A Tragedy Revisited

CHALLENGE Answered

As I mentioned in the CHALLENGE, the key to getting the right answer is timing. I made a point to release it today…i.e. May 4. On this day, 53 years ago, the Kent State shootings occurred. As for the view, that is the viewpoint of students that were shot by the National Guard…a tragedy revisited.

In the CHALLENGE picture above, you can see the pagoda (marked by yellow arrow) on top of the hill adjacent to Taylor Hall. On the above right photo, you can see the pagoda as the shooting began.

In the CHALLENGE picture above, you can see the markers in the parking lot in the lower left. On the above right photo, you the same location just seconds after the shooting.

Regrettably, Some History Required

I do not want to revisit Wikipedia for my blog post. But, as many of you were not born in 1970, a very quick summary seems appropriate…

In late April 1970, President Nixon announced an expansion of the war in Vietnam. Subsequently, this announcement kicked off a wide array of protests across the US, particularly at university campuses. Kent State had their share of spirited protests as well. On May 2, one of the protests even involved burning the campus ROTC building to the ground. So, these actions got the attention of Ohio Governor who dispatched the National Guard to Kent State. Consequently, on May 4, several hundred protestors gathered to protest the expansion of the Vietnam War. Then, the tragic, but predictable, events unfolded. Guards ordered students to disperse. Not surprisingly, students were not entirely cooperative. Guards used tear gas…students scattered to various locations. One group of Guards positioned themselves on top of the hill near the pagoda. For reasons that will be debated for eternity, the Guards opened fire on the students. Four were killed and nine were wounded. Enough said.

Campus Visit

I knew the basics of the Kent State shooting, but the details were not solidly in my head. So, on a recent blog trip, my 9th grade English teacher and I decided to refamiliarize ourselves with the tragedy. Kent State does a good job explaining the events of the tragedy. The university maintains a museum in Taylor Hall which was in the epicenter of events. Furthermore, there is a self-guided walking tour with audio. The walking tour and information allow you some real perspective and when, where and how things unfolded. Both the museum and walking tour are definitely worth doing.

Just a Couple Learnings from our walk

The thing that I will remember the most is how they mark the site where the 4 students were killed. A series of stanchions mark the exact location where each fatality occurred. Each designated area includes a plaque on the ground marking the date and name.

At the risk of being indelicate, I must admit one thing struck me as unique about these memorials. The parking lot was the site of all the killings. So, most memorials are in the parking lot. However, these parking lots are in use.

No judgement here. I am not saying this was a bad approach. Rather, I am just saying that it caught me off guard to step out of my truck onto the memorial of a slain student. By the way, the university also memorialized all the the injured. Circular memorials mark the spot where the casualty occurred.

Just one ending comment

I have a natural tendency to blame the protestors for any bad sh&t that happens when protests go bad (any protest). Initially, my thinking was more like the students failed to disperse as ordered. Rocks and profanity were launched at the National Guard. It’s not a stretch to think a Guard may have felt endangered and panicked. When you panic with a gun, it’s not good. However, as you can tell from view of the shootings, the guards were not that close to the students. It was 50-100 yards from the Guards to various victims. For armed men to claim they were fearful of their lives, when the students were so far away…seems like a bit of a stretch to me. But, enough said, what do I know. If your knowledge of these events is getting old, swing by the Kent State campus. Do the museum…walk the audio tour…and develop your own questionable revelations…it’s a tragedy revisited. Have a wonderful day. PT

I hope you have enjoyed my somewhat depressing write up of “A Tragedy Revisited” on Traveling with PugsleyTonks.

If you want other depressing posts with views of tragedies, here you go https://travelingwithpt.com/views-named/

If you wish to learn more about the shooting, go here https://www.kent.edu/may4visitorscenter