<<< This is what happens when you base your development of evidence on decisions that have already been made, instead of basing decisions on evidence.>>>
You wouldn't remember this, the Kennedy's were in office around the time of your birth and as you were a toddler, but the Kennedy's were pretty much the same way.
They had their Bay of Pigs, but there was also this difference. The Kennedy's basic instincts were to play the populist card. Even though they were rich guys, they always rooted for the little guys. They were ahead of the curve on civil rights and they always fought for the working class.
As a result the mood of the country was really, really optimistic. We were heading for the moon. The mood of the western world was much mellower. When Kennedy said "Ich ein Berliner" - we were still occupying Germany and the Germans wept with Joy. Everywhere you went in Europe, they really loved us. They didn't only love us because we were big spenders (there was 4 DM to the $, 5FFR, 2US$ to the Sterling Pound), you could go into an English pub and they would be buying drinks all around. Heck, they would be making $3500 a year (if they were lucky to have jobs) and we would be making $25k to $50k per year.
If Bush were to visit Bagdad today and say "I am a Bagdadder" - I am sure they would also weep (most likely for different reasons). Even as we are heading for Mars today, there is not much joy in that.
One other important difference is in our music. We were just coming out of the Beach Boys, the Mama and the Papas, the Beatles, and heading toward Judy Collins and Joan Baez, today, they probably would not let the Beatles come into this country, if they were to be as irreverent as then and Judy Collins and Joan Baez would be branded unpatriotic traitors.
It all depends on whose ox is being gored - but I much prefer my days to yours. You didn't have to play both sides now, but a lot of people did for different reasons. |
