The Year Of Our Lord 1969

[James Y]

A lot of people don't realize that the original Vietnam protesters were not hippies, but 'clean-cut' students and professors on university campuses. In fact, when the hippies started inserting themselves and becoming associated with the protests, many (the majority?) of the actual protesters hated it. There is a belief that the entire 'hippie' movement was actually orchestrated as a psy-op to derail the whole anti-war movement, to get young people who might oppose the war to "turn on, tune in, drop out". If you really look at it, most of the hippies seemed more interested in 'free love' and getting high than what was going on in Vietnam. So the idea that it was orchestrated is not so far-fetched.

As far as everything getting so much worse from the 1960s, well, I think that depends on your background (and that includes many things). Bad things happened prior to the '60s, you just didn't hear about them so much, without the all-pervasive presence of social media.

As far as pollution goes, I do remember Los Angeles seeming to be worse back then than it is now (and I still don't like it). As a little kid, every time our family would drive up to L.A. to visit my grandparents and cousins, as soon as we started approaching the city limits, I'd crouch down in the back seat and close my eyes for several miles, fearing for some reason that the transition to the smog would burn my eyes. Which is illogical, considering everyone (including my dad) had to drive with their eyes open.

Jim

[The Mastiff]

I lived about 12 miles from Kent State and later had one of the guys who were shot ( he was paralyzed) as a teacher. I have no sympathy for idiots rioting ( more than a protest lets be honest here) to the point the Guard has to be called then to throw concrete and iron bars at the guard then complain when you get shot. That's the sort of brainless stuff I'm talking about. Many there including one kid shot weren't students and there were lots of professional protestors/instigators there to stir up the revolution they were sure was coming.

Yeah, Kennedy should have never got us into Viet Nam. JFK mismanaged it horribly causing needless thousands of lives to be wasted. Nixon was the first to take the North at risk and that is why he ended it. It could have been done much earlier . I know a lot about Vietnam and the stupidity of it. Democrats rarely make good wartime presidents.

There is a belief that the entire 'hippie' movement was actually orchestrated as a psy-op to derail the whole anti-war movement

We know a lot about Soviet involvement in that and it was later confirmed when the USSR collapsed and things got better for a while. You mean guys like Obama's mentor from the Weathermen? :)

Yes , I remember the 60's. I guess I look at it differently. Joe, I don't make you as a communist revolutionary. :) I'm definitely not referring to Americans doing what they think is right. I just have a dislike for those wanting to destroy this country and the average protestor then or now isn't that. Protesting is a traditional American pastime going back to at least the revolutionary war.

Joe

[JD Spydo]

I lived about 12 miles from Kent State and later had one of the guys who were shot ( he was paralyzed) as a teacher.

Yes , I remember the 60's. I guess I look at it differently. Joe, I don't make you as a communist revolutionary. :) I'm definitely not referring to Americans doing what they think is right. I just have a dislike for those wanting to destroy this country and the average protestor then or now isn't that. Protesting is a traditional American pastime going back to at least the revolutionary war.

I tend to agree with "JamesY" and his account of how the CIA used the hippie movement as a strategic way to help demonize the educated, decent people that were legitimately protesting what they knew deep in their hearts was horribly wrong. It is a wonder and a GOD's miracle that this country somehow held together through the turbulence of the 60s decade.

But again the very year 1969 was not only a very pivotal year in many ways but it was also a turning point in Nam and all the insanity that surrounded it. I normally don't use or look at Wikipedia much anymore because of years of disinformation and slanted, altered versions of historical accounts. But I was pleasantly surprised when I looked at the Wikipedia account of the year 1969 today. It honestly wasn't that bad of an account of the year.

And for the record >> NO!!! I am not a communist or a liberal. But I am a firm believer in the original US Constitution the way our genius founding fathers drafted it. And sad to say there has been a lot done in the past few years to deviate from it's original intent

[Cycletroll]

I was born in '69 so it was a good year for me

[The Mastiff]

I tend to agree with "JamesY" and his account of how the CIA used the hippie movement as a strategic way to help demonize the educated, decent people that were legitimately protesting what they knew deep in their hearts was horribly wrong.

