Woodstock Plus 40
“By the time we got to Woodstock, we were half a million strong. And everywhere was a song and a celebration.” – Joni Mitchell
Well, I think I have sufficiently recovered from the deep despair that racked me near immobile when I learned that this past weekend was the 40th anniversary of Woodstock. How could it be? How could 40 years have gone by?
My first thought about the news coverage portraying this historic event and those who participated as promoters, workers, entertainers and attendees was “Please stop showing me all these old people” and “How did they get so old and I………….OH NO!”
Yes. Time has indeed marched on.
This anniversary was a time of reflection. A chance to reminisce about what now seems like a much simpler time but then seemed like a rocket ship entering into the great unknown at light speed. Woodstock was historic in its magnitude but more importantly in its message; “Three days of peace and music”.
We were different then. Maybe not better, but certainly different. There was a certain peace and harmony that existed in the 60’s that was on display during those three days in August, where a million mostly young people got together and braved bad weather along with even worse planning to share in this celebration of music and amity. There were great displays of caring and sharing that one would be hard pressed to find amongst young people today. There was personal communication, one person to another, that formed this group of long haired, short haired, hippie, straight, northern, southern, multicultural male and female individuals of disassociated backgrounds into a single family unit.
Certainly not all of the actions were of a completely altruistic nature. Particularly toward the promoters and investors who fronted the money for this first of its kind mega-concert. Of the million plus who attended only 186,000 had actually bought tickets. The ticket booths designed to sell additional tickets at the gate were closed before the first band hit the stage as the fences constructed to keep out freeloaders were breached almost immediately by tens of thousands of non-paying revelers. As one frantic promoter told another “You’ve just gone from the biggest concert in history to the biggest freebee in history.”
Nobody expected the turn out and nobody, from the promoters to the city fathers of Bethel, New York, were prepared for the overwhelming throng that arrived. But the 60’s held a different mentality and the promoters soon switched their attention from making a buck to making sure the attendees were cared for as best as possible. I doubt that would be the attitude today. NY Governor Nelson Rockefeller intended to send 10,000 National Guard troops when the magnitude of the event became apparent but was dissuaded by the promoters. My guess is today the promoters would be demanding them and more to protect their financial interests.
Woodstock is a snapshot in time. Not only of the music but of the culture of young people that existed then. The music presented was turbulent, raw, blemished, defiant, and apodictic. And it strained the boundaries of the best technology available at the time. The young people were exactly the same. The future was our domain and we knew that together we could make a difference. There was not a single cell phone call placed or text message sent at Woodstock but we were able to communicate as one through the music and harmony of sprit.
That turbulent defiance is the same in today’s youth but that spirit of oneness and harmony with each other has been lost. It’s sad to see. Attempts at reviving that communal spirit have failed miserably as shown by the stark contrast between the joy and celebration of the original Woodstock to the carnage and violence of the recent Woodstock spinoffs. If you want to know the change in attitude of today’s youth just listen to the changes in their music. The message has gone from peace to violence, love to sex, we to me.
We will never have another period in time like August, 1969. It was the end of the 60’s and the beginning of a new decade. It wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows, but we withstood the storms together and enjoyed the rainbow that followed. In the 60’s I spent most of my time searching for my bliss, now I spend it searching for my glasses and keys. Back then it was 1-2-3 what are we fighting for, now it’s 1-2-3 wait a minute, what number was I calling and what was I calling for. I no longer wear flowers in my hair. At least I don’t think Grecian Formula is a flower. But I’m still talkin’ bout my generation. Because the older I get the better we were.
By the way, the brown acid is not poison. It’s just manufactured poorly. So stay away from the brown acid. But hey, it’s your trip man.
