Today I got into a conversation with a guy on my program about revolutions. He told me that he thought the social movements of the sixties were kind of pointless, and that they didn't do a lot, except for let people run around irresponsibly and catch a lot of STDs.
I said, wait, what? I knew you had very different opinions with me on many subjects, but really? What about, say, that little thing called the Civil Rights Movement? And the fact that a bunch of the anti-war activists were also involved in that movement, and that it was such an important period of social change, which influenced the next half decade of political discourse? Even if you don't agree with their methods, or even all of their ends? But the civil rights movement? Really?
(By the way, he's an aspiring politician)
He said, not really responding to the enormous amount of emphasis I put on the civil rights movement (he's also a great supporter of Obama the almost-president, which magnified my astonishment), "Well, but they didn't really do anything. I mean, all they did was protest the Vietnam War, and I mean, well...I don't like losing."
(me with my mouth gaping open in shock)
He continues. "I mean, I just really hate losing. I don't want us to lose the war in Iraq, I just really hate it when America loses."
And that was when I lost my words.
I said, wait, what? I knew you had very different opinions with me on many subjects, but really? What about, say, that little thing called the Civil Rights Movement? And the fact that a bunch of the anti-war activists were also involved in that movement, and that it was such an important period of social change, which influenced the next half decade of political discourse? Even if you don't agree with their methods, or even all of their ends? But the civil rights movement? Really?
(By the way, he's an aspiring politician)
He said, not really responding to the enormous amount of emphasis I put on the civil rights movement (he's also a great supporter of Obama the almost-president, which magnified my astonishment), "Well, but they didn't really do anything. I mean, all they did was protest the Vietnam War, and I mean, well...I don't like losing."
(me with my mouth gaping open in shock)
He continues. "I mean, I just really hate losing. I don't want us to lose the war in Iraq, I just really hate it when America loses."
And that was when I lost my words.
2 comments:
I hope you manage to find them again and give this aspiring politician a piece of your mind.
Give him a piece of my mind too.
wow. mine too, please. just give him pieces of all of our minds.
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