<p><a href=“http://may4.org/4.html[/url]”>http://may4.org/4.html</a></p>
<p>Do you think it would happen again?
I do.</p>
<p>I am an admitted old geezer. I remember these events quite well. That Saturday during all this (May 2), I was a HS junior, taking the SAT’s that very day. As the military draft/lottery was still a big issue, we were all concerned about the news, and about our male friends and relatives. Several of us were spending more time following the news than preparing for the SAT’s. One friend admitted that she hardly prepared fror the SATs. She got a 1600. She went to MIT. Humbled the rest of us.</p>
<p>35 years ago I was a senior in high school. The following day I was not in school, but leading a hastily-organized protest march downtown, in response to the events of the previous day. I know that we cut school and we marched without a permit in 100 degree heat - and gathered in front of the federal building where we shouted a lot. </p>
<p>Anyway, that was my high school “EC” – protest marches and an underground newspaper.</p>
<p>I was a freshman in college. We, too, took to the streets–in a very polite, orderly fashion, of course. </p>
<p>We had a long march through midtown, led by folks carrying coffins draped in red climber roses [that we had taken from the back fence of the Presbyterian Church down the block]. </p>
<p>The PD had photographers stationed every so often to take pictures of the marching crowd as we passed. I’ve often wondered if those pics of us are still in a file drawer somewhere in the PD [or the FBI].</p>
<p>And yes, I think it would happen again. </p>
<p>If the military draft is re-instated… .</p>
<p>I was twelve- and already had been stunned by the events of the previous few years but turning weapons on students at their college campus was practically beyond my comprehension.</p>
<p>It still is.</p>
<p>Sitting-in at the Principal’s office as a HS freshman, Bay Area school. The lowered the flag to half mast at our request, then we left.</p>
<p>Hey this is the only thing my alma mater is known for. 
Being 28, I obviously wasn’t their 35 years ago, but being in the National Guard I know of many (now old timers) troops who were forced into the situation of being on the hill that day. I also know alot who were given Article 15s (non-judicial punishment) for refusing to go to Kent that day because many of the protesters were their friends. It still bugs me when I here it was the Soldier’s fault for shooting, from what I have heard from many people who were on the hill that day, they did not want to be there and Gov Rhodes should never have given the troops authorization to be able to fire that day. So basically you have a bunch of 20 year olds (wearing uniforms) told to stop another bunch of 20 year olds who might have been their friends. Very sticky situation. I wonder how today’s youth would handle this scenario.</p>
<p>I was a high school senior and remember the feelings of horror that Monday. Thanks for posting that link, EK. It’s an interesting site, think I’ll share it with my Ds. It’s scary revisiting that day now as a mom and imagining it happening at one of my Ds schools. Very sad.</p>
<p>I’m not sure if it could happen again or not but I’m worried that it could. The times are very different now in so many ways. After witnessing the large protests against Bush and his Iraq policies in NYC, I think it would be a much larger and diverse movement than it was against the Vietnam war.</p>
<p>Knowing the Kent Police Department unfortunately too well, if anything like this happened today, they would totally violate civil rights and busts protesters heads open.</p>
<p>HS sophomore, organizing a town-wide Moratorium. Stunned and shamed and incredulous that I lived in a country where this could happen. And yes, I believe it could happen again.</p>
<p>Four dead in Ohio.</p>
<p>That was a tough time for me. I was 13 .
My dad had been KIA on Dec 28, 1969. Mom was still having a tough time with her grief and I wasn’t helping. I was po’ed at the world and was letting the world know it. When I first heard about the shootings at Kent state I supported the NG’s actions. My feeling was, My dad is dead because he was doing what his country asked and these kids were trying to destroy what he died for. But even worse for me,the dead students were getting all the sympathy.
By the summer of 1971 I had matured and worked through my emotions. Then I realized what the NG had done that day was wrong.
I hope we never have to live through another era like that</p>
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<p>I am so sorry to hear that. What a time to lose your father- I am very sorry.</p>
<p>Although I was very idealistic and while young very caught up in the antiwar movement- but I wasn’t against the soldiers.
While I don’t remember any peace marches- I did wear a POW bracelet for several years- My soldier came home while I was still in high school and I remember being estatic and sending a letter and the bracelet to him and his family-
I am never against the troops- but against those who use them as pawns.</p>
<p>Ninth grade…kept playing Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, “Four dead in Ohio”…on the stereo…</p>
<p>Probably hitchhiking somewhere between Berkeley and Cornell. “It was the best of times it was the worst of times” seems to apply to youth of the generation. I was playing music and helping students organize. Guns have no place on a college campus.</p>
<p>So far, I am the geezer of this thread. Was a Senior at Wellesley and taking most courses that semester at MIT. All classes were cancelled for the balance of the year, and only thesis had to be completed. All were given the grade of “Pass.” To be honest, while I was politically aware and active, my overarching memory of the time was the relief at being able to blow off the balance of the year. Who am I to complain that S leaves a little to be desired in the maturity department? :eek:</p>
<p>I’m not so sure things are all that different than they were. I’m not sure we learned a lesson with Vietnam, although I certainly hope so. This Thanksgiving, I sat with tears in my eyes in the airport as we sat and waited for our son to arrive. Bad weather made his flight a couple of hours late, so I had lots of time to watch beautiful young people in desert fatigues making their way home for Thanksgiving. Many were the age of my son. They barely looked old enough to drive, and I said a prayer for each one of them that God would keep them safe. Then, I watched the college students with their college sweatshirts and lap top laden backpacks making their connections and meeting happy parents. I wondered if how many of these young soldiers had a chance to go to college and how many paid for their education through ROTC. It just seemed to dredge up the old class war debate for me.</p>
<p>I was 13 years old when the incident at Kent State happened. I remember the news, but mostly I remember the letters that my cousin sent during that time. He was assigned to the Kitty Hawk</p>
<p>Twelve years old and living in Ohio; it was the first time I became fully aware of my dad’s opposition to the war (surprising to me at the time because he was a WWII vet/survivor of the first wave of Marines to land on Iwo Jima). My dad sat at the dinner table with tears coursing down his cheeks, and instead of the usual unison family grace before dinner, he started dinner with a prayer for peace.</p>
<p>jmmom-
I happily defer my self-imposed geezer title to the more deserving 
Many of these posts have brought back a lot of memories-- funny (well, not really, but you know what I mean) that my first memory was of taking the SATs that weekend. I really do think I was more traumatized by the Kent State happenings.</p>
<p>BMoyilan-
I am so sorry. How awful for you and your mom. I can only imagine how you, as a teen, must have felt about the student marches. And of course, the loss of your dad. I am so sorry. </p>
<p>I was amongst the idealists who thought we could give peace a chance. I remember standing on the streetcorner in December in the NY suburbs handing out fliers for the moratorium. Someone came around with coffee. It was hot. I was cold. I have been drinking coffee ever since. Funny how habits start.</p>
<p>I was in college and participating in the very activities that resulted in the deaths of those 4 people. Once the news hit, the demonstrations intensified and buildings were occupied. The Republican president of the University handled the situation brilliantly and with sensitivity; no one was hurt.</p>
<p>Today is my youngest daughter’s birthday. I never realized that her birthday coincided with the anniversary of this great tragedy. Those days were wonderful…and also very sad.</p>