That's what I thought.

[ysobelle]

See, the reason I asked is that at work the other day, it was just me and one coworker. We had my iPod in, and CSN&Y's "Ohio" came on.

"Oh, I LOVE this song!" she said.

I nodded. "Yeah. A few years ago, when I lived out that way, some friends of mine took me on a tour of the campus, right after one of the anniversary memorials. It was really, really disturbing and sad."

Blank look.

"Um...Kent State? The student shootings?"

Crickets.

Now, I know this woman is dumb as a box of hammers. Really. But she had never heard of Kent State. She had never heard of the protests. I'm actually surprised she had ever heard of Vietnam. I was somewhat stunned, and I started to wonder, "Is that normal? Do people just not know about it any more?" So no, I'm relieved to find that it's not completely forgotten, that people still know what happened there, and how important it was.

And for the record? She's 47.

Comments

[patsytheloomer.livejournal.com]

http://kevinchiu.org/emote/facepalm.jpg

[ysobelle.livejournal.com]

G-d, I love you.

[silverstah.livejournal.com]

*boggle*

She's 47 and she hadn't heard of this?

OK - I just did the math and she was only 8 or 9 when it happened. And, admittedly, *I* didn't really learn about it until I was in college. My undergrad advisor was at KSU in 1970, and although he wasn't involved, he told some amazingly powerful stories about what happened and the aftermath.

[ysobelle.livejournal.com]

I was 369 days old, and I knew. Most of the people who responded on my flist are younger, and they knew. And this woman knew the song, knew all the words. It just never occurred to her that it was actually, you know, about something.

Meh. I don't know why I'm even surprised, knowing her.

[murcury.livejournal.com]

Thanks to rock radio, I knew all about the song when I was 12.

[sjbpharmd.livejournal.com]

Speaking as someone that was not around during the initial protests....

Many people have not heard of this. I only heard of them my senior year college from a friend of mine that lives very close to Kent State. I know for me, I knew of the various protests for Vietnam and that some of them turned bloody. But I couldn't tell you where most of them took place or what happened. Again, in this case, someone had to clue me in. And I am sure that many people under 40 are in this camp.

That said, I think people not knowing the specifics may be a good thing. First of all, while it is a bloody chapter in our history, people are looking forward. Now I am not one to say that we should forget our history (being a history buff myself); however,I think that we should learn from them. And...I think we have. As far as I know, since Vietnam, we have not had any protests end in death on American soil. That is about 40 years. Go team!

Secondly, that was an especially bad chapter in US history. Many people forgot about what was best for our country and our citizens. And many people died for their country. Regardless of what side you are on in this debate, we all can admit that there were mistakes made. People being spared these memories may be a good thing for our country.

Just some thoughts from a humble 30-something.

S

[ysobelle.livejournal.com]

You might wanna check your stats on that, hon. Cos I'm thinking of the L.A. riots-- just one example-- and that doesn't sound right.

And MOVE was a protest.

[sjbpharmd.livejournal.com]

We are still progressing. The worst riots in American history occurred during the Civil War.

But to your LA riot statistic...it is tough to compare what happened at Kent State to the LA riots. National Guard compared to cops. And Civil disobedience to ran-sacking and fire starting.

So yes, while there was 53 people that died in the LA riots, I don't consider that on the same level.

[regalpewter.livejournal.com]

Wounded Knee '73
Ruby Ridge
Among others that can be argued as protests.

YIS,
WRI

[grinning-fox.livejournal.com]

You know, I was channel surfing with the menfolk of the House yesterday and we came across something about Ivan the Terrible on the History Channel or something. It being History Channel, of course, I was forced to stop and watch. The narrator kept going on about how unforgettable and epic and yadda yadda...eventually I had enough and announced, "Because you people won't let it beek alone!" Now...there are somethings we certainly need to remember so we don't do them again, however...I can entirely sympathize with the desire to move forward from our ugliness, to have learned and get on with living instead of wallowing in the horrors of yesteryear and all that jazz. (political rant truncated here)

...I gotta admit, I was surprised to hear about this. I thought everyone knew that song was about the Kent State dealieo. ...then again, I thought everyone knew how to turn off the light on a fishtank until yesterday =( Some people have infinite capacity to amaze with the differences between what we know and what they know. Really...really infinite.

(Still. Seriously? Dude. It was only sort of the one thing the social studies people harp on until we turn blue in the face and whatnot...)

