Musings from an old, grey warrior.

[ewagner]

I thought my protesting days were over. I thought by this age, I would have settled into the mundane activities of a county party official and there would be little, if any occasion to take to the streets like I did in my youth.

And boy did I ever.

I slept on the college presidents lawn for the fright to print the word "fuck" in the campus newspaper.

I marched for civil rights.

I stood in the campus square with a bullhorn to protest the Viet Nam war.

I though we had won when Nixon left the White House in disgrace. When Blacks and Hispanics could vote without literacy tests or poll taxes I didn't think there was anything left to fight for. When the last helicopter left the roof of the embassy in Saigon, it was time for me to "grow up" and start thinking about raising a family and supporting them with a good paying job and carving out my own piece of the great American Pie.

When I was standing with the other members of the vigil last night it dawned on me that standing for democracy isn't a once-in-a-lifetime thing. It's never ending. And I'm never too old, too tired, too cynical or too rich or poor to stand on a street corner and tell the world it needs to change.

When I looked at all the pictures on DU, my heart pounded with pride because, once again, I was a part of something much bigger than myself. And do you know what else I see in those pictures? I see kids standing side-by-side with their parents. I see the next generation of activists who will stand for our country.

I feel hopeful this morning.

[havocmom]

1. ::chuckle:: So I'm not the only old gray warrior with new energy this day?

:thumbsup: Guess we are back in the saddle. I'm playing old rock & roll, getting a lot done and feel like America still has a pulse.

Will take a lot, but the young faces I see, well, they are up to the challenge, with a little help from old friends. ;)

Oh beautiful
for spacious skies
for amber waves of grain...

you all know the words. Sing them and then tell me you didn't tear up just a little.

And crown thy good
with Brotherhood
from sea to shining see

[H2O Man]

3. "... with a little help from 'old' friends..."

Now that's another good song!

One more Grey Panther checking in.

[havocmom]

11. Hey there H2O Man! Let me move my walker outta the way so you can sit

a spell at the geezer's table ;)

Been thinking about all us old radicals from way back... If they thought we were a handful in our youth, whadda they gonna do now that we are older, wiser, and at a point where we don't really worry about tomorrows? With nothing to lose at this end of life, we could be some kinda trouble!

[Lisa]

14. older, wiser -- and ....

A couple of Vietnam-era activists, whom I recently overheard plotting to smuggle war resisters into Canada, were chuckling about this last week.

"They forget -- some of us are now lawyers. And plus, we've already paid for homes, cars -- and stock portfolios we can cash in. So the kids won't have to scrounge day-old bread out of dumpsters, the way we did."

[havocmom]

23. Older, wiser, more resources and meaner 'n scalded cats

Talkin 'bout my generation....

:evilgrin:

[H2O Man]

63. Right.

It strikes me as odd that the country asks 18 to 21 year olds to join the military and fight for the country. They really don't have the investment in it that us older folks have. What does my 18 year old have to protect? His stereo and CD collection?

(Really it should be people my age, with the children, the house, etc to protect, who should be asked to step up. Of course, I might be less likely than the average 18 year old to take a red-faced, yelling fellow seriously when he checks the shine of my shoes.)

In the Vietnam era, the lowest of the low were the guys like George W. who "supported" the war, so long as other people were doing the fighting. Guys like Kerry, who supported it, participated and had their eyes opened, and came home and opposed it, earned our respect. And guys like Al Gore, who opposed it but refused to take advantage of the connections that could have kept him as safe and comfortable as George W. Bush, also were honorable.

But it's time for those who knew the war was wrong, and worked to stop it, to step it up again here on the home front.

[havocmom]

68. LOL Picturing H2O Man trying to maintain straight face as DI chews ass

for some imaginary flaw, like it matters...

