Showing posts with label Woodstock. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Woodstock. Show all posts

Monday, August 17, 2009

White Hair Chronicles VI

In addition to the moon landing, we also mark this year the 40th anniversary of Woodstock. My son Vito teases me about being in grade II when both events happened. He needles me "ang tanda mo na talaga Itay!". I chide him back "My generation has seen the moon landing, Woodstock, martial law, and the EDSA revolution - what have you done?".

I read the news today oh boy, and just as if to remind us how long ago the Woodstock era was, someone very famous and influential from that era, my idol Bob Dylan, was treated like a complete unknown by police when he was accosted by authorities last month. A 24-year-old police officer was unaware of who Dylan is. The rock legend, who was on tour, was just walking around looking at houses to pass some time before that night's show.

A second officer, also in his 20s, who assisted the first officer was also unfamiliar with Dylan, now 68. The singer of such anthems of my generation like the "Like a Rolling Stone" and "Blowin' in the Wind" said that he didn't have any ID with him. The officers took him back to the resort where he was staying. Once there, tour staff vouched for Dylan.

Actually, rock's poet laureate did not perform at Woodstock although he was already an icon and legend at that time. Today, the 20-something generation do not know the man. Maybe now he can write a song answering his rhetorical rantings in his famous song.

How does it feel
How does it feel
To be on your own
With no direction home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone?