Forty Years Ago Today

The Vietnam War came home on May 4, 1970. Today is the 40th anniversary of the Kent State Massacre. Four dead in Ohio. Days later, students were killed at Jackson State. It's often passed off on the victims, in the wrong place at the wrong time they say. They shouldn't have thrown stones, they say. Some were students walking between classes. The dead and wounded were arbitrary targets. So much for the 'victim' argument.

Where is the stone throwing "Public", the fist of a "Republic"? It disappeared along with the right of insurrection. We gave up the right of insurrection being too busy with the day-to-day; for example earning health care insurance, food, housing; not wishing to disrupt our happy lives. We are too focused on daily routines to be the Public in Republic. We are too busy to throw stones. However, the proverbial threat of stone-throwing is precisely what republican government requires from the public. The Democrats have focused on democratic process, and the Republicans have forgotten it's a Republic.