[sjbpharmd.livejournal.com]

I was in Pharmacy school. The only history I had to learn was who discovered opium.

[murcury.livejournal.com]

People being spared these memories may be a good thing for our country.

I think we're spared enough. We need to be constantly reminded of how shite things were and are-because they are about to get much, much worse. Lock and load.

As far as I know, since Vietnam, we have not had any protests end in death on American soil. That is about 40 years. Go team!

Just the death of some rights and no real 'redress of grievances'. Can you say 'free speech zone'? Sure ya can.

[thorn]

Someone younger I could understand. But... 47?! *boggles*

Oh, by the way, did you know we once went to the moon? ;-)

[ysobelle.livejournal.com]

No wai!

[hughcasey.livejournal.com]

No we didn't. I read all about it on teh internets, man.

[patsytheloomer.livejournal.com]

Mythbusters did it!

[hughcasey.livejournal.com]

You need to tell her this:

[ysobelle.livejournal.com]

SQUEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!

[meekay.livejournal.com]

And for the record? She's 47.

She was 8. It's kind of like forgetting the Challenger accident.

[tempest-gypsy.livejournal.com]

I was five when Challenger blew up. I'll know I'll never forget it.

[patsytheloomer.livejournal.com]

Seeing it on live tv tends to have that effect on people. I'm young enough to have seen both the Challenger and Budd Dwyer coverage live (at age 5&6 respective). But since I saw neither event until much later in life, they hold little impact aside of historic knowledge.

[delynfirebrand.livejournal.com]

I was in third grade during the Challenger's last launch.
It still haunts me.

...but I'll admit that "Kent State" doesn't bring anything to mind. I suxxor at history class.

[elionwyr.livejournal.com]

I was with some of my ex-husband's paleo friends in the car one day and the song "They Dance Alone" came on.

These grad students had no idea what the song was about.

I'm STILL appalled by that.

[thorn]

I'm afraid to admit I don't even think I know that song. Possibly to hear it.

[elionwyr.livejournal.com]

http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=1983

And it's an amazing example of how people can find ways to protest even when they're not allowed to speak their outrage.

[lavender-dragon.livejournal.com]

i don't know the song we're talking about, but i was also a history buff and went through a 60's phase....
for the record, i knew (more or less) what it was and i'm 23

[ysobelle.livejournal.com]

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young: "Ohio." You have to go find it and listen. It's on iTunes. It's incredibly powerful. Go! Go now!

[brihanon.livejournal.com]

ok, I'm old, but I saw the news cast that told the world about the four students. Chet Huntly and david brinkley on NBC told me about it. Neil Young wrote about it and CSN&Y sang about it. I also was watching TV in my brother's room wen they interrupted normal programing to tell the world about Martin Luther King. Does she know about that?

[laurensa.livejournal.com]

I'm 45, and I know about it. I don't necessarily remember hearing about it WHEN IT HAPPENED because my parents screened what we saw on TV. But I certainly have read about it, and paid some attention to fairly recent American history. (rolls eyes) Sheesh.

[fluffilicious.livejournal.com]

the only thing I can think of would be her parents thinking it would be better to insulate her from the horror.

[ysobelle.livejournal.com]

Right. That would explain her childhood. But all her contemporaries went through it. She never heard of it? She never paid attention in school?


That dog--! SQUISHIES!

[fluffilicious.livejournal.com]

Oh.... you ought to SEE him!! He's growing about half a lb a day! He's part lab part bernese mt dog... I am out of my mind!!!!

[emalia.livejournal.com]

I think of Kent, Ohio and Kent State (I think that Ghost Hunters did something there.) Then I think of the shootings.

[ysobelle.livejournal.com]

They did!?

[murcury.livejournal.com]

Q: What did she think the song was about?

[ysobelle.livejournal.com]

Remember the "dumb as a box of hammers" comment?

I'm sure she never thought about it at all.

[deathwardegg.livejournal.com]

That's inexcusable. What a moron. What the fuck did she think the repeated chorus "Four dead in Ohio" MEANT?? I've been to the memorial too. There's also a little-known one in Albuquerque at UNM for the ten students bayoneted by the National Guard on May 8th, 1970, but that lesser-known tragedy is mostly overshadowed by Kent State.

[ysobelle.livejournal.com]

She had No. Clue. At. All.

Sad, innit? Oh, and I'm still at the same place on Lindbergh, if that helps.