:rofl: Picturing that DI telling havocmom to climb a rope :rofl:

On a more serious note, have especially been suspicious of RICH chicken hawks who tend to send poorer young males off to fight/die while they stayed home where the women and booze are. Just too afraid there might not be enough to go around is my theory. For some, no matter how much there is of anything, it is never enough for them. Kill off the competition and make money in the process is a recipe they enjoy too eagerly.

[GliderGuider]

2. I hear you!

There were no vigils to go to up here in Ottawa, so I conducted my own little vigil on the net. I listened to "Song for Cindy Sheehan" as I cast pearls of wisdom before Freeper swine on a hi-fi board I haunt, and watched the reports and pictures start flowing in. I have to say I SNAGged out and teared up more than once. Hell, I could almost taste the tear gas again :-) It's good to see your country coming back to life. We'd almost given up on you all.

SNAG: Sensitive New Age Guy

[Lex]

4. Thanks for your post, ewagner.

I'm 40, but when I was in grade school and read about Vietnam War protests and Civil Rights War protests, or even the protests for women to get the right to vote, I used to wonder,

"Would I have done that? Would I have marched, protested, brought a sign and had the guts to show up and be a part?"

Now I understand that it's all about loving your country enough to show up and say something when she is headed in the wrong direction, or when things need to be going another way.

I knew it was the right thing to do too because I had seen so many before me march, protest, and bring change when needed. People like you who showed up, and spoke up, and continue to, are an inspiration.

[tk2kewl]

5. Thanks for you past and present efforts and a great post.

:kick:

[geoshelby]

6. Feeling older than my years

Your post was great to read. To me, one of the most interesting things about this post 9/11 America of ours is how we have forgotten the lessons of history.
I turned 30 last week. Vietnam ended the year I was born. Yet as a child I was surrounded by Vets and civilians alike who talked about The Depression, WWII and the Vietnam era among many other topics. People who talked to their kids, told us of the mistakes that had been made and what we could learn from them. People who said that spitting on vets was wrong but so was keeping your mouth shut while the government pushed agendas that made the world a more dangerous place.
Today I meet an amazing amount of people in their early 20's who seem to be far more "conservative" than most people I know of my own age and only interested in X-Box and pop culture.
I may not be old enough to remember any of the major armed conflicts of the 20th century, but I do remember the people who lived through them and why they stockpiled food, bought war bonds and fought to buy their own homes. Can you imagine putting cardboard in your shoes when the soles wear out? I can, only because that's what grandma told us she had to do during the depression. What has happened to the transfer of knowledge? How does the youth of America see our future panning out? I for one feel like I ended up in the wrong era and the role models of my youth are all gone.

[havocmom]

12. Welcome aboard, geoshelby. Good to have you here with us evilDUers!

When I hear from youngsters like you (forgive me for that, but you are a youngster to me, younger than my daughter) it does give me some hope for the future. Good to have hope at my point of life.

Your people did a good job when they taught you why it is important to take care of your world. Thank them, they gave you riches greater than you can measure.

There are others like you out there. Thank goodness!

[WhoDoYouTrust]

16. Thanks for welcoming my son-in-law!

He's a little sanity for me in this crazy world. I count my blessings that he and my daughter found each other.

:loveya:, geoshelby!

[havocmom]

22. Does he have a brother ? LOL

Havocpup says there are no men her age worth dealing with where she lives.

[newyawker99]

32. Hi geoshelby!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[tavalon]

41. Hang here for a while

You will see more roll models than you can shake a stick at. You can even be one of those roll models.

Welcome to our not so little community, geoshelby.

You know I've wondered about that conservative shift but the way I ended up working it out in my head is that conservatism is pretty closely associated with selfishism. I think the illness is selfishness and the manifestation is conservatism.

[NJCher]

62. yes

I think it's more than political party affiliation. It's a psychological orientation.


Cher

[havocmom]

72. ".. the illness is selfishness & the manifestation is conservatism." WOW

You are wise and poetic.

Bumper sticker, anyone? Sig lines? Can we quote you, tavalon?

