"At first blush, it seems that the young people who were shot down in the parking lot at the base of Blanket Hill gave up their lives for a dream that died with them"

This quote by William Kunstler assesses the terrible event at Kent State University on Might 4, 1970, when 4 trainees were shot and killed by the Ohio National Guard throughout a demonstration against the Cambodian Project throughout the Vietnam War. Kunstler, a noted civil liberties attorney, often spoke on themes of social justice and the power of protest, and his words here invite deep reflection on the nature of advocacy and sacrifice.

The phrase "At first blush" recommends a preliminary, perhaps shallow interpretation or understanding of the awful event. It acknowledges that the instant response to such a loss might be to view the deaths of these young people as the extinguishing of a dream, one that was thoroughly connected to their activism and desire for peace. Using "shot down" is both literal and expressive, recording the violence and abruptness of their deaths, while "the base of Blanket Hill" is geographically particular, grounding the event in a tangible place forever marked by this incident.

The latter part of the quote, "quit their lives for a dream that passed away with them," suggests a prospective futility in their sacrifice, as if the dream for which they stood-- most likely peace, justice, and an end to the Vietnam War-- might have vanished with their untimely deaths. However, Kunstler's choice of words can also be viewed as ironic or provocative, motivating readers to critically assess whether the dream genuinely passed away or whether it survived on, possibly even galvanized by the tragedy.

In essence, Kunstler's declaration challenges us to think about the effect of their deaths not simply on anti-war belief and demonstration movements, however also on a more comprehensive scale of historical modification. It calls us to review whether their death was certainly the end of the dream, or simply a terrible moment in a bigger, continuous battle for justice and peace.