Reflections on Kent State

[Demeter]

I was 15 that May 4th, 40 years ago, on the verge of entering college. My brother was a year younger, not yet fodder for the draft lottery, but the ugly war showed no signs of stopping.

And then, they shot the people's children. The officials shot America's children. It wasn't enough to be killing the Vietnamese children. No, the peasants had to be properly instructed as to their place in society, as cannon fodder, either at home or abroad.

The desertions to Canada, the draft-dodging, gained a lot of steam after that.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but that was the first public execution of children by officaldom in this country.

I've never wanted to go to Ohio, ever, since.

[WheelWalker]

1. That was a rough time...

I was a third year student at the University of Oregon. We wore bulls eye targets for a week after that.

[virgogal]

2. It was an awful day but 19 and 20 year olds are not children.

[nosmokes]

3. they damn sure ain't fully developed adults either!

neuroscience proves the brain is still developing crucial decision making skills in late teens/early twenties

[WheelWalker]

4. Depends on one's viewpoint, I guess....

as long as I had a parent living, someone thought of me as a child.

[wizstars]

12. Children or not, no reason for a military goon squad to kill them n/t

[MkapX]

5. Kent grad

Graduated from Kent State in 2007...and yes the shooting there still has a big impact on the town mostly due to the fact that school admin continues to build junk around the memorial site but also because no one was ever brought to justice for the 4 students deaths. Sadly a lot of people my age have become apathetic over the shooting.

[MkapX]

6. ooohh and

I'll tell you what though going to kent during the bush years was an awesome experience. I still believe that military recruiters are scared to death to go on the kent campus....lol

[Gordonskene]

7. Reflections on Kent State

I thought you might be interested in a post over at Newstalgia
(sister site of Crooks and Liars) that runs then-California
Governor Ronald Reagan's reaction.

It's here:
http://newstalgia.crooksandliars.com/gordonskene/kent-state-day-it-got-personal-may-4-1

[Jefferson23]

8. Your link isn't working.

Kent State - When Everything Changed - May 4, 1970
By Gordonskene Monday May 03, 2010 10:01am

http://newstalgia.crooksandliars.com/gordonskene/kent-state-day-it-got-personal-may-4-1


Welcome to DU:hi:

[Gordonskene]

13. re: Link isn't working

Thanks! It's fixed now. And thanks for the welcome too :)

G.

[Demeter]

9. Thanks for the link

I think I have never cried so much for my nation, my brothers and sisters and yes, myself, as I have this year. Every year that goes by without some resolution of the issue, every year that civil liberties and rights are chipped a little bit more, it's blighted all our lives and now it's blighting our children's lives, and if the momentum isn't reversed soon, it will blight our grandchildren's lives, too.

[Berry Cool]

10. You've never wanted to go to Ohio since?

You appear to think you live in some more civilized place in which such things could never happen. Funny, that's what Ohioans thought, too.

Get off your high horse. Everything you think can "never" happen where you live can happen.

[era veteran]

11. We're finally on our own

This event did awaken a lot of people and the deaths of these kids may have shortened the war. The next Spring over a half million showed their face in Washington. Those pictures always move me.

[proudohioan]

14. I'm sorry that you feel that way about Ohio.....

it's a state with a lot of natural beauty, and those that live here are no more hateful than in any other part of the country.

IMO

[khawkings09]

15. I've read into that incident

still brings me chills

[Karenina]

16. Four Dead in Ohio...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SswXJX6X-ow