On May 4, 1970, college students at Kent State University gathered to protest against the expansion of the Viet Nam War by the Nixon Administration into Cambodia. They were met by.2 companies of the Ohio National Guard. The situation grew tense, and the students refused orders to disperse, Eventually, the National Guard opened fire, killing 4 unarmed students. Nixon, who considered himself a champion of "law and order" had, in the days before the shootings, called college protesters "bums". The president had little use or respect for anyone who opposed his ideas and plans. Within days of the shootings, CSNY released the tune Ohio, with Neil Young laying the blame for "4 dead in Ohio" at the feet of Nixon and David Crosby screaming the question "how many more". The massacre did not stop Nixon from gaining re-election in 1972, In fact he won in a landslide, securing 60% of the popular vote. Two years later, he would resign in disgrace, rather than face impeachment. The Watergate scandal had brought down his presidency and revealed his true character, a man who would stoop to criminal acts and subvert the constitution to retain power.
Fast forward 50 years from the Kent State shootings, and history seems to be repeating itself, as it so often does, except it's much worse this time around. This time it is not "4 dead in Ohio", but 210,000 dead across the US, and millions more facing economic ruin, as the COVID-19 pandemic spirals out of control, with Donald Trump and his administration refusing to take the actions necessary to protect the people they swore to serve. Another "law and order" president, he has called Black Lives Matter demonstrators both terrorists and gangsters, refused to denounce white supremacists, used racist nicknames like Pocahontas to characterize opponents, degraded women, violated the Hatch Act and the emoluments clause, and called upon his attorney general to arrest political opponents, just to name a few of his countless transgressions. Trump has denied science when it comes to the pandemic and global warming. The plaque on the Statue of Liberty says "give us your poor, your tired, your huddled masses, yearning to be free", yet Trump builds walls and shuts down immigration, especially targeting people of color. He has weakened our ties with long time allies in Europe while praising strongmen such as Putin. The free press, a necessary ingredient for the survival of democracy, is seen by Trump as the enemy, as he has no tolerance for dissent or differing opinions. Trump refused to follow the rules of the debate his team agreed to, which is hardly surprising since he seemingly believes he is above the law, that he is king, rather than president. Trump has even been impeached for his actions, saved only by a Republican controlled Senate led by Mitch McConnell, who has become the president's chief enabler by failing to uphold the checks and balances built into our Constitution. Trump has characterized the upcoming election as rigged, casting doubt upon the fundamental principle of the right to vote. Most importantly, he has refused to commit to one of the hallmarks of our country's democracy, the peaceful transfer of power.
In the almost 11 years I have been writing this blog, I have intentionally avoided politics, making it all about the music in order to avoid any conflict or tension. Unfortunately, political discussions in this day and age have become far too volatile, People no longer seem to know how to disagree without being disagreeable. That said, the time has come for me to speak out. My comments may not be popular but this election is too important to this great nation not to take a stand. As a history major, I know that if we don't learn from the past, we are doomed to repeat it. And we cannot have another mistake like re-electing Nixon or another 4 years of Donald Trump. And in making my case, in many ways I'm still keeping to my belief that this site should be about the music. The music I love has always been a voice for change, and the artists I listen to, such as Paul McCartney, CSNY, the Grateful Dead, Bruce Springsteen, U2, etc. have always been committed to social causes to help make this country, and the world, a better place. It's time for me to follow their lead.
In that vein, I implore you to Vote. To vote for Joe Biden. To vote for the democracy that allows me to write this post, and for you to disagree. The bullying, the name calling, the lying, the disregard for human decency - behaviors we would not tolerate in the workplace, at school, or in our own homes but some how our president is permitted to display without consequence - must end. The attacks on our constitution and the foundations of our democracy must stop. We need change, and a chance to heal as a nation, to reunite rather than divide, to ensure, in the words of our greatest president, Abraham Lincoln that "these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."
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