We the People - What Has Happened To Our Voice?

This is a piece I promised billybuc I'd write after reading his hub about life in the sixties. It reminded me of a thought that had popped into my head one Friday night when I was listening to Crosby Stills Nash and Young's "4 Way Street". I'm a hippy at heart and always will be.

Bill, I keep my promises!

Remember when music was the Universal Language?

Remember when opinions were voiced and heard through Music?

In response to one of the ugliest wars our troops have ever seen, not to mention the fact that it was undeclared – America’s Voice was heard loud and clear – worldwide! Enter the age of Woodstock, Flower Power and the bombastic, out-loud yearning for Peace.

Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Jimmy Hendrix, hell even Country Joe and the Fish had something to say about the state of the union! America came together through music. We rebelled against anti-disestablishmentarianism, smoked dope, we danced and sang out to the world, “give peace a chance”! We came together with a message: “Hell No We Won’t Go!!” The Vietnam era was perhaps the most vocal period of our time. At least in my lifetime. America was angry and had something to say. We held sit-ins and massive gatherings of those who wanted to “make love, not war”. And we were heard! – through music!!

When our soldiers were bleeding overseas, our hearts and souls were bleeding over here in our beloved US of A, Land of the Free. We were intent on being heard.

Today, the state of the union is in dire straits. And what do we hear? Listen closely. Do you hear it? No? Neither do I.

Our opinions have been sequestered to the internet or inter-office political bashings grabbed from the internet. Someone else’s voice. One to be read, not heard.

We survivors of the Vietnam Era, remnants of the Peace Movement have become complacent, fearful of losing our worldly possessions if we speak our thoughts. Much worse, the successive generations have not been given the wherewithal to form opinions and be free to speak them. Today, it’s all about technology, going paperless and having the latest techno-gadgets. Where is the sense of self? Of sharing and caring? Of wanting peace of mind and soul? Of being free to be who we are? Does today’s generation even know who they are or who they want to be?

With the threat of the current regime infiltrating and monitoring our PCs, the freedoms built into our Constitution are being taken away. Are we going to stand for this? We all bitch about it behind closed doors but don’t have the balls to stand up and shout, “I won’t take it anymore!”.

Some of today’s music has taken the road of singing the praises of patriotism, which is commendable to say the least. And, today, very bold! But what about the big message? America, Land of the Free? Why have we succumbed? Why do we no longer fight to be heard?

What has happened to our voice?

Peace,

Bravewarrior

Shauna L Bowling