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caraher

(6,276 posts)
154. I was just 4
Fri Aug 1, 2014, 09:40 AM
Aug 2014

The only memory I have of 1968 was being in the car and hearing the Apollo 8 Christmas message on the radio.

I'm glad I had no awareness of the assassinations at the time. That, and Vietnam, would have been gut-wrenching.

I do recall some impressions from just a few years later. The 1967 violence in Detroit always loomed large in my mind (I grew up in Detroit) as something that happened mainly in other neighborhoods. I was always proud to still be in the city and was a bit ashamed when my own family left for the suburbs in 1975.

Another big part of my worldview then was that the US was always in a war, somewhere. It's just how things were. Maps with little "blast" symbols marking the sites of battles, F-4s taxiing and taking off on TV... it was just part of the background.

And I thought that there was a stable progression as one aged from kid to teenager to hippie...

1968 (Your Help, Please!) [View all] H2O Man Jul 2014 OP
I watched all of 1968 from abroad... kentuck Jul 2014 #1
Interesting. H2O Man Jul 2014 #6
Woodstock happened after I returned home in April '69... kentuck Jul 2014 #41
were you drafted? When did you go in? Your name implies Laura PourMeADrink Jul 2014 #55
Yes, I lived in Kentucky. kentuck Jul 2014 #75
I hear you totally - and I love you. nt Laura PourMeADrink Jul 2014 #78
" H2O Man Jul 2014 #82
Thank you, Laura. kentuck Jul 2014 #85
Me too. blueamy66 Aug 2014 #180
Those are fascinating posts, kentuck. The last paragraph made me feel very sad. To be alone, sabrina 1 Jul 2014 #106
I had a similar experience of spending the night on a Georgia road to Warner Robins AFB to pick up ancianita Aug 2014 #125
What a story--here's to you kentuck! panader0 Aug 2014 #188
My music store sold tickets to Woodstock. RoverSuswade Jul 2014 #61
my bil's dad found a Woodstock poster in the garbage and made $15k nt Laura PourMeADrink Jul 2014 #68
Wow! What a post! KT2000 Jul 2014 #72
I was a freshman at the Univ. Of Kansas SoCalDem Jul 2014 #90
Better than TV blueamy66 Aug 2014 #177
Thank you for sharing these memories, kenuck... Mike Nelson Aug 2014 #184
Thank you for your service minivan2 Jul 2014 #111
Not to minimize your sincere comments.. kentuck Aug 2014 #113
What sticks out? The betrayal by the Democratic Party of the anti-war movement. Tierra_y_Libertad Jul 2014 #2
Thank you. H2O Man Jul 2014 #10
yes. n/t KoKo Jul 2014 #27
agreed.... mike_c Jul 2014 #33
Betrayl of the anti-war movement by "The War Party"?!? ieoeja Aug 2014 #195
The Democrats at the convention went for Humpty rather than McCarthy. Tierra_y_Libertad Aug 2014 #197
I call that "expected" from a party mocked as "The War Party". ieoeja Aug 2014 #199
The party that H2O Man Aug 2014 #200
Biggest event…. safeinOhio Jul 2014 #3
I've heard that H2O Man Jul 2014 #13
That too. n/t safeinOhio Jul 2014 #19
The assassinations: Bearing the news of one, waking up to the other villager Jul 2014 #4
Well said. H2O Man Jul 2014 #14
Apollo 8 - Our first look at the Earth above another world LongTomH Jul 2014 #5
I was quite young in 1968. Jenoch Jul 2014 #11
I've always admired that photo.Earth looks so peaceful from space. SummerSnow Jul 2014 #17
I remember that Christmas (Eve) greeting Art_from_Ark Jul 2014 #39
Beatles White Album? Loudly Jul 2014 #7
CNN has been emphasizing the music in this series. amandabeech Jul 2014 #34
Yeah,....because us long haired hippie types were responsible for this... Spitfire of ATJ Jul 2014 #52
I take no responsibility for him... Blue_In_AK Aug 2014 #135
In '69 I was tripping on the moon. Spitfire of ATJ Aug 2014 #137
Definitely better than ol' Charlie. Blue_In_AK Aug 2014 #138
With that... Spitfire of ATJ Aug 2014 #211
My favorite albums from 1968... kentuck Aug 2014 #118
