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Woodstock
Ronins – a Call
to Arms!
As
I am swept through the lush overgrown farmland surrounding
New Hope
,
Pennsylvania
, I can’t help but reflect upon
Woodstock
,
New York
, where I spent a great part of my youth. Indeed I am one of the 500,000
who attended the Woodstock Festival held in
Bethel
in the summer of 1969. That event literally changed my life. I had a
motorcycle back then also. I rode it to the festival where I got stuck
in traffic. A girl hopped onto the back of my machine. She has remained
my wife for thirty-eight years.
As a grandfather, it truly amazes me how many people young and old
identify with this event, which took place nearly forty years ago. I
believe it is because
Woodstock
has become the cultural and spiritual icon in the collective
consciousness of
America
. Sitting in the mud way back then I had no idea that life would have
taken me this far, and that I would be living in this current reality.
A picture of my current V Star is the wallpaper on my computer at work.
It often evokes comments, and the subject of the sixties and
Woodstock
often arises as a result of it. I marvel as the eyes of the young and
old sparkle when I mention I was there. Most people get a sense of
wonder and awe and feel in some remote way a connection, which is
spiritual and uplifting. People often tell me that they knew someone
that was there, or that they wanted to go and couldn’t, or that their
parents would have killed them if they did. Others apologize that they
didn’t make it. Sadly the young often time lament that they were born
at the wrong time.
Why this intense longing to belong and identify with this event? I
believe it is because
Woodstock
represents the moral conscience of
America
, a cultural, psychological and spiritual focal point, and a vortex. As
an icon of America’s unyielding youthful exuberance, fierce
independent expression, and social and political justice, it serves to
transport us into a moral realm where we are able to take an objective
look at all that was wrong and right with our society and nation then
and now.
The
Woodstock
experience helps us to rise above the political chaos and confusion of
present day domestic and international realities, and to get in touch
with our collective conscience and moral fiber. The institutions which
have risen out of the ashes of the sixties have fallen short of their
moral imperatives. We, as Americans, must turn inward to rekindle the
spirit which
Woodstock
instills in our hearts. We have raised the epic event to the stature of
myth and embraced the positive values which it has come to represent.
Many of us who came into direct contact with the light of
Woodstock
were galvanized in the mud together and carried the light with us in our
hearts as we rejoined the masses. We took our divergent and respective
paths as we integrated with society. Yet sadly, many of us have let the
embers cool. We have become disillusioned with the political and social
economic realties of modern living and, in many cases, have actually
embraced much of what we had once despised.
Yet all is not lost. It’s not too late. It’s time to wake up! The
social ills of present day
America
need to be challenged as never before. What kind of world will we leave
our great grandchildren if we do nothing and mire in our lethargy?
Pressing environmental issues threaten our very existence as a species.
Internal domestic inequalities, misplaced values and excesses threaten
our stability as a viable culture. We need to get back in touch with our
core values which made us cry out in protest, and we need to take
action!
Woodstock
veterans - we need to lead the way! We have the potential to once more
become the leaven of our society. We need to ignite the spark to once
again blow the lid off this nation!
The present situation calls to mind a book written some time ago by
Beverly Potter entitled “The Way of The Ronin”. In her book,
Professor Potter likens the social upheaval in feudal
Japan
after the arrival of Marco Polo and the introduction of Western culture
and to modern times. Up to Marco’s arrival, there was a feudal system
and a structured social hierarchy in
Japan
(much like pre - sixties
America
). One of the classes in that society adversely affected by the changing
social order was the Samurai warrior, who defended the royal chieftains.
They were also skilled in science, art and the marital arts. With the
advance of western ideas, this entire segment of society suddenly found
themselves displaced. Only two choices remained: one was ritual
disembowelment (not very appealing); the other was to become Ronin, or
outlaw. As Ronin, many thousands of these displaced knights infiltrated
the countryside and became doctors, artists, farmers, philosophers and
the like. Yet they never lost their special powers, which they practiced
in secret. Whenever the need arose (because the established institutions
became corrupt or otherwise could not defend the common man), they came
out of seclusion, practiced their ancient art and saved the day. That
same day is dawning in
America
. There is resurgence, and there is a cry for the return of the
Woodstock Ronin who can lead us out of the mess we are in! If you are
anything like me, the mud of
Woodstock
still squishes between your toes.
The young should not be saddened that they were not at
Woodstock
. If anything they should realize the tremendous power they possess in
numbers. They should connect with the goals, aspirations and hopes of
all generations. They should organize, and they should demand a better
world which they and their children shall inherit. It is within their
grasp, but time is running out. Today they would have the advantage of
the cooperation of an older generation which we didn’t have forty
years ago. United we can form a political and socioeconomic force never
before seen in
America
. Young and old could work together for the common good. First, we must
once more come together as brothers and sisters on the local level. On
the world stage, it is imperative that we stop alienating fellow nations
and become a participant in the inevitable one world society necessary
for preservation of the planet.
It is up to the Woodstock Ronins to rise up, come out of seclusion and
lead the way. Everything is in place. Carpe diem!
Christopher Cole
Author of “The Closer’s Song”
Used with permission.
Edited for this website.
Copyright
2008
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