NationStates Jolt Archive

I have to do a report for world history about the person of the decade from a world perspective. Unfortunatly, my class is studying the 20th century in an odd way, so the only people I can come up with at the moment are either Russian or American. So, since this is an international forum, I'd like to ask you on your opinion. Who do you belive is the "person of the sixties?"

I have to do a report for world history about the person of the decade from a world perspective. Unfortunatly, my class is studying the 20th century in an odd way, so the only people I can come up with at the moment are either Russian or American. So, since this is an international forum, I'd like to ask you on your opinion. Who do you belive is the "person of the sixties?"

JFK

JFK
Really? out of the entire decade?

Non-American, Non-Russian Possibilities:
John Lennon, Daniel Cohn-Bendit, Ho Chi Minh, Alexander Dubcek or Rudi Dutschke,

Ho Chi Minh, from a world wide perspective he was more influencial than JFK.

Ho Chi Minh, from a world wide perspective he was more influencial than JFK.
I find that his decade was more like the 50's.

Jack Kerouac did most of his writing in the 1950's but the impact of his ideas was felt in the 1960's

Jack Kerouac did most of his writing in the 1950's but the impact of his ideas was felt in the 1960's
True.

I'm working with a partner on this project and this is the list we've come up with.

JFK (American)
Willy Brandt (My partner doesn't know who this is)
Charles de Gaulle (My partner doesn't like the French)
Mao Zedong (She doesn't like communists either, no surprise)
The Beatles (her suggestion)
Niel Armstrong (my mother's suggestion)

Jimi Hendrix. Basically re-invented guitar playing.

Martin Luther King Jr.
Indira Gandhi.

Martin Luther King Jr.
Indira Gandhi.
I know she was Prime Minister of India but what effect did she have world wide?

Anyone else? It doesn't have to be a poltical leader.

If you want to look for the incident of the 60's I have to say it was the shootings of the 4 students at Ohio University.. it changed every thing. It was the us against them mentality which really got the whole peace movement going and as a result the civil rights movement (Although civil rights was before, it went hand in hand)

If you're talking person..

LBJ , he escalated the war, but also the race for space which he funded. Even though it was JFK's dream, it was LBJ that realized it.

JFK influenced an entire generation of Americans simply by expressing our idealism of the time (Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country).... most Americans at that time believed just that.

He and Kruschev (spelled wrong, sorry) in the Cuban Missile Crisis came within a hairs breadth of fighting World War III.... if that had occured, well, it would have been the worst calaminity in the history of mankind. Which is pretty damned influential wouldnt you say?

Politically, De Gaulle, Martin Luther King, Ho Chi Minh, LBJ, Castro, Nassar all had a tremendous influence in that decade.

Socially, once again MLK, the Beatles (strange as that may sound), Elvis Presley (even stranger but he was influential), Timothy Leary, the Chicago 7 (Abby Hoffman and friends)... of course thats just in the US, but US culture (well, technically the Beatles were British culture but the effect is the same) had a huge influence globally.

The men from NASA who sent us to the moon, and the Russians who sent their cosmonauts to space as well.

An interesting one, and one that certainly affected most of the Western world in one way or another could be Fidel Castro. If you want something lighter then Andy Warhol or Phil Spector. Obscure, but highly significant is Robert Noyce (patented the integrated circuit in 1961)

True.

I'm working with a partner on this project and this is the list we've come up with.

JFK (American)
Willy Brandt (My partner doesn't know who this is)
Charles de Gaulle (My partner doesn't like the French)
Mao Zedong (She doesn't like communists either, no surprise)
The Beatles (her suggestion)
Niel Armstrong (my mother's suggestion)


Willy Brandt is an important figure but, like Kerouac, while he did most of his work in one decade his impact was felt later on.

If you're partner doesn't like communists, how can she like the Beatles?

Willy Brandt is an important figure but, like Kerouac, while he did most of his work in one decade his impact was felt later on.

If you're partner doesn't like communists, how can she like the Beatles?
Because she doesn't know about John Lennon

Because she doesn't know about John Lennon

You should give her a copy of the lyrics to "Imagine" or "Revolution"

You should give her a copy of the lyrics to "Imagine" or "Revolution"
eh, I could, but I think she likes the Beatles more as a group, so Paul, Ringo and George would make up for him.

Although De Gaulle had influence in the 60s, i certainly would not call him the person of the sixties, i really don't like him

eh, I could, but I think she likes the Beatles more as a group, so Paul, Ringo and George would make up for him.


George leaned a little to the left, although Paul is very "Live and let die"

Martin Luther King Jr.

Non-American, Non-Russian Possibilities:
John Lennon, Daniel Cohn-Bendit, Ho Chi Minh, Alexander Dubcek or Rudi Dutschke,
DARN you took mine!! :D

mao tse tung

Anyone else other than the ones already mentioned?

This page (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1960s#World_leaders) should give you a few ideas. Ain't Wiki great folks.

Ho Chi Minh, from a world wide perspective he was more influencial than JFK.