That line is a keeper.

[tavalon]

73. you can have full rights to my occasion;l

interesting thoughts.

[Im with Rosey]

7. I was at a local vigil last night

My 17 year old daughter was taking pics of all of us, older, younger, children. My daughter didn't really want to go, but was very happy she did after all was said and done. That is one of the critical messages we MUST get out there for all to think about- EVERYONE has a stake in this. I also have a 24 yr. old son, thankfully he is continuing his education, not joining the military as a career op. Many younger than he have died for lies, this is the catalist, this is one of the reasons we are seeing such a variety of people protesting. I, too feel a glimmer of hope.

[ClayZ]

8. Three generations with us last night!

Our grandchildren held this sign.


We feel hopeful this morning, too!

Thanks for you great post!:kick:

[yorkiemommie1]

39. i found my pendant from the 60s

and have worn it on my purse since the start of this insanity.

I never thought we'd be back at this point! ( but even worse because of complicit media and rw crazies ).

Even my adult daughter wonders how 'our' generation could have produced such crazies and i tell her it's because our generation had Yaffies & such back then. They went on to produce more of their kind and hopefully, so did we.

[democrank]

9. From another old warrior......

This 60-year old was in the thick of it last night as were many, many others my age and older. Many of us were activists during the Vietnam War/ Civil Rights/ Women`s Rights protests so we bring a lot of experience to today`s activism issues.

Glad to hear you felt hopeful this morning. So did I, partly because last night`s vigil reminded me of how ordinary people stopped a war decades ago.

[ewagner]

10. I guess Springsteen knew it too

that's why he wrote this:

Well, we made a promise we swore we'd always remember
No retreat, baby, no surrender
Like soldiers in the winter's night
With a vow to defend
No retreat, baby, no surrender

Well, now young faces grow sad and old
And hearts of fire grow cold
We swore blood brothers against the wind
Now I'm ready to grow young again
And hear your sister's voice calling us home
Across the open yards
Well maybe we'll cut someplace of own
With these drums and these guitars

[lynettebro440]

13. We can teach the young

and what I have found is that my heart rate is pounding again for a good reason, not because I'm throwing something at the idiots on the right TV. The energy is exactly like before in the 60's. Let's show them how we rock and roll....

Kicked:kick:

[kliljedahl]

15. 56 Y/O Grey Warrior ( & a little balding too) checking in

See this great post by a Newbie: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4386979
On edit: These old fingers never were very good at typing.

Keith’s Barbeque Central

[mitchtv]

17. Hey , one more oldie

Hell, I thought that I wouldn't have to do this anymore but, I was wrong there are more of the old "Movement" people at these affairs than youth. Maybe soon the young will pick up the torch, it's getting heavy, and they won't let you take your meds to jail!

[rat618]

18. And Still Another One....

Not sure I can take the tear gas anymore but still willing to try. Another song suggestion to bring back again is "Monster" by Steppenwolf. The lines

And though the past has it's share of injustice
Kind was the spirit in many a way
But it's protectors and friends have been sleeping
Now it's a monster and will not obey

perfectly describe this Administration.

[Melodybe]

19. 27 year old, worker here!

We care, we are working too and all the help from our "older" friends is exactly the motivation we need.

We want our own marches, we want our own Woodstock, we want a future that we can all be eager for.

