DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | University of Iowa anti-war protests, 1970 | ""Iowa '70: Riot, Rhetoric, Responsibility?"" Page 10

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University of Iowa anti-war protests, 1970

""Iowa '70: Riot, Rhetoric, Responsibility?"" Page 10

6
From the Right
It's Ture. Old Glory has never fallen so low. It's become a virtual door mat for millions of 'Americans?'. Our national shrines are desecrated; our officials are berated and intimidated; both have nearly faced annihilation. True, we are involved in numerous, nameless, winless conflicts; we're spillng American blood on foreign soil. But what is worse is that the blood spilled is for ideals which do not seem to mean too much to 'Americans?' any more.
The truth is, America's real trouble doesn't lie in the jungles and rice paddies of Southeast Asia. The real trouble lies in the campus at Kent University, the Capitol grounds in Washington, and in our own Pentacrest. The disease that is eating away at our vitals is right here in the Good? Old? United? States of America.
This is the time of the cynic, the year of the unbeliever, the day of doubt. We've cast aside beliefs and destroyed our images. We've left nothing to respect. Love of God, country, and family has dropped by the wayside.
We are uneasy standing for The National Anthem. We refuse jury duty, We wouldn't be caught with our eyes closed during public prayer for fear of what someone might think. Patriotism, the hand over the heart, flagwaving, marching, singing, patriotism is dead.
Patriotism is simple, it is pride. Pride in a newer car, prettier girl, bigger house, or a better educational system. Some where that pride has been lost. Our system of government has remained basically the same for nearly two hundred years. Life is still procreated the same way. Nourishment still maintains us in the same way. The basic ideals and structure of ma n and America haven't changed; we have, you and me !
Our enemies know it. They watch television, too. Daily they place another wedge that widens the crack in our Liberty Bell. They don't have to attack us to defeat us. We can defeat ourselves unassisted, and they are willing to stand by and watch. We may very well be on the 'Eve of Destruction' through our own wrong doing.
Let's all work together to take the question mark out of American?'; but let's do it the unquestionably American way. Do it through the processes that have survived nearly two hundred years and have brought us to the level of freedom and intelligence we experience today.

Take Another Look
I'm writing this letter in the hope that I can relay to you some of my concerns—concerns that I share with thousands of other college students across this nation today.
Many of you probably ask 'Who do those crazy kids think they are? If they don't want to go to school, then kick them out!" It's not that simple— try to understand why and what they are doing.
In 1963, there were peaceful demonstrations against the Vietnam war. In 1970, there are still "some peaceful demonstrations." What have seven years of peaceful demonstrations gotten us? --an Indochina War!
We are a very concerned generation; concerned about our future. You see, we are not sure we have a future! We do not see anything being accomplished by killing.
Admittedly, war may have been necessary in the 1940's to protect our country—but I don't think it is in the 1960's and 1970's. This is a different war. We are the imperialists. Not even South Vietnamese want us there, to say nothing of our former allies.
Put yourself in Red China's position. What would you do with 500,000 U.S. soldiers just a few miles from your border? Let's create a similar situation. How would you feel if Red China had 500,000 troops stationed in Mexico? It would make me nervous. Think about it for a second.
I think it's time for the draft dodging image of the college student to be thrown out the back door. I see no difference in the amount of loyalty to one's country in the individual who goes to college or the person who enlists in the national guard.

Saving...

6 From the Right It's Ture. Old Glory has never fallen so low. It's become a virtual door mat for millions of 'Americans?'. Our national shrines are desecrated; our officials are berated and intimidated; both have nearly faced annihilation. True, we are involved in numerous, nameless, winless conflicts; we're spillng American blood on foreign soil. But what is worse is that the blood spilled is for ideals which do not seem to mean too much to 'Americans?' any more. The truth is, America's real trouble doesn't lie in the jungles and rice paddies of Southeast Asia. The real trouble lies in the campus at Kent University, the Capitol grounds in Washington, and in our own Pentacrest. The disease that is eating away at our vitals is right here in the Good? Old? United? States of America. This is the time of the cynic, the year of the unbeliever, the day of doubt. We've cast aside beliefs and destroyed our images. We've left nothing to respect. Love of God, country, and family has dropped by the wayside. We are uneasy standing for The National Anthem. We refuse jury duty, We wouldn't be caught with our eyes closed during public prayer for fear of what someone might think. Patriotism, the hand over the heart, flagwaving, marching, singing, patriotism is dead. Patriotism is simple, it is pride. Pride in a newer car, prettier girl, bigger house, or a better educational system. Some where that pride has been lost. Our system of government has remained basically the same for nearly two hundred years. Life is still procreated the same way. Nourishment still maintains us in the same way. The basic ideals and structure of ma n and America haven't changed; we have, you and me ! Our enemies know it. They watch television, too. Daily they place another wedge that widens the crack in our Liberty Bell. They don't have to attack us to defeat us. We can defeat ourselves unassisted, and they are willing to stand by and watch. We may very well be on the 'Eve of Destruction' through our own wrong doing. Let's all work together to take the question mark out of American?'; but let's do it the unquestionably American way. Do it through the processes that have survived nearly two hundred years and have brought us to the level of freedom and intelligence we experience today. Take Another Look I'm writing this letter in the hope that I can relay to you some of my concerns—concerns that I share with thousands of other college students across this nation today. Many of you probably ask 'Who do those crazy kids think they are? If they don't want to go to school, then kick them out!" It's not that simple— try to understand why and what they are doing. In 1963, there were peaceful demonstrations against the Vietnam war. In 1970, there are still "some peaceful demonstrations." What have seven years of peaceful demonstrations gotten us? --an Indochina War! We are a very concerned generation; concerned about our future. You see, we are not sure we have a future! We do not see anything being accomplished by killing. Admittedly, war may have been necessary in the 1940's to protect our country—but I don't think it is in the 1960's and 1970's. This is a different war. We are the imperialists. Not even South Vietnamese want us there, to say nothing of our former allies. Put yourself in Red China's position. What would you do with 500,000 U.S. soldiers just a few miles from your border? Let's create a similar situation. How would you feel if Red China had 500,000 troops stationed in Mexico? It would make me nervous. Think about it for a second. I think it's time for the draft dodging image of the college student to be thrown out the back door. I see no difference in the amount of loyalty to one's country in the individual who goes to college or the person who enlists in the national guard.