Newton High School - Railroader Yearbook (Newton, KS)

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l The 7Os'A decode of decision Now that the 70's decade has ended one wonders about the years to come. But more important is re- membering the years gone bY1 1970-1979. After the era of the angry 60's it was, supposed to be a quiet time- a time to regroup and recover. Instead came the 70's,'as testing and turbulent as any decade in U.S. history. And as they prepare for the turn of another decade, Americans are expecting more of the same. It was a time marking the end of the nation's unquestioned domi- nance in the world. lt was a time to forget a lost war and grieve for a lost faith . . . disgrace and resigna- tion of a president when Woodward and Bernstein uncovered Watergate. From Watergate and Wayne Hay's congressional follies to Lockheed aircraft, the country's leaders and institutions corrupt, venal and callous. The people responded with distrust. Distrust of the govern- ment, of institutions and of poli- ticians. As the 70's wore on, the almighty dollar crumbled and the power to devestate half the world seemed irrelevant. Rising crime rates, taxes and inflation 'plagued the country. A tax revolt rose in California, and the political mood turned cautious. When inflation struck, people refused to believe that there was an energy problem. Even when they were paying S4 a pound for coffee, S8 a pound for veal and S1 for a gallon of gas. As the United States discovered the limits of its power, terrorists bombed, kidnapped and murdered. ln 1975, Squeaky Fromme attemp- ted to kill Gerald Ford. In 1972, Arthur Bremer shot and paralyzed Governor George Wallace. The world's worst air disaster took 582 lives in 1977 and San Diego's mid-air collision in 1978 killed 144. There were the horrors of Indo- china to the living death of Cam- bodia. The country's main streets and campuses, with traces of protest from the 60's, flared up for the Cambodian invasion at the begin- ning of the decade. The toll was four dead in an anti-war rally at Ohio Kent State and two in a civil rights protest at Jackson State in Mississippi. Despite the lowered voices and profiles, it was a time of social ferment. So many groups were pleading special causes that the political system was in danger of fragmentation. Women United for Action lWUAl protesting inflation in 1973. All women fighting for equality by way of ERA whose campaign was actually started when the first National Women's Confer- ence was held in 1977. The homosexuals came out of the closets to declare their rights in society and blacks made solid gain in education, income and social status. Along with political and eco- nomical protests, there were also situations dealing with religion and the environment. Cults became a very big movement in the mid-to- latter 70's. There were those who experienced lost identities and the result was usually turning to the cults and Eastern Religions. The Catholic Church had three leaders in the decade. However, Pope 20 THE 70'S 2 A DECADE OF DECISION John Paul ll awed the American people and the press with his 1979 visit to the United States. The environmental movement involved the disasters: Nlinamata, Seveso, Love Canal and Three lVlile Island. But the 70's weren't totally made up of murder and madness, the happy moments cannot be excluded. America's POW's coming home to their families in 19735 ,swimmer lVlark Spitz winning record-seven gold medals at the 1972 Olympics, Viking l's landing on lVlars in 1976, and the safe land- ing of Skylab in 1979. ' As the decade came to an end, more crisis arose. Ayatollah Khomeini's revolt against the Shah's protection by the United States produced an enormous up- rise. This consisted of the kid- napping of over 60 U. S. citizens. The skyrocketed price of gas also occured at the close of the 70's. But to counteract this we had the price of gold increase, the in- vention of gasohol, and the rise of Christianity to keep America hopeful. But, despite everything, Ameri- cans are slowly reuniting. The 70's have tried their faith and patience and thus made America steadfast and binding. Love is not scarce as it once was but is being transmitted through unity and pride. What will happen in the decade ahead? Well, sober and apprehen- sive as it is, the national mood concerning the 80's holds nothing of fear or despair. Underlying everything is the enduring American faith that problems can be solved and somehow the country will pull through.

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M6 Rh0I'lda Bl'OWl'l ,, k,..,,,.al'f:,. RhOl'ld3 BYOWI1 LEFT AND CLOCKWISE: JERI WATKINS busily does last minute alterations on Wendy Wentz's dress. AP- PLYING GREASE make-up before the performance is Kim Dudeck. IN A tense moment, Kim Dudeck, Brigg Johnston, Wendy Smith, Scott Chamberlin and Mike Wenger work out problems between the Sycamores and the Kirbys. AMY MCNEILL curls her hair in preparation for the opening night. DI- RECTOR RHQNDALYN Bohm and Jeri 4Watkins'work diligently on the set' flats long before opening night.WENDY SMITH, as Penny, finishes an old painting of Frank Swoyer as Mr. DePinna. THE FIN- ISHED set right before the final dress rehearsal. Rhonda Brown FALL PLAY 19

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