My own historic pespective

[susandennis]

fj, this morning on Google+, asked "I want to hear from some historians specialising in the USA whether it has ever gone through a phase of feeling so "We're fucked!" before." He got me thinking...

From my perspective the late 60's/early 70's were a major We're Fucked time.

I was mostly in my 20's and in my world, we just finished sending my male friends, against their will, to Viet Nam to be killed in a stupid stupid stupid war that was not even called a war. It was a world where our own National Guard shoots students.

Our president, future president, our hope to lead us to civil rights for all - shot dead by whackos - it could happen anytime anywhere to anyone.

The year I graduated from college - 1971 - was generally thought to be the worst year ever in history for college graduates to try and find jobs.

And we had plenty of time to conjure on this as we waited in lines to buy gas for our cars. Oh and that gas price was escalating at a frightening pace. Heard throughout the land - gas prices are going to kill our economy and, if gas gets up to $1 a gallon, I'm going to park my car and stay home.

Our and our president is a crook. So we force him out.

We felt not only fucked but fucked with no hope.

It's interesting to think back and remember the feeling and realize how very wrong we were.