All of my friends H2O Man Aug 2014 #149
For some adults, my parents for example, Kent State and Watergate were the unravelling of their LuckyLib Aug 2014 #221
what's a juicer ? someone who drinks alcohol ? nt steve2470 Aug 2014 #179
Memories of that year which stand out in my memory..... northoftheborder Jul 2014 #8
My mother's baby brother SummerSnow Jul 2014 #20
I'm sorry for your family's loss. n/t amandabeech Jul 2014 #35
I was at the Democratic convention. Mz Pip Jul 2014 #9
I was in command of an Army riot control squad that was on alert to go there pinboy3niner Jul 2014 #18
I was there too, and indeed the fact that none of us were killed remains suprising. Warren Stupidity Jul 2014 #23
I was inducted into the Air Force in Chicago during the convention. HubertHeaver Jul 2014 #30
student riots at columbia dhol82 Jul 2014 #12
MC5 - Speedway Meadows L0oniX Jul 2014 #15
I remember the Motor City 5. kentuck Jul 2014 #42
They played in Golden Gate Park SM a lot back then when I was there. L0oniX Aug 2014 #172
I will be watching SummerSnow Jul 2014 #16
The good guys kept dying at the hands of "lone gunmen". I smelled a putrid, stinking rat. Scuba Jul 2014 #21
tet, king, riots, lbj, rfk, chicago, riots, Warren Stupidity Jul 2014 #22
I was being mentored by Pirkle Jones that year Brother Buzz Jul 2014 #24
When I think of it, I get dizzy and nauseous. amandabeech Jul 2014 #25
Like your post,... CanSocDem Aug 2014 #156
There was H2O Man Aug 2014 #163
Thank you. It was cathartic writing it. amandabeech Aug 2014 #208
i can feel the gut punches of losing bobby kennedy & martin luther king like it was yesterday. spanone Jul 2014 #26
how did you know about it? I vividly remember my mom waking me Laura PourMeADrink Jul 2014 #56
well, i was 17 yrs old and living it. spanone Jul 2014 #99
The Convention. elleng Jul 2014 #28
We are still feeling the political reverberations 4now Jul 2014 #29
What Warren Stupidity said in 22, but especially antiquie Jul 2014 #31
north korea capturing GP6971 Jul 2014 #32
I remember that one, and its more tragic "sister event", Art_from_Ark Aug 2014 #139
My husband of eight months got drafted into the US Army in 1968.. Tikki Jul 2014 #36
Sound familiar? Yes: Hissyspit Jul 2014 #47
Thanks for the headsup malaise Jul 2014 #37
The year started off with LSD becoming illegal randr Jul 2014 #38
Soviet Union GP6971 Jul 2014 #40
Yes. We have degrees in European Languages (among other things) JDPriestly Aug 2014 #120
I remember watching a news video of Alexander Dupcek Art_from_Ark Aug 2014 #140
Mid to late 68 GP6971 Jul 2014 #43
1968 shaped my life louis c Jul 2014 #44
There should be a national holiday in honor of McCarthy volunteers. Smarmie Doofus Jul 2014 #77
A Few Words... MLK, RFK, Tet, Chicago, Nixon... WillyT Jul 2014 #45
MLK, Jr. assassinated on my eighth birthday, rateyes Jul 2014 #46
I had just gotten out of the hospital & convalescent center at Cam Ranh Bay with Jackpine Radical Jul 2014 #48
We were only a couple of miles apart on that night. kentuck Jul 2014 #54
I was at LZ Uplift, just outside of Bong Son. Jackpine Radical Jul 2014 #79
I was about halfway down the peninsula. kentuck Jul 2014 #88
North of Qui Nhon, somewhere near Phu My. Jackpine Radical Jul 2014 #101
I never made it up to Qui Nhon.... kentuck Jul 2014 #105
I was in college. TNNurse Jul 2014 #49
I remember much of it like it was last year. femmocrat Jul 2014 #66
One of my earliest memories if of RFK's funeral deutsey Jul 2014 #50
Bobby Kennedy's assassination was my low point CanonRay Jul 2014 #51
i often wonder how different things would DesertFlower Aug 2014 #133
Yes, I believe he would have won as well CanonRay Aug 2014 #160
I think he would H2O Man Aug 2014 #165
The Army commissioned me as an Infantry officer in '68 at the age of 19 pinboy3niner Jul 2014 #53
I understand how you got there. kentuck Jul 2014 #62
