In 1968 I was living on the coast of Oregon. But we saw the police riot on television--and I watched my friends being beaten and gassed and some did die. After that, I moved back to Chicago, at least partly because of my need then to try to make things different/better. Ever after, I had strong feelings against Richard J. Daley for his "shoot to kill" order.
A few years later, a week after that mayor died, on a New Years Eve live radio show, on Chicago's WFMT-FM, I noted that Mayor Daley had been "laid out face down" so everyone could kiss him goodbye. Granted, celebrating the new year, I had drunk a lot of WFMT's champagne that night. But I sought no excuse then or now--even though I did take some flak for saying that back then. Few realized the reasons between the lines of my comments.
As I watch events unfolding in Iran, I'm forced to see the parallels. Viet Nam---Iraq---the brutalized protesting populations of young people with their motivating high ideals on display.
Do we want to go there, and does a discussion of this topic have some value now?