Aquarius Sunset (Old Hippies who don't know what to do)

Human Events ^ | 1-30-07 | Cal Thomas

[smoothsailing]

Aquarius Sunset

by Cal Thomas Posted Jan 30, 2007

The ideologically decrepit anti-war crowd returned to Washington last weekend for a reunion. The older among them abandoned hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions of Vietnamese to imprisonment, torture, death and re-education camps. Their demonstrations were encouraging to the communist Vietnamese, sending the message that America lacked the will to win. These aging hippies and their progeny now want to do the same to millions of Iraqis, who have democratically elected their leaders.

This is the sunset of the “Age of Aquarius.” Yesterday, when they were young, they were the pampered generation that eschewed self-control for self-indulgence. They were (and are) so vain; they probably thought the world was about them. They were the redeeming generation that would save their parents from their sins by ending war, curing racism and cleaning the air and water. Their failure has long been obvious to all but them. To them, intentions, not success, are paramount. Because they believe their intentions are noble, they absolve themselves from the negative consequences of their actions.

As with the Vietnam anti-war protests, several of the same Hollywood actors spoke against the effort to make Iraq a stable and independent nation. Hollywood is the land of make-believe where love means never having to say you’re sorry and acting means never having to take responsibility for your words and behavior, which are written and directed by others. These stars live behind gates with security alarms and guards who protect their privileged lives.

Is there anyone else’s freedom these celebrities would defend? Do any other lives have value beyond their own? Since none of the older demonstrators took responsibility for what occurred in the aftermath of the Vietnam War, would any like to pledge now that if their protests help embolden the insurgents and Taliban to fight on until Iraq is in their clutches they will accept blame?

Why do these people always oppose America’s efforts to defend itself and others? Why did they not protest in Washington, or in Baghdad, when Saddam Hussein was practicing genocide and his sons were raping and torturing their fellow Iraqis? Will we ever see an anti-Taliban protest? How about a demonstration against suicide bombers, or even those who produce and detonate roadside bombs in Iraq? Why do these people think only their country is evil?

This is the doctrine of the privileged and the pampered. It is salvation on the cheap. It makes the protestors feel good, even righteous, but does nothing to solve the problem, which isn’t the United States, but a very real enemy that intends to kill us. Unlike Vietnam, the Islamofascists won’t leave us alone if we leave Iraq before stability is established. They will send more fanatics to our shores. Watch the TV drama “24” for what could be our prophetic and imminent future with a nuclear device exploding in major cities. Having concluded we don’t have the stomach to fight them on their turf, they might understandably deduce we are even less willing to fight them on ours.

While President Bush may have chosen Iraq and Afghanistan to counterattack in this war, the war would have come -- and, indeed, had already come prior to the attacks on these two countries -- had he decided to do nothing.

“Peace is controversial,” said Jesse Jackson last weekend. His comment has about as much relevance in an age of terror as a declaration against lust. Peace doesn’t result when America does nothing to confront evil. Peace comes through facing and defeating evil wherever and whenever we can. If freedom is not on the march against tyranny, then tyranny will be on the march against freedom. Neither is static. Peace doesn’t “happen.” To the extent peace can be attained on earth, it arrives through strength and willpower.

Forty years ago, the protestors pledged to achieve:

Harmony and understanding

Sympathy and trust abounding

No more falsehoods or derisions

Golden living dreams of visions

Mystic crystal revelation

And the mind’s true liberation

They liberated neither their minds, nor the world. The Vietnamese who were murdered were not liberated. Today’s terrorists will not be defeated if we embrace the inane doctrines of the protestors.

A better song for them might be Brenda Lee’s “I’m Sorry,” the first part of which goes:

“I’m sorry, so sorry

That I was such a fool…”

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Copyright © 2007 HUMAN EVENTS. All Rights Reserved.

[maica]

I know, for I was there to greet him:
^^^^^^

Maybe you will get a chuckle from this little story.
In 1964 I was working in Dublin, and the nurses I worked with were all a-twitter because The President's brother was coming to Dublin. (JFK was dead but he was still The President!). When I said 'why would I want to see Ted Kennedy?' they were shocked.