I first heard that theory in the early to middle 70's. I'm unaware of any of it being confirmed like the activities of the USSR in supporting, training and guiding the left who were without doubt running the protest movement by the late 60's. That is a fact without any question. Recall the revolutionaries held out openly that they would have to murder a quarter to a third of Americans to complete the transition. The funny thing is the Soviets involved later stated those same revolutionaries would have been some of the first they then killed after the revolution was complete. Obama's real father F.M.Davis was one of those linked to the KGB as was Obama's friend and mentor terrorist Bill Ayers who ghost wrote Obamas autobiography. Couple that with Obama's well known racist stance evidenced by his time In Jeremiah Wrights church then his activities as president doing the best he could to weaken and tear apart this country show exactly what legacy the 60's left us with. It never really left us and continues on with the Democrat party now openly and proudly becoming socialist.

Yeah, the 60's was fun but it's problems have continued and grown with that ( My own) generation and now the next because largely of our own influences.It will threaten to split up our country before it's over. This is not in any way the guiding hand of the CIA here we are talking about. I'm not going to include sources because they are readily available including youtube recordings of interviews with ex KGB officers who were involved. In other word it's not mere conspiracy theory.

Still, it's wrong for me to bring this stuff to what is a pretty light hearted recollection of the good things about that time. To me It like the music endures.

[JD Spydo]

I tend to agree with "JamesY" and his account of how the CIA used the hippie movement as a strategic way to help demonize the educated, decent people that were legitimately protesting what they knew deep in their hearts was horribly wrong.

I first heard that theory in the early to middle 70's. I'm unaware of any of it being confirmed like the activities of the USSR in supporting, training and guiding the left who were without doubt running the protest movement by the late 60's. It never really left us and continues on with the Democrat party now openly and proudly becoming socialist.

Yeah, the 60's was fun but it's problems have continued and grown with that ( My own) generation and now the next because largely of our own influences.It will threaten to split up our country before it's over.

Still, it's wrong for me to bring this stuff to what is a pretty light hearted recollection of the good things about that time. To me It like the music endures.

Those are indeed some interesting things to consider that transpired during that extremely turbulent time period of the late 60s/early 70s. And MASTIFF I really appreciate your thought provoking input you've given us >> it has truly given us an angle to view all of this from that many of us overlooked for the most part.

Now getting back to the year 1969>> I do believe that might have been the very year in which our culture and political paradigm completely set off in a completely different direction. I also seen an abrupt change in our overall mainstream media during that era as well. But look at how the music industry changed. And movies took on a completely different transition>> just look at the movie "Rosemary's Baby" for instance. Had that movie been launched 5 years before it was it would have bombed completely. But something had changed in the American culture that tolerated movies and TV shows it would have never put up with in years past ( pre 1969).

Both you and "James Y" have really shed some light on things. There are also some more ironies that we overlook too. When looking at that year 1969 really close there was so many changes in art, music, theatre, politics, journalism, and foreign relations. I don't remember exactly when Nixon took his first trip to China but it was somewhere in that time range. I'm really looking forward to all of the major magazines doing their 1969 special editions this time around.

[JD Spydo]

I was born in '69 so it was a good year for me

That's interesting and I bet there are a lot of Spyderville citizens that were born in 1969. It's really mind-blowing to think that all of you guys from that year are now 50. For some strange reason it just doesn't seem all that long ago :confused: . No it just doesn't seem that long since I bought the Beatle's Abbey Road and Led Zeppelin II both on Oct, 01, 1969>> and I remember that oh so well >> I was up in my room playing records till about 3:00am that night :D :cool:

[Bloke]

I was up in my room playing ...

https://youtu.be/_rleFAS_B04

[SpyderEdgeForever]

And did you know Johnny Cash became a born again Christian and was very pro America?

And I have heard it said that many of the Anti war groups were funded and supported by those dirty communists.

Marx was such an evil monster and an evil devil and so was Engels. The amount of blood on their hands is incredible. Sad and tragic.

[JD Spydo]

And did you know Johnny Cash became a born again Christian and was very pro America?

And I have heard it said that many of the Anti war groups were funded and supported by those dirty communists.

Marx was such an evil monster and an evil devil and so was Engels. The amount of blood on their hands is incredible. Sad and tragic.

I've never ever been much of a fan of Country & Western music for the most part but I've always had a special respect for Johnny Cash i.e. The Man In Black :cool: There are most usually great stories behind his great songs.

