Woodstock, Aug. 15-18, 1969, the famous music festival drawing more than 500,000 people, was billed as an Aquarian Exposition: 3 Days of Peace and Music. It was held on a 600-acre dairy farm in Bethel, New York, 43 miles southwest of Woodstock.
Thirty-two acts performed outdoors even though it rained and the fields became muddy. Among the performers were Joan Baez, Janice Joplin, The Grateful Dead, Jimi Hendrix, The Who, Arlo Guthrie, Joe Cocker, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Sly and the Family Stone, and Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young.
I remember the era well, although I didn’t attend Woodstock. It’s often called the Counterculture Movement of the 1960s and 1970s. To me it was an exciting time of change with gains in civil rights, women’s rights, consumer rights, and environmental protection; innovations in food, clothing, and music; alternative lifestyles; and opposition to the Vietnam War.
I thought, unfortunately, that America would continue to progress. I never foresaw the rise of the right-wing, Fox News, and the election of a racist, bigoted president who lies to the American public continually.
In 1994, a 25th anniversary celebration of Woodstock was held in Saugerties, New York. Called Woodstock II, Bob Dylan and Crosby, Stills, and Nash, and other groups performed. About 300,000 people attended the anniversary event, which turned out to be another rainy, muddy happening. A 50th anniversary festival was planned for 2019, but didn’t occurred.
I, like you, are mourning the fact that all the progress we made during that time is being completely destroyed, and by a President who shares none of the ideology of the religious fanatics who fawn all over him. He’s just taking advantage of it. It makes no sense. But history is a series of 40-year cycles. It’s an interesting phenomenon. People are out in the streets protesting just like we did then.
Hi Rebecca,
Thanks for your comment. It cheers me up to know that others are disappointed like me in the current state of affairs in the U.S.
Rita
It is certainly a great disappointment to find how far backward we’ve gone. I cannot even believe how the KKK and Neo-Nazis have been allowed to flourish in this country all by courtesy of that orange joke.
Hi Jennifer,
It’s an incredible step backwards. I so badly hope we can have a new president next year.
Rita