Where Did the Dream Go?
Thinking back to 1968 through 1973
Lately, I have been thinking a lot about our hopes and dreams in the late sixties and early seventies. Somehow, those dreams never came to fruition. I am dismayed that race is still an issue. And for the life of me, I cannot figure out why there is so much fear and loathing of the LGBTQ+ community.
Back then, I was sure that by the twenty-first century, we would be far more accepting of people and their individual lifestyles.
First, Some Background
I entered high school (10th grade) in New York City in September 1968. At the time, there were four groups of students. There were the Jocks, those students who played sports. I was not one of them. During Gym class, when kids were choosing their teams, I was almost always the last to be picked. Typically, the team that ended up with me also was given extra points for balance.
Then there were the Greasers. These were guys (and their girlfriends) who loved cars and mechanics. I had no interest in cars or mechanics. I hated getting oil on my hands and always tried to avoid manual labor. At 71 years old, I still try to avoid manual labor.
Next came the nerds, although I don’t think we used that term back then. These were students who were focused on good grades and avoiding getting…
