Do you remember the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago? I certainly do. I was a teenager watching the TV with my Dad as the TV cameras showed the bloody clashes between the protesters and the Chicago Police.
My dad who was also a member of our local police force saw “dirty hippies” getting what they deserved. I saw the police using force on people closer to my age than my dad. It was a very upsetting time in American History.
The country was divided along many lines. Young and Old, Black and White and yes Political differences too. I remember hearing the crowd of protesters chanting “The Whole World is Watching”. And it was watching. But the only way it was watching was with 3 Channels…ABC, NBC, and CBS. There was no Cable, Satellite or Internet coverage way back in 1968.
Jump forward to today. Once again we are hearing News Commentators talking about the Democratic Convention this year possibly being like the one in Chicago 1968. I certainly hope not. Once was enough for me. Plus, this time the WHOLE World truly will Be Watching…and Tweeting and Posting and on and on.
No longer will the images be carried on just 3 TV Networks. We now have a seemingly endless number of News and so-called news channels and of course all the Internet you can eat…I mean see and click on. So if History repeats itself I fear with the amplification of all our various media sources and outlets that a small fire might become a much bigger one. I for one Hope all the Experts are wrong and once again I’m worried about something that will never come to pass. Do you share my concerns? Or am I just paranoid because I grew up in the Sixties?