000048742_0021

Lt. Sally Hemings Vol.1, No.19

THE DRUMS, THE GUNS, AND THE FLAGS

This time they are marching with flags and the uniforms almost glow in the sun. The sounds are of applause and marching tunes, the sounds of praise and admiration. One isn't even aware of the guns, one could not ever know what the guns might do what one whould do with them. Nothing like that is ever suggested. It is a moment to remember. It is good to serve your country. But the "job" is for your country . . . Whose country? And what does it mean to serve such a thing as a country? And is a country just the uniforms and the flags? Is it the guns?

Don't think of those things. All of them have been answered for you. The ceremonies cover the answers with their silken whispers. The questions drop away in the sunlight. (But what does all of this mean? Speak now. What Vietnams and Cambodias and Kent States rest uneasy beneath the rhetoric and the ritual? Study your hands. There is skin and bone and muscle. What do those guns . . . do? Without the flags, without the drill, without the rhetoric . . . what doe they do? What will those hands do? What will they do to other hands?)

This is for your country. And your country needs you, not your questions (God save us from the answers). The motions say that your country, and the uniform says that your country, and the rank says that your country . . that your country must . . . use you. For what end?

Eternal vigilance is the price of Liberty. And so this: vigilant flags, vigilant guns, the eternal guards over Liberty. But she's not a prisoner: we've built walls around her and we have guns to protect her. She is safe, no-one can touch her, no one can have her. And that's why there is a military and why we are here . . . Vietnam (the Drums) . . . Cambodia (The Guns) . . Kent State (The Flag) . . .

YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO MAYFLOWER. . .

Last night, we learned that the Police Riot has claimed another victim. Tom Doran was arrested on an obscure charge of vandalism. The misdeed was supposedly perpetrated during the activities which took place here in the beginning of May. Tom was busted by Chief Ray Houchens of the Unicops and a plainclothes State Patrolman. Could it be that the reason behind the sudden arrest is pure harrassment aimed at keeping Doran off the Grounds? Clearly we see here a threat becoming a reality. All those who have been consistent in their work for change are even more vulnerable than before; vulnerable because nebulous charges are apparently being used as a basis for incarceration.

QUESTIONS: Is Vietnamization nothing but Koreanization, Philippinization, Thai-ization, and Indonesianization? You had better ask Richard M. ("All American troops will be out by July 30") Nixon. For example, consider this from inside sources: The Nixon Administration will announce a "good will mission" to Korea. In reality, it will be a diplomatic effort to arrange the exhange of U. S. money for a commitment of Korean troops in Vietnam. It seems the ruling Pak Chung-hui regime nees money for "elections" scheduled for next year and a few other items. Good ole Uncle Sam will supply that money. . . if Korea will agree to send several tens of thousands of troops to Vietnam to replace U. S. troops being withdrawn. The move will likely be made quietly this summer while Korean students are on vacation.

ANOTHER QUESTION: Can you Army fellers swim? Wouldja bleev that ship sunk by North Korea off her own coast is an Army mine sweeper converted to a spy ship and manned by South Koreans? Wouldja, hun? Wouldja, huh?

YET ANOTHER QUESTION: Which of the uniformed gentlemen on the very stage before your very eyes is a patron of "The Sally Hemings?"

IN THE EARLY MORNING MIST I SEE VISIONS OF THINGS THAT ARE TO BE . . .