We didn’t start the fire
“We Didn’t Start The Fire” is a catchy protest song recorded by Billy Joel that debuted in 1989. He wrote it to briefly chronicle the events that occurred from the time of his birth in 1949 through 1989, when he was 40 years old. I’m only a couple of years younger than Joel (yikes), so I remember it well. I also remember many of the events mentioned in the song. Although Joel was criticized because the song wasn’t detailed enough, it was a huge hit. I’m glad it was, because the tune was fun, and it helped many of us remember the current events of those times. History teachers love the song, and so do I. Joel had mixed feelings about it. He thought of it as a novelty song. I disagree.
That song has been playing in my head. There is probably some kind of psychological explanation like a deep-seated psychosis or something, but I prefer to think of it as a wake-up call. If you listen carefully and have a bit of a history background, you will realize that not much has changed and many of today’s issues are the same. We didn’t start the fire, but perhaps we are throwing fuel on it.
The 1950s and ‘60s are often portrayed as idyllic times when life was simpler and less stressful. However, I don’t remember it that way. I remember that I worried that my cousin, who I adored, and my husband at the time, who I adored less, would be drafted and sent to Vietnam. I was rather irritated about the fact that I was supposed to be a good wife and mother, aka June Cleaver, and vacuum in heels and pearls. I wanted to be a high-powered businesswoman, which was a contradiction at the time. I wanted to fly a plane, too, and although I was in the Air Force, I got stuck writing for the base newspaper, which may explain why I’m writing this. However, I now know how to fly a plane.
Racial tensions were high, and they still are. There were shootings and protests. Sound familiar? We marched against police brutality and for racial equality and women’s rights. Palestine was fighting with Israel over the Gaza Strip, Russia and China became huge threats, and Korea became a divided nation. It’s rather depressing that 50 years later we are still marching for the same things, with a few other major issues like climate change added to the mix. More fuel, more flames.
Apparently, we haven’t learned much, so I thought I’d compare a few of today’s headlines with those mentioned in the song. After conversing with my spouse on this, I realized that his interpretation of events is entirely different than mine. I’m looking at this from my perspective, which admittedly is pretty bleak. I’ve chosen topics from every era, but if you have tons of time and want to do something productive, you can find all kinds of analogies. But if you have to work for a living, just take my word that we are repeating history and expecting a different outcome. The fire is becoming an inferno.
1949
Walter Winchell, an aggressive radio and newspaper journalist, was credited with inventing the gossip column.
Does this explain Sean Hannity?
1951
The United States was in the middle of developing the hydrogen bomb.
We still haven’t used it, thank God, but now everyone else has one, too, and they are all mad at one another.
1956
Princess Grace released her last film, “High Society,” and marries Prince Ranier III.
Meghan Markle left her hit show, “Suits,” which details the pitfalls of high society, to marry Prince Harry and become the Duchess of Sussex. Apparently, she’s having a bit of trouble with the duchess slant, something mere mortals don’t understand.
1959
Hula hoops reached $100 million in sales as the latest toy fad.
I still have a hula hoop and am not afraid to use it. Mine is weighted, comes apart for easy storage, and costs $40, but it’s a great fitness tool. It’s kind of like riding a bike: You never forget how to use it as long as you can still move your hips and your lower vertebrae can handle the rotation necessary to keep it in motion. Those of us who were around in 1959 know the hoop well but have nothing to prove by setting it on fire and making a YouTube video.
1961
Ernest Hemingway committed suicide after a long battle with depression.
I don’t even know where to start. I could make a long list, but Robin Williams, Kate Spade, and Anthony Bourdain come to mind.
1962
Beatlemania: The Beatles formed and became the world’s most famous rock group.
Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr are still rocking today, albeit a bit less enthusiastically.
1963
The British Secretary of State for War had a relationship with a showgirl and then lies when questioned about it before The House of Commons. When the truth came out, it led to his own resignation and undermined the credibility of Prime Minister Harold Macmilian.
I have nothing to add. I can’t keep track of the sex scandals in politics anymore.
1965
In the early 1960s, oral contraceptives went on the market and were extremely popular. In 1968, Pope Paul VI released a papal encyclical that reaffirmed that artificial birth control was a sin.
Birth control is still an issue, especially in Utah. Apparently, when God instructed us to repopulate the earth, he didn’t realize there would be so many people that we would destroy ourselves and almost every other species. I don’t think it’s possible to destroy cockroaches — they will outlive everything.
1976-77
Numerous aircraft hijackings take place, specifically the Palestinian hijacking of Air Franc Flight 139 and Operation Entebbe in Uganda.
Then the hijackers learned to fly, but not land, the planes. Hmm.
1981
Wheel of Fortune underwent several changes in the early 1980s, including the hiring of Pat Sajak and Vanna White and a move to syndication in 1983.
Now available in casinos everywhere.
1988
Medical waste was found washed up on the beaches of Long Island, New Jersey, and Connecticut after being illegally dumped at sea. This has been cited as one of the crucial turning points in popular opinion on environmentalism.
Now along with everything else, there is so much plastic in our oceans that it’s killing the marine life, and we don’t know how to fix it.
1989
Soft drink giants Coke and Pepsi each run marketing campaigns using rock & roll and popular music stars.
I can’t take it anymore.
Maybe we should all go to Disneyland, just saying.
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Disneyland! There is no escape. Remember the outbreak there. Try Yellowstone or Grand Teton National park. Cellphones dont work in 90% of the region. People are sooooo friendly there. Interesting article.
Thanks for your opinion piece, Laurie. Good to reflect…I think.