Kent State: 36 years ago today

[AlienGirl]

This year's memorial will come, as the last three have, in the midst of a war that has become increasingly divisive. While the memory of Kent State and other violent clashes from that time between protesters and authorities did not deter the incumbent president from leading the country into another unpopular war, it is important to honor Kent State's spirit of dissent and what it taught about the bloody consequences of intense division.

Halfway across the country, the lessons of Kent State are taught each semester in debate classes at Emerson College. J. Gregory Payne, associate professor of organizational and political communication and a Kent State historian, has been teaching students about history, advocacy, and rhetoric through the lens of Kent State for decades.

According to Payne, remembering this tragedy is important because ''Kent State is not about the past -- it's about the future."

***

Richard Nixon and George W. Bush embody many of the same divisive characteristics. Bush tells the world: ''You are with us or you are with the terrorists." Nixon's public statement after the shootings blamed the students: ''When dissent turns to violence it invites tragedy."

Again our civil liberties are being threatened. Bush has ordered the wiretapping of US citizens without a warrant and holds detainees indefinitely without trial; Nixon was spying on student activists and what he called ''domestic radicals."

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2006/05/04/why_kent_state_is_important_today/

Tucker

[flamin lib]

1. Excellent post, thank you. Kent state should never be forgotten.

It was American troops placing killing fire on American citizens.

As one who wore a military uniform and carried a gun on US soil in the US capitol to restrict US citizens from exercising their freedom of speech, association and redress of grievances I applaud keeping the truth alive. I was there for May Day and for the Vietnam Moritoriam. Google search it, it's worth the effort. You might see me--I'm the one wearing green.

Another excellent post on Kent State here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x207842

[Sequoia]

2. Thanks for the post.

I have a photo of the guards marching behind the students for my wallpaper today. No one who's walked by has asked me what it is. They don't want to hear any preaching from me.