A Few Passing Thoughts From a Woodstock Child (Iraq, generation, Reagan)
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Location: Jonquil City (aka Smyrna) Georgia- by Atlanta
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Yes, I was there. I rarely talk about it because, to be honest, as a 12 year old, I didn't really have a "great time" of it and probably would have preferred doing other things. It was just one of those things that older relatives drag you to when you visit them in the summer time. But looking back on it, I guess it was a symbol of the 1960s for many.
That aside, I have often wondered why the so called "Woodstock Generation" turned out to be as bad or even worse than the "pigs" they hated so much back then. All I recall about those people- including the relatives I went there with- was that they were about "love" and "changing the world". They hated the war and the greed of their parents. They despised the "establishment".
So what happened to them? They hated Veitnam and did not want to go fight in it but have no problem sending Generation X to Iraq which has even less justification.
They hated "greed" and wanted to "share the land" but now they lord over Wall Street and big business that has NEVER been more greedy than it is right now. In 1969 working people were much better off. My mother did not work, my father was a blue collar worker and, while we did not live high on the hog, there was always food and the bills got paid. Back then the richest 5% held much less total wealth than they do now.
So the question is did 400,000 people engage in what is The Big Lie or did they just toss all their ideals on the ground with their sleeping bags and trash when they left Max's farm?
It is really funny that me- a person who did not really care for Woodstock or for hippies- get the critical end of ex hippies calling me a .... dare I say it..... a LIBERAL!
I have no idea. I myself wasn't born yet....my parents were in their, I think late 20's? Wait, what year was Woodstock again? Let's see, it must've been '69...I wasn't born til '71. My mom was 33 in '69 & had 3 kids at the time. Anywho, my parents were & still are pretty straight-laced, they never would've been doing all the things we think of during that time. I guess people had fun back then but forgot about it when they got older. Or, as a lot of republicans like to say, you're liberal when you're young & then when you get older you become republican. I myself don't adhere to that adage....I'm 38 & I've gotten more liberal w/age.
Yes, I was there. I rarely talk about it because, to be honest, as a 12 year old, I didn't really have a "great time" of it and probably would have preferred doing other things. It was just one of those things that older relatives drag you to when you visit them in the summer time. But looking back on it, I guess it was a symbol of the 1960s for many.
That aside, I have often wondered why the so called "Woodstock Generation" turned out to be as bad or even worse than the "pigs" they hated so much back then. All I recall about those people- including the relatives I went there with- was that they were about "love" and "changing the world". They hated the war and the greed of their parents. They despised the "establishment".
So what happened to them? They hated Veitnam and did not want to go fight in it but have no problem sending Generation X to Iraq which has even less justification.
They hated "greed" and wanted to "share the land" but now they lord over Wall Street and big business that has NEVER been more greedy than it is right now. In 1969 working people were much better off. My mother did not work, my father was a blue collar worker and, while we did not live high on the hog, there was always food and the bills got paid. Back then the richest 5% held much less total wealth than they do now.
So the question is did 400,000 people engage in what is The Big Lie or did they just toss all their ideals on the ground with their sleeping bags and trash when they left Max's farm?
It is really funny that me- a person who did not really care for Woodstock or for hippies- get the critical end of ex hippies calling me a .... dare I say it..... a LIBERAL!
Oddly enough, I was no where close to being a hippie in 1969.... but now I'm considered by many to be very liberal.
As to your question, my first thought is that the right wing has worked a lot harder to gain power and influence than the liberals. The right are, for lack of a better term, more committed in their belief that the gov't can do nothing right mantra and work harder to discredit the liberal stance.
Honestly, I think the liberals could learn a few lessons from the right even if they don't actually implement all of their tactics.
Side note... was at Woodstock '94 and although not as cool as '69... still a neat experience.
Location: Jonquil City (aka Smyrna) Georgia- by Atlanta
16,259 posts, read 24,790,552 times
Reputation: 3587
Quote:
Originally Posted by karfar
I have no idea. I myself wasn't born yet....my parents were in their, I think late 20's? Wait, what year was Woodstock again? Let's see, it must've been '69...I wasn't born til '71. My mom was 33 in '69 & had 3 kids at the time. Anywho, my parents were & still are pretty straight-laced, they never would've been doing all the things we think of during that time. I guess people had fun back then but forgot about it when they got older. Or, as a lot of republicans like to say, you're liberal when you're young & then when you get older you become republican. I myself don't adhere to that adage....I'm 38 & I've gotten more liberal w/age.
Maybe I have too. I don't know. I voted twice for Republicans and could never see myself ever voting for one again.