Johnny Cash not only had a "Boy Named Sue" in 1969 but in that same year he had a song entitled "The Lonely Voice Of Youth Cries What Is Truth?" Which is one of my all time Johnny Cash favorites. A true American legend and true American hero in my book

[James Y]

Joe,
Here's the teaser trailer for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, set in 1969, and which deals with the Manson murders.

https://youtu.be/Scf8nIJCvs4

On reading some of the youtube comments, I'm a bit surprised how many people are puzzled by the presence of the Bruce Lee character. Even if someone were unaware that Bruce Lee knew Sharon Tate, Roman Polanski, Jay Sebring, and probably some of the other Manson victims, or that he was one of the many whom police questioned after the murders, it isn't too hard to google it.

It looks like a movie worth checking out. It's definitely a Tarantino revisionist/alternate reality history, like The Inglourious Basterds, and not meant to be historically accurate, but it looks like it could be entertaining.

[crazywednesday]

I was -6 in 1969.

[JD Spydo]

Joe,
Here's the teaser trailer for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, set in 1969, and which deals with the Manson murders.

Of all the extremely weird happenings and events of the year 1969 undoubtedly the Manson Family murders were truly one of the most horrible crimes in the entire history of California. Just recently ( in the past year or so) one of the Manson Family members, Leslie Van Houten was finally granted to be fit for parole. However while Jerry Brown was still governor before Gavin Newsome took over he bluntly stated that while he was in control there would be none of the Manson Family ever get out of jail.
Because in that state the governor has the final say on it. But with Nancy Bolognie's nephew now governor ( Gavin Newsome) it wouldn't surprise me if he were to pardon and release all of them :rolleyes: But the reason Governor Brown wouldn't do it is because he like many other Californians who lived through that horrible crime is still obviously upset about it to this very day. That's how much impact that crime had on many thousands of people in the Sunshine State that were affected by that most unusual crime.

Like I had shared with you in private there is a book written by a guy name Ed Sanders and the book is entitled "THE FAMILY". To this day it's considered one of the most thorough and comprehensive books ever written on the Manson murders. Mr. Sanders actually infiltrated the Family while the trial was going on and he uncovered some extremely sobering facts about that case that no one else had access to. I would say that the Manson Family murders is easily in the top 3 as far as memorable events from the year 1969.

Also two most interesting tidbits of info on Mr. Ed Sanders is that he was the leader of an old 1960s era rock group called "The Fugs". Also another thing I even find kind of ironic is that Ed Sanders is from here in my old home town of Blue Springs, Missouri USA :cool: He is also the author of quite a few books in his days as well as being known as a well known poet. His great book entitled "The Family" is to this day one of the very best books on the Manson Family.

[James Y]

Yes, I'm still intending to order The Family soon. Looks like a good book.

Jim

[Daveho]

In 69 I was still 20 years from gracing this world-
That fact alone says it can’t have been that good however the second Bowie self titled album (aka space oddity) came out that year so thanks for that.

[Stuart Ackerman]

I was 9 years old.

My family was suposed to go to Lorenzo Marques for a holiday, but we did not have the right injections
for the most common tropical diseases and so we went to the Kruger National Park instead.
Saw my first set of Big Five, and loved the bush ever since.

BTW, six years later the civil war erupted in what became Mozambique, and we never got there at all.

[JD Spydo]

In 69 I was still 20 years from gracing this world-
That fact alone says it can’t have been that good however the second Bowie self titled album (aka space oddity) came out that year so thanks for that.

The year 1969 had a lot of great classic rock albums released. The David Bowie Space Oddity that you mentioned is another one that still sells today.

Don't forget the Beatle's iconic Abbey Road LP. Also Led Zeppelin II was also a 1969 release. And those were two of the most well known albums in the entire history of the Rock Music genre. There was also one of the Iron Butterfly's LPs released that year I think it might have been the "BALL" LP. Between 1969 to 1972 were some of the greatest and most iconic rock albums released in that time period. But there were so many of them released in 1969 it's truly hard to remember all of them.

Also Donovan's "OPen Road" LP was put out in 69 and that was by far my favorite album of his. And don't forget Tony Jo White's classic Polk Salad Annie LP in the country genre. And John Lennon's first Plastic Ono Band LP also got released in 69 as well. If any of you lived through that year as I did you would have to agree that it was a very memorable year. I'm seeing more of the big magazines starting to release their 1969 commemorative magazines in the past month. You don't see them doing those in every year.