[newyawker99]

33. HI rat618!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[rasputin1952]

37. Welcome to DU rat618

:hi:...:)

[1gobluedem]

20. I think Phil Ochs said it best

Oh I marched to the battle of New Orleans
At the end of the early British war
The young land started growing
The young blood started flowing
But I ain't marchin' anymore

For I've killed my share of Indians
In a thousand different fights
I was there at the Little Big Horn
I heard many men lying
I saw many more dying
But I ain't marchin' anymore

Chorus:

It's always the old to lead us to the war
It's always the young to fall
Now look at all we've won with the sabre and the gun
Tell me is it worth it all

For I stole California from the Mexican land
Fought in the bloody Civil War
Yes I even killed my brother
And so many others
And I ain't marchin' anymore

For I marched to the battles of the German trench
In a war that was bound to end all wars
Oh I must have killed a million men
And now they want me back again
But I ain't marchin' anymore

(chorus)

For I flew the final mission in the Japanese sky
Set off the mighty mushroom roar
When I saw the cities burning
I knew that I was learning
That I ain't marchin' anymore

Now the labor leader's screamin' when they close the missile plants,
United Fruit screams at the Cuban shore,
Call it "Peace" or call it "Treason,"
Call it "Love" or call it "Reason,"
But I ain't marchin' any more.


One of my heroes.

[tmooses]

21. I turn 55 on Sunday and never thought I would see anybody as corrupt

as Nixon-but never say never! I salute your rededication. I also never thought I would be in a protest again (I too, had been in my share in the 70's and also as many years as an active union member) but in February before Bush invaded Iraq I knew there was no way I could just sit back and watch this shit happen again. I found myself in a protest with all ages and backgrounds-unfortunately the powers that be never listened. I've been more involved since then and with the more blatant lies and deceit I hear from Bush and his crew, I have fought being discouraged and took strength from those who see beyond the lies. To me, it's just a matter of right and wrong. I can't keep quiet when I see the level of corporate cooption of the government that is going on and it's affecting all aspects of our lives-health, education, jobs,economy and environment. Keep up the good fight, ewagner, I'm with you for the long haul.

[cmd]

24. 62 and still fighting

Picket lines and protest marches. Will it never end? Just when I think I can't do it anymore, something comes up to get me really PO'd and I'm back on the line again. Thank you, kindred spirits.

[ninkasi]

58. We are the same age...

We were born when the world was at war, and were young when we heard about Korea. Because I married so young, at 17, and started having children at 18, all I could do to protest Viet Nam was to speak against the war. My husband was much older, and I felt powerless to join the marches.

I don't know why we thought, some few years ago, that we had fought all the battles that counted. I had almost been lulled into thinking that this wonderful country could almost run itself, that the people had the intelligence, or common sense, to avoid a repeat of the worst of the Nixon years.

Nixon was nothing, compared to the neocons and the PNACers. There are still battles to be fought, and marches to walk in, and candles to light up, to illuminate the true soul of America. Bush, and Cheney, are the corrupted souls of everything that can destroy us.

We need to focus, to fight back, to unite, and take back our country. Cindy Sheehan has shown us what one grieving mother, who wishes more than anything that no other mother go through her grief, can accomplish. We can build on that, and encourage others to lose their fear, and join us, and take our country back from the corporations, and the religious fanatics, and the war mongers, who are killing the soul of America.

I have to use a cane now to walk, due to various health problems. I suffer chronic pain, and fight high blood pressure, and other ailments that afflict us as we age. I am trying to find a way to Crawford, to stand with Cindy, or to stand in her place, and end this hateful war.

As one of our icons said..."Give Peace a Chance."

[PapaJoe]

78. Vanguard of the Baby Boomers

Same here, I was expecting to grow more conservative as I aged.
But I feel just as indignant about injustice and war now as I did in my salad days.

[TomClash]

25. Comrade, here's how much worse it is

Nixon would be a liberal democrat in today's politics.

[bobbieinok]

26. what happened to me and maybe to many is -- we forgot 'eternal

vigilance is the price of liberty'

as you say.....'When I was standing with the other members of the vigil last night it dawned on me that standing for democracy isn't a once-in-a-lifetime thing. It's never ending. And I'm never too old, too tired, too cynical or too rich or poor to stand on a street corner and tell the world it needs to change.'

there were so many victories...civil rights, women's rights, the right to question and criticize the government....we fought hard for these rights and thought the US would never go back to the days of June Cleaver keeping house in a dress and high heels waiting for Ward to come home and set everything right in the family and by implication the world......

and all the time the people who lost in the 60s and 70s were regrouping and preparing a Counter Rights Struggle

I hope we never forget to pay attention again

[sybylla]

27. ewag, you are a treasure

I was too young for the Vietnam era protests. I went to my first protests and vigils at the very ripe age of 39 when the Iraq war resolution hit the table.

