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Show The end of an era? By BRUCE LEE The surrender of former Yippie leader Abbie Hoffman earlier this month to law enforcement authorities seems to be the culminating symbol of what I see as a dangerous trend developing in the country. Don't get me wrong, I don't support Hoffman's actions in the 60s. I don't condone violence as a means to any end. Generally, there are better ways, perhaps always. But I do support change, and I do support citizen involvement working for that change. A society that doesn't change is simply stagnant. It isn't progressing. That brings up the danger that I see. America has gone to sleep. We, as citizens, no longer have the fervor of the 60s. It seems we no longer care. It is reminiscent of the 50s which eventually Street investment broker, and there is no phoenix rising to take his place, to object to the status quo, to wake people up, to avoid the violence. I don't hear people arguing anymore, discussing, sometimes heatedly, important im-portant issues. The melting pot of ideas that has been a strong foundation for this country has become almost nonexistent. non-existent. Disco, hot tubs and real estate speculation have taken over the quest for intellectual spirit and emotional concern. If we are to save ourselves, if we are to avoid another Kent State, another Vietnam, another Watergate, another Chicago Seven, we must begin to think and act again. We must become involved. in-volved. The processes are there. We must open our eyes and act. Holocausts can be avoided. brought on the violence. Pressure finally boiled to the point that the calm waters of the 50s steamed and blew the top off an entire country for an entire decade. The 80s or the 90s could turn out to be another violent decade. History is cyclical, said William Butler Yeats, and it seems that the cycles are becoming shorter, tighter. Another explosion could be at hand. People no longer seem interested. The concern of a decade as melted into apathy. Jerry Rubin has become a Wall |