[U] In Many Ways, This Both “Humanizes” — And Partially Explains — John Hinderaker [At Dartmouth: May, 1969].

I will (mostly) let John have at it, in his own words. It was his experience — and his leadership, while an undergrad, at Dartmouth — that achieved it, in 1969.

UPDATED 06.15.19: Contrast John’s mea culpa — with this man’s [printed in the Chicago Tribune, this weekend]. Note that NU Professor Rice confesses to committing a crime — vandalizing the ROTC offices at Northwestern University, that same year. He admits the error of judgment was painting ROTC programs with too broad a brush, regarding Vietnam. [For his part, John does not mention any vandalisim, and specifically doesn’t say he targeted the ROTC for any unlawful activity. So I remain puzzled… by John — end update.]

I would say that I am unclear as to what it is he thought he did wrong on May 6-10, 1969… but I do now wish he saw his actions… differently, with the longer focal point lens, of passing history — here fifty years on. He (and many hundreds of thousands of others, on campuses, nationwide)… were in no small part responsible for the end of the Nixon presidency, and the end of the Vietnam War.

But let us hear from Mr. Hinderaker, directly:

“…We were wrong. Why should our grotesque errors of judgment be celebrated? My role in the Parkhurst occupation was a particularly ignoble one. It was my idea for campus socialists to form a “May 8 Committee,” threatening to occupy Parkhurst Hall on May 8 if our demands were not met. Then we would actually storm Parkhurst on May 7, taking establishment forces by surprise. That plan was carried out, although I doubt it is remembered in this week’s “celebration.”

….I have pondered these events many times over the years. The best I can say in my own defense is that I was just a kid, and therefore not responsible for the stupidity of my actions. Fair enough. But there were many other guys my age, a few of whom I knew, who fought and sometimes died in Vietnam. They were just kids, too. [Ed. Note: and the actions of John, and many like him, may well have saved more of those kids from dying.]

Why is Dartmouth celebrating the absurd and illegal actions of students who were wrong about one of the central issues of their time?

….It is sad to see that Dartmouth has adopted a foolish, ahistorical view of events that are in fact worth remembering, but for reasons completely different from those that apparently animate the Dartmouth celebration….”

 It seems John, then and now — is a very diametric thinker — he’s either black or white — there is no gray. Fair enough — we are not alike in that way.

Then, and now — even so, I appreciate that he (at one time) actually… understood the malleability of his world — and his ability (and responsibility) to make it… better. [BTW, I am not entirely certain that is John — in the photo inside the window, from that day — above, but the resemblance is quite a bit more than… a passing one.]

You may see his full post, with comment from Paul — at his blog. No photos there, though.

Where have all the flowers gone, John? Onward.