A Different Way

July 17, 1968
by Amy

Groups are really starting to come through now with fliers, artwork and a slew of ideas for the convention. There's a buzz in the air. Some people are feeling doom about the whole thing. I've heard that Allen Ginsberg is telling people that the whole situation has a bad vibe, though he's still going.

I sure hope he's not going around saying that. It would be a shame. Though I understand it. The city is still giving us a whole host of honkin' trouble over the permits. The ACLU is involved now, and Glasses tells us all not to worry. They will come through like they always do, just at the last minute.

While I may feel excited about it, and I certainly am, underneath it all I can't help but feel a little fearful too. We have the power to turn this into a wonderful event. As Little Toe and the Yips tell us: An alternative to the Convention of Death. They want to have a big free concert with all the trimmings. It could prove to be a wonderful event, provided the city allows it.

I don't know why they wouldn't. Bea says that they don't want people to know that there's a different way to live. There's hope and community. There's creativity and art. We are presenting a way out of the culture of death, and they resent the hell out of us.

Authority can't stand being wrong, even if it means death and destruction. We have to get them to see that there's a different way.

In the News: July 17, 1968