NationStates Jolt Archive

Another thread put me in mind of this song:

Buffalo Springfield
For What It's Worth
Stephen Stills, 1966


There's something happening here
What it is ain't exactly clear
There's a man with a gun over there
Telling me I got to beware

I think it's time we stop, children, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down

There's battle lines being drawn
Nobody's right if everybody's wrong
Young people speaking their minds
Getting so much resistance from behind

I think it's time we stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down

What a field-day for the heat
A thousand people in the street
Singing songs and carrying signs
Mostly say, hooray for our side

It's time we stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down

Paranoia strikes deep
Into your life it will creep
It starts when you're always afraid
You step out of line, the man come and take you away

We better stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Stop, now, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Stop, children, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down

There's a good analysis of the song here (http://www.reasontorock.com/tracks/for_what_its_worth.html).

So, how well do you think the song reflects on the current state of US politics and political discourse?

I think it reflects rather well the increased levels of polarization and anger, the rather low level of discourse (not as low as it has been at other times. but lower than it's been in a long time), and the general paranoia.

bump

:confused: :eek: No one has any comment at all????

The song origionally was meant as a Vietnam protest, right? I guess it could also fit into the feelings of the war on terror, Iraq etc.

Good song too. :)

When the tune first came out it was a favorite of mine and most everyone I knew. It did paint a nearly perfect picture of the time we lived in. Today I see it as still a very powerful song that does describe many people's feelings towards their governments.

I was in New York this weekend visiting my daughter and at Union Square I was handed a flier that said the 9/11 attack was staged by the US (Bush) government. I think that is real paranoia. The radical, militant muslim terroists are real and wish anyone who does not agree with them great harm. To say that Bush staged this is not helpful to finding a solution. The only real solution is beyond politics and lies in the hearts of humankind. When we as a humans set aside the minor differences of race, religion, ethnic background and see each other as human beings from one Creation we will have come a long way to solving our problems.

When the tune first came out it was a favorite of mine and most everyone I knew. It did paint a nearly perfect picture of the time we lived in. Today I see it as still a very powerful song that does describe many people's feelings towards their governments.

I was in New York this weekend visiting my daughter and at Union Square I was handed a flier that said the 9/11 attack was staged by the US (Bush) government. I think that is real paranoia. The radical, militant muslim terroists are real and wish anyone who does not agree with them great harm. To say that Bush staged this is not helpful to finding a solution. The only real solution is beyond politics and lies in the hearts of humankind. When we as a humans set aside the minor differences of race, religion, ethnic background and see each other as human beings from one Creation we will have come a long way to solving our problems.

I don't blame people for thinking Bush was behind it. It would make perfect sense if we could prove it, but we can't yet. I think Oliver Stone said he might make a movie trying to accomplish just that.

I've always associated that song with Kent State. I didn't realize it was published four years prior.

In any case, we're a long way from the conditions that existed in 1966. Remember the race riots in many cities? The mid-sixties were a time of great upheaval in several political areas.

The current issues of the day, immigration, security from terrorism, national debt, aren't the kind that inspire large protests or massive responses.

I've always associated that song with Kent State. I didn't realize it was published four years prior.

In any case, we're a long way from the conditions that existed in 1966. Remember the race riots in many cities? The mid-sixties were a time of great upheaval in several political areas.

The current issues of the day, immigration, security from terrorism, national debt, aren't the kind that inspire large protests or massive responses.

The issues aren't the problem, rather the seemingly unsurmountable feeling most everyone in the country has that they can't change anything and that they don't matter in the eyes of their government. Very low social self-esteem.

I love this song and I think that the analysis you linked to speaks very well to the dangers of polarization BUT it seems to ignore that this is what happens in all societies where the leaders are very socially conservative. It wasn't so much as prophetic as it was explaining how it always is and probably always will be.

It's the ol' for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction thing. For every extreme view ther will be an equal and opposite extreme view. One group thinks that war is the answer to all of societies ills and another thinks that pacifism is.

Also in regards to political polarization in todays societies, it's no different (or maybe even a little tamer today) than it was in early US America where politicians (and political groups) talked mad shit about each other.

Basically - NOBODY's right if everybodys wrong. THere is no single correct view or single solution to a social problem. Compromise has always been important in conflict resolution.

