by JHLMay 07, 2010

Allison Krause(source:dept.kent.edu)

May 4th was the 40th anniversary of the shootings at Kent State. That sad happening plus other tumultuous events were galvanizing Americans against the Vietnam War in the Sixties.

The National Guard troops who fired the fatal shots were youngsters. Who knows what the hell was going through their minds?

But, now these troops are about to start drawing Social Security. I am sure most feel differently today.

I think that if I were one of those young soldiers, I would seek forgiveness. This isn’t to blame them. These troops were caught up in what they didn’t understand.

For me, reconciliation is worth a try, but nothing is going to bring back the four young people that died.

I heard Laurel Krause interviewed, the sister of Allison Krause. Laurel was only 15 when her sister was shot May 4, 1970 at Kent State. Laurel is working on an online video archive to document what happened the day of the Kent State shootings. She believes that the real story has not been told.

Laurel wants her sister, Allison, to be remembered and for her death to have counted for something. I, personally, want to apologize to Laurel. Vietnam and our wars now are mostly the products of egotistcal, self-serving leaders who were far removed from the campus of Kent State, the jungles of Vietnam, and the terrain in Iraq and Afghanistan.

So sad that Allison had to die a death that can only be seen with today’s eyes as unnecessary. She and the other four killed were just kids.

Related Articles:

Sister of Kent State shooting victim plans archive...

Kent State Truth Tribunal

Laurel Krause(current.com)

May 4, 2010: 40th Anniv Kent State Murders

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