I think the nation as a whole is often very critical of Lyndon Johnson. Many of us bitterly turn up our noses, especially us baby boomers, because of Vietnam. “Hey Hey LBJ. How many kids did you kill today?” still rings in my mind. Others dislike Johnson because of his “Great Society” and perceived abuses some saw. You know, welfare mamas driving Cadillacs. LBJ was rough around the edges and often came across as getting his legislative way bullying his “bourbon and branch ” buddies in to going along with him. He had a long senate history and knew how to call in favors. He lacked the charisma of Kennedy and was very often resented by everyone, especially his own party.
Selma: Bloody Sunday 50th year anniversary
I find it frightening that behavior like this went on in my lifetime. I was of conscious age when “Bloody Sunday” took place. I don’t know that I was aware it even happened at the time. You don’t know what you don’t know.
I think the fact that something this major happened in the United States of America and a living person was unaware is significant. Let’s pretend for a moment that “Bloody Sunday” was 1-year-old rather than 50 years old. Would a fairly socially-aware person be sitting here admitting that they didn’t know it had happened? Of course not.
