A Postcard from 1969 - Dave's Midwestern Ohio Memories

Series of Guest Blogs by an out-of-state Fish Report reader originally from this area about fond memories of growing up in Midwestern Ohio during the 50’s & 60’s

A Postcard from 1969

People complain about the divisiveness prevailing in this county especially among the politicians in Washington; however, it’s nothing compared to the 1960’s and ’70’s when the Viet Nam war was raging. That terrible war divided our country like nothing before or since. The stakes were much higher back then, because 58,000 soldiers were dying in the jungles of Viet Nam on the premise that the Communist would continue to invade surrounding countries like it had with Viet Nam if they were not stopped.

The US lost that war, and fortunately Communist aggression did not expand as anticipated. In fact, it literally receded especially during the early 1990’s with the tearing down of the Berlin Wall, demise of the Iron Curtain and Cold War, along with China’s move to a market economy permitting foreign investment.

However, the present day issues with the Communist Chinese threats in the South China Sea and Taiwan as well as Russia’s potential invasion of the Ukraine have renewed the aggression.

Eventually, the will of the American people prevailed over Viet Nam and I believe the same will happen again - eventually. A moderate leader skillful in foreign affairs will arise who brings us out of our current predicaments into a period where the “silent majority” in the middle are better represented in Washington and on the global stage. Maybe it’s a third party candidate or someone more moderate than the extremists who currently permeate our nation’s capital. During the Viet Nam War, George Wallace was such a candidate; however, he was a southern segregationist who alienated many people for that reason even though vehemently opposing the war. In the 1968 election, he managed to only capture 14% of the popular vote and 46 electoral votes, not enough to throw the election away from Nixon.

Then the Watergate break-in occurred leading to Nixon’s resignation, followed by his successor Gerald Ford immediately pardoning him; events that further divided our nation. Peace with honor was Nixon’s campaign theme, but he was the least honorable president in my lifetime. He earned his nickname of “Tricky Dick”. Bottom line, the goings-on in Washington were in turmoil even more than today, if that seems possible.

But like then and I believe still today, the American people themselves are of a different mindset and will eventually prevail. So keep the faith! Here’s an interesting video by Neal Foard entitled “A Postcard from 1969" that describes the political climate in the era and shares my view about the American political system and hope of the American people. Never forget that because we are a country of free people, we will continue our mutual pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness.

PS: If you like the video about 1969, check out the author’s more light-hearted blurb about playing sandlot baseball in 1972.

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