Jerry Lundegaard
Banned
I chose that date because I feel like 14/15 is old enough to remember things in terms of context and not too diluted...
I mentioned in the last movie I watched thread that I recently saw a documentary about the Weathermen Underground.
For those who are unaware, they were a protest group in the 60's and 70's that was completely opposed to the war in Vietnam and eventually morphed into a group of 25/30 people who began bombing different places in the U.S. (made sure places they bombed were clear of people so no one got injured).
But the reason I started this thread was to get some insight from those who were alive back then on the general culture. I talked with my old man quite a bit about it as he grew up in Chicago and lived there after college. There was a specific event covered in the documentary called 'the days of rage' where the group organized a protest to fight the police in Chicago basically. While they anticipated of thousands, and thousands to come from all over the country to fight with them I believe only 200-300 people showed up. After that is when the group downsized and began with the bombings.
I'm most infatuated with the sentiments of any 15-30 year old from that era. Was it as much of a free-for-all as it appears to be in books, movies, tv, documentaries, etc?
The Weathermen Underground were definitely a fringe group, but the movement they started from was gigantic.
Hearing the clips of leaders from that group, the Black Panthers, and a bunch of other fringe groups - the messages were extremely similar to those who are heavily immersed in the Occupy movements across the world. The general theme is the people (99%) rising up against the oppressor (1%) and taking power back.
But I believe back in the 60's and early 70's the people who protested were so much more committed to actually dying for what they were fighting for. Where as now, I can guarantee you 99% of the people in the Occupy movement wouldn't dare put themselves in harms way outside getting a citation or maybe a little tear gas/pepper spray to disperse a group.
I'm not saying one way is the 'right' way to protest. To be honest, I've never been moved by anything yet to want to commit my life to it (aside from my wife) so I can't say which approach I'd take.
I guess my main question for anyone over the age of 56/57 is what do you think the main difference is? Why were so many more people seemingly 'more committed' to their cause than today?
Please ask questions if you aren't sure about what I'm trying to find out, because my pops couldn't really articulate the difference. So naturally, I probably did a crappy job articulating exactly what I'm looking for. Either way, I appreciate any time anyone puts into responding.
EDIT: changed some wording because I don't want this thread to derail despite LogGrad98's classless and bitchass attempt.
I mentioned in the last movie I watched thread that I recently saw a documentary about the Weathermen Underground.
For those who are unaware, they were a protest group in the 60's and 70's that was completely opposed to the war in Vietnam and eventually morphed into a group of 25/30 people who began bombing different places in the U.S. (made sure places they bombed were clear of people so no one got injured).
But the reason I started this thread was to get some insight from those who were alive back then on the general culture. I talked with my old man quite a bit about it as he grew up in Chicago and lived there after college. There was a specific event covered in the documentary called 'the days of rage' where the group organized a protest to fight the police in Chicago basically. While they anticipated of thousands, and thousands to come from all over the country to fight with them I believe only 200-300 people showed up. After that is when the group downsized and began with the bombings.
I'm most infatuated with the sentiments of any 15-30 year old from that era. Was it as much of a free-for-all as it appears to be in books, movies, tv, documentaries, etc?
The Weathermen Underground were definitely a fringe group, but the movement they started from was gigantic.
Hearing the clips of leaders from that group, the Black Panthers, and a bunch of other fringe groups - the messages were extremely similar to those who are heavily immersed in the Occupy movements across the world. The general theme is the people (99%) rising up against the oppressor (1%) and taking power back.
But I believe back in the 60's and early 70's the people who protested were so much more committed to actually dying for what they were fighting for. Where as now, I can guarantee you 99% of the people in the Occupy movement wouldn't dare put themselves in harms way outside getting a citation or maybe a little tear gas/pepper spray to disperse a group.
I'm not saying one way is the 'right' way to protest. To be honest, I've never been moved by anything yet to want to commit my life to it (aside from my wife) so I can't say which approach I'd take.
I guess my main question for anyone over the age of 56/57 is what do you think the main difference is? Why were so many more people seemingly 'more committed' to their cause than today?
Please ask questions if you aren't sure about what I'm trying to find out, because my pops couldn't really articulate the difference. So naturally, I probably did a crappy job articulating exactly what I'm looking for. Either way, I appreciate any time anyone puts into responding.
EDIT: changed some wording because I don't want this thread to derail despite LogGrad98's classless and bitchass attempt.
Last edited:
