DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | University of Iowa anti-war protests, 1970 | ""Iowa '70: Riot, Rhetoric, Responsibility?"" Page 11

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University of Iowa anti-war protests, 1970

""Iowa '70: Riot, Rhetoric, Responsibility?"" Page 11

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The national guard is a very necessary and integral part of our system--but I don't think they should continually be looked upon as national heros who quell riots and demonstrations.
I know too many people who joined the national guard only to avoid being drafted. I'm not saying a majority or even a minority joined for this reason. I'm saying that almost everyone I know in the guard joined for this reason.
During the past two weeks I have attended several non-violent rallies and marches in downtown Iowa City. We avoided several incidents. Fine, people (most of them straight) attended the rallies, nonviolently. I hope theyt made some people aware that they are concerned.
According to several newspapers and commentaries, change can be accomplished without violence. I have always believed this. But students demonstrate peacefully and your President says, "I WON'T BE SWAYED." What are we to do? If you won't listen, maybe violence is the only answer.
I can only hope that YOUR PRESIDENT does listen now. Because, if he doesn't, I'm afraid of what might happen.
Seven year of peaceful demonstrations and I have seen very few, if any, favorable changes.
The days of hippies demonstrating are over. The days of the "straight" kids marching arm-in-arm with the "long" hairs are here. They are your kids.
Please listen to us. We are unhappy and dissatisfied and frustrated and confused. But most of all I think we are determined to end this stupid thing. We don't have the right to vote; we have the right to kill and die. We don't have the right to be listened to, but we do have the right to demonstrate.
Before you classify us as a bunch of bums why don't you talk to some of us. Let us tell you how we feel and why. I've spent hours talking to older people; businessmen, housewives, people of all ages.
If we can just talk to each other, we can communicate. But please don't say you won't listen. What alternative do we have then? And please don't stereotype us blindly. For then the gap grows even wider.
Our powers are limited. Right now we are trying to get your attention so we can talk to you. How far will we have to go before you listen.
I ask you to examine the record. Is it time for another Boston Tea Party or even a second American Revolution? Many students have read the Declaration of Independence. I ask each of you to do so TODAY. Then take another look at the situation.

Over Reaction
Gloria Steinem has said that the crisis in this nation is the outcome of a "turn of mind" rather than a system or method of repression. She was speaking of the Black Panthers; but the idea is applicable to much more.
University of Iowa political science professor, Robert VanDyke has spoken of the tendency of the military to "over-react" to almost any threatening situation. This, he attributes to the long-standing belief among the top military decision makers that while there is almost nothing to lose by over reacting, there is nothing to gain and everything to lose by under-reacting.
This prevailing 'turn of mind" has infected the decision-makers in our campuses as they have become battle fields in their own right. Like the military they assume that they can justify gross over-retaliation by appealing to people's fears in regard to what might have happened; and they fear, almost to paranoia, that they will be censured for any tragedy that might be attributable to a "too soft" position.
The Vietnam fiasco is the most staggering example of this turn of mind. Cambodia, the most recent; Kent State, the most vivid. The military brass felt they had nothing to lose by a massive adventure in Vietnam--there is virtually no cost to them.
It should be remembered that there is a cost--120 billion dollars, 41,600 American and countless Vietnamese lives--the military just doesn't have to pay it.
VanDyke has said, "It's almost their job to 

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7 The national guard is a very necessary and integral part of our system--but I don't think they should continually be looked upon as national heros who quell riots and demonstrations. I know too many people who joined the national guard only to avoid being drafted. I'm not saying a majority or even a minority joined for this reason. I'm saying that almost everyone I know in the guard joined for this reason. During the past two weeks I have attended several non-violent rallies and marches in downtown Iowa City. We avoided several incidents. Fine, people (most of them straight) attended the rallies, nonviolently. I hope theyt made some people aware that they are concerned. According to several newspapers and commentaries, change can be accomplished without violence. I have always believed this. But students demonstrate peacefully and your President says, "I WON'T BE SWAYED." What are we to do? If you won't listen, maybe violence is the only answer. I can only hope that YOUR PRESIDENT does listen now. Because, if he doesn't, I'm afraid of what might happen. Seven year of peaceful demonstrations and I have seen very few, if any, favorable changes. The days of hippies demonstrating are over. The days of the "straight" kids marching arm-in-arm with the "long" hairs are here. They are your kids. Please listen to us. We are unhappy and dissatisfied and frustrated and confused. But most of all I think we are determined to end this stupid thing. We don't have the right to vote; we have the right to kill and die. We don't have the right to be listened to, but we do have the right to demonstrate. Before you classify us as a bunch of bums why don't you talk to some of us. Let us tell you how we feel and why. I've spent hours talking to older people; businessmen, housewives, people of all ages. If we can just talk to each other, we can communicate. But please don't say you won't listen. What alternative do we have then? And please don't stereotype us blindly. For then the gap grows even wider. Our powers are limited. Right now we are trying to get your attention so we can talk to you. How far will we have to go before you listen. I ask you to examine the record. Is it time for another Boston Tea Party or even a second American Revolution? Many students have read the Declaration of Independence. I ask each of you to do so TODAY. Then take another look at the situation. Over Reaction Gloria Steinem has said that the crisis in this nation is the outcome of a "turn of mind" rather than a system or method of repression. She was speaking of the Black Panthers; but the idea is applicable to much more. University of Iowa political science professor, Robert VanDyke has spoken of the tendency of the military to "over-react" to almost any threatening situation. This, he attributes to the long-standing belief among the top military decision makers that while there is almost nothing to lose by over reacting, there is nothing to gain and everything to lose by under-reacting. This prevailing 'turn of mind" has infected the decision-makers in our campuses as they have become battle fields in their own right. Like the military they assume that they can justify gross over-retaliation by appealing to people's fears in regard to what might have happened; and they fear, almost to paranoia, that they will be censured for any tragedy that might be attributable to a "too soft" position. The Vietnam fiasco is the most staggering example of this turn of mind. Cambodia, the most recent; Kent State, the most vivid. The military brass felt they had nothing to lose by a massive adventure in Vietnam--there is virtually no cost to them. It should be remembered that there is a cost--120 billion dollars, 41,600 American and countless Vietnamese lives--the military just doesn't have to pay it. VanDyke has said, "It's almost their job to 7