Guest Submission by Jack Franklin

This whole OWS crap reminds me of “The Days of Rage” in Chicago surrounding the Democratic National Convention during the 60s.  The Vietnam War was the focus of intense division.  The Military Draft was in place.  As long as you were a student, you were exempt.  Those without resources got stuck.  Politicians and rich folks actually bought and funded “Animal House” type schools just to keep their sons out of the war.

I was a student back then working in the Loop at nite (to pay for school) and living in Lincoln Park, a few blocks from where much of the unrest occurred.  During this period, I attended my one and only protest march.  There were many thousands in attendance (8 to 10 across and stretching for blocks) marching through the downtown area, chanting “hell no, we won’t go.”  Police were on hand for traffic control.  Something “sparked” the crowd, and mayhem followed. Police began mercilessly beating anyone they could put their hands on (including innocent by-standers).  In the surge, people were being pushed through upscale, department store, display windows.  The sea of people panicked and the city went up for grabs.  Many of my friends were thrown in jail that day.  Confusion reigned.  We were young, naive, and stupid.  We wondered about a lot of things, until we were enlightened that NO ONE dare embarrass Mayor Dailey (the “Boss”) in his own town.

Not long after this march, I recall taking the bus to work.  Protestors had taken over the park (no camping).  The drumming was incessant and the smell of pot was thick.  Police moved in, tossing tear gas canisters, only to have the protestors throw them back.  In the rioting and mayhem, once again innocent by-standers were beaten and this time the press also had their cameras smashed by the police.

Now keep in mind that we did not have cell phones, video cameras, computers, or the internet.  Heck, black and white TV had only been around 10 years. Looking back over time, I thought, how did anything get communicated to organize such chaos?  I recalled how local underground newspapers and posters on every corner with community and campus bulletin board littering impressionable young minds.  I still can remember the ads and articles run in these outlets touting Communism, labor issues, resistance to the Establishment, and “Power to the People,” all the meanwhile inviting everyone to hear more about this “revolution” at community meetings held on a regular basis.  Pop culture reinforced these mantras.

I have no doubt that the “spark” that ignited the protest in Chicago mentioned above was caused by these same subversive elements.  Essentially, it’s the same forces that have and continue to divide our country.

For a real eye opener, and how this ties into OWS, check out Big Government’s Lee Stranahan’s video, entitled “The Tour.” THE LEVEL of organization within OWS is incredible.  Lee did a fantastic job. The way in which he was able to get these protestors to open up, I believe at least in part, was influenced by his self-proclaimed, previous liberal leanings not so long ago. I was struck with the facts clearly show that there is NO WAY for any rational person to think that this group of disgruntled student protestors orchestrated this, just like there was NO WAY their counterpart did in the 60s.  Seeing is believing.

The reality is that though times and technology have changed, those intent on destroying this country have adapted and imbedded themselves and their subversive ideology into our society.  The mission is the same.  The Iron Curtain may have symbolically come down, but the patient and persistent “forces of evil” have never been more alive and well … or better organized.