VLVL(6) the Movement WAS Re: Absences in VL

[Peter Petto]

At 05:36 PM 12/4/98 -0800, Doug Millison wrote:

> But, following David's thoughtful post, I'll add that in the end the
> anti-Vietnam War movement in the U.S. was in perhaps the most important way
> successful....

I agree with Doug. The Vietnam War movement was very successful. The
success occurred regardless of the fact that a small minority of the
movement was committed and "serious" and the majority was there for fun and
games. Getting gassed or clubbed and jailed politicized a number of people
who didn't show up with that kind of inclination.

Remnants of the serious core show up at Kent State every few years for the
anniversary events, and part of their pitch is always an attempt to
mobilize the nowadays kids to other social causes that
against-the-Vietnam-war folks should support. But they don't get much
traction on these.

What made the movement happen then, and not at other times? Was it the fear
of the draft and death far from home? Or was there something more?