Question of the Day | 04/22/2008 12:16 pm

Forty years ago, students shut down Columbia University protesting the Vietnam War. Have you ever marched in a protest?

Read more about: Columbia University, Education, Politics, Protest, Vietnam War

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I marched against Reagan and nuclear weapons while I was in college. Everyone should do something like that when they are young, or old, or passionate. I vote, I write, I speak-out today. I teach at a college so I can discuss ideas and books and writing with people. Active still and more effective than marching.

By Jaye Ramsey Sutter on 04/23/2008 4:06 am

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All you protesting women, rock! But what happened? Sexism and inequality against women has been able to regain the ground we took.

By lynne seed on 04/23/2008 8:09 am

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I almost got arrested my freshman year in college at an all-night anti-Vietnam-war sit-in that blocked the streets. (We were all trying to get in on the action before it was too late.)The police came and announced several times that they were coming at a certain hour to arrest everyone who was left. Thank goodness I was with a couple of activist seniors who said, “Don’t be an idiot,” dragged me off and spared me a lifetime of having to explain why I had to check that “Have you ever been arrested?” box.

By Moran Moraine on 04/23/2008 4:52 am

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Moran Moraine, I have always loved “Sappho” from Pompeii. So glad you used that as an avatar. As I recall, people used to discuss before hand who could and who couldn’t afford to get arrested at an event (“I’ve got a final in cross-cultural anthropology!” “No, I’ve got a chem exam, and I’m not prepared, so arrest me!!!” Etc. Loved the avatar. If you haven’t, do go to Pompeii and Ercolano someday. Life-altering.

By Mugsy Peabody on 04/23/2008 6:32 pm

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Yes I marched in Vietman War protests in DC and NYC. We lived in married student housing at Columbia during this period and were involved with friends who were beaten by the police as they came out of the subway on their way home from work. Very sad. Also involved in local civil rights protests during that time. Have stood with groups up here against this war. Wish this were not necessary to do anymore.

By judy smith on 04/23/2008 4:53 am

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Yes, Kent State was probably the most emotional march of my college years in the late 1960s and early 70s. I attended several ERA rallies.

By Linda Bauer on 04/23/2008 4:54 am

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I remember marching in one of the first earth days,in Canada , around 71. A few of us decided that we would carry a coffin down the dowtown core of my little town lamenting the demise of Mother Earth. I stupidly mentioned it to my mum and she said that if I cut school I’d get what for. Well I ignored her, cut school, was walking along side the wooden coffin when one of the boys spotted my mum heading towards us in a trot . They stuffed me in the coffin and she was banging on it with her cane saying “I KNOW you’re in there.” It’s funny now but it wasn’t then LOL. Also marched in a rally against Pierre Trudeau’s student education policies in the late 70s, got my finger dislocated. Again my mum wasn’t thrilled with me. Oh and I marched with the female students at our hs and the female teachers to be able to wear pants, not jeans, just pants in high school. That seems so long ago now and so archiac compared to what they kids wear now in schools.

By Liz Seger on 04/23/2008 5:47 am

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Marched against the Vietnam War. Still have the photo taken by the local newspaper. Marched against the Tianman Square massacre. The Chinese Embassy has my signature, name and address on the protest petition (haven’t tried for a visa since then) More recently, as part of the cycling contingent, joined the protest against global warming. I think there were a couple of other marches/protests, but I cannot remember them right now.

By Merrie M on 04/23/2008 7:37 am

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Lily Tomlin - you are great!

By lynne seed on 04/23/2008 8:00 am

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Liz Smith doesn’t like to be with the “common man”. YIKES what a woman!

By lynne seed on 04/23/2008 8:02 am

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And I might add, Liz Smith’s comment is no surprise.

By lynne seed on 04/23/2008 8:03 am

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Oh boy what a question, time to brag. I am so proud to have marched against the Vietnam war plus marching for the civil rights movement and with Caesar Chavez. I went to University in California, Sacramento. I learned more about life and the value of it on the marches than in school. Marching made me aware of how important freedoms of speech and the right to choose were and still are. In 1968 there was a large backlash and many people felt in my circle of family that if you love the US you either had to love it or leave it. No middle ground. Friends of mine were being jailed for marching and being too out spoken. I choose to leave and came to Canada in 1969. Canada is great and I do love it however I do miss the passions of politics back home. I know the elections this time around seem rough but my God feel proud as anything that everyone has the right to speak out!

By Eve Fulton on 04/23/2008 8:07 am

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Worse than opposition are those that sit quietly on the sidelines waiting for someone else to do the hard or dirty work. And that is what has happened over the past decade- people are unwilling to risk their personal comfort and take delight in watching other people live life - hence the popularity of reality shows and celebrities. No personal involvement, accountablity or responsiblity for the lquality and inequality of life we have and the state of the country we are now facing.

By lynne seed on 04/23/2008 8:15 am

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I wish I were convinced that marching means anything anymore. I see small groups of protesters marching, but I don’t join them. Maybe I don’t have the time, or maybe I just don’t care enough. And maybe, just maybe, if everybody like me stopped being so apathetic and joined in, maybe something could change.

By Kate Bierd on 04/23/2008 8:25 am

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Acknowledgement is the first step to change. Apathy has been rampant in this country. Many forms of protest exist, marching is just one of them. Letters in great volume to our representatives have resulted in new legislation. Media investigative reporting brings action through the bad PR and vast attention. Legal action calls to task illegal action- however our courts are flawed at best and corrupt at worst. You cannot enter the legal system thinking you will see any justice - you need the coverage of the press to expose or keep the judges in line. Many avenues exist to make a change - and I believe we have an obligation to exercise them. Heroes are not apathetic. My husband (PhD in auronautical engineering) many years ago tried to get a faulty airplane design corrected that had caused the deaths of 4 people in 2 separate crashes. The senior management ignored his warnings and continued on with plans to market this plane. He knew he had to do something and decided to take his story and information to the newspapers even though he knew he would be fired. He was fired, but 60 Minutes picked up the story and aired it. Standing alone and making personal sacrifices is fine, but it helps if someone else after becoming aware, stands with you to help correct the wrongs. In fighting a battle, alone, the discouragement, dispair, loneliness, stress, exhaustion, fear are very real. And when all your supporters , those cheering you on to “do something” abandon you after you put your life on the line - that is real hurt. MLK suffered from great dispair in his struggles. This is not uncommon for someone standing alone.

By Kay Sara on 04/23/2008 9:48 am