Perhaps it says something that there wasn't much to protest in the intervening period on a national scale. Maybe it is just a sign that I had "other priorities" to use Cheney's words. Either way, I know there are many more like me out there. We need the wisdom of the grey warriors like you to show us how it's done.

I'm glad to see you haven't given up on the younger generations. You've been in the trenches before and we need you to show us the way.

:toast:
Cheers, neighbor, and thanks for sharing your most eloquent musings.

[KTinOhio]

54. Yeah, same here...

Who would have thought that I would attend my first anti-war rally at the ripe old age of 44?

I hope my kids (age 14 and 11) are watching.

[Swamp Rat]

28. Right on!

:grouphug:

[Just Me]

29. Oh,...I love you.

:hug: Thank you for that post. I agree with you that you never establish democracy,...but rather, you have to always reach for it. Like life, democracy is a process not a destination.

[BlueJac]

30. Never to old to get it right!

Age and seasoning hasn't ruined all people, just the Shrub clan. With canes, walkers, wheelchairs or sneakers we all can stand for truth and justice. :thumbsup:

[newyawker99]

34. Hi BlueJac!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[BlueJac]

75. TY

Keep up the fight for all things good against all things evil (neocon-victs) :kick: :kick:

[havocmom]

69. Good to meet you, BlueJac! Welcome aboard.

Your post made me giggle. Also reminded my of what my daughter said of the first anti-war march in Tucson before the invasion. She remarked how great it was to see all ages, and especially a lot of well informed and enthusiastic high school kids.

That march ended in a park for a rally. When the marchers got there, the park had a crowd of old and infirm people, walkers, wheel chairs, canes, people holding each other up by their elbows... They had insisted on being taken by bus to the rally point. Said they just couldn't do the march anymore, but wanted to be there to welcome the younger folks and 'stand with them'.

Lean on me anytime you need a friend ;)

[BlueJac]

74. Thanks

The work must continue for the good of all. :kick:

[karlrschneider]

31. I did a lot of protesting in the early 70s in many places which was easy

because my job (pilot for a company) took me to a different place nearly every day! :D

[Booster]

35. Yep, I'm gonna go find my old Go-Go boots and dust them off and

do the peace protest all over again. After seeing pictures of the vigils last night, I also feel hopeful, and I'm hoping the Wash DC Sept. 24th protest gets some damn press cause if it does everyone will start to think again, just like in the 60's.

[IndyOp]

70. Spenbax - GREAT POINT - with Cindy getting press

maybe we can work to extend it on into/through the 9/24 DC protests. Maybe, finally, decent coverage of the millions who oppose this insanity.

:kick:

[rasputin1952]

36. I learned long ago, the only way out of the trenches, is feet first; once

you've been there, you never really can do much to get away from it all....injustice is a never-ending battle.

I have stood with some of the greatest people of our times, and not one of them is known to be an earth-shattering personality. We were common people. We stood quietly, staring back at them with the passion that rises from knowledge; and occasionally vociferously, as the tides turned against injustices of the past. We knew we had a common bond in our fights, and we waged a war of words against the powers that be.

The enemy grew wiser and more canny. The injustice we see know is just the tip of the iceberg. Each time we conquer one, more float up.
Evil is in this world, and as it comes to light, we stand linked together in the bond that we know what we are doing is right, and will help create a better nation and world for our offspring.

We fight because others are too timid, or lack the conscience of the humanity we fight for. We are old, but wise beyond our years. We have fought this fight before, and won; we fight again, if for no other reason than it is simply the right thing to do.