Ft Benning DustyJoe Jul 2014 #86
Thanks friend! kentuck Jul 2014 #92
My brother and I served together in the 101st Airborne Division pinboy3niner Jul 2014 #110
iirc, 199th LIB was at Long Binh pinboy3niner Aug 2014 #127
Long Binh DustyJoe Aug 2014 #170
LBJ kentuck Aug 2014 #186
We were talking about the 199th LIB (Light Infantry Brigade) pinboy3niner Aug 2014 #217
So I heard... kentuck Aug 2014 #218
Ft Huachuca is about 12 miles from where I live (outside Sierra Vista) panader0 Aug 2014 #190
The entire year stands out for me. SheilaT Jul 2014 #57
nice chronology. CanSocDem Aug 2014 #159
I turned 6 that year hfojvt Aug 2014 #222
Observation: Then and now. RoverSuswade Jul 2014 #58
I graduated from h.s. that year - LiberalElite Jul 2014 #59
1968 brings to mind The Wizard Jul 2014 #60
If you did not live through these years, I pity you - because Laura PourMeADrink Jul 2014 #63
Yes, I remember gwheezie Jul 2014 #67
Well, I was involved on a more tame/peaceful level but I can totally get what Laura PourMeADrink Jul 2014 #70
I was 12 in 68 in Texas rickyhall Jul 2014 #64
What do you think it is about the south and Texas - my theory Laura PourMeADrink Jul 2014 #73
My 1968 started in 1967 gwheezie Jul 2014 #65
This is an amazing thread. H2O Man Jul 2014 #69
I agree H2OMan cilla4progress Aug 2014 #129
I spent 1968 on the Coast Guard Cutter Point Hudson in Viet Nam! yortsed snacilbuper Jul 2014 #71
A place in my heart for you, my friend. misterhighwasted Jul 2014 #84
I was only two in '68, but I have a few vivid memories of the late '60s: Arugula Latte Jul 2014 #74
year I was born nt d_r Jul 2014 #76
How many hours do you have, haha! 1968: Nixon elected during my birthday party. 1968: Chicago police WinkyDink Jul 2014 #80
Woodstock, Vietnam, Janice Joplin, Jimmy Hendrick & my friend's new Mustang.(maybe that car was '69) misterhighwasted Jul 2014 #81
Woodstock was GP6971 Jul 2014 #87
Right. H2O Man Jul 2014 #93
Yes..67, 68, 69 kind of blurred together. so much DID happen in a short time misterhighwasted Jul 2014 #96
Kind of blurred?????? GP6971 Jul 2014 #102
The '69 model year debuted in the fall of '68. amandabeech Jul 2014 #95
Oh yes. That Purple & Candy Apple Red too. misterhighwasted Jul 2014 #97
Oh, man! The Barracuda. That's exactly what I was thinking of! amandabeech Jul 2014 #103
wow you must have seen some of the coolest cars firsthand. misterhighwasted Jul 2014 #100
I was lucky. amandabeech Jul 2014 #104
That's right! GP6971 Jul 2014 #107
There was a incredible amount of hoopla! amandabeech Jul 2014 #109
k and r niyad Jul 2014 #83
Dion's song GP6971 Jul 2014 #89
The middle of my undergraduate years at UC. Every guy we knew had a 2-S (student) LuckyLib Jul 2014 #91
Muhammad Ali was H2O Man Jul 2014 #94
I don't remember hearing about any formal tour, but I did see him occasionally on LuckyLib Aug 2014 #220
Some songs GP6971 Jul 2014 #98
I was in Berzerkely tularetom Jul 2014 #108
Thank you! H2O Man Aug 2014 #183
Wow.... Punkingal Aug 2014 #112
Just out of 1st grade, summer of '68. toby jo Aug 2014 #114
I was born in '67 and was a jaded and cynical little prick by '68. Throd Aug 2014 #115
This is a fantastic thread! xfundy Aug 2014 #116
Right! H2O Man Aug 2014 #152
1968 was a whirlwind of danger and daring all over the world. Zen Democrat Aug 2014 #117
1968 sucked. moondust Aug 2014 #119
That's similar to H2O Man Aug 2014 #142
I watched the series. It's completely accurate and exactly the way I experienced it from high school ancianita Aug 2014 #121
I remember going to school (10th grade) the morning LibDemAlways Aug 2014 #122
Alive, but either an infant or in primary grades senseandsensibility Aug 2014 #123
Interesting thread Nedsdag Aug 2014 #124
Very good! H2O Man Aug 2014 #158
I was 14 in 1968 cilla4progress Aug 2014 #126
I was a Senior in High School 2banon Aug 2014 #128
