Spring Break
Never Stop Questioning Our Leaders
Alex Schaefer
Issue date: 5/6/07 Section: Commentary
When asked what their reasons for participating were, the consensus was that most of them were unhappy with the country's current leadership and wanted a change; Nixon was in the White House at the time, in the thick of the Vietnam conflict. How many of us today have ever said to each other that we are unhappy with the current leadership, and we fervently want a change? Sure, a lot of people agree that George Bush would without a doubt lose on "Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader" and that he is a pawn for the political powers in control. But how many times have you been sitting around with your friends discussing what needs to be done in this country. I know I have never done that, and I can only speak for myself, but I feel that this is something that is generally missing from our generation. We are completely detached from the political picture.
Some people want to say that it was the drugs and those surely played a part, but back in "the day" there was an audible voice coming from college campuses. They had something to say about the current situation and they set out to make statements. They protested. Sure there was violence back then, but it had a purpose. Now we overturn cars in the parking lot just for pure enjoyment - each other's cars. If you're intent on flipping something, at least have a reason for it.
Now before this gets too depressing and becomes downright critical of our generation, we have to also talk about how this is not completely our fault. Rolling Stone's 40th anniversary edition recently hit newsstands and its core consisted of interviews with the feature players from the magazine's emergence as a socially relevant voice. Rather than just a piece of entertainment, it became a vehicle for the liberal, sometimes radical, section of society to get some airtime. Some of it was relevant, and some of it was just the gibberish of the times.
McGovern, Thompson's old friend, was interviewed for it and he made a very interesting observation.
Some people want to say that it was the drugs and those surely played a part, but back in "the day" there was an audible voice coming from college campuses. They had something to say about the current situation and they set out to make statements. They protested. Sure there was violence back then, but it had a purpose. Now we overturn cars in the parking lot just for pure enjoyment - each other's cars. If you're intent on flipping something, at least have a reason for it.
Now before this gets too depressing and becomes downright critical of our generation, we have to also talk about how this is not completely our fault. Rolling Stone's 40th anniversary edition recently hit newsstands and its core consisted of interviews with the feature players from the magazine's emergence as a socially relevant voice. Rather than just a piece of entertainment, it became a vehicle for the liberal, sometimes radical, section of society to get some airtime. Some of it was relevant, and some of it was just the gibberish of the times.
McGovern, Thompson's old friend, was interviewed for it and he made a very interesting observation.
Be the first to comment on this story