Woodstock at 40

OSV's Greg Erlandson writes:

We really thought for a short while that the past had no hold on us and that the future was entirely within our grasp. Those illusions took a beating in the last four decades, but I think a lot of the Woodstock philosophy survived: a do-it-yourself moral libertarianism that wants to let everyone do their own thing and distrusts authority. This philosophy, contrary to stereotypes, penetrated both the new left and the new right. Both ideological extremes see Big Brother everywhere and long for a world with as few restraints -- be they social or economic -- as possible.

I came away from this era with a chronic distrust as well, but my distrust is for utopianism, and slogans, and charismatic leaders explaining it all. At the end of the day, any change involves small successes and lots of hard work, and enlightenment comes slowly.

It might not make for a good concert or a good movie, but I think it's the only way to make a good life.

For his full essay, click here.