Very good! H2O Man Aug 2014 #175
I am k&ring this for all the touching stories Sissyk Aug 2014 #130
Thank you! H2O Man Aug 2014 #143
No, Thank You... CanSocDem Aug 2014 #168
I've sent the link H2O Man Aug 2014 #171
The best way I can really express how I feel, Zorra Aug 2014 #131
Beautiful! H2O Man Aug 2014 #144
I was living in Atlanta listening to this song repeatedly. In_The_Wind Aug 2014 #167
i was 27, a divorced single mom. so much happened DesertFlower Aug 2014 #132
"The Village" H2O Man Aug 2014 #146
That's the year I graduated from college, Blue_In_AK Aug 2014 #134
Thanks! H2O Man Aug 2014 #192
It was blow after blow after blow, and by the end my heart was shattered in pieces Hekate Aug 2014 #136
The HBO series "from the Earth to the Moon" has an episode called "1968" Warren DeMontague Aug 2014 #141
I was born in January of that year. It's all my fault. wyldwolf Aug 2014 #145
I had not planned H2O Man Aug 2014 #147
If you pull back my hairline... wyldwolf Aug 2014 #153
On Memorial Day I was a half mile from the DMZ in Vietnam and listened to the Bandit Aug 2014 #148
Wow! H2O Man Aug 2014 #150
oh my god Hekate Aug 2014 #185
I saw the European events that year GliderGuider Aug 2014 #151
I was just 4 caraher Aug 2014 #154
I spend half of 1968 at a tiny Air Force base in Turkey. MineralMan Aug 2014 #155
It was a horrible year... Historic NY Aug 2014 #157
Thanks. H2O Man Aug 2014 #161
Yes. The nightly body counts from General Westmoreland. amandabeech Aug 2014 #224
The sadness of Assinations fredamae Aug 2014 #162
Yep. H2O Man Aug 2014 #164
Yep! Which is why fredamae Aug 2014 #169
OT but how is the fracking fight going ? nt steve2470 Aug 2014 #166
Okay. H2O Man Aug 2014 #173
mad props to you and much success !!!!!! nt steve2470 Aug 2014 #174
Thanks! H2O Man Aug 2014 #176
I turned 10 that year steve2470 Aug 2014 #178
My family would H2O Man Aug 2014 #182
In January outside of Bien Hoa air base I was upaloopa Aug 2014 #181
Thank you everyone for these reflections. Mike Nelson Aug 2014 #187
It ranks H2O Man Aug 2014 #189
Roger that -nt Mike Nelson Aug 2014 #191
I graduated from high school in Honolulu in '68. I was 17 panader0 Aug 2014 #193
I've been reflecting on how back then cilla4progress Aug 2014 #205
Here are two that stood out for me suffragette Aug 2014 #194
My memories: politix, Vietnam, family philly_bob Aug 2014 #196
It was the pivotal year of my life. nolabear Aug 2014 #198
I would like to read your stuff. Anything published? panader0 Aug 2014 #207
See PM. And thanks! nolabear Aug 2014 #216
Very big year SteveG Aug 2014 #201
I was 13 and already a political junkie Still Sensible Aug 2014 #202
Math exam Jim Lane Aug 2014 #203
The Democratic National Convention skip fox Aug 2014 #204
I'm sharing this with my husband and friends cilla4progress Aug 2014 #206
Right. H2O Man Aug 2014 #209
I was 8 years old that year, but not entirely unaware of the goings on in the adult world. trackfan Aug 2014 #210
NASA and Nixon Octafish Aug 2014 #212
Thanks! H2O Man Aug 2014 #213
Thanks to all here... Kensan Aug 2014 #214
Thank you. H2O Man Aug 2014 #215
The '68 Democratic Convention. I was watching with my husband's family at his parents' CTyankee Aug 2014 #219
Arguably the most historic year of modern times... Spider Jerusalem Aug 2014 #223
kick nt steve2470 Aug 2014 #225
My very first reaction was the Democratic Convention in Chicago. Are_grits_groceries Aug 2014 #226
Because I rarely watch CNN... Stellar Aug 2014 #227
I spent 1968 doing the bbgrunt Aug 2014 #228
The best overview of the '68 election is "An American Melodrama: the presidential campaign of 1968" Rowdyboy Aug 2014 #229
I have that. H2O Man Aug 2014 #230
1968 Hemi Roadrunner, Plymouth's "Elenor" NM_Birder Aug 2014 #231
I forgot about GP6971 Aug 2014 #232
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