I've kinda had it with all of the BS

[davidthegnome]

118. It wasn't just the political change.

I'm too young to have lived through the sixties, but I have spoken with many, republicans and democrats, who did. I've made something of a study of that era. Granted, this secondhand knowledge isn't the same as having been alive during that time, but I think that the revolution of the sixties was about a lot more than just politics.

So many great people lived during, and around that time - Martin Luther King, JFK and Jackie, Robert Kennedy... the "Best and the Brightest". Politically, there was great momentum for progressive change, civil rights, peace, assistance for those in poverty, a deal between Nations that, somehow, averted what might have been the end of the world (the Bay of Pigs). What really inspired me though, was the way that so many regular people simply started getting together, for music, for conversation, for companionship, and actually talked about what was going on. I believe that their passion changed the world in a variety of ways. It was a sexual revolution, a social revolution, a revolution in the name of peace even during a time of war.

Perhaps I romanticize it to some extent, I can't deny that. I don't think it's essentially about politics though, I believe that social revolution must come first among the hearts and minds of those who are living under any political regime. Once there is a common goal that enough people believe in, once there is enough passion and energy directed in the right way, by many minds working in unison - then I believe that the political change will occur.

Regarding demonstrations, I respectfully disagree. I think there was great change during the sixties, but I'm thinking more of Gandhi's sort of revolution. There was a primary goal - to rid India of British rule. In this particular case, I believe that the goal needs to be workers rights, an improved and fully functional social safety net, regulations put into place to reduce and prevent the great corruption in the government that is today's reality.

We do need to give people something to vote for though. Elizabeth Warren, Alan Grayson, Bernie Sanders, these three would be great candidates for progressive change. Somehow though, the people with the most honesty, compassion and leadership ability, only rarely decide to run for office. Perhaps we need to draft one of them...