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Post by maherjunkie on Aug 16, 2009 13:18:07 GMT -5
Was anybody there, or close to it?
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susan1212
Detective
Yeah. I get that.
Posts: 444
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Post by susan1212 on Aug 17, 2009 11:05:24 GMT -5
No, I did not go to Woodstock, but I do remember hearing what was happening on the radio. I was so proud to be part of a generation that was going to show our parents that change was coming. We fell short on many of our aspirations, but change did come.
Living in those days was really surreal and hard to explain. Parents were so concerned with oppressive rules of conduct and outward appearances causing widespread dysfunction within families; our government was ignoring and lying to it's citizens; our brothers and boyfriends were being drafted and killed in Vietnam and college students were being beaten and killed by police for protesting the war. Young people were considered enemies of the state and were judged by their appearances alone! No wonder a cultural revolution took place! Our generation and our parents generation could not agree on the importance and true meaning of peace and love. We thought they were insane. They thought we were insane. There didn't seem to be a middle ground. Not all of our generation were strong enough to participate in the extreme measures being taken by the revolutionaries, and there were some who didn't want to. Music was one way we all participated. We shared meaningful lyrics, raw and wild voices, performers who exploded with talent. All of this made us think; to sit up and take notice; to talk to each other; to take action to change our government by campaigning for our candidates, participating in peaceful protests, and trying to get through to our parents. Of course, drug and alcohol usage was often the result of the deep frustrations and sometimes hopelessness of the situation we endured. It didn't turn out well for many. And when that era all came to an end, many of us didn't meet our own expectations, but change had come. The war ended. We grew up. The changes that had occurred gradually became mainstream. What an odd feeling! It isn't all good, we've had some terrible setbacks. But hopefully our new president will lead and strengthen us in continuing to spread the word of real peace, real love, and real responsibility for our brothers and sisters of the world and for our own actions.
Woodstock was a musical and cultural explosion of the expressions of our generation. We saw what could be done, albeit imperfectly, and forged on from there. I think we did the best we could considering what we were up against - war, dishonesty, bigotry, discrimination against anyone who wasn't a white male participating in the system, and a judicial system that had completely lost it's purpose of justice for all. We aren't finished. We have a long way to go. But we ain't dead yet!
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Post by maherjunkie on Aug 17, 2009 11:28:56 GMT -5
Thank you for that thoughtful post Susan. Sometimes I wonder if I am doing enough with signing emails and my Planned Parenthood meetups and now they are faltering on healthcare. Ick! I voted for a revolutionary (well sort of, by today's standards) and I get caving in again. I wonder what happened to the last generation if Rush Limbaugh is considered a leader and we've had Reagan and two Bushes. Will we ever get "back to the garden" as Crosby, Stills, and Nash said, ever again?
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susan1212
Detective
Yeah. I get that.
Posts: 444
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Post by susan1212 on Aug 18, 2009 10:16:21 GMT -5
I think e-mailing our government via our chosen causes (I too belong to PP, and also Greenpeace, and Repower America - who are sometimes at odds) is a wonderful thing to do. I also e-mail the White House directly with my message. I wish I could donate more to these causes, because money does talk. But we all do what we can.
Limbaugh, Reagan, and the Bushes are a few of the "terrible setbacks" I was thinking of. I too was hoping for the radical change promised by Mr. Obama in healthcare. I don't understand his caving in on any of it, because it's obvious the majority of the country is behind him by voting him into office. He has the clout needed, he just needs to use it. We need to tell him to do just that!
We have to hold on to the hope that we will "get back to the garden", but I think it will take longer than we originally thought. It may only come in small increments, so we have to keep up the pressure and be patient, but not lose faith that it will happen.
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Post by Metella on Aug 20, 2009 20:22:41 GMT -5
emails are being taken notice of ! Keep doing it - and occasionally - when you feel the spirit - do just out of the blue write a congressman or senator on a subject.
I never thought to join PP - but I think I am huge proponent of it - can you pm some of what you do as members or just some more details??? thanks
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Post by maherjunkie on Aug 20, 2009 22:07:11 GMT -5
Will do.
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Post by outerbankschick on Aug 20, 2009 23:00:17 GMT -5
I wasn't born yet.
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Post by maherjunkie on Aug 21, 2009 0:01:11 GMT -5
I would guess most of the board is Gen Xers.
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Post by tjara on Aug 21, 2009 2:51:10 GMT -5
Or younger ;D
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