imo . . .

[greatauntoftriplets]

10. Not THAT shortly.....

But I bet that both will be happy to share a beer with you.

:toast: