Like Bill Ayers, I rejoice in the election of Senator Obama as president, and in the vision of what Mr. Ayers calls this "beautiful young family" which will occupy the White House, hopefully, for the next eight years. I am 57 years old and a teacher in the Boston Public Schools, an unrepentant radical and life-long socialist throughout my adult life, politicized by the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights struggle, and other movements for social justice in the late sixties. During that period I may have had political qualms about the work of the Weather Underground, and would not have engaged in the tactics which they employed.

That having been said, neither would I have condemned their actions, since I perceived, as they did, that our generation was at war with the government. If anything, I harbored a reticent satisfaction that others would undertake such bold action, which I dared not, in the face of what Ayers rightfully calls the terrorism of the government against the people of Vietnam and against African people right here in America. Witness his reminder of the cold-blooded murder of Fred Hampton by the FBI and the Chicago Police, shot point-blank in the head as he laid in his bed.

I am concerned, as Bill Ayers must be, at the extent to which Mr. Obama is veering toward centrist elements in the Democratic Party, and even toward conservative Republicans. I would like to see him include people like Rashid Khalidi and (yes) Jesse Jackson among his advisors. I also agree with Mr. Ayers' reminder that Obama should not be seen as a "savior", and that we should all fall back on his words (deliberately twisted in the media) that "we are the ones we have been waiting for". I am heartened by his recent promise to close Guantanamo, but am assuming that action in the streets will be necessary to force his hand toward a speedy end to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Considering this country's dire economic straits, I feel that the people will respond affirmatively to the argument that, aside from the immorality of our involvement in these two conflicts, the $12 billion a month we dump into that sewer of oppression will be better spent at home.

Finally, Bill Ayers himself comes across as a serious thinker, committed and humane. I may step out to Barnes and Noble this very evening and try to pick up his book.

As Shaw said, we learn from history that we learn nothing from history. Ayers still doesn't have a clue.

The war in Vietnam was over by the time the Weathermen stockpiled their cherry bombs. It was just several more years before it actually took. But that group of felons in D.C. just couldn't let it go, not with a bunch of lank-haired, piss-ants college kids running around trying to blow things up. I think it was an alpha thing; let a challenge go without a response and you know longer have mating rights with the pack. And if there was one thing that pack of curs in D.C. had, it was an alpha complex.

I'd venture a guess that the Weathermen didn't change a single mind, but just had too much time time on their hands and too much testosterone in the pouch. The war might, repeat, "might" have ended sooner if Ayers and his wingnuts had simply marched around with signs, chanted slogans and got conked on the head like the rest of us.

I agree with Amity and others who've said they think this is an important discussion. It's most interesting to find how many agree that Ayers is no hero to liberals, and having failed to take responsibility personally for his actions brings his character into question, given what has happened in the intervening years.

I think it's important he not be coddled by those who made some sacrifice in those days and didn't just sit the whole thing out in their fraternities--like Bush and the rest of the "cons". (I mean that both ways.)

Its doesn't seem worth trying to address those who still don't understand the conversation, (of which there were many in the thread, including some nasty trolls) or what was at risk. (Maybe someone with more distance could do a good job.) I know I was blacklisted from three graduate schools, and feel confident they'd still deny they had a blacklist.

The split between those who served in the war and those who protested against the war was not true at the beginning, but only after the hotheads got involved, and especially when their intentions turned violent.

That split was the driving force in the body politic for years to come, and even if it wasn't manifested in the presidency during Clinton's time particularly, it drove the country to the far right of center.

I think it's important, especially now, to at least correct the analysis if liberalism is going to be re-defined. It should be in view of the truth--and not the fable the MSM has perpetuated and most of the nation bought. Obama deserves a better chance than that.

A new constituency has been built on the ashes of the past, but it will fail too if more rigorous thinking isn't brought to bear--and when guys like Ayers come out of hiding they need to be told what their peers think--even if they don't give a shit, which is the attitude I get from him in this interview.

juan...the bi-par commission did what it supposed to, spread the blame. i'm not talking about blame, just a simple observation that 9/11 was on w.'s watch. it was, and if he had taken responsibility, even if not his fault (i know it's all clinton's), perhaps he would have taken responsibility for other blunders (that were his responsibility) and be better thought of as a result. just asking...

re: Juan Enrique is a real gentleman

On this board he is, as you are, merely horribly ill-informed. Read back through my posts countering his nonsense with facts and evidence. You right wing screwballs embrace ignorance as though it were a virtue.

re: They'd prefer some 69 lessons from big tough scorpio mens at the baths, my frem.

I'm not sure exactly to what you're referring here, but you seem to be projecting your gay bathhouse fantasy in some sort of juvenile attempt to question my sexual preference.

If you really MUST know my sexual proclivity, here it is:

http://tinyurl.com/5auxa3

Oh yeah. :)