I'M PRESENTLY WATCHING THE STARZ/ENCORE AIRING OF "WOODSTOCK", AND 
I FELT I HAD TO SHARE SOME OF MY THOUGHTS.  

I DIDN'T ATTEND THE FESTIVAL AND I FEEL THIS WAS THE GREATEST 
"MISSED OPPORTUNITY" OF MY LIFE.  I LOOK NOW AT THE FILM AND FIND 
MYSELF CRYING FOR WHAT HAS BEEN LOST.  THOSE TEARS BURN DEEP.

I EVENTUALLY ATTENDED LESSER FESTIVALS, DROPPED OUT AND LIVED THE 
LIFE.  I ATTENDED EVERY DEMONSTRATION I COULD GET TO.

I WATCHED "EASY RIDER" SO MANY TIMES, I COULD RECITE NEARLY EVERY 
LINE.  I REMEMBER SADLY THAT PROPHETIC STATEMENT BY "CAPTAIN AMERICA"
TO "BILLY", BEFORE THE FILM'S FINAL TRAGEDY. 

I HITCHHIKED ACROSS THE COUNTRY.  LIVED IN COMMUNES.  PITCHED MY
TENT ANYWHERE WITH DRY GROUND.

I LIVED IN PARKS, PLAYING MY GUITAR, OR SKETCHING PORTRAITS OF 
FLITTERING TOURISTS FOR SPARE CHANGE AND A TIP OF THE HAT.

I STOOD ON SOAP BOXES, SPOUTING THE HORRORS OF WAR, POVERTY, AND 
PREJUDICE.  

I HAD MY KNEES RAPPED BY POLICE AGENTS PROUDLY DISPLAYING THE STING 
OF THEIR "WASP-Y" NATURES.  

I ENDURED THE SPITTING.  THE "BROW-BEATING".  THE TEAR GAS.

I SUFFERED THE SCHOOL YARD ANTICS OF FULLY-MATURED ADULTS SCREAMING 
THEIR PATHETIC PET NAMES AT ME.

"HIPPIE-COMMIE-PINKO-FAGGOT!"  I STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT A "PINKO" IS.  

WE WERE INNOCENT AND FULL OF DREAMS.  WE WERE COMMITTED TO BROTHERLY 
LOVE, PEACE AND THE JOY OF LIFE.  WE WERE CREATIVE, INTELLIGENT AND 
CARING.

WE WERE THE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE.  THE FLOWER CHILDREN.  THE AGE OF
AQUARIUS.    

WE CHANGED THE WORLD, OR SO WE THOUGHT.  

WHAT HAPPENED TO US.  WHERE DID WE LOSE IT?  WAS IT SO HARD TO LOVE 
OUR FELLOWS?  WAS IT SO HARD TO SHARE?  WAS IT SO HARD TO TAKE A 
STAND?  

DID WE CHANGE THE WORLD?  WE HAD THE POWER.  WE SHOWED THAT POWER IN 
BIRMINGHAM.  WE SHOWED THAT POWER IN CHICAGO.  WE SHOWED THAT POWER 
AT WOODSTOCK.

WE BROUGHT THE CITY OF WASHINGTON, DC TO A STANDSTILL!  WE SHOWED THAT 
POWER AGAIN, WHEN THE MILITARY-INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX FINALLY GAVE IN AND 
PULLED OUT OF VIETNAM.  

WE SHOWED THAT POWER IN HUNDREDS OF UNIVERSITIES ACROSS THIS REPRESSIVE
STATE.  WE SHOWED THAT POWER IN FACTORIES, HIGH SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, 
MUSEUMS, GROCERY STORES, COUNTRY CLUBS, PRISONS, HOSPITALS, BARRACKS, 
RESTAURANTS, & COURT ROOMS.

WE PROMISED THE WORLD.  WE PROMISED OURSELVES.  WE PROMISED OUR 
CHILDREN.  

WE LIED.  WE LIED TO OURSELVES.  AND WORSE, WE LIED TO OUR CHILDREN.

WE BECAME JUST WHAT WE DREADED MOST.  WE BECAME THE "SQUARES", THE
"PIGS", THE "HONKIES", THE "FASCISTS", THE "ESTABLISHMENT", THE NEW 
REPRESSORS.  "HERE COMES THE NEW BOSS...SAME AS THE OLD BOSS."

WE BECAME THE NEW HYPOCRITES.  

WE BECAME OUR PARENTS.  ONLY WORSE.  WE KNEW THE DIFFERENCE.  THEY
DIDN'T.  THEY  NEVER HAD THE CHANCES WE HAD.  

THEY NEVER HAD THAT MISSED OPPORTUNITY. 

"WE BLEW IT."