The song origionally was meant as a Vietnam protest, right? I guess it could also fit into the feelings of the war on terror, Iraq etc.

It wasn't just about Vietnam. In fact it was a response to the 1966 Sunset Strip (police) Riots.

Good song too. :)

Excellent song.

When the tune first came out it was a favorite of mine and most everyone I knew. It did paint a nearly perfect picture of the time we lived in. Today I see it as still a very powerful song that does describe many people's feelings towards their governments.

Didn't realise you were another oldy here. Tis good to have ya'll onboard. :D

I was in New York this weekend visiting my daughter and at Union Square I was handed a flier that said the 9/11 attack was staged by the US (Bush) government. I think that is real paranoia. The radical, militant muslim terroists are real and wish anyone who does not agree with them great harm. To say that Bush staged this is not helpful to finding a solution.

That's part of what makes me think this song is applicable today. The line "Nobody's right if everybody's wrong" seems to apply to the extremist on both sides of the divide who are both wrong.

The only real solution is beyond politics and lies in the hearts of humankind. When we as a humans set aside the minor differences of race, religion, ethnic background and see each other as human beings from one Creation we will have come a long way to solving our problems.

Amen. Now just how we go about that is the hard part.

The issues aren't the problem, rather the seemingly unsurmountable feeling most everyone in the country has that they can't change anything and that they don't matter in the eyes of their government. Very low social self-esteem.

I would really agree that the issues are not the problem because there will always be issues. It is process in solving the issues that is important. And I agree that so many people feel that they have no voice in the decisions that their governments make. I also think that the issues have spiritual principles that must be applied in order to find long-lasting sustainable solutions.

The current issues of the day, immigration, security from terrorism, national debt, aren't the kind that inspire large protests or massive responses.

did i dream may day this year?

The current issues of the day, immigration, security from terrorism, national debt, aren't the kind that inspire large protests or massive responses.

You do know that before the Iraq war began, the world had the single largest protest ever. Right?

You do know that before the Iraq war began, the world had the single largest protest ever. Right?

shit, we had several thousand people out in wausau, wi that day. and it was fucking cold out too.

It's kind of comforting in a way because we know this shit has been going on for a long time...today's political environment is just as hostile and divisive as it was in the 1960's.

One might see some considerable cultural and political similarities between the two eras.

shit, we had several thousand people out in wausau, wi that day. and it was fucking cold out too.

I was too young to go out and be part of the protest (worse yet, I beleived Bush, so I was split on the issue of war), but I can only imagine that it wasn't comfortable marching in February in Seattle.

Although Wisconson would have been infinitely worse. :p

You do know that before the Iraq war began, the world had the single largest protest ever. Right?

If you're going to equate the 'protest' in Rome with the activity in the mid-sixties, you're too young to remember what happened. Numbers don't make the protest convincing. That takes a conviction and perserverance that seems to be lacking in anti-war groups today.

It's kind of comforting in a way because we know this shit has been going on for a long time...today's political environment is just as hostile and divisive as it was in the 1960's.

One might see some considerable cultural and political similarities between the two eras.

I'm really starting to see cyclical issues going on. Awfully mixed up cyclical issues, but repetative stuff none the less.

I'm really starting to see cyclical issues going on. Awfully mixed up cyclical issues, but repetative stuff none the less.

It's probably because the culture wars never ended...they started in the 1920's and have been going on since then. Thankfully, each upswing in their intensity tends to benefit those supporting social liberty and hurts those who support social control. The 20's saw the first wave of womens' liberation and the 60's saw the sexual freedom/civil rights/youth movements.

And the 00's....I don't know yet. We might not see the effects of this decade until the next; I think the religious conservatives have lost again, just like they did in the 1920's and 1960's. At least things are getting better, however.

It's probably because the culture wars never ended...they started in the 1920's and have been going on since then. Thankfully, each upswing in their intensity tends to benefit those supporting social liberty and hurts those who support social control. The 20's saw the first wave of womens' liberation and the 60's saw the sexual freedom/civil rights/youth movements.

And the 00's....I don't know yet. We might not see the effects of this decade until the next; I think the religious conservatives have lost again, just like they did in the 1920's and 1960's. At least things are getting better, however.

I think this decade's culture war could be one of global religion.