55 Years ago - Kent State shootings

[djefferis]

So much happened in ‘70 that changed the way our society thinks.

Coming off the summer of love and Woodstock - we had a generation that thought they could make the world this utopian paradise - then reality hit with events like Altamonte and Kent State - minor events ordinarily that had massive ripple effects.

Think about it - we have had how many mass shootings on campuses the last 20 years - we mourn them, we put up markers - but no one is writing songs about them nor talking about them anymore. Kent State was different though - this was our own government doing the shooting and these were kids protesting. It woke Up the most die hard supporters of Uncle Sam to what was happening and that there were people profiting off the blood of their sons a million miles away from home.

 

[JDS]

Is there a movie out there about this story ? Seems very controversial as far as motives, never heard about these shootings it’s before my time.

 

[str]

Oh wow !

JDS, it is worth a study . Not too long a study or you get into the slanted angles of opinion’s but
if you read through with an open mind, it is startling.
That was truly history unfolding right before your eyes. Man, the times we lived in.
Also, the way those drafted young men who went to Vietnam were treated when they came home is unbelievable .

“Something’s happening here” ( Buffalo Springfield), was a great tribute song as was Ohio.
I still listen to both on my Spotify. Whew !

 

[Archie]

we need to get some of this action on harvard's campus

asap

 

[djefferis]

Also, the way those drafted young men who went to Vietnam were treated when they came home is unbelievable .

Some of the stories my old man and other veterans of the era have told me about their experiences and coming home to a not so welcoming world. Many shared an experience of returning to San Francisco and tossing their uniforms in the trash at the restroom - changing into civi’s before flying back home. Some out of disgust with the military - some out of fear and realization that being uniformed meant they would be hassled the entire ride home / wouldn’t be able to get cabs at the airport.

Worst one though was from my old man talking about being in Germany on 5/4/70. He was in radio school for a couple of months - preparing to be a radio man in the field (a truly shitty job - imagine hiking 5-10 miles in the jungle with 80# of radio on your back - standing next to the company commander who was a huge target of snipers the entire time).

Anyway - his bunk mate was from Ohio too and they became friends quickly - similar experiences growing up and all. Bunk mate had a sister who was going to Kent and had spoken with him the night before saying she was going to to the sit in. When word came through of the shooting - guy went completely nuts thinking his sister was among the victims (she wasn’t) - just completely lost it going on a rampage before being taken out by a couple of MPs. There are 2 days every year I think about some of the stories my old man eventually opened up with me about his military experience and 5/4 is one of them. Imagine being in your late teens/early 20s and living through some of this shit.

 

[jjgold]

I can’t believe it was that long ago tragic but historic

 

[str]

I was not quite 16 years old. I was confused. My dad was an Army veteran who landed on Omaha Beach in WWII. He was affected, by the things he saw but.. was against the “ long haired hippie “ stuff as he called it.
So he was torn when the troops were treated so badly when they returned. It seemed difficult for him but I was so young still.
That was when I realized life was not a perfect story I was living but instead, complicated and full of surprises.
It was the wake up call of my life. And while more came over time, it was the first one for me.

 

[Brock Landers]

 

[djefferis]

A lot of the WW 2 vets dismissed Korea and Viet Nam as minor conflicts and not wars for the longest time. Many also viewed those who served in both as not being “real” veterans.

It’s one of the reasons for major declines in veterans groups leading up to the 90s. Lost alot of people and money because of older leadership dismissing younger vets - of course as the older guys died off - membership shrank. A new group of “charities” popped up to take the public’s money - Wounded Warriors and the like - it legacy groups like the VFW/Legion/AmVets missed out on a ton of money with this mis step.

 

[keithrichard]

Crazy crazy times. I had friends and family fighting in
Vietnam and also on the other side (protestors, conscientious objectors,etc ). I was still an observer mostly as a bit too young still to be part of any movement. Just missed being drafted .

 

[BigJay]

One of the most iconic photos of all time

Pulitzer Prize winner

 

[BigJay]

So much happened in ‘70 that changed the way our society thinks.

Coming off the summer of love and Woodstock - we had a generation that thought they could make the world this utopian paradise - then reality hit with events like Altamonte and Kent State - minor events ordinarily that had massive ripple effects.

Think about it - we have had how many mass shootings on campuses the last 20 years - we mourn them, we put up markers - but no one is writing songs about them nor talking about them anymore. Kent State was different though - this was our own government doing the shooting and these were kids protesting. It woke Up the most die hard supporters of Uncle Sam to what was happening and that there were people profiting off the blood of their sons a million miles away from home.

One of Neil Young’s greatest songs of the hundreds he’s written

 

[BigJay]

we need to get some of this action on harvard's campus

asap

You’re saying the government should go shoot students at Harvard??

 

[BigJay]

I was lucky enough to see Crosby, Stills and Nash preform in Austin live in 2012

Beautiful concert. The harmony in their voices was still amazing

They didn’t sing Ohio even though a couple of people around us were wondering why they didn’t

I’m sure it’s because it was a CSN&Y song and I’m sure they didn’t preform it anymore because it was a song for that particular time. Not one for folks to enjoy 40 years later at a concert

 

[keithrichard]

I was lucky enough to see Crosby, Stills and Nash preform in Austin live in 2012

Beautiful concert. The harmony in their voices was still amazing

They didn’t sing Ohio even though a couple of people around us were wondering why they didn’t

I’m sure it’s because it was a CSN&Y song and I’m sure they didn’t preform it anymore because it was a song for that particular time. Not one for folks to enjoy 40 years later at a concert

Regretfully I've never seen them live. Had a chance to attend a concert with them in the 70s in their prime too but passed it up for some reason. Amazing harmony this group had.

 

[djefferis]

Saw Neil Young in ‘97 a few times - honestly the first time I saw him was just a free ticket and nothing to do on a Thursday. Wasn’t expecting much and wasn’t really a “fan” of his music. I knew who he was of course and all the hits - but aside from Harvest Moon - knew nothing he had done past the mid 70s.

That show made me a fan of his - just an amazing stage presence.

As to CSN - read Graham Nash’s book and found it interesting how connected he has been able to stay with modern music - without being front and center. Stills has always been a criminally underrated guitar player in my opinion and Crosby was of course quite the interesting character - could be both so incredibly talented and genuine one day and a complete ass the next. But they had that thing that the Beatles had - individually they were good - but together they became otherworldly - they had that ability to harmonize and act as one. It’s an underrated musical ability still / especially in rock.