A PRIMER FOR A NEW GENERATION OF LIBERALS

A PRIMER FOR A NEW GENERATION AND THE COMING POLITICAL REVOLUTION 

Note: A follow-up to:

THE PROPHECY OF BOB DYLAN - "A HARD RAIN'S A-GONNA FALL" - AND IT IS TORRENTIAL - Updated


As I reflected upon Dylan's lyrics some 60 years ago and my own images and words came to mind. From the age of thirteen the music and lyrics of Bob Dylan created an awakening within me of enormous impact. The tumultuous events of the 1960s affected the lives of everyone beginning with the threat of nuclear catastrophe. What followed was a movement among citizens to more closely scrutinize the world around them.

The Kennedy assassination shocked a nation, his successor Lyndon B. Johnson continued the legacy with passage of Civil Rights, Voting Rights, Medicare and many programs as part of The Great Society. President Johnson's domestic achievements were monumental as not seen since FDR's New Deal.

However, under his administration the War in Vietnam escalated to the degree that over 550,000 young Americans (ages 18 -25) served, with more than 50,000 casualties. The extent of the carnage and loss touched everyone. This is very different to the Iraq and Afghanistan incursions fought by largely a smaller mercenary force.

The reaction to the devastation of the War divided the nation. Protests and sometimes riots occurred. Radical left provoked violence and bombed strategic symbols in opposition not only to the War but the institutional racism and elitists within society. The inequality (of wealth and power) began with sons of the wealthiest avoiding a draft to serve in an unjust war.

The left was opposed increasingly by a Radical Right at one time reaching a crescendo under the leadership of Senator Barry Goldwater in 1964. As Republican candidate he was defeated by President Lyndon Johnson in the largest landslide in political elections to date.

However, the extreme left wing grew and a very large base of Democratic Liberals united and Johnson concluded he could no longer continue his administration, thus declined to run in 1968. The "peace" movement was led by Senator Eugene McCarthy, more college professor than politician who sacrificed his future career to lead the movement to end the War.

In April of 1968, the great leader of non violent protest to gain Civil Rights was assassinated in Memphis by a white man fed by racism. In June, Robert F. Kennedy was gunned down in a Los Angeles hotel kitchen as he had concluded his victory speech in the California primary. It appeared as chaos and all wondered where our nation was headed.

The year ended with the election of Richard M. Nixon and Spiro Agnew, a likely pair to reverse liberalism, destroy the left wing protest by any means and initiated a covert system of surveillance upon the American people. Corruption ran rampant throughout his administration culminating in Watergate and Nixon's resignation.

Bob Dylan's music and message emerged in the early sixties and he became the spokesperson for the youth of our country. One constant among the turmoil was Bob Dylan.  To some he became the Prophet mentioned in the bible. The pressures placed upon him as the "voice of revolution" became so overwhelming to one who did not seek this role. Dylan had to back off and became reclusive for some years to come.

And Where have you gone my blue eyed son?

Bernie Sanders began a new political movement long overdue with his campaign beginning in 2015. In Bernie Sanders, I believe he aspired to carry out the planned agenda of FDR more than a half century ago. Only his untimely death prevented his introduction of a new course in America, The Fair Deal. It was visionary and is very much the Sanders vision of 2016.

Although, Bernie Sanders became a victim of a political election system ravaged by corruption, cronyism and a voting process that excluded millions who dare to think independently. The Sanders Revolution inspired our youth and innovated political campaign contributions contrary to Citizen's United.  
 
Today, a Liberal is no longer wears a scarlet letter. Liberal means exactly as defined. It is Liberty combined with Justice for All, not the few. Bernie Sanders restores a grassroots movement where its very essence is now unavoidable. It is a political movement of the vast majority that is now unstoppable. It is The Political Revolution that spreads the Truth of the political and economic America. It has already shaken those at the top who have garnered all wealth. It is the beginning of a revolution that has come. Let us pray it is not too late.





A PRIMER FOR A NEW GENERATION OF LIBERALS - 
A REVIVED REVOLUTION OF THE  AMERICA DREAM

 

TO ALL THE CHILDREN OF AN ERA WHO HAVE FORGOTTEN

TO ALL THE MILLENNIAL WHO NEED BE ENLIGHTEN

TO ALL THE POLITICIANS WHO SHOUT BUT DO NOT LISTEN

TO ALL THE WEALTHY WHO LUST FOR WHAT GLISTEN

TO ALL THE HUNGRY POOR WHO REMAIN IMPRISONED

TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHERE THEIR HOPE IS FORBIDDEN

TO ALL THE MASSES WHO UNVEIL WHAT TRULY HAS HAPPENED

THAT ALL WILL STAND TO VOICE WHAT HAS BEEN WRITTEN

THAT THOSE LEFT BEHIND WILL NO LONGER BE OVERRIDDEN

THAT THOSE HORDE RICHES NOT EARNED, BUT ONLY GIVEN

THAT YOUR TIME HAS COME AND NOT BE FORGIVEN

THAT THE RIGHTEOUS WILL BE RISEN

THAT TRUTH LIES WITH "WE THE PEOPLE" THAT HAVE SPOKEN

THAT OUTRAGEOUS WEALTH WILL NO LONGER BE TAKEN

THAT DEMOCRACY WIILL ARISE  AND POWERFUL WEAKEN

THAT JUSTICE PREVAIL OVER THOSE WHO ARE FREE WHEEL'N

THAT YOUR DAYS ARE NUMBERED, FOR WHICH IS CERTAIN 

THAT OUR LIBERTY WILL NOT DIE FOR CAUSES YOU ARE DRIVEN

THAT ALL LIVES MATTER IN AMERICA AS IT IS WRITTEN
 

Today Inequality in wealth, wages and privilege knows no color. White, black, yellow and brown are how they divided us. There is no Left, Center or Right. There is only what is Just, Fair and Morally without stain.

I welcome your views. Let them rain down on me.