The Never Starting Story
Viewing comments for Chapter 63 "The Great Society"A collection of things that fit nowhere else.
24 total reviews
Comment from amahra
Yeah, I was around doing those days. I was slightly older than you, but too young to vote. You perspective is very factual and honest. One thing though, I know far left wings don't like to think of this, but it is well documented that Nixon Kennedy won because of Joe Kennedy's connection with Sinatra and mafia. Great job.
reply by the author on 26-Jan-2015
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Yeah, I was around doing those days. I was slightly older than you, but too young to vote. You perspective is very factual and honest. One thing though, I know far left wings don't like to think of this, but it is well documented that Nixon Kennedy won because of Joe Kennedy's connection with Sinatra and mafia. Great job.
Comment Written 25-Jan-2015
reply by the author on 26-Jan-2015
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Yes, quite a bit about Joe came out in later years. A "colorful" character to say the least. In that election I was only eight. So, it was simply charisma and charm for me. I hadn't a clue about issues. Interesting that those who heard the debate on radio considered Nixon the clear winner while those who saw the debate on television thought Kennedy won. Now, it's just T.V. and no one says much of anything worthwhile. :) An interesting time, before there were cell phones with cameras. I'm sure JFK wouldn't have liked those! Ha! Thank you for your insightful review, mikey
Comment from JJ Rowe
Great job here mikey! A honest perspective through facts. I relate really closely to this. My dad was in Vietnam and would never speak about it. I am now 32 and he just recently had to talk about it when he was force led to take a psychological exam. The stories are heartbreaking and most revolve around his guilt of not being able to help his fallen friends. He kept it hidden so he could focus on his family but now after all these years it has been kinda therapeutic. I kinda felt like he was talking through this piece. Great writing as always :)
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Great job here mikey! A honest perspective through facts. I relate really closely to this. My dad was in Vietnam and would never speak about it. I am now 32 and he just recently had to talk about it when he was force led to take a psychological exam. The stories are heartbreaking and most revolve around his guilt of not being able to help his fallen friends. He kept it hidden so he could focus on his family but now after all these years it has been kinda therapeutic. I kinda felt like he was talking through this piece. Great writing as always :)
Comment Written 25-Jan-2015
Comment from Linda Engel
1964 to 1975 an era that burns still in my baby boomer soul. This is one of the best reads I have seen on Fasn Story. You brought up points I had not realized. Kennedy was an ICON and just ask the question "Where were you when Kennedy got shot. ?"
Johnson was an ass hole, a mean , sneaky ass hole. I was one of those bleeding heart liberals once I got out of high school in '69 and spent my college years soaking up all the news, philosophy, good literature and drugs I could absorb. (just kidding on the drugs, ..not really.. only some "beauties" for finals).
Politics and and media , two really bad bed fellows. I wrote a poem several months ago entitled "1972 Revisited" basically stating the liberals and independents of then are not the same liberals today. Today , I still am independent. I didn't want the government in my face then and I don't want them there now. Vietnam is still present in our house every day. Hubby was one of the last helicopters to fly off the building at the fall of Saigon.
Thank you for sharing you experiences and keep writing. Our children and grand children need to know.
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1964 to 1975 an era that burns still in my baby boomer soul. This is one of the best reads I have seen on Fasn Story. You brought up points I had not realized. Kennedy was an ICON and just ask the question "Where were you when Kennedy got shot. ?"
Johnson was an ass hole, a mean , sneaky ass hole. I was one of those bleeding heart liberals once I got out of high school in '69 and spent my college years soaking up all the news, philosophy, good literature and drugs I could absorb. (just kidding on the drugs, ..not really.. only some "beauties" for finals).
Politics and and media , two really bad bed fellows. I wrote a poem several months ago entitled "1972 Revisited" basically stating the liberals and independents of then are not the same liberals today. Today , I still am independent. I didn't want the government in my face then and I don't want them there now. Vietnam is still present in our house every day. Hubby was one of the last helicopters to fly off the building at the fall of Saigon.
Thank you for sharing you experiences and keep writing. Our children and grand children need to know.
Comment Written 25-Jan-2015
Comment from nordicgirl
This is excellent and insightful. I can feel both how you felt at the time and your insights now that you are older. I admire you for having the same ideals all these years later. Gtreat observation about Goldwater from your liberal perspective. We do tend to go overboard with our portrayals of the other side.
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This is excellent and insightful. I can feel both how you felt at the time and your insights now that you are older. I admire you for having the same ideals all these years later. Gtreat observation about Goldwater from your liberal perspective. We do tend to go overboard with our portrayals of the other side.
Comment Written 25-Jan-2015
Comment from Jay Squires
A fascinating account of a time I remember well, Mikey. You penned it admirably. You are more a political animal than I. What you remembered in the 7th grade, soared right over my head. I was strangely apolitical at an age when I had the most to lose.
