Woodstock: Promises broken?

Wow. It’s been 40 years this August since 500,000 hippies showed up at Max Yasgur’s farm in upstate New York for a three-day celebration of peace, love and music known as The Woodstock Festival.

Ah, Woodstock. Rain turned the fields into mud, the facilities were overcrowded, folks shared food, alcohol and drugs, and grooved to the best bands ever.

Woodstock was a love-in set to music. And it was touted as the single most important event of our time, a happening, as we used to call those often unplanned and always unpredictable events, that would change the world. That signaled the dawning of a New America – north of the 49th, we figured that meant a New Canada, too. Together, our generation could – and would – make a difference.

So what the heck happened?

It was the party, man

Well, first off, I don’t think many of those Woodstockers actually gave a hoot about affecting social change – I think they were at the festival for the dope, sex and free music. One huge frat party, so to speak.

Secondly, I think the media, reporting ceaselessly on the whole counter-culture movement – of which many think Woodstock was the pinnacle – made it sound as if the small percentage of young people who gave a damn spoke for the largest generation of under-25s ever. And they did not. Those top-end Boomers, even as kids, were too self-absorbed, too lazy and too indulged to put themselves out for something as altruistic as world peace, racial harmony and an end to crushing global poverty. Seriously – what were they going to get out of working for a New America or a New Canada?

And finally, the economic madness that were the 80s and 90s, and the first years of this century, when most of this generation was coming into its own, allowed many of them to earn a ton of money, and encouraged all of them to spend on too-expensive cars, too-big homes, over-priced designer clothes and $50 hamburgers.

So what about 40 years later? Hmmm, maybe now that those Boomers are middle-aged, they’re longing to recapture their no-rules, no-responsibility youths. Will that translate into the sort of world changing activities the original Woodstock promised?

I’m thinking maybe yes. The economic debacle of the past 10 months has forced so many of us to rethink the way we live, to reconsider the value of stuff, from BMWs and designer duds to Caribbean vacations and $100 bottles of wine, and to reconnect with the ideals we tried and tossed when we were young.

A second chance to make good

More and more of the 40-plusers I meet these days are talking about cutting down, cutting back and cutting out. They’re volunteering at women’s shelters, food banks and seniors programs. They’re mentoring new Canadians, tutoring at-risk kids and signing up as Big Brothers and Big Sisters. They’re giving back to their communities in more engaging ways than writing a cheque – although, heaven knows, money always helps make a difference. And they believe they are richer people for the experience.

I guess the legacy of Woodstock should have been, “I am my brother's and sister's keeper.” It wasn’t. It was greed and consumption and every person for him or herself. Which got us into the current mess – economic chaos, global warming, genocide, famine.

I could go on – but you get my point. The good news is, we have a second chance to make good on the promise of our youth. To teach our kids and grandkids to hold out a hand to those who need help by showing them how we do it. And to create not just a New America or a New Canada but a New World where compassion rules and personal responsibility counts.

As Heather Small asks in her song Proud: What have you done today to make you feel proud?

We need a change – so let’s get busy.

If peace is your concern, check out Diane Selkirk's web-exclusive look at one peace activist; get inspired by Heidi Bennet and Jill Stainforth who have worked to sponsor a fresh start for a family in need.

This article is a part of our Summer of Love! Share how you've put love in the world today.