This is a very sad anniversary:
Today marks the 37th anniversary of the day National Guardsmen shot and killed four students at Kent State University during a Vietnam protest.
The anniversary comes just days after one of the students wounded in the 1970 shootings released a static-filled recording in which he says a Guard officer issues the command, “Right here! Get Set! Point! Fire!”
Background noise on the recording makes it difficult to understand the tape. The word “point” is clear, followed by the sound of shots being fired. There is no indication on the tape of who said “point.”
Today’s events at Kent State will remember those killed during that long-ago anti-war protest and will also remember victims of last month’s shooting massacre at Virginia Tech. A bell will toll 32 times in the 9 a-m hour, once for each of the victims. And there will a candlelight vigil this evening.
And considering the news from L.A. this week, it appears we still have not learned from our mistakes.
The date may change, but the times don’t.