Sometimes I try to disguise my shortcomings as a writer by "borrowing" words from those with true literary talent. I don't consider it plagiarism as long as I give full credit; academics like to call that sort of thing "research."
Growing up in the 1960s and '70s, much of the writings that left an impression on me came from popular songs of that era, especially protest songs. (And, yes, I'm familiar with that old joke about anyone claiming to remember the '60s obviously didn't properly experience them. Since I'm not sure all the applicable statutes of limitations have expired, I won't comment further on that observation ...)
There were plenty of protest songs in the '60s and '70s, because there was much to protest. The Vietnam War; civil rights violations; voter suppression; gender inequality; poverty; health-care (particularly reproductive health-care) issues; quality housing shortages; First Amendment disputes, among many others. Most of them are still hanging around--and, arguably, even worse--more than half a century later, which speaks volumes about our society, but not much about any efforts to fix things. There also were some great protest songwriters. Pete Seeger, Phil Ochs, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Nina Simone, John Prine, Paul Simon, Curtis Mayfield, John Lennon and Paul McCartney, Arlo Guthrie, and, of course, Country Joe McDonald, to name just a few.
Between 1970-71, the band Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young produced their "4 Way Street" album--recordings of selected songs from live performances around the country. Some of their lyrics addressed recent events, such as the killing of students during an anti-war rally at Kent State University by Ohio National Guardsmen, and the Chicago Seven trial stemming from turbulent events surrounding the 1968 Democratic National Convention.
During an instrumental interlude of their song, "49 Reasons," singer-songwriter Stephen Stills ad-libbed a short monologue to the audience--most likely overwhelmingly in their teens and 20s--about the need to continue protesting injustice and other ills of society, despite government and establishment suppression, even if it should cost protesters their lives. But Stills emphasized that the protesters must remain peaceful and not answer violence in-kind.
"But you know we gotta do it; we gotta keep on keepin' on, because if we don't do it nobody else is gonna," Stills implored the young fans. "But you know, if we can't do it with a smile on our face; you know, if we can't do it with love in our hearts, then, Children, we ain't got no right to do it at all. Because it just means we ain't learned nothin' yet. We're supposed to be some kind of different. ... And I don't know if I want white America to remember or to forget, that Jesus Christ was the first nonviolent revolutionary. Dig it!"
Recently a group of students at Little Rock Central High School conducted a well-organized, peaceful, and orderly walkout from their classes to protest a number of issues they believe are harmful to society in general, and public education in particular. There was no violence; no property damage; no arrests. Subsequently, several of the protest organizers issued statements outlining their grievances and why they took action to call attention to the issues. The statements were thoughtful, respectful, well-informed, and well-written. Their comments reflect the work of intelligent, concerned, and caring young citizens who recognize problems and needs that certain "adults" in powerful positions either cannot see--or worse--refuse to acknowledge.
Most likely, some of those protesting Central students are already eligible to vote; within another year or two, nearly all of them will be. My fervent hope is that there are millions more high school students throughout the United States with similar concerns and motivations to take action and address the messes that those in my generation have either created or perpetuated, and that they will register to vote and express their convictions at the ballot box. I hope they never become so cynical like too many currently eligible voters who either don't register or don't vote because they believe they can't make a difference.
The Central students, and hopefully many, many more around the country, clearly understand the concept of the "greater good," as opposed to the selfishness, hatred, and fearmongering dominating our political and social scenes for several decades. Here's hoping they can turn things around and make this a better country for all citizens, not just the privileged few.
Another major rock band from the '60s and '70s, The Who, also dabbled in protest and social commentary music. About 60 years ago, their lead singer, Pete Townshend, wrote and sang "The kids are all right ..."
I wasn't at the Central walkout, so I don't know if the students did it with smiles on their faces, but I'm pretty sure they did it with love in their hearts. If there are enough other students like those at Central out there, Townshend's words will still ring true today.
Doug Szenher of Little Rock retired from public/media relations with the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality after previously working as a newspaper reporter in Hot Springs and Texarkana.