[IndyOp]

71. Amen and Thank you for this....

"We fight because others are too timid, or lack the conscience of the humanity we fight for. We are old, but wise beyond our years. We have fought this fight before, and won; we fight again, if for no other reason than it is simply the right thing to do."

Do you mind if I put it in my sig line?

[Hardrada]

38. SDS and IWW old fighter

checking in here.

"Let cowards flinch and traitors sneer
We'll keep the Red Flag flying here."

The Movement still us old rads who were always right out there in front!

[KerryOn]

40. Another grey warrior here....

Some of the same feelings came over me last night. During the half hour of silence, I took them time to reflect on those killed in Iraq, their families, and our nation. I also drifted to the past during that half our and day dreamed about the protest in DC in September.

I remember in the sixties we were told not to carry ID and to have twenty five dollars cash. Twenty five dollars was the fine to get you out of the holding area when we were arrested. I wounder with inflation and all what the fine will be this year in Dc?

I can't wait to find out!
Hope to see you all in DC!

[RageFist]

42. 21 y/o here

and I know that we owe a lot to your generation, sir. Your generation put war protesting on the map. Your generation showed mine the power that the youth can wield when it wants. Your generation has shown me that it is ok to use anger and frustration as a fuel. Thank you and keep it up :)

[jurassicpork]

43. Another middle-aged guy...

...who farts when he pees and complains that stairs are getting steeper and blurrier by beginning, "Why, in my time..."

And I feel as I've been politically reborn. It was only my second candle light vigil (the 1st was right after 9/11) but it made a profound impact on me. I got a hug from someone whom I never knew existed 45 minutes before. Strangers exchanged email address and URL's. It was love that kept those candles burning so brightly as much as oxygen.

But I noted that many of the candlelighters, like me, were well into middle age to elderly. There was only one, maybe two people there who were under 30. I noted this immediately when I saw the first videos from Crawford. Old hippies, people who had probably met Abby Hoffman or had actually stolen his book or had protested his imprisonment during the Chicago 7 trial.

This bothers me more than anything, although I did see some children in some of the vigil photos here in DU strwaming in from across the nation and more on Moveon.org's site (which reminds me, take a look at this page and tell me what's the first thing to strike you: http://political.moveon.org/cvigil/presentation_av.phtml).

We need to get our children more involved because, as much as we hate to admit it, as much as we may try to deny it, we won't be around forever and our children have to take up the mantle and stand up not for liberalism but just for what's right. We are their conscience until they develop one for themselves.

Maybe that's what separates us from the knuckle-draggers who are busy mowing down crosses in Crawford, TX.

JP
http://jurassicpork.blogspot.com

[Carla in Ca]

44. This is the kind of discussion that keeps my hope alive

Really, whatever your ages, I think you are the best group of people I could be in the company of. It is an honor to stand with you everyday as it was an honor to stand with all those who came to our vigil last night. And what a night it was.

Yesterday was my husband's 59th birthday and one he was not particularly looking forward to. We got there for the last half hour of the Code Pink protest, got our candles and said hello to friends. The protest is always loud with screams of support and horns honking but at 7:30 we started the vigil, lit our candles and stood in silence.

It was an awesome moment. A shift from revelry to silence that even the people in the cars understood. Very few honked during that time. My husband said "Look". I turned around to see that so many people had come we were able to make a complete circle around the park.
We both cried and my husband said it was the best birthday he had ever had.

It IS never-ending. It IS for everyone. It CAN make a difference. I salute you all.

[graywarrior]

45. MY HOMIES!!!

[Matilda]

46. The immortal words of Bob Dylan

How many roads must a man walk down
Before you call him a man?
Yes, 'n' how many seas must a white dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand?
Yes, 'n' how many times must the cannon balls fly
Before they're forever banned?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind.

