America

I’m going to ask my fellow bloggers to indulge me for a few moments as I stroll down Memory Lane. I am currently working on a project assembling hundreds of my favorite songs from the Sixties. Yes, it was a controversial time and many of is suffered from misplaced idealism. Many of us grew out of it. You can tell those who didn’t. I’m referring to 60 year old men with gray ponytails and women who still think they look like Cher. Bless their hearts.  Anyway, I came across this song by Steppenwolf, (yes boys and girls, they did more than Born To Be Wild) and it hit me really hard at how those who do not recall the past are doomed to repeat it. This particular song is important for two reasons. One, I can not recall another pop song that was primarily an American History lesson (albeit an extremely abridged one) and two, I will bet you dollars to proverbial donuts that if you give these lyrics to any high school student, they would immediately think it was written in the past two years and not nearly forty years ago.  This is merely an exercise in self awareness. Take it for what it’s worth. I doubt the Powers That Be will learn anything from it but what the heck… 

Once the religious, the hunted and weary
Chasing the promise of freedom and hope
Came to this country to build a new vision
Far from the reaches of kingdom and pope
Like good Christians, some would burn the witches
Later some got slaves to gather riches

One tragedy away from anarchy

That is my belief, one day is coming, and this country will self destruct. I really don’t mean to be a pessimist, or a nay sayer, but think about it. We as a people are money hungry and greedy. My case in point is the 1972 fuel crisis. Fuel was rationed, essential operations came first, police, fire and medical. Then the people were given the opportunity for gas based on the even odd numbers on their license plate. Yes tempers flared at stations, and I did see several fights. I can’t recall anyone getting killed over it.