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Woodstock: 3 days of Peace and Music/ Kyle Cross

Change is usually turbulent. The 60's were turbulent and I believe this was due to the fear of change or the fear of things not changing. African Americans feared the oppression from the rest of society and young white kids feared for their futures during a military draft, a draft for a war that was opposed by so many at the time. Woodstock seemed to address some of these fears that young people were facing at the time. Although Woodstock seemed like it would be the epitome of chaos caused by social differences that mirrored the rest of society at the time, it wasn't. Young people came together to listen to music and take part in peace, love and unity and the social norms held by some attendees weren't exactly parallel with the rest of society's norms. Monogamy was the only sexual practice acceptable at the time and after the interview with the young man and girl you realize that polygamy was also acceptable for some youth. Drug use was not acceptable at the time, but among these attendees it seemed as though drug usage was common. While these practices separated the youth from older generations, I think the interviews of local adults resonated a long way because I doubt the locals would have been so friendly if they didn't share some common ground, such as anti-war feelings. This common ground was due to a closing gap between generations that Gerstle discusses in the reading, "a gap separating American political ideals from actual practices." So, even though there was a widening gap between social norms between a young and old generation, there was a closing gap between pro and anti war opinions.