1968 vs 2020: Compare and contrast

[tragabigzanda]

Seeing some think pieces aiming to draw comparisons. Would be interested to hear RM’s take on this idea.

Please use paragraph breaks where appropriate.

[McParadigm]

Well, for one thing 2020’s half over, and may still have its worst days ahead.

[wease]

I think this administration has taken us back to 1968 if not even earlier. Any gains we had made as a country in terms of race relations has been rendered null and void by an extremely racist administration that has made it socially acceptable to not only be racist, but to act upon it.

[tragabigzanda]

I think that we could generally agree that civil unrest and political discourse are roughly the same between the two eras. But the specific issues seem, in some regards, exactly the same, and in other regards very different…

[Higgs]

In 1968 I was 3 years shy of spitting out of my Dad's right bollock (because it has been scientifically proven that all boys come from the father's right nut) so I was pretty chill just swimmin' with my boys.

2020 and I'm right here amongst it. And generally speaking, shit's fucked.

But is it really? You know what, for me personally I'm actually pretty damn happy. Would I choose another life for myself right now?

Nope. Turns out I'm happier than a spunta swimming around in a nice warm bollock.

Nice.

[E.H. Ruddock]

I'm going to start using the word spunta

[B]

Please use paragraph breaks where appropriate.

[epilogue]

1 is less than 2. But 9 is greater than 0. 6 is greater than 2. And 8 is greater than 0.

So, you do the math!

[VinylGuy]

oh you mean in USA!
i thought for once you were all ready to discuss the world.

ITS A JOKE GUYS

[epilogue]

oh you mean in USA!
i thought for once you were all ready to discuss the world.

ITS A JOKE GUYS

But seriously, I don't want to speak for trag (or anyone else), but I don't think anyone is opposed to talking about the rest of the world in this context. The thread title doesn't exclude the rest of the world. Again, I know you where kidding -- I get it and I though it was funny -- but nothing says this comparison has to stop with US politics/society/economics/etc.

[VinylGuy]

i know, i know...just a little joke.

1968 its one of those awful years in the history of my country. We were going through the dictatorship of Ongania and it was the beginning of some very dark times here and in South America.

I guess i can compare it somehow with some stuff thats been happening to this region since 2011 with Tamer taking Brasil presidency, and recent events in Chile, Bolivia and or course, Venezuela.

[Higgs]

I was genuinely reporting on my personal situation (and perspective). I get the US importance here - no doubt those were, and these are, momentous times for the world.

Keep on RitFW, peeps.

[tragabigzanda]

Well and don’t forget the 1968 was a big year in France as well, so I think there are ample opportunities to draw comparisons on a global scale

[tragabigzanda]

(Kind of hoping someone smarter than me can paint in broad strokes on 1968 before we move forward. I tried reading that Mark Kurlansky book, but his writing is dry AF.)

[McParadigm]

Well and don’t forget the 1968 was a big year in France as well, so I think there are ample opportunities to draw comparisons on a global scale

You say you want a revolution

[tragabigzanda]

Well and don’t forget the 1968 was a big year in France as well, so I think there are ample opportunities to draw comparisons on a global scale

You say you want a revolution

Only one thing can save us
Only the young

[Higgs]

Well and don’t forget the 1968 was a big year in France as well, so I think there are ample opportunities to draw comparisons on a global scale

You say you want a revolution

I appreciate McP's lyric posts.

[Higgs]

Actually...

Well and don’t forget the 1968 was a big year in France as well, so I think there are ample opportunities to draw comparisons on a global scale

You say you want a revolution

I appreciate McP's lyric posts.

[wease]

1 is less than 2. But 9 is greater than 0. 6 is greater than 2. And 8 is greater than 0.

So, you do the math!

Quit making other people do your work, tree_.

[Mickey]

It's an interesting idea, though the comparison is kind of easy (every big social movement gets compared to 68). I think it's important to note just how global '68 was--not just trans-Atlantic, but also the year of the Tet offensive, the Tlateloco massacre, the Prague Spring, etc. I'm not sure we're seeing that kind of spread just yet. I'll also note that 68 is seen as not just turbulent but epochal--Michael Denning is really good on how it represented a new era of global politics via the anti-systemic movements. I think it's hard to see what's happening in 2020 as discontinuous with that, though, again, it's still early!