I grew up in awe of my father, who began his life in the military at age 17. This was before recorded time, 1924. He was a radio operator, and packed his field communications on mules.
Four students were, in my understanding, massacred. Nine injured. I ventured my opinion. My father wheeled on me. "They did not obey commands!" And I shouted back, "They did nothing to die for."
My husband and I went on a vacation early that May, camping with two daughters and friends who lived in Iowa. Everywhere we camped, young people saw our Ohio plates and gathered around our fire. "What do you know about Kent State?' the first question.
I attributed those killings to poor communication, refusal to compromise, poor understanding, but above all, willingness to belligerence. The ones with the power, thrusting out big bellies, commanding the under trained sergeant of twenty odd non war national guard to advance and shoot the live ammunition.
In my mind's eye, when I see armed crowds advancing on state buildings, to force their version of reopening the country and its economy, I see Kent State. The militia lined along Blanket Hill, and one sergeant who the governor instructed to command "Shoot!"
Yesterday was my last day to wallow in despair, both of the Kent State shootings so long ago, and the common attitude of probably a majority of my country, demanding what was be again. And believe me, I did wallow.
I kick started a new project today, and I hope to tell you of it soon. I must also go to the store for a couple of overlooked items, so I will buy one only (for me) of the next fruit, and bake us a new crostata pictorial.
May we emerge a new nation, somehow. There is nothing in the air worth dying for, and that includes both Corona virus and a haircut and root touch up. See how petty that sounds, written down.
I remember Kent States well, being from a small college where students identified with Ohio. Lot of anger, for sure.
ReplyDeleteAngry times.
I remember Kent State. The National Guard should not have been armed with live ammunition, if that is what it is called. They were not trained.
ReplyDeleteRhodes was very at fault. The covidiots who are protesting now for their rights to haircuts and tattoos are even more so.
I am trying not to fall into despair and mostly I am succeeding.
I don't think any of us old enough to remember will ever forget. I think that was probably a turning point in the nation's stomach for the Viet Nam war.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to hear about your new project. I need one.
Thank you for making the connection between Kent State and the current circumstances. I had forgotten about the former event. It doesn’t seem that long ago. You know what they say about everything old...
ReplyDeleteEven as a Canadian, the incident at Kent State is still vivid in my memory. If ever there was a case of overreaction with tragic consequences, Kent State was it. It horrifies me to see yahoos with assault weapons at the state house in Michigan. It is sheer madness that the average citizen can purchase and publicly carry weapons designed for the sole purpose of killing fellow humans.
ReplyDeleteI remember when I first learned of Kent State as a student at college. How brutal it was. And, yes, senseless.
ReplyDeleteI watched a bit of footage showing (White) Californians losing their shit on the steps of the Capitol Building in Sacramento. --yelling in the faces of cops, sans masks. Foul stuff.
Hari OM
ReplyDeleteI must plead igonrance of the event (though will research it due to your mention) - however, can totally accept how it would draw parallels with current affairs... Stay strong, lady!!! YAM xx
Yes, I remember Kent State. The picture of the girls should have numbers on the lines behind them: 3' 7", 4' 5" etc.
ReplyDeleteFunny. The little one remains very little, 5'2". The big one was/is taller than I am. 5'6".
DeleteYes, we should remember. And you're so right about there being nothing in the air to die from right now. Hugs.
ReplyDeleteI will always remember Kent State. I was 17 and it made a strong impression on me. Now, I just don't know what to think any longer. A security guard was shot and killed because he was doing his job and asked someone to put a mask on. People that are marching and protesting are carrying guns. I believe in peaceful protest - but that does not include weapons. It saddens me to no end to see what has happened to our country over the past few years. It's not just the Covid19, a lot has been building for several years. What happened to the country I thought we once lived in?
ReplyDeleteAnd the girl told to use a mask went home for daddy, who came back with the gun and executed the guard. Shot him in the back of his head. What have we become?
DeleteEven on the other side of the world the shootings at Kent State reverberated. As they should.
ReplyDeleteAs current events also reverberate.
A new project? I am looking forward to hearing about that.
Thank you (yet again) for reminding me of the important things. That said I had a haircut yesterday. I was happy to be shorn, and my hairdresser was happy to be back. Very happy.
Ours are being kept out until mid month, and no firm return set. A real hair cut. Wow. I know how much hair will hit the floor for me. I guess you were just as happy.
DeleteDear Joanne, I was in grad school when Kent State made the Vietnam War personal for all of us who were women and weren't going to be drafted. I'd participated in some protest. Knocked on doors. Had shotguns drawn on me. But suddenly the war became even more personal.
ReplyDeleteBonnie's comments reflected my own bemusement, as do yours. Somehow, we have forgotten--perhaps we never knew, I'm just not sure--that we are One and the that affects any one of us, affects us all. Somehow, also, greed and a thirst for power and a desire to be special among all have become the ribs holding together the hollow barrel of our country. For me, things are scarier now than at anytime during my lifetime. Yes, Julian of Norwich said, centuries ago, "And all shall be well. And all shall be well. And all manner of thing shall be exceedingly well." Yet, if Vietnam taught me anything it's that we must all search for enlightenment by withdrawing our heads from the sand of disinformation and ignorance and yes, stupidity, and then do something. Stand for something. Live for something. Talk the talk, but then walk the walk. Peace.
