Kent State

It is not often I write about the Vietnam era, if I've written about it all. I certainly think about it, as my views have now hardened to an unshakable opinion, but that's another story that may someday get written about.

Right now my thoughts drift to what is to me is astoundingly nearly 51 years ago, the Kent State demonstrations and the killing and wounding of protesting students by the National Guard.

One of the wounded students has just passed away at 71, Alan Canfora, who was shot in the wrist and spent a lifetime thereafter researching, lecturing and writing about the day. There were four fatalities that day, plus nine wounded, including Mr. Canfora. Mr. Canfora is the third of the wounded to pass away. When it comes to historic tragedies, the world does tend to keep count. 

Divided country? 1970 was probably the most pronounced division of opinion in the country regarding the war: Doves vs. Hawks. There is barely a newscaster or journalist alive and working today who can report personally on the era. Anything the current crop says about a divided country absolutely pales against the Vietnam 1970s era.

The World Trade Center construction workers who charged into a crowd of anti-war demonstrators was in a few years changed into World Trade Center construction workers who joined the anti-war demonstrators.

Probably like many others my age, the now famous image of the young woman gesturing over the body of a downed student is the one I most associate with Kent State. There are many other images, and the one with Mr. Canfora's obituary shows him carrying a black flag facing a squad of National Guardsmen who are in the kneeling position pointing their rifles at him. Their rifles are all loaded with live ammo, not rubber bullets. And that moved the day further into history.

Katherine Q. Seelye's obituary is a typical gold standard NYT obit. There is historical context. It is a history lesson in itself. 

I distinctly remember my supervisor at work holding up a copy of perhaps the NYT that carried a photo of the young woman gesturing over the downed student, pleading for help. I also remember the mood of the supervisor, and others who were of the opinion that the students got what they deserved.

A divided country indeed.

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