1968 again
As a veteran of the 1968 “police riot” at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, I can compare it to today’s pro-Palestine, anti-Israel protests. Once again, it’s the nation’s youth taking an antiwar stance. They always do. The old farts start the wars and it’s the nation’s flowering generation that has to spill the blood.
The clearest difference between the two antiwar movements is it was our buddies who were being thrown into the fray and not coming back or returning with their heads so screwed around they couldn’t be functioning members of a society at peace.
I mourn for the Palestinian and the Israeli combatants who’ve given their last full measure of devotion and, especially, the civilians who’ve lost their lives or had those lives completely disrupted by the destruction, but I don’t know any of those people.
The police have gotten a little rough with the current protesters and used excessive force rather than de-escalation, but nothing like what I saw in Chicago. I saw two of Hizzoner da Mare’s storm troopers dragging a demonstrator by his feet, while a third officer was playing ratta-tat-tat on his already unconscious head with his nightstick.
And it wasn’t all one-sided. I went to the protest with two friends, one of whom was a midshipman at Annapolis. As we were watching the melee, a troublemaker came up between us and heaved a brick at the National Guard. My naval academy companion grabbed him and bellowed, “You idiot!”
I was looking at the National Guard who was pointing at us. “Let him go,” I shouted, “And let’s get outta Dodge.” We did and when we looked back, we saw tear gas canisters exploding right where we were standing. We weren’t so far away that I didn’t get my first taste and smell of tear gas.
So, guess where this year’s Democratic Convention is being held. A Democratic incumbent for president who’s largely held responsible for the war is due for renomination. In 1968, it was the incumbent vice president. The general election was won by a Republican who still suffered under the delusion the war could be won which was in tune with the nation’s macho inclination to not pull out.
If you’re planning to heed the plea to “please come to Chicago,” bear in mind the authorities are probably as afraid of you as you are of them. Their training tells them to react to fear with violence rather than de-escalation.
You may get what you ask for, but you won’t get what you want.
Fred Malo Jr.
Carbondale
Rotary thanks
Carbondale Rotary’s fourth annual Fireball Drop on May 3 was our best one yet! A record number of spectators joined us at the Village Smithy this past First Friday to witness almost 1,000 pingpong balls tumble from a fire ladder truck onto targets on the ground to select our winners, all of whom were from Carbondale and Glenwood Springs. It was a beautiful, sunny, breezy day and great fun!
Huge thanks go out to our title sponsor, Ace Hardware of Carbondale, and lead sponsor, Alpine Bank, for their consistent, dedicated support.
The Cowen Center, Glenwood Springs Post Independent, Obermeyer Wood Asset Management, Rivers Dentistry, Thunder River Theatre Company, and Umbrella Roofing also stepped in with key year-round support.
Other sponsors included Bookbinders, Carbondale Car Care/Phillips 66, Brian Keleher at Coldwell Banker Mason Morse Real Estate, Herschel Ross Family Dentistry, Lulubelle and Bristlecone Mountain Sports, Martin Insurance, Mike Waski, Modern Day Media, John Moore, Nordic Gardens, the Pain Center of the Roaring Fork Valley, Robin Tolan, Sopris Liquor and Wine, Karen Pierson at Aspen Snowmass Sotheby’s Real Estate at RVR, RK Wolff Safety Consulting, and Whitsitt Law Office.
We would like to especially thank the wonderful men and women of the Carbondale & Rural Fire Protection District. They once again provided the equipment, manpower, expertise, and good energy that made it all possible!
Thank you also goes to our event partners: the Town of Carbondale Parks and Recreation Department, Andrea and everyone at the Carbondale Chamber, The Sopris Sun, Megan and the crew at KDNK, and everyone at City Market Carbondale.
We’d also like to congratulate the Family Block Party and Pride Parade for putting on another wonderful event that brings out the best of Carbondale.
Lastly, many thanks to all of you who bought balls from us, our local Rotary high school scholarship recipients, our exchange students, Ascendigo, and everyone at the fire station! You’ve helped us raise much needed funds for local organizations as well as all our community service projects, scholarships and exchange program. We are indeed grateful to be a part of this amazing and generous community.
Yours in service,
Alan Cole – Carbondale Rotary Fundraising Chair
Ann Harris, Leslie Shor – Rotary Co-Presidents 2023-2024
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