Posted by Chris on July 27, 1999 at 19:43:24:
In Reply to: Re: Lets hear it from the masses! posted by Debbie on July 27, 1999 at 17:13:02:
Debbie,
I too am an adult, but I was born a year after the original Woodstock. I agree that the original Woodstock was magic and it can't be re-created. This Woodstock was not about trying to imitate '69, but to use it as a foundation to build upon. This is OUR music. This is OUR century, and we are doing everything we can to make this world a great place to live in. If that means using the original Woodstock name to bring people together, then so be it. But it ends there. These are our memories, and up until the end of the weekend everything was perfect. We were building upon the original Woodstock to create our own memories and to continue to figure out the best ways to beat down all the negative aspects of our society like racism and violence and come together as one. As far as this being a different world than in 1969, I would have to agree with you, BUT I don't agree that we are more violent. The media makes us LOOK more violent because that is what sells! There were rapes, murders, war, and famine and riots in 1969 and there is the same now. I was right in the middle of the rioting, and the funny thing about it was that the people that were doing it were not violent. They were just stupid. They were distructive, not violent. I was not scared, I was appauled. I think Woodstock was a success that was spoiled by stupidity and ignorance. It was not a product of the music, and it was not a product of violence in society. It was pure ignorance fueled by testosterone!
I think we made a good statement that 250,000 diverse people can still come together as a whole and live together, share the same space, listen to the same music, and have fun. Since a small minority of idiots decided to ruin it for everyone doesn't mean that society is going down the drain. Just as soon as everyone starts believing that statement, we are done. I am for anything that promotes what the original Woodstock stands for even if we have to call it Woodstock. This is still our time, and our music and we need to find ways to make a difference, bring black and white together and find a little "magic of our own".
Peace.