The Bear Facts...

Do you believe in history repeating itself? I do, to a certain extent at least. Rewind to 1967. Richard J. Daley is the current mayor of Chicago. The United States was involved in an un-popular war. U.S. Servicemen were being killed in a war protesters said “was not our war and we had no right getting involved in”. Anti-war protestors formed rallies and marches to protest our involvement in the Vietnam War. The civil rights movement and discrimination in the south was a major issue and protestors for civil rights were forming rallies and marches. Dr. King was a prominent speaker and lead advocate for the civil rights action. The KKK made their presence known with more violent “actions” toward African Americans, Jews and protestors in favor of the civil rights movement. The space program was flourishes after a tragic set-back at the beginning of the year with the Apollo 1 fire and disaster. Apollo flights resume and more are planned as John F. Kennedy promised “the first man on the moon by the end of the decade”. Women were staging protests, burning their bras and fighting for the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment.

Let’s fast forward now to 2007. Richard M. Daley is the current mayor of Chicago. U.S. servicemen and women are being killed in an un-popular war. As in 1967, protestors are protesting a war they claim “we had no right starting in a land we had no right getting involved in”. In the south, nooses are hung from a “whites only” tree in Louisiana. Caucasian students are reprimanded for the action. Tensions in the south rise with claims of discrimination against African Americans. Six African American students from Jena, Louisiana attack and beat-up a male Caucasian student. Civil rights protests form after the African American students are arrested and found guilty of the beating. Dr. King’s children are lead advocates in favor of freeing the “Jena 6”. There is also a public outcry and protests stating African Americans are still discriminated against and the south having two sets of values, one for “whites” and one for “blacks”. The KKK after several years of being dormant decide to rear their ugly, irreverent, racists heads and begin violent threats and acts toward African Americans and protestors. NASA is recovering slowly and resuming regular flights of the remaining shuttles after the tragic explosion of Columbia in 2003. Illegal boarder jumpers are staging protests and fighting for an amendment that will make them U.S. Citizens. Elvira Arellano burns her britches by attending an “immigration” rally in Los Angeles.

With minor differences, I see remarkable similarities between the two years. So similar, it is almost frightening. One major difference between 1967 and 2007, in 1967 a Democratic president was in office and not a Republican. Even though a Democratic president was in office, Johnson was un-popular. 1967 like 2007 was the year of the primary elections. Bobby Kennedy was chosen as the Democratic nominee and Richard M. Nixon the nominee for the Republican Party. In 1967, the republicans were promising an end to Vietnam and in 2007 the Democrats are promising an end to Iraq.

In1967 Mayor Daley had a tight reign on The City of Chicago, city corruption was abundant and Otto Kerner, (a Democrat), was the governor of Illinois. The Chicago Political Machine was running full force and popping out new Democrats as well as resurrecting dead ones to vote in the November Primaries.  In 2007, Mayor Richard M. Daley is the reigning King of Chicago, is now in control of The Chicago Political Machine, new Democrats are being popped out again, corruption is rampant in city and state politics and a Democrat sits in the Governor’s chair in Springfield. I wonder what’s next. As far as I know, the Democratic National Convention is not going to be held in Chicago, so, Daley can’t resurrect his father’s great speech; “The police aren’t here to create disorder, the police are here to preserve disorder”, but, I’m sure if given the opportunity, he will find a way to use it just to make the year more accurate.

In 1967 McCormick Place, one of the ONLY buildings on Chicago’s Lake Front was destroyed by a fire. It will be 4 years before it is re-built. In 2007, King Daley jockeys for the 2012 Olympic bid threatening to go against Daniel Burnham’s promise of “always keeping the lakefront free and clear of buildings” as well as “keeping the lakefront and lakefront parks for public use”, just as Colonel McCormick did when he built the first convention center. Daley’s entire “Olympic Village” plan centers in Jackson Park. Not Jackson Park the area, Jackson Park the actual Park!! Right now Daniel Burnham and Montgomery Ward are BOTH spinning in their graves!!

In 1967 the Equal Rights Amendment movement was heating up with protests and demonstrations being held in various cities. I was only a year old in 1967, so I don’t remember much. After doing a little research, I have found out two possibilities: 1) bra burning is an urban legend and did not actually happen. 2) Bra burning was of minor significance, only a selected few incidents were observed and most of the bra burning was during the 1970’s during the Woman’s Liberation movement. In 2007 rallies and marches are being held attempting to pass an amendment making illegal boarder jumpers American Citizens. Elvira Arellano, (AKA the Church Rat), was burned by Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agents while attending a protest march and rally in Los Angeles. Ok, there wasn’t that much similarity between Elvira and ERA, but still, both included women and both included burning.

In 1967, several protest marches and rallies were held nationally protesting the Vietnam War. The war was extremely un-popular with the general public and most wanted out soldiers to come home. Johnson felt withdrawing the troops from Vietnam would be abandoning a country in need of our assistance. Ultimately, Richard Nixon did withdraw all the troops and Vietnam fell to Communist rule. In 2007, peace keeping efforts in Iraq continue with an outcry from selected American groups, (including the Democrats), to bring the U.S. Forces home. Select groups, (including the Democrats), believe in total and complete withdrawal from Iraq and letting them fend for themselves. If the Democrats win the General Election in March, that plan may very well happen and the United States will gain another enemy as another dictator will take over control of Iraq.

In 1967 our quest for the moon was becoming more of a possibility. The first Apollo mission was being planned and met disaster after a fire in the Apollo 1 capsule killing all three astronauts. By mid 1967, the Apollo program was back on schedule and Apollo 7 was being prepared for launch. In 2003, NASA met with another disaster when Columbia exploded while re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere. After a short down time, the shuttle program is proceeding again and talks of going back to the moon by 2010 are being discussed. With the first moon landing being made by the United States, the next form of exploration is long term stays in space and are being conducted on the International Space Station. With the return to the moon, longer stays are being planned as well as proposals for possible set up of permanent research areas.

In 1967 the civil rights movement was being lead by Dr. Martin Luther King. Demonstration marches through out the southern states are being held. The Ku Klux Klan are terrorizing African American families with cross burning, church bombings and lynching outspoken African American males. The civil rights outcry was “we shall overcome”. 2007 In Jena Louisiana nooses are hung from an “all white tree” by Caucasian students stated to be a joke in retaliation of African American students sitting beneath the tree. The Caucasian students are suspended and an outcry from the African American community for stricter punishments. Several incidents between African American students and Caucasian students and residents ensue. Six African American students are charged and convicted of assorted forms of battery from resulting actions. The African American community holds protests and demonstrations objecting to the conviction of the African American students. Assorted incidents involving the Ku Klux Klan arise and incite more protesting, cries of discrimination and racial prejudice.

Is it Déjà vu, coincidence, or, Is history repeating itself? In a lot of ways I can see similarities and actions happening just as they did in 1967. Hopefully this time around we have learned from our mistakes, make better judgments and decisions regarding the events that appear to be repeating themselves.