Anyway, a good write. A couple of points:
As a twelve-year-old it surprises me I felt the need to follow [Mikey, I can't believe I'm saying this, but I think you need a "that" after "me".]
his finger poised over THEE button, [Intentional extra "E"? Just askin']
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A fascinating account of a time I remember well, Mikey. You penned it admirably. You are more a political animal than I. What you remembered in the 7th grade, soared right over my head. I was strangely apolitical at an age when I had the most to lose.
Anyway, a good write. A couple of points:
As a twelve-year-old it surprises me I felt the need to follow [Mikey, I can't believe I'm saying this, but I think you need a "that" after "me".]
his finger poised over THEE button, [Intentional extra "E"? Just askin']
Comment Written 25-Jan-2015
Comment from lancellot
Well, someone seems a bit sad with the crop of candidates today. They all aren't bad, and even Kennedy was no Kennedy. Think what today's 24 hour media would make of him, and flaws or MLK.
Note:
As a twelve-year-old it [surprises] me I felt the need to follow the election at all.
- surprised, keep the past tense.
No the ads don't work on everyone.
So, Johnson ran his [add], defeated Goldwater in
- ad
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Well, someone seems a bit sad with the crop of candidates today. They all aren't bad, and even Kennedy was no Kennedy. Think what today's 24 hour media would make of him, and flaws or MLK.
Note:
As a twelve-year-old it [surprises] me I felt the need to follow the election at all.
- surprised, keep the past tense.
No the ads don't work on everyone.
So, Johnson ran his [add], defeated Goldwater in
- ad
Comment Written 25-Jan-2015
Comment from emrpoems
An attention grabbing piece. brought the reader back to those elections and the results that changed our lives.
An informative commentary giving insight to the thinking on both sides.
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An attention grabbing piece. brought the reader back to those elections and the results that changed our lives.
An informative commentary giving insight to the thinking on both sides.
Comment Written 25-Jan-2015
Comment from Nosha17
Apart from the assassination of Kennedy which was avidly followed in Britain I didn't much clue about America and its politics at that time. I couldn't remember what Goldwater stood for. Informative commentary with well expressed views. I must say I don't remember liking Johnson much, now I like him even less after reading about his dogs. Good use of rhyming in your poem. Faye
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Apart from the assassination of Kennedy which was avidly followed in Britain I didn't much clue about America and its politics at that time. I couldn't remember what Goldwater stood for. Informative commentary with well expressed views. I must say I don't remember liking Johnson much, now I like him even less after reading about his dogs. Good use of rhyming in your poem. Faye
Comment Written 25-Jan-2015
Comment from gypsycaravan
Love this sliver of your history perspective, mikey. It really was most interesting that LBJ never had a chance of pushing his own agenda after obtaining JFK"S office by default, so to speak. He was more successful at that while in congress. Ha.
Love this line and fact.
"Sometimes it might be best to vote for the better man. Of course, those aren't choices we have anymore."
We generally don't have any 'better men or women' running for office anymore, just greedy puppets of their individual parties.
Excellent piece. Thanks for posting.
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Love this sliver of your history perspective, mikey. It really was most interesting that LBJ never had a chance of pushing his own agenda after obtaining JFK"S office by default, so to speak. He was more successful at that while in congress. Ha.
Love this line and fact.
"Sometimes it might be best to vote for the better man. Of course, those aren't choices we have anymore."
We generally don't have any 'better men or women' running for office anymore, just greedy puppets of their individual parties.
Excellent piece. Thanks for posting.
Comment Written 25-Jan-2015
Comment from mfowler
Although I live on the other side of the pond, all of the years you describe and the Johnson administrations escalation of the war, are still clear memories. The fact that you are a self-proclaimed leftie (I'm somewhat to the left of a folk singer sitting on the back of a caboose even though it isn't attached to a train..love that)and still write this great defense of Barry Goldwater's integrity despite the mischief of Johnson's nuclear ad, shows how arrogant and morally bankrupt that move was, especially in the light of what followed. The irony of Johnson passing the civil rights reforms into law, is quite stunning. I loved your poignant and acerbic message in the poem that supports this essay. A really interesting and disturbing read.
A couple of spags:
So, Johnson ran his add, defeated Goldwater..ad
At the time, This seventh grader didn't care....time, this
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Although I live on the other side of the pond, all of the years you describe and the Johnson administrations escalation of the war, are still clear memories. The fact that you are a self-proclaimed leftie (I'm somewhat to the left of a folk singer sitting on the back of a caboose even though it isn't attached to a train..love that)and still write this great defense of Barry Goldwater's integrity despite the mischief of Johnson's nuclear ad, shows how arrogant and morally bankrupt that move was, especially in the light of what followed. The irony of Johnson passing the civil rights reforms into law, is quite stunning. I loved your poignant and acerbic message in the poem that supports this essay. A really interesting and disturbing read.
A couple of spags:
So, Johnson ran his add, defeated Goldwater..ad
At the time, This seventh grader didn't care....time, this
Comment Written 25-Jan-2015