How many times must a man look up
Before he can see the sky?
Yes, 'n' how many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry?
Yes, 'n' how many deaths will it takes till he knows
That too many people have died?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind.

How many years can a mountain exist
Before it's washed to the sea?
Yes, 'n' how many years can some people exist
Before they're allowed to be free?
Yes, 'n' how many times can a man turn his head
And pretend that he just doesn't see?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind.

[Faygo Kid]

47. I'm with you. Your Generation. Read "Generations"

I don't think this Millenial generation, so clean cut and ready to go along (go on a college campus sometime - geez; Andy Williams in a sweater, without the draft (and maybe with it) will stop this war. They are the GIs, our Boomers' parents, and have high personal expectations, but are not rebellious (well, duh. Now the kids in elementary school are yet another generation, like the Silent generation that followed the GIs (after 1928; before 1944), they follow the Millenials. Our generation is John Brown, Abe Lincoln, Jefferson Davis; we are also FDR and George Marshall, and now Bill Clinton and (shudder) George W. Bush, Rush Limbaugh and Karl Rove. As it has always been for this generational sequence, it will be a battle between Good and Evil, with other generations paying the price. It will ultimately be the cynical Xers who will pick up the pieces, and be the center that holds. It has always been thus, throughout the cycles of American history.

[Maat]

48. I'm 46 and getting grey highlights ...

and I marched for women's rights and civil rights.

We got out of Vietnam while I was in high school.

I could not have said it better, Grey Warrior.

Last night I had my 8-year-old with me; she started the other little kids chanting, "No more war!" (right in front of the Freepers). That's my daughter!

Thanks for the post!

[bballny]

49. Nov 15, 1969

I was at the first big march on Washington and I'm thinking of going to the 9/24 march with my daughter. I hate this idiot way more than Nixon.

[Maat]

50. Oh, and I got out my ol' Creedence Clearwater music ..

listening to 'Fortunate Son."

[Beetwasher]

51. My Brother

I Fucking love this post...and you too, my friend. We all stand together. :thumbsup:

[Just Me]

52. A kick for the commitment to the best of humanity in face of the dark,...

,...profiteers OFF humanity.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

53. Another old one here...

I, too, once thought I'd never have to march in another antiwar demonstration again. I'd forgotten what tear gas smelled like. But it's deja vu all over again, and I guess I'm not too old to go back out there. Just wish we didn't have to do it all over again -- but they say the price of liberty is eternal vigilance. So let's just chug down our Geritol, oil up our walkers and head back out to the battlements.

[pstans]

55. Great post

I am 25 and thank you for inspiring me.

[blogspotdog]

56. Here's another one for you old dogs . . .

http://thecuckingstool.blogspot.com/2005/08/war-huh-what-is-it-good-for.html

[Raksha]

57. This is one of the most inspiring threads I've seen on DU in a long time.

I'm 59, and I'm still crazy after all these years--and I'm not alone! It feels so good to know we've succeeded in passing the torch to a new generation. They read about the Vietnam protests in their history books, but now they know from the inside why we had to do what we did.

[T Town Jake]

59. Problem is...

..."When the last helicopter left the roof of the embassy in Saigon" was the genesis of our current discontents. You "old, grey warriors" did such a bang-up job of convincing a wide swath of middle America that the Democratic Party was not to be trusted with National Security, that we got Reagan I in 1980. And Reagan II in '84 - I'm sure many "old, grey warriors" were oh sooo proud of that 49 state disaster. Don't even get me started on the '72 debacle.

Bush I followed, and by 1992 the social damage done to the FDR/Truman/JFK/Johnson domestic legacy was evident, widespread, and deplorable. The GOP demagogued right along, to be sure, but all you "old, grey warriors" did was fiddle quixotic one-issue tunes while the proud legacy of the New Deal/Great Society burned to the ground. And obscenely cheered such things as the communist takeover of Saigon in the meantime. That helped the Repubs immeasurably.