[James Y]

Even though I was only 6 in 1969, by that age I was already up on the current pop music. My older brother and sister always had the radio on, and both had record collections. I've always heard popular music playing from when I was in the crib, so by 6, my musical tastes were more established than most of the other kids my age. To this day, certain songs from 1969, or certain color combinations, bring those times right back.

I'm glad I came up during the musical era of the '60s, '70s and '80s, as it was happening. The good stuff from back then still holds up brilliantly today; in fact, some songs I used to think were 'meh' back then sound great now. No offense intended to anyone who came later, but I don't see any of today's stuff from people like Jay Z, Beyoncé, Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, Ariana Grande, Taylor Swift, etc., etc., still holding up 40-50 years from now, like the old stuff.

Jim

[JD Spydo]

Even though I was only 6 in 1969, by that age I was already up on the current pop music. My older brother and sister always had the radio on, and both had record collections.

I'm glad I came up during the musical era of the '60s, '70s and '80s, as it was happening. The good stuff from back then still holds up brilliantly today; in fact, some songs I used to think were 'meh' back then sound great now. No offense intended to anyone who came later, but I don't see any of today's stuff from people like Jay Z, Beyoncé, Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, Ariana Grande, Taylor Swift, etc., etc., still holding up 40-50 years from now, like the old stuff.

That's truly a most interesting and insightful observation Jim>> because tell me this>> what other female vocalist in this modern time that you could compare to Janis Joplin or Joan Baez? What guitar players in this present time could you put up against the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton or Carlos Santana? Show me a current day rock group that puts on a show as great as Led Zeppelin, Jethro Tull, Deep Purple or any of the great 70s rock bands for that matter?

I too feel privileged to have gotten to see everything that I saw that transpired during that era. And again try and name any other year in which so many historical events took place as they did in the year 1969? Even goofball Richard Nixon becoming president had a lot of interesting aspects to it as he was inaugurated in January of 1969.

I'm not at all trying to be a snob but other than Taylor Swift there isn't anyone on those you listed that appeal to me very much at all. Many of the modern rock groups I did like in the modern era were mostly in the late 90s, early 2000s like Nickelback, Soundgarden, Jackyl and Linkin Park>> but even none of them I don't feel can compete with the old masters of the 60s/70s. Even Country & Western isn't nearly as good as it was when we had Johnny Cash, Tony Jo White, Jerry Reed and Meryl Haggard>> now I did kind of like Garth Brooks back in the 90s but even he wasn't as good as most of those I mentioned. People just seemed to be more realistic in those days and artists took their trades a lot more seriously back then and I really don't know why either :confused:

[JD Spydo]

I was 9 years old.

My family was suposed to go to Lorenzo Marques for a holiday, but we did not have the right injections
for the most common tropical diseases and so we went to the Kruger National Park instead.
Saw my first set of Big Five, and loved the bush ever since.

BTW, six years later the civil war erupted in what became Mozambique, and we never got there at all.

Now Stuart are you speaking about the year 1969 pertaining to your country? I assume you must be. I do remember hearing that many of those countries in the southern most part of Africa were having some civil unrest and other political problems as well. I've gotten to know some people in South Africa from this Forum and Bladeforums both. What I'm hearing recently is truly giving me the creeps because I've heard that there is a lot of bad things going down in the country of South Africa. I was told by a lady I know who works for a Travel Agency that it's truly dangerous to even go to South Africa at this time even as a tourist>> no matter what race or nationality you might be she added.

I do pray for and think about our knife Brothers from Bladeforums and Spyderco Brothers in South Africa and I truly fear for them at this point. Not sure at all what was taking place globally in the year 1969 on a larger scale but I do remember a lot of events in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union during that time period>> I was only 15 and didn't really keep up with international events then because I had a lot of friends, family and other relatives in the Viet Nam war during that time so I was kind of focus mainly on what was happening there in 1969. I'm even trying to remember when Leonid Breznev took power in the Soviet Union because I think it was close to that time. That is one leader that sure changed a lot of things. I'm going to do some checking about what happened globally in 1969 and if any of you Brothers from out of the USA remember that time period in your own country I sure would like to know more about it. Because 1969 I believe was a pivotal year probably on an international basis as well.