"George: Oh, no. What you represent to them is freedom. Billy: What the hell is wrong with freedom? That's what it's all about.
George: Oh, yeah, that's right. That's what's it's all about, all right. But talkin' about it and bein' it, that's two different things. I mean, it's real hard to be free when you are bought and sold in the marketplace. Of course, don't ever tell anybody that they're not free, 'cause then they're gonna get real busy killin' and maimin' to prove to you that they are. Oh, yeah, they're gonna talk to you, and talk to you, and talk to you about individual freedom. But they see a free individual, it's gonna scare 'em. Billy: Well, it don't make 'em runnin' scared. George: No, it makes 'em dangerous."
i just saw the movie again on tv and had forgotten how harshly it ends. and doesn't it say something about our current state of affairs in the country that it still applies in so many ways? people have come far towards equality but we are not there yet. North Carolina knows! freedom is scary to so many folks.
Well watching the movie brought back so many memories - and how funny that the pain and fear and the negative stuff that i felt when these things happened are now anecdotes to be shared and not so life threatening anymore?
When the guy in the pickup, at the end of the movie, pulls out his shotgun and shakes it at Billy, while using some abusive words, i was taken back to a few times when i have had similar experiences. Thanks to God i was not killed as happened in Easy Rider. But David and i have had weapons, including shotguns, used to threaten us...both together and separately.
During protest marches folks drove by and yelled curses at us and a few shook weapons towards us. In '69, Mike - who is now Father Mike - and a group of us were handing out leaflets in Dallas and really enjoying some support and some lively debates as well. it was such a shock when Mike handed a man a flyer and the man responded by punching him in the face!
the police have accused us of illegal activity when we had done nothing...with talk of taking us 'downtown' (oh nooo Mr Bill)...because we were different. and that must mean 'bad'.
And the first time we went to LA, driving through the small, dry towns we came upon many who gave us frights: stopped for gas and gave the guy a $5 for $3 worth and waited for change which was not to come. the attendant came back out and leaned against the pump with his hand on his gun. we decided our lives were worth more than $2 so we headed out with a prayer and a sigh. there were folks who refused to serve us. and the truck driver who slowed as he passed us on the highway and put his hand on the shotgun on his back window while glaring at us.
When we were preparing to return that first time to FW, we were told by David's grandpa that he would take David back with him for his dad's funeral but he could not take me. he felt it too dangerous to have a "white girl" in his car. i know he must have been nervous all the time that we stayed with him.
there are lots more examples but i won't harp on the violence now. i was just walking down memory lane because of Peter Fonda and crew and a movie which really did tell some sad truths about human behavior.
My prayer is that your children's children (and mine) will not have to learn them first hand. let them read my blog instead. won't that be a glorious day when we only know these lessons by reading about them?