"Cynicism is a sorry kind of wisdom."

[malixe]

I just found something I hadn't heard for a long, long time and thought I probably never would again, though I have looked for it.

I used to hear this on the radio when I was a kid, and even though I didn't have all of the necessary historical awareness to understand everything that was referred to, I was always moved and disturbed when I heard it.

Now I *do* have the necessary awareness, and some creative person has put the song to corresponding visual images on youtube, bless them, and it still wrecks me.

The late 60's were an incredible time, full of national tragedy, loss and anger. The assassinations of MLK, RFK, the Chicago Democratic convention riots, the Vietnam war... I was of course too young to be anything but oblivious to this, but I started figuring it out later on.

To some of my friends who might have been indoctrinated with differing opinions about the people this song is about; spare me. Read the subject line. JFK was a womanizer, so I understand was Martin Luther King at times. Bobby Kennedy was not perfect either, I am sure. Tom Clay, the DJ who recorded this compilation, was convicted of payola and was an occasional scam artist. All heroes have feet of clay. But these were strong, charismatic individuals who wanted to bring positive, valuable change to the country and to the society, and they were snuffed out before their time, and it was an incredible loss for all of us.

None of us is perfect, but we all sometimes get to have perfect moments. Theirs came more often and were longer than most, but they were not long enough.

This is a song about the sixties.

Comments

It may be a song of the 60s...

[ladyallyn.livejournal.com]

But it also a wish, a thought, a statement for today. So much progress in so many ways -- and no movement at all in others.

[rightkindofme.livejournal.com]

Noah watched the video over my shoulder and asked who posted it. I told him and said, "Yeah... he's an Obama supporter." He grinned and said he could tell.

Obama '08 baby.

[malixe.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but I would have posted this whether I was or wasn't. I really have been looking for this for a long time. I just thought the Obama quote really fit. I feel kind of silly about the fact that I still get a little teary-eyed when I watch it/hear it, but I guess that means I haven't gotten completely cynical yet.

[rightkindofme.livejournal.com]

Good. It sucks when the cute ones are completely cynical. :)

[lilymarlowe.livejournal.com]

Sometimes I find myself overwhelmed by the sense of loss, the ache for what might have been. I wouldn't trade my upbringing by liberal wolves during such turbulent times for anything, except maybe a chance to live inside Dr. King's dream. I know what made me the person I am today.
My earliest childhood memory, the one I can see most clearly when I close my eyes, is the sight of my mother, grandmother, grandfather clinging to each other with tears streaming down their faces as they watched Walter Cronkite announcing JFK's death on our black and white Philco TV set. That's why I spent the whole day Saturday at the Legislative District caucus seeing to it that good, strong minded people got elected as delegates to the state convention.
Thanks for posting this.

Bummer

[domina-carmen.livejournal.com]

For some reason the audio keeps cutting out on me. Probably must my lame computer. :( At least I know the song.
A second bummer was not getting to chat with you at Sake. I turned to say hi to Scott turned back and you were awol. I even tried chasing you down the stairs, but alas to no avail. As soon as I stepped out of the building you disappeared. I guess that means we'll have to make time to catch up some time soon! I didn't even get a real hug and you know that's the only thing I look forward to at these events is a hug from YOU!

Re: Bummer

[domina-carmen.livejournal.com]

ooops. How do you edit? ;)
...just my lame computer.

Re: Bummer

[malixe.livejournal.com]

Aw, you say the sweetest things! I saw you on the stairway and waved, but I had no idea you were trying to catch up to me! If there's one person I enjoy hugging, it would be you! ;)

When I saw you I was very tempted to go back up the stairs for a minute to do exactly that, but I was highly focused on getting through the crowd and being very single-minded about it, because I had just realized that my receipt for my parking space in the pay lot, the one you're supposed to leave on the dash so they can see it and not tie a barrel to your car? Was still in my $%*#@ wallet.

I had just paid for my parking when a friend drove by and asked me to take some t-shirts upstairs for her because she had to run back home again right away, so I stuck the parking tag in my wallet and took her box of t-shirts. And then forgot to put it where it needed to go and didn't even think about it until around 8 o'clock, which was when you saw me fighting my way through the crowds.

I was too late though, already had a nasty-gram on my windshield. Guess I should've just turned around and grabbed me an armful of Carmen instead, at least I would have come out a little bit ahead... :(

I'm trying to stop being such a hermit (being sick for most of the last couple months hasn't helped), but I don't know how much progress I'm making. I hope I see you again soon and we can make up for lost hugs!

Re: Bummer

[domina-carmen.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry to hear you've been sick. Are you feeling any better? Is it that awful flu that hit everyone so hard that they were down for weeks? I hope you are doing better and will drag yourself out for some coffee or some other such activity. It would be good for me too as I tend to hermit in these cold months too (or escape to warmer climates ;). Let me know if you have time to catch up sometime and we'll make plans. Get well!

[crystalstarr.livejournal.com]

I saw this the other day when I added you. Definitely a tear jerker.Thanks for posting it