COUNTER- REVOLUTION
I entered college in 1968. In sixty-nine, I had a mustache. By
1972 a beard. In 1977, I got my first teaching job at Saint Cloud State
University. I had been teaching college classes at WMU and USU since 1972. I
was an instructor at USU. At Saint Cloud I was an Assistant Professor. Until
St. Cloud, I had not cut my hair or beard.
I cut my hair and trimmed my beard for the interview in St.
Cloud. When friends asked me why I cut my hair. My glib answer was “We Lost the
Revolution.” Of course, being clean cut and wearing a suit helped me get that
first teaching job.
I don’t regret cutting my hair, and I still have a beard.
What I regret is our peaceful, albeit naïve, attempt to change the culture failed.
To create change, most of us blended in, followed the rules, and played the
game. We went to work, got married, had families, and started saving for
retirement. Our philosophy was “Go along to get along.” Even in radical
academia, where I spent half my life, this was true.
In 2020, we witnessed an attempted coup. A violent
revolution that failed. With its failure, many cheered, believing that
democracy and reason, the rule of law had won. In the near term it had, but we
were forgetting about history.
In November 1923, the Beer Hall Putsch was a failed coup d’état
by Nazi Party leader Adolf Hitler. The putsch was inspired by Benito Mussolini’s
successful March on Rome in October, 1922. Whether successful or failed, these
violent revolutions ultimately resulted in a country without laws ruled by a fascist
dictator. Hitler won the country because of his inspiring speeches and a
propaganda machine. Mussolini by propaganda, brown shirts, and brutality.
Right now, there is a revolution going on. So far, it is
peaceful. Using propaganda, ignoring laws, and playing the system to get their
desired result.
The fact nearly half of America are “okay” with what is happening
doesn’t make it right.
Those who ignore history are doomed to repeat history.