Connecticut massacre fallout

[cal828]

Originally Posted by GenuineRisk

And I should know that- the book I recorded on the history of Western Europe discussed it. Sigh. Memory fail.

In Michael Moore's "Bowling for Columbine" (which really is a pretty decent doc- it discusses the culture of fear in America and how that contributes to gun violence) he interviews a former member of British Parliament who talks about the difference between Americans and the French. He said the difference is that in America, the people fear the government and in France, the government fears the people.

I sometimes wonder if that's one of the reasons France ended up with such a strong social safety net and such generous benefits- history has shown that when the French populace feels the government has pushed too hard, they will burn that sh*t down. So best to keep them content.

Though the National Front movement is pretty creepy. And it seems to be gaining strength there.

Such things happened here in the 60s. Don't you remember "burn baby burn"?

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by cal828

Such things happened here in the 60s. Don't you remember "burn baby burn"?

I was not yet here. But of course, you know what they say- if you remember the 60s, you weren't really there.

In all seriousness, Rick Perlstein's Nixonland goes into great detail about some of the riots of that decade. We certainly weren't learning about THAT in my Central PA Social Studies classes...

[cal828]

Originally Posted by GenuineRisk

I was not yet here. But of course, you know what they say- if you remember the 60s, you weren't really there.

In all seriousness, Rick Perlstein's Nixonland goes into great detail about some of the riots of that decade. We certainly weren't learning about THAT in my Central PA Social Studies classes...

Sorry, I sometimes forget that everyone's not an old coot like me.

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by cal828

Sorry, I sometimes forget that everyone's not an old coot like me.

Having moved permanently from "Miss" to "Ma'am" at some point over the past few years, I sure don't feel like no spring chicken.