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Barbara Keating's avatar

Mike, it is very sobering and angst-filled to realize one’s “idol” (or idealistic image) actually has feet of clay. In some ways tho’ it can be liberating to see the real deal (true history) and be accountable for it and try to move forward with way less hubris as a nation. Was it in the 70’s or 80’s that “consciousness raising” (not a bad thing!) was all the rage? To be more conscious of our actions/impact (consequences) is, I think, a good thing….maybe we should pay more attention to it!

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Bryan Sean McKown's avatar

And, "Teach Ins" during the Vietnam War.

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Barbara Keating's avatar

Ha! I remember those!

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Mike S's avatar

Barbara. Yes. Being more conscious is definitely a good thing. I can honestly say I was not really conscious until we invaded Afghanistan.

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Barbara Keating's avatar

Mine was Vietnam…my first protests…in the late 60’s & early 70’s. Lost friends there & others came back forever changed….how could you not be; other male friends & acquaintances left the country to avoid the draft. On another note, is at that time the (still stalled after all these years) passage of the ERA was on the front burner….had fellow college students tell me that if it passed then women could be drafted. My response was “fair is fair”, even tho I considered myself (still do) a pacifist & opposed the war. Whoa, trip down memory lane!

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Tom High's avatar

Barbara, the ‘be accountable’ part is the key. And to paraphrase the last line in the film Erin Brockovich, we suck at it.

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