IF YOU WERE THERE...(UPDATE 5)

The other day, I was trying to describe to Wunder Gurl the deep, absolute hatred for KSU students that existed (and still exists) in Portage and Summit Counties circa May 4th , 1970…the ‘shuddah shot more of ‘em’ mentality.

Perhaps this will do the trick = from today’s Akron Beacon Journal (a/k/a the Aching Leaking Urinal):

Wed, May. 09, 2007

What's the harm in probing May 4?

Thank you for offering online for Internet availability at Ohio.com audio versions of segments of the recording taken by Terry Strubbe of the May 4, 1970, shootings at Kent State University.

You perform an educational service for people everywhere seeking to hear this readily apparent historical evidence.

But the Beacon Journal does not always perform admirably regarding the misunderstood May 4, 1970, tragedy at Kent State University.

On May 24, 1970, you concluded, “There was no order to fire.'' You were wrong in 1970.

On May 4, 2000, you resurrected the long-rejected theory that a sniper fired the first shot at KSU in 1970. To quote the 1970 FBI investigation: “There was no sniper.'' In fact, all 67 gunshots were fired by the Ohio National Guard. You were wrong in 2000.

Why does the Beacon Journal continue such a cavalier attitude about a complex historical event, which occurred in nearby Kent?

I recently discovered a 1970 audio recording at the Yale University library archives. I dared to announce this undiscovered evidence proving the command to shoot unarmed students.

I welcomed new investigations.

On the same day your editorial board attacked my credibility (“The May 4 tape,'' Our Opinion, May 3), the Yale Daily News wrote: “Just before gunfire rings out on the tape, a barely audible male voice can be heard ordering what seems to be, `Right here! Get set! Point! Fire!' Immediately after that last command, a hail of gunfire breaks out, lasting for 13 seconds.''

Across America, many people are finally listening to these crucial 1970 sounds via the Internet. This was our intention when we revealed this recording in Kent on May 1.

Many people have contacted me by e-mail and telephone offering support. They also hear the 1970 shouted command clearly, as I do. I am certainly not alone in this regard.

But the Beacon Journal editorial board has misled readers once again. As in 1970, when your paper earned a Pulitzer Prize for an incomplete, premature “investigation,'' board members remain cynical about the undeniable fact there was an order to shoot at Kent State on May 4, 1970. Why?

I stated at our May 1 news conference, “The evidence speaks for itself.'' Inevitably, this long-overlooked evidence will be evaluated, analyzed and enhanced by digital sound professionals.

I encourage scientific analysis of the original Strubbe tape by the federal and state governments, legal experts in courtrooms, scientists, scholars, historians and, of course, the news media.

This includes the Beacon Journal editorial board. Have your esteemed editors actually listened to the recording at Ohio.com? Have you listened to the digital CD I provided to your reporter at our news conference? Have you secured the complete tape version from Yale University or Terry Strubbe? Have you hired audio professionals to do an evaluation? Why not?

As in 1970, why do you again mistakenly rush to judgment and now blame the messenger, in this case, me? Can your critical editorial viewpoint be interpreted as a sidelong glance of envy?

Why did I discover this evidence in 2007, and why didn't you in 1970?

A biased newspaper editorial board does not serve the interests of its readers or the community. I have complete faith in the patience and fairness of our citizens. Too bad the same cannot be said about your errant editors.

Concerning the misunderstood Kent State tragedy of May 4, 1970, you are wrong again in 2007.

Alan Canfora
Director Kent May 4 Center
Barberton


Shot once in 1970, potshots ever since

There have been a lot of attacks on Alan Canfora's character because he continues to speak about the May 4, 1970, killings at Kent State University.

I was too young to understand the Kent State incident when it took place. But as a Kent resident, I fully understand that a lot of people felt the students were wrong to protest the war in Vietnam, even though they were being drafted to fight and die over there. Several people have told me the students deserved to be shot.

Now that I'm twice as old as the students who were killed, I question whether such a use of force is ever justified. Were we so afraid of our kids that we had to point loaded guns at them? I think this would be very unlikely to happen on any campus today.

I can understand how witnessing the killings and being shot affected Canfora, and why he continues to speak about this issue.

For others, he continues to be a convenient punching bag for their hatred of the anti-war movement.

Maybe because we are in another long war, he has been vilified in editorials and letters to the editor. But rather than a villain, Canfora is a kind person, a gentleman, polite and well-spoken, a family man and a good listener. He's working to make a positive difference in our community.

You might want to meet and talk to him before throwing rocks.

Fred Pierre
Kent


Let's not forget who began the violence

I see the Beacon Journal has given a lot of space to Alan Canfora and the tragic events that occurred on the Kent State University campus in 1970. But I didn't see much space given to the events that led up to the shootings.

It should be noted that the rioters on the campus (Canfora and friends), prior to May 4, 1970, had set fire to university property and attacked the firefighters who tried to put out the fire, had set fires in downtown Kent, had broken windows and threatened store owners and had tried to tear down American flags in the downtown area.

If Canfora wants to find who was responsible for May 4, he should look in the mirror.

Harvey G. Brown
Kent


Silence of the dead

Alan Canfora says he can hear on the tape, ``Get set! Point! Fire!''

Anyone who honorably served in the military to defend this country would remember ``Ready, aim, fire!'' as a common order on the firing line. I would not expect a draft-dodger to understand the language of the military.

All I remember of that day in May 1970 was that when the shooting started, the rioting and fires went out.

Jerry Lamm
Akron

What IS clear to me from listening to the tape – and as pointed out in an email from pal DC in NYC – the firing was a barrage with a clean starting point vs. initial sporadic firing that would result from a few Guardsmen acting alone with others joining in a few seconds later.

it is the horrible sound of ammo clips being emptied.

in unison.

cb

NP: Walter Lehrman's '62 lecture series on The American Folk Song. am archiving/digitizing his tapes, and this morning's class is on 'negro' work songs. great stuff!

PEEVE DE JOUR: Richard Lloyd is leaving Television after 34 years. last show at Central Park Summer Stage 6/16. fyi - Tin Huey/Harvey Gold & Chris Butler are not to blame...

JOIE DE JOUR: Duane St. patisserie is run by Madeline Lanciani of Patisserie Lanciani = makers of THE BEST Lemon Tart on the planet.

ROSATI’S FLAVOR-OF-THE-DAY:

Brownie Batter

OR

Cherry Vanilla

cb…where are you?






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