Thank you, Dee. We need to feel Oneness again. Julian's homily is familiar and loved by me.
DeleteWe were just talking about Kent State over the weekend, hubby and me. I do remember reading about it so many years ago. I wad only 12 at the time and understood a lot but not all of the world at that time. I can't believe so much time has gone by. You can get a hair cut here come Friday. Beauty salons and the like reopen then.
ReplyDeleteBetty
I remember the shock of Kent State. It made me wonder what sort of a country it was where something like that could happen...but in the time intervening I have seen my own country descend into a state that I would not then have believed possible.
ReplyDeleteI remember it well. I truly did not recognize my country. That whole era was pretty terrible.
ReplyDeleteA very good friend of mine was present at that catastrophy. She was in the last year of her studies to be a medical doctor. She and her husband left Ohio and came to Canada to live beside us North of Algonquin. That scene haunted her for many many years. She never did practice medicine but went on to be a professor of nursing.
ReplyDeleteMass shootings, armed troopers or SWAT teams advancing on whatever situation is deemed necessary, the whole nightmare horrifies me.
ReplyDeleteI'll think about the crostata instead.
The people showing up in a legislature well armed is absolutely scary. Better heads are needed. You don't discuss much with the guy who has a gun.
ReplyDeleteI remember Kent State even though I was in Hawaii at the time. I remember the shock.
ReplyDeleteWhat scares me now are those insane people who are going to governors’ places to demand the states reopen while carrying guns and not social distancing. It’s going to be bad. You know there’s going to be another spike.
I was just finishing uni, probably writing exams or close to it, and was only vaguely aware of the tragedy at the time.
ReplyDeleteIn Michigan those are militia members. They are listed as terrorists. If you remember they bombed the federal building in Oklahoma City in 1995. If the authorities were allowed to tell them to stand down they would run home with their tails between their legs. Peaceful assembly is guaranteed in the Constitution.Armed insurrection is not.
ReplyDeleteI like to think of new projects--much preferred over the state of things right now. I do believe we will have many more deaths before this is over with, whether from COVID-19 or violence. It will come... people have not learned anything from this pandemic. Sad and scary. For myself, I shall use extreme caution when the reopening is announced. I don't trust that the virus will be done and over with.
ReplyDeletePeople are over-keen to get out there and spread the virus. I don't doubt there will be a second wave when these people get their way; but guns in the street? No.
ReplyDeleteI remember.
ReplyDeleteSadly I don't think people will have changed once the lockdown is over. Gradually everyone will go back to their lives and this will be seen as a glitch. A glitch that has killed thousands of people all over the world. I'd like to think that this tragedy will reunite the world, but sadly I doubt it will.
ReplyDeleteI too, remember.
ReplyDeleteThanks for airing this anniversary. I hadn't heard of the Kent State shootings, but I've now googled it. I feel a bit safer over here.
ReplyDeleteBritish politicians are being very premature in discussing the easing of lockdown and general return to work. Of course they don't want to spend any more public money and they want the economy up and running again, but as yet there's no sign of a sustained fall in either infection rates or death rates and I for one am not going to take any unnecessary risks, whatever the government decides.
ReplyDeleteAll very well said Joanne.
ReplyDeleteI don't know much about the Kent State shootings, but as you say it's the casual belligerence that marks out these events. There have been plenty of incomprehensible shootings, stabbings and pedestrian mow-downs here in Britain too.
ReplyDeleteHere, it seems to us that we have a wonderful future.As soon as the virus goes away, the missiles will start. There's something to wait for.
ReplyDeleteYael, I cannot imagine living in Israel. I cannot imagine incoming from the Gaza Strip. But this virus is not going away soon.
DeleteI was shocked when I read that it been 50 years when that horror happened.
ReplyDeleteThe whole thing was so shocking. I knew the "straights" hated us, but it was only then that I realized they would happily kills us to keep the world from changing.
ReplyDeleteIt was horrifying that the national guard would actually fire on unarmed Americans. the beginning of the end. now our citizens mow down citizens and the police shoot first and ask questions later. I'v wondered if any of those national guardsmen refused to shoot when ordered that day. and now citizens and politicians are ordering deaths by the tens of thousands, the poor and struggling ordered to work without safety precautions if their employer opens back up and if they decline, no unemployment benefits. so work or die or work and die. how does a country come back from this?
ReplyDeleteIt's hard not to wallow a little bit. Everything is so messed up right now. I don't even think a new president will change the trajectory. Obviously, I'm still wallowing. I'm glad you've moved on to a new project. Can't wait to hear about it.
ReplyDeleteIt does sound pretty and I hope your thoughts are a positive prediction but I think the genuinely stupid people are in control. And that's about as scary as the virus.
ReplyDeleteI think the surge in the return to work will cause a surge in infections that the surging mass will not be prepared for. I also think (hope) it will be as large as predicted or more, and it will terrify the bejezus out of the genuinely stupid people and cause some reasonable reaction that will be classed as "good".
DeleteOh, I agree.
ReplyDeleteYou are in my thoughts often. I look at the towels, and there you are. I thank you often. Every day.