I must agree ... Uncle Ho was a very complex man -- a freedom fighter, a patriot, a mass murderer of his own people, the man who defeated the French re-colonization of Viet Nam, the man who totally frustrated US politicians....

If the US had backed Uncle Ho in 1945, the horrible US societal disintegration of the 60s may never have happened.

I must agree ... Uncle Ho was a very complex man -- a freedom fighter, a patriot, a mass murderer of his own people, the man who defeated the French re-colonization of Viet Nam, the man who totally frustrated US politicians....

If the US had backed Uncle Ho in 1945, the horrible US societal disintegration of the 60s may never have happened.

Don't blame Uncle Ho for what Tim Leary and hard drugs did to a generation of over indulgent college kids.

Don't blame Uncle Ho for what Tim Leary and hard drugs did to a generation of over indulgent college kids.Gimme a break. Leary started out doing legitamate research, only when they outlawed LSD and other psychoactive drugs did he become a counterculture icon, mostly becvause he continued to experiment with them. Expanding your mind with Psychedelics (the term Leary prefers) isn't anything like destroying your life with cocaine, heroin or methaphetamines. For one thing the drugs Leary experimented with aren't addictive like the big three I just mentioned. The heroin influx was in big part due to the war and cocaine and meth didn't hit it big until later.
I was alive during the 60's, were you? I dont' remember Tim and drugs having as nearly as big an impact on life as the war in Vietnam did.

Timmoty Leary

Don't blame Uncle Ho for what Tim Leary and hard drugs did to a generation of over indulgent college kids.


Well, that's not what I said (or meant). Maybe I should have communicated more thoroughly.

The bottomless pit of the US war in Viet Nam fostered a detachment of a significant portion American youth from their "elders"...resentment, disbelief, anger, contempt of government and officials. That, coupled with American over-indulgence and consumerism resulted in a disintegration of societal bonds -- that's what I meant.

Syd Barrett.

Gimme a break. Leary started out doing legitamate research, only when they outlawed LSD and other psychoactive drugs did he become a counterculture icon, mostly becvause he continued to experiment with them. Expanding your mind with Psychedelics (the term Leary prefers) isn't anything like destroying your life with cocaine, heroin or methaphetamines. For one thing the drugs Leary experimented with aren't addictive like the big three I just mentioned. The heroin influx was in big part due to the war and cocaine and meth didn't hit it big until later.
I was alive during the 60's, were you? I dont' remember Tim and drugs having as nearly as big an impact on life as the war in Vietnam did.


If you really want a break I got some nice low grade acid for you :eek:

Well, that's not what I said (or meant). Maybe I should have communicated more thoroughly.

The bottomless pit of the US war in Viet Nam fostered a detachment of a significant portion American youth from their "elders"...resentment, disbelief, anger, contempt of government and officials. That, coupled with American over-indulgence and consumerism resulted in a disintegration of societal bonds -- that's what I meant.

Was it the war and the drug use that led to the disintegration of societal bonds, or the hypocrisy of the war and the prohibition of drugs that led the youth to become disillusioned with the "American Dream"?

Was it the war and the drug use that led to the disintegration of societal bonds, or the hypocrisy of the war and the prohibition of drugs that led the youth to become disillusioned with the "American Dream"?

My response didn't limit itself to only those two choices, and I'm not chasing the "righteousness vs. hypocrisy" of the Viet Nam War or the issue of the decriminalization of drug use.

My response centered on why Uncle Ho would be a good choice..indeed, he was complex and had a dramatic effect on SE Asia, France, and the US.

If you really want a break I got some nice low grade acid for you :eek:
You ain't even funny junior, I've dropped enough of the real thing to turn on your graduating class. I'm living proof that it's not the dangerous horror that some would have you believe.

You ain't even funny junior, I've dropped enough of the real thing to turn on your graduating class. I'm living proof that it's not the dangerous horror that some would have you believe.

If it is not a dangerous horror to become a humorless old man then yes sir, you are correct.

My response didn't limit itself to only those two choices, and I'm not chasing the "righteousness vs. hypocrisy" of the Viet Nam War or the issue of the decriminalization of drug use.

My response centered on why Uncle Ho would be a good choice..indeed, he was complex and had a dramatic effect on SE Asia, France, and the US.

Agreed, he would be on my list too.

If it is not a dangerous horror to become a humorless old man then yes sir, you are correct.The lack of humor was intentional, it was a serious discussion thread until the recent hyjacking, but I take offense at the use of the word "old".

So for your homework assignment you're doing an internet poll to find out who other people think are important figures of the 60's and why?

So for your homework assignment you're doing an internet poll to find out who other people think are important figures of the 60's and why?

He/she just wants some suggestions.

Mods, rockers, hippys and skins

What more do you need to know?

Mick Jagger

Mick Jagger
Nah, Keith Richards. :D Keef rules!

Chris Barnard

By doing the first heart transplant successfully, he opened the door to transplantation of other organs, tissues, and bones, saving and enhancing countless lives.

Each individual for putting up with a lot of bull shit.