I will vote all Dem in 08 as I don’t want a third party messing it up. But I have to wonder why the Democrats aren’t trying to override the veto. I have to wonder whether we elected wimps or Bush & Co is holding something over each key Democrat’s head.
May 4th will be the 37th anniversary of Kent State. Another, on and under the surface, more horrifying carnage just happened in a college. But never forget, it was The National Guard that opened fire in Kent State. A very short time later Jackson State happened. It was a Black school so it was ignored. I don’t usually use “four” letter words as I know too many kids, and think there are usually better words. But sometimes… A revised version of this story will be in my book. Though it’s fiction I call myself Pia, and use names that are in the blog. No I’m not anti-National Guard or any troop. I do resent having to say that.
May 4, 1970
At school in the rolling hills and bucolic atmosphere of Long Island’s Gold Coast, students and/or people who claimed to be, were, in groups watching TV. Some people were crying. Others just looked stunned.
Pia was running back and forth from the philosophy department where they were planning the demonstration and her dorm to take calls.
It was un-fuckin-unbelievable. Her parents, banned from calling on the grounds that she was never usually at her dorm, called. Her mother cried. Her mother wasn’t a crier:
“It could be you. You could have just been walking.”
Noah who was living in another state called:
“Are you alright?”
“Uh, Noah, it happened in Ohio. I’m on Long Island.”
“Isn’t there a demonstration?”
“Hasn’t happened yet. It’s in the planning stage.”
“Don’t do anything stupid.”
“Me. You were the one arrested in the moratorium in DC, in 67. I was there, and didn’t get arrested.”
“You were in high school, and didn’t purposely get arrested.”
“And I have always been proud of you for that.”
The school had told Noah’s parents that he had been arrested for drugs. If they only would believe or even listen to his story, they would have been proud. Instead they disowned him.
The demonstration began a little while later. Students who had been pro-war until then took part. They took over Northern Boulevard.
The cops came. Some were in riot gear. Others just the general Nassau County red necks. She was with a large group of her friend. Cops were inching up close and quickly. Her friend Deb took her bare hands and kicked a cop where it hurt.
People got between Deb and the cop. They tried running away, but ended in another part of the demonstration. As it was beginning to turn into a real rumble helicopters came overhead telling the cops to leave the students alone.
She knew what was happening. Last year 40something of her closest friends had been busted in a pre-dawn raid, synchronized on campus and at houses to happen at exactly the same time. Two large buses had came to campus.
It was a Thursday night/Friday morning raid which meant nobody could get bail over the weekend. The guys had it OK. They were put in two tiers: 21+ and under 21. They played games, joked with the guards and tried to treat as a lark. The four girls didn’t have a good time. One had just had an abortion. They wouldn’t let her take her medicine and she had an infection.
The cases would be thrown out. They had all been set up by the police and the Nassau County DA’s office who thought public sympathy would be on their side. They weren’t expecting “it could have been my kid.” Almost nobody was guilty of any of the charges brought.
The DA’s office couldn’t afford to alienate parents again. Maybe they even thought what was happening at Kent State was wrong. Everybody had to think so.
The demonstration was soon over. They all went into the cafeteria where it was lobster and steak night. Somebody began throwing food. Soon most people were. After dodging a lot of jello, she decided that she could watch and be hit or join in. She joined.
Deb met Guy during the food riot. After spending 24 hours in her room, they went off on his motorcycle to the Indianapolis 500.
Pia was glad for Deb, but couldn’t help thinking both Deb and Guy weren’t really anti-war. If they were they would stay and fight.
There was no fight. School was cancelled quickly. The year before there had been threats of a race riot on campus. Classes and finals had been cancelled. This was her second year of college, and her second year without a real end to spring semester. Grades would all be pass/fail.
That summer she would realize she preferred working to school. That summer she would begin to believe that if she were to go to school and not have a spring semester, it should be on her dime not her father’s. Unfortunately he felt differently.
Yes, I support the troops and did then. Many of the people with us were vets. On Boston Legal last night, it was said troops didn’t live long enough to come home sick from Viet Nam. It’s true many people with brain and other injuries died. Many others lived. They got our support but not the VA’s support. I would talk more about BL, but the Wombat’s in Florida as his grandfather died, and MizB is back with new videos. Both EW and Mizzy B are blogging delights and unique.
The story about the bust will be its own story. The ending has a few stories in it. The book really does go one event at a time.
There is a non fiction post below
If you don’t know much about Kent State please go to the link below. The Tet Offensive began the anti-war tide, Kent State brought it all back home. The person I call Noah grew up with Jeffrey Miller. They had the same look from the back, especially in the picture
Tin soldiers and Nixon coming,
We’re finally on our own.
This summer I hear the drumming,
Four dead in Ohio.
Gotta get down to it
Soldiers are gunning us down
Should have been done long ago.
What if you knew her
And found her dead on the ground
How can you run when you know?
Gotta get down to it
Soldiers are gunning us down
Should have been done long ago.
What if you knew her
And found her dead on the ground
How can you run when you know?
Tin soldiers and Nixon coming,
We’re finally on our own.
This summer I hear the drumming,
Four dead in Ohio.
The only thing I know about Kent State is what I have watched on Public Television or various other history channel type places. It seems so distant and unbelievable that it actually happened.
I am lacking knowledge of that time and I am going to have to check out the link.
great writing! it has a sense of gloom. i liked that. 😉
take care!
Really fine writing. The one just below is excellent too.
That line stood out to me too on BL and just seemed so out of place and so wrong… where do all the Vietnam vets come from then? Dios mio!
I need to read up more on Kent State too…
As for your sweet comment, you sure know how to bring a tear or two to this bohemian’s eyes DAS FO SHO! Gracias sweet amiga…
That is a fresh perspective on a tragedy I don’t remember. It is interesting that Kent State seems less likely now. I can’t decide if we’re actually less divided now than then or if everyone is convinced of so many different enemies no one knows how to prioritize their scapegoats.
“Four dead in Ohio,” Crosby Stills, Nash and Young, right”, those words made sure the tragedy will never die as that song is burned into many of our brains and psyches. I remember Kent State, but not much about it, as i was in the 8th grade and pretty clueless about everything at the time.
ok so my class that I have on wednesday just talked about this…we were reading poems for 2 days. its so sad!
An individual point-of-view set against the context of a historical event. A little History Channel, a little Forrest Gump, a lot enjoyable.
I would be shocked if the vote didn’t go Democratic next time around but then again, I’m even more shocked there are still Bush supporters out there. Go figure.
I liked the feeling it gave me. Somber story from your perspective, nothing better.
It’s always tough to remember and relive moments like these in our history.