THE MORE THINGS CHANGE, THE MORE THEY REMAIN THE SAME

It is unfortunate that the alphabet generations, Gen X, Y, Z and soon Gen Alpha, do not know about the history of the US being involved in undeclared wars across the globe. The administrations civil rights abuse of anyone in this country who was from any ethnicity, and in most cases from another country, other than white. There were protests against the administration at the time, as the people of this country expressed their disapproval as afforded under the 1^st amendment of the Constitution.

Yet, here we are some 56 years after the Vietnam Conflict, (war was never formally declared by congress) and 62 years after the Civil Rights Act was signed into law and nothing has changed.

The United States continually engages in armed conflicts without the approval of congress. There is ethnic, gender, religious, political, age   discrimination, and worse, rampant racism throughout the United States. Think back to when there were National Guard units sent to places like Chicago, Kent State University, Berkely, and others, killing and wounding innocent American citizens for no reason other than they were exercising their right to freedom of speech and expression afforded under the 1^st Amendment of our Constitution. There are songs from that era long ago that still ring true today. While some may not agree with this, the peaceful protests and opposition to that conflict, the civil rights atrocities, and many since, had an impact on the political leaders. As a nation and world, I can only hope people will find ways to gather peacefully and let the political pundits know this is not acceptable.

I recently sat down and watched a couple movies that I feel can put my point into proper perspective:

“The Trial of the Chicago 7”

“The Cover Up”

“All the President’s Men”

“Spotlight”

While watching them, the theme of this article kept hitting me in the head. Let me know if you agree.

Another thought crossed my brain, perhaps we need to dust off the meaningful songs from the past and begin finding the way to move them into the streaming airways of today. One song that can easily have a couple words changed to fit right into the headlines today is by Country Joe and the Fish at Woodstock in 1969. These are the lyrics with a few edits, and this is no attempt to take away or replace any copyrights from the original artist:

“Well come on all of you big strong men, Uncle Sam needs your help again,

he got himself in a terrible jam, way over yonder in Iran,

put down your books and pick up a gun, we're gonna have a whole lotta fun.

CHORUS

and its 1,2,3 what are we fightin for?

don't ask me i don't give a damn, the next stop is in Iran,

and its 5,6,7 open up the pearly gates. Well there ain’t no time to wonder why...WHOPEE we're all gonna die.

now come on wall street don't be slow, why man this's war a-go-go,

there's plenty good money to be made, supplyin' the army with the tools of the trade,

just hope and pray that when they drop the bomb, they drop it in Iran and not the USA.

now come on mothers throughout the land, pack your boys off to Iran,

come on fathers don't hesitate, send your sons off before its too late,

be the first one on your block, to have your boy come home in a box

I believe these songs may illustrate my point:

“Vietnam Song” by Country Joe McDonald and the Fish: Country Joe & the Fish - VietNam Song - Live Woodstock 1969 - Full HD Video

“Eve of Destruction” by Barry McGuire:  Eve Of Destruction

“Ohio” by Crosby Stills Nash and Young: Ohio (2017 Remaster)

“For What It’s Worth” by Buffalo Springfield: Buffalo Springfield - For What It's Worth (Official Audio)

*Please take a listen, the links are from the artists YouTube pages, so please like and subscribe to their page and support them when you listen to these.

I’m R. Simon Kent and that is My View from the Cheap Seats.