I was in SDS from 1968-69 at Penn State. I know the story of SDS both intellectually and personally. Regardless, Rudd's account was heartbreaking in its lurid depiction of infantile left wing adventurism by privileged White kids. I remember leaving SDS and joining Quaker based anti-War groups by 1970. By then, I was fed up with rigid ideologues and their infatuation with Third World movements .
Back then, I hated the Weathermen for doing what law enforcement could not do: kill SDS. I considered the Weather faction privileged jerks playing at being armed revolutionaries. To this day, I despise Dohrn and Ayers for their lack of moral accountability. Rudd I respect for coming clean and facing ugly truths with humor, dignity, grace and courage. And if anyone was going to die, better the Weather anti-personnel bombmakers than the Fort Dix soldiers and their dates at the NCO dance.
It turns out the Weather faction, more than anyone else, did need a weatherman to tell them which way the wind blew.
If you were politically active at that time, read Rudd's excellent book. His writing talent is exceeded only by his integrity.
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