President Clinton did his best to straighten things out, but cultural trends and historical events along these lines that had been building since the days of "old, grey warriors" hoisting the Vietcong flag in a park in Chicago in '68--thinking it was some kind of meaningful "protest" of something; all it did was help give us the likes of Nixon in the Oval Office--overwhelmed his efforts. And in '94 we got Newt Gingrich as Speaker of the House, and Bob Dole as Senate Majority Leader.

And now we have Bush II. There is your "legacy," as far as I'm concerned.

[NJCher]

65. go brush up on your history

What you're ignoring is that there was a very well organized, extremely well financed plan by corporate America. Little did we know of that plan until it began to unfold and even then, it was difficult to see the "big picture."


Cher

[cornermouse]

60. Well there you are.

You aren't old, you're just gray. ;)

[AnnInLa]

61. 50's and still fighting here

IMHO, we need our own forum....for a variety of reasons.

[NJCher]

64. Born to protest

Yes, another old hippie radical here, too: environmentalism, VietNam protestor, women's rights (youngest president of a NOW chapter ever), civil rights. Long-time fighter for legal access for the middle class.

When I was at the January, 2000 Inauguration protest I was standing right down on Pennsylvania Avenue when bush and cheney whooshed by in their limos. People started throwing eggs and I am sorry to say I was not one of them. We were chanting --the chant was something about them being illegitimate--and I experienced something I'd never experienced before. It was like a star explosion over my head. There was an explosion of energy and colors swirling and I felt so good. At that moment I absolutely knew I was in the right place and doing the right thing. There was no question whatsoever about that in my mind.

Yesterday, when I saw Skinner's pics of the candlelight vigils and I scrolled down to see more and more and then even links to more and more pictures everywhere, it was almost more than I could take. Tears rolled out of my eyes and I said, "There are so many good people in America!"

That's not usually what I say about Americans. Thirty years of Reaganism-- it's all about me, me, me --has brought us to this point.

I've never once thought this country could run itself and have always worked part-time on causes, even at the expense of having a full-time job. I don't regret any of it--any pension I might have accumulated would most likely have been stolen by the corporate thieves anyway.


Cher

p.s. a most eloquent post, Rasputin. :hi:

Re younger generation, think Dean. Also, think Al Gore's new media project.

[MadisonProgressive]

66. I'm just a baby - only 50...

And I will fight to the death, if need be, to protect the future of my children and to preserve what so many have died and sacrificed for. I hope we can do this peacfully, but I sometimes have my doubts.

[Greybnk48]

67. 56 y/o here too!

and still suffering the effects of menopause...I'm very dangerous now so they had better look out. NGU.

[jdadd]

76. I remember Kent State

I was in the army stationed in Germany when the Kent state shootings took place. My sister an alumnus of Kent State, sent me a sweatshirt with Kent state on it...The lifers really hated to see me wear this when I was off duty...that was my first protest...sad to say...My sister is a freeper now...probably too much Kool Aid!!...Me....I'm still protesting after all these years....See you in D.C. on the 24th
Peace:hippie:

[ProudDad]

77. Here's how it works

My girlfriend and I went to the vigil and held our candles.

A young woman came by and there was a spare candle she held while waiting for her husband to get off work down the street. While she was standing with us, we were able to inform her about the gropenfuhrer's special election this November and how to vote (against him, of course).

Her husband, an arab getting his citizenship, showed up. We had a wonderful conversation with them both after my girlfriend gave a heartfelt and eloquent post vigil "prayer".

We all introduced ourselves and felt less alone and powerless as we made our ways to our homes.

I've decided that my protesting career which began with resigning from the USNA at Annapolis in '64 and continues to this day will never end.

And why should it?

We won't see the perfect world in our lifetimes so we can choose to get discouraged and hide and be part of the problem or we can choose to continue fighting in whatever ways we can, live our lives mindfully as humane beings and be part of the solution.