I thought to myself, I wouldn't drive to DC to see him, why would I waste my time standing on the street in Ireland to look at him.

[RushCrush]

What must it be like to long for the 'glory days' of the 1960s? How odd it must feel to go through life like a misfit.

I pity the hippies.

[nutmeg]

Excellent article by Cal Thomas!

[BruceysMom]

I ADORE your screen name! You are so right!

[DollyCali]

you still up?

[oprahstheantichrist]

Thanks!

[grounhog]

the air and water are noticeably cleaner..... Then why do we have global warming now.. Back then we were going into an ice age.....

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[Just A Nobody]

Thanks for the pings to this great article.

How about a demonstration against suicide bombers, or even those who produce and detonate roadside bombs in Iraq?

One of my favorite posters we have.....

Where's Your Protest Against VIOLENT JIHAD?

[Just A Nobody]

Great post Ronnie!

[Slicksadick]

BTT

[rock58seg]

On 9/11 and after I was spitting at the television with all this "We're United" "We're One America Today" bullsh!t, I never believed it for a second, I knew the traitors would show their true colors.

Sadly enough, through the tears of anger, I felt the same as you. It surprised me the Liberals, Democrats, traitors, and fellow travelers paid lip service as long as they did.

[Just A Nobody]

The baby boom generation needs to be called out like this

Hows about we simply refer to them as the commies of the 60's. I never protested the Vietnam war, but wrote to the troops. I was a youth of the 60's and 70's and never did a single thing to undermine the war effort. My children are not undermining the war effort today that I am aware. If they don't always believe the way I would like I can point to their glorious, fabulous, overpriced college (re)educations by commie professors that were protesting America 20 years prior. I do not have sick values now nor did I 35 years ago, therefore I introduced nothing.

A couple hundred thousand managed the coup of our country back then, much like 10s of 1000s are attempting to do it again. Shall I blame the entire current generation?

Are you from the "greatest generation" or GenX or whatever they call those that followed the boomers?

[IIntense]

...if a man were assaulting your daughter, wouldn't you try to kill him?

The answer seems so obvious that you will most likely believe I'm "splitting hairs" here.

If I witnessed a physical attack on any of my children, who are all adults now, I would do anything in my power to stop the attack, including killing the attacker, if that was the result. If a daughter told me her husband/boyfriend/whoever was physically assaulting her, I would demand she put this scumbag out of her life, pronto. I would not blow his head off his body.

What good would I be to her or anyone if I'm residing on death row, for instance? As long as I'm capable to provide it, she will always have a safe home, with me.

[wideminded]

the air and water are noticeably cleaner..... Then why do we have global warming now.

There is more carbon dioxide now because we burn more fossil fuels, but at least the sky is not black with soot and you don't see abandoned drums of chemicals spilling into waterways. You don't hear about rivers catching fire anymore either.

[SuziQ]

How entertaining, and sadly, how true! I've noticed that participants in anti-war and pro-abortion rallies tend to be a lot grayer each year.

[SuziQ]

ROTFL!! I sure hope that story is true!! That is awesome!

[Jimmy Valentine's brother]

You must have a special place for the swimmer. Bet he got his clothing from Abacombie and Fitch.

[beyond the sea]

I came back from my service in the Army Security Agency in 1970.

On November 21, 1970 she told a University of Michigan audience of some two thousand students, "If you understood what communism was, you would hope, you would pray on your knees that we would some day become communist."

At Duke University in North Carolina she repeated what she had said in Michigan, adding "I, a socialist, think that we should strive toward a socialist society, all the way to communism. " Washington Times July 7, 2000

Hanoi Jane perched on the anti-aircraft gun in 72.

I hated her then......... I more than hate her now.

****

Tom Hayden and Jane Fonda being interviewed after their return from North Vietnam. Jane Fonda tells the world press that the American Prisoners of War were being well treated and not tortured.

****

****

Jane Fonda looking admiringly at an NVA gun crew

****

I am truly ashamed that America can create a person like Jane Fonda!

[beyond the sea]

Lord save us.

Mikulski is pretty much repulsive in a number of ways.