“The Sound of Silence” — The silent majority?
In the 60s and 70s, a cultural evolution was playing out which was vibrantly colored by music and counterculture but shaded by the Vietnam war, the draft, anti-war protests, and political assassinations. It was a time of social upheaval which had an impact on many parts of society — especially the blue collar conservative middle class. One term that seems to be making a comeback is “silent majority” — referred to mostly conservative voters who did not engage in public dialogue and were not part of the evolving culture.
“Silent majority” was used by President Nixon in a 1969 speech to successfully woo voters in supporting his Vietnam and regime policies while simultaneously marginalizing the anti-war activists. The method was basic — to patriotically appeal to the masses who seemed to feel unrepresented. Sound familiar? Society was as divided back then as it is now. The vocal anti-war movement gained momentum and shifted public opinion which resulted in expediting the end of the Vietnam war and instituting many political changes — including the passage of the War Powers Act.
Today, the GOP in Congress that supports all of President Trump’s “mandated” bills is the “silent majority” — ignoring constituents’ viewpoints and impact on lives. The iconic 1964 song by Paul Simon, “The Sound of Silence,” written during times of strife and anxiety in this country, seems to foretell what is happening today.
Now is the moment to stand firmly against the destruction of democracy. The danger is that if not done, as Paul Simon wrote, “Silence like a cancer grows,” the free speech and choices we have now will be silenced.