Location: Jonquil City (aka Smyrna) Georgia- by Atlanta
16,259 posts, read 24,790,552 times
Reputation: 3587
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bagger
Oddly enough, I was no where close to being a hippie in 1969.... but now I'm considered by many to be very liberal.
As to your question, my first thought is that the right wing has worked a lot harder to gain power and influence than the liberals. The right are, for lack of a better term, more committed in their belief that the gov't can do nothing right mantra and work harder to discredit the liberal stance.
Honestly, I think the liberals could learn a few lessons from the right even if they don't actually implement all of their tactics.
Side note... was at Woodstock '94 and although not as cool as '69... still a neat experience.
Honestly- and not to upset the purist- Woodstock 94 was probably MILES better than 1969 was. Woodstock was really a huge clusterphock that somehow people got through with only a few of them being killed. We were only supposed to be there for the first day and ended up there until late Sunday because there was no way out of the place. It was not comfortable and smelled like hell but people- for the most part- just made the best of the situation. I will bet 94 was well organized with enough food and clean outdoor toilets.
Maybe I have too. I don't know. I voted twice for Republicans and could never see myself ever voting for one again.
Ok, I'm going to admit something that I never have on this forum before because I was ashamed & I just KNOW it will come back & bite me on the ass.....when I was first able to vote, I voted for.....Bush, Sr. Yes, I hang my head in shame. My only defense is....my dad at the time was a republican & I'm pretty sure he voted for Bush & I was young & didn't know any better & just based my vote on who my parents voted for. Yikes.....I need a drink....ahhhh, thank you pinot noir, you're my best friend. LOL...to be serious, yes it's true. After that, I got an education apart from my dad & I've voted democrat ever since. I actually talked to my dad tonight for 1 1/2 hrs. & he is so utterly cool in his views. He's a libertarian but I asked him about all this nonsense about bringing guns into presidential rallies & he just had to shake his head at the idiocy of some & their interpretation of gun rights. Big "RIGHT ON!!!" for my daddy right now!
While the hippies and folks who attended Woodstock got most of the media attention, the majority of boomers weren't there and didn't really engage in that subculture any deeper than smoking pot on the weekends and wearing hippie clothes. Those who sincerely embraced the culture of peace and personal liberation of the time are NOT the ones who went on to become the corporatists and exploiters of today.
Location: Jonquil City (aka Smyrna) Georgia- by Atlanta
16,259 posts, read 24,790,552 times
Reputation: 3587
Quote:
Originally Posted by karfar
Ok, I'm going to admit something that I never have on this forum before because I was ashamed & I just KNOW it will come back & bite me on the ass.....when I was first able to vote, I voted for.....Bush, Sr. Yes, I hang my head in shame. My only defense is....my dad at the time was a republican & I'm pretty sure he voted for Bush & I was young & didn't know any better & just based my vote on who my parents voted for. Yikes.....I need a drink....ahhhh, thank you pinot noir, you're my best friend. LOL...to be serious, yes it's true. After that, I got an education apart from my dad & I've voted democrat ever since. I actually talked to my dad tonight for 1 1/2 hrs. & he is so utterly cool in his views. He's a libertarian but I asked him about all this nonsense about bringing guns into presidential rallies & he just had to shake his head at the idiocy of some & their interpretation of gun rights. Big "RIGHT ON!!!" for my daddy right now!
I voted for Bush Sr too. He seemed non threatening and I just could not hold my nose and vote for Michael Dukakis after that tank stunt. He was one and Reagan vs Mondale was the other time. As bad as Jimmy Carter was I held my nose and voted for him again.
Location: Jonquil City (aka Smyrna) Georgia- by Atlanta
16,259 posts, read 24,790,552 times
Reputation: 3587
Quote:
Originally Posted by zentropa
While the hippies and folks who attended Woodstock got most of the media attention, the majority of boomers weren't there and didn't really engage in that subculture any deeper than smoking pot on the weekends and wearing hippie clothes. Those who sincerely embraced the culture of peace and personal liberation of the time are NOT the ones who went on to become the corporatists and exploiters of today.
If this is true, where are they today? They certainly speak very quietly. Most of the liberals I see are people under 30.
I voted for Bush Sr too. He seemed non threatening and I just could not hold my nose and vote for Michael Dukakis after that tank stunt. He was one and Reagan vs Mondale was the other time. As bad as Jimmy Carter was I held my nose and voted for him again.
You still haven't accepted my friendship request by the way, bad you! Anyway, I have to ask.....I was too young to remember the Carter days, I mean I vaguely remember them, I remember peanuts, but not much else...why is he considered such a bad president? Now I think of him as such a cool guy, he's so calm, a pacifist, just an all around good guy. What exactly was the problem w/him I wonder?
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