Tags
1970, Cambodia, David Crosby, Graham Nash, Kent State, Kent State Massacre, massacre, May 4th, Neil Young, Ohio, Ohio National Guard, protesters, Richard M. Nixon, Stephen Stills, this day in history, Vietnam Conflict
On which the simmering combination of angry anti-war protesters and nervous Ohio National Guardsmen reaches a violent boil, inspiring a great Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young song.
“Tin Soldiers And Nixon Coming, We’re Finally On Our Own . . .This Summer I Hear The Drumming–Damn, This Song IS Catchy.”
Promethean Times 
Maybe I see history in a bit of a different light, but you probably shouldn’t make it a point to piss off the National Guard.
We probably do see history in different lights, but then, so does everyone. “History”, after all, is just a tale that the majority has chosen to believe,or the authorities choose for us to believe. It’s muddy and messy.
One time, I was having a friendly conversation with a man who had been a Holocaust survivor. He asked me why I liked history (I’d just graduated with the useless major at that time), and I said, “I guess because it’s never black and white.” He REALLY did not like that answer.
I didn’t major in history (I was a business major, go figure) but I am fascinated by 20th century history, especially WWII. I am also amazed by how society fails to learn from history, but then again, many people have never bothered to study it in the first place. I agree that everyone has a unique perspective, and I don’t think it’s possible to be 100% objective. I know I’m biased, and I freely admit it.
After all, history is written by the winners. I think that our perspective on WWII, for instance, would have been far different (not to mention I’d probably be writing my commentary in German) had Hitler refrained from fighting a two front war. Apparently he didn’t learn from Napoleon’s mistake. I don’t disagree that Hitler was the “bad guy”- but had the Axis won, he would have been portrayed in historical accounts in a far different light.
I enjoy the fact that you use the dating method “CE.”
Thanks, MW! Believe it or not, despite a degree in history, I used A.D. for an awful long time, including some of my “This Day in History” posts, although they’ve been subsequently changed.