Comments on: Order To Open Fire In Kent State Shooting?

Man Shot By National Guardsmen Says He Has Tape Of Someone Giving Order To Open Fire

[jetlizhan]

Oh my God - i'm speechless. yes, these families of the victims and survivors have a right to know the truth, ugly as it may be.

[marcodele]

Its important to learn from our historical mistakes, and this was a big one. This was also the era where Richard Nixon invoked the words "national security" thousands of times in order to dodge accountability. That sounds an awful lot like today, doesn't it? Substitute "national security" with "war on terrorism" and you've got a free pass to do anything you want anywhere in the world.

And I'm sure if the protests against the Iraq war grew too rowdy, the bunch of thugs running our country today wouldn't hesitate to shoot to kill those who protested too loudly.

[lawandorder6]

Can we live in today. Like if people would get on with living, they would be a lot better off. Forget it. Good GOD how long are we going to keep diging things up?

[realpatriot1]

I think what we'll ultimately learn is what was strongly expected at the time. The Guard officers who gave the orders were themselves following orders frm Governor Rhodes.

The National Guard troops that were ordered to Kent State had spent the previous week battling rioting teamsters outside Cleveland. Rhodes could've sent fresh troops but chose to send instead worn out troops that had been shot at themselves the week before.

He also made the famous statement that "We're going to teach these people what law and order really is."

[mennowoman]

I would like to hear the tape.

As a Kent State graduate, I think it's important for the world to hear the tape.

[marcodele]

The real lesson of Kent State was the Governor's unsigned order to use deadly force if necessary.
Of course, James A. Rhodes felt justified doing so, since California Governor Ronald Reagan just months before had said of the Berkeley demonstrators: "If it takes a bloodbath, let's get it over with."

This issue of "a shouted order" seems insignificant to me in light of the real historical stage that had been set by state governors toward protesters. Ohio Gov. James A. Rhodes was responsible for the Kent State killings: nobody else. And the fact that after than incident he named university physical education buildings after himself is almost as hypocritical as naming an airport after Ronald Reagan, who fired most of the air traffic controllers.

[farmerbb]

If there were only three NG officers there at the place on that day, it should be easy to identify them, and if they are still alive (37 years is a long time) their voice prints may be matchable.