Quote:
Originally Posted by Avatard
I'm old, dude. Talkin' 60s.
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Maybe in the idealized way they are presented today but in actuality I just don't see the 60s being any improvement.
You are talking about half a decade that legally accepted blatant segregation and discrimination then socially accepted them for the rest of the decade. In that decade MLK was assassinated for trying to advance the civil rights agenda and people were killed on multiple occasions for nothing more than trying to register black voters. There were also bombings, murders, beatings, bogus arrests, and a series of riots all across the country like we haven't seen since all over that same issue. Today if you simply oppose the President's policies you are sure to be branded a racist simply because (oh by the way) the President is black. Not only do today's so called civil rights leaders have little fear of assassination, when they screw up they are given free passes.
Then we can talk about similar riots, beatings, garbage arrests, and more killings over the war in Vietnam. Say what you will about Cindy Sheehan, Code Pink and the rest but they never had to face what the student protesters at Kent State or (less well known) Jackson State did though those were a few months after the 60s officially ended. Of course Cindy Sheehan, Code Pink and the rest weren't going around starting fires and destroying cars like at Jackson State or burning down ROTC buildings like Kent State either. You also had The Weathermen (or Weather Underground if you prefer) start their campaign of bombing and violence to protest the war. We can't forget about the violence that ensued at the 68 Democratic National Convention either.
What I have listed above may read like a list of bad actions on both sides that should be taken with a big helping of "Oh well
", but I don't accept that from the government. Go through the list and look at the abuses done at the hands of the authorities and the government. There were at a minimum tens of thousands, but more likely well over a hundred thousand bogus arrests made. Then there was a certain unwillingness on the part of the authorities to really go after people who agreed with them as seen with the Birmingham church bombing, multiple Freedom Rider beatings, multiple black voter registration beatings, and beatings of war protesters. Finally we can't forget the shootings of protesters that occurred at the hands of police and soldiers.
The most egregious of the abuses were done by the CIA and the FBI. The FBI was able to operate with virtual impunity and basically investigated whoever they wanted, but sure seemed to focus on civil rights leaders and the anti-war movement. They had this freedom because many in the government supported them but Hoover had secret files to motivate those who didn't. The CIA came up with a report of its own abuses from that time called the "Family Jewels", the majority of which was released a few years ago. If airport security and The Patriot Act make you a bit misty this report will make you puke, especially considering it probably isn't comprehensive.
Anyway, a person who agreed with the government may have enjoyed more freedom in the 60s than they do now. For American citizens who disagreed though, getting on the bad side of the government was a hell of a lot easier in the 60s and had significantly more dire consequences than it does now.
If I have to pick between the egregious abuses of authority perpetrated by the government in the 60s and the possibility of being randomly selected (to prevent discrimination cause that is bad and all) for scanning before getting on an airplane it is not a particularly difficult choice.