then an now,,33 years an still its the same..

So we all know whats goin on within rainbow as well as whats goin on with the feds this year..

just so ya see very little has changed,however what has changed this year will change us forever im afraid,,
its a sad and somber time in my minds eye...



heres a article from the new york times dated 72...

~Luv~N~Lite~

THE NEW YORK TIMES, SUNDAY, JULY 2, 1972
Peace and Religious Festival Begins in Colorado
By Anthony Ripley

Special to The New York Times

GRANDBY, Colo., July 1-After months of turmoil and attempts to block
them, young people by the thousands were quietly gathering today near
Strawberry Lake in a mountain west of here for what they termed "a
religious festival".

Early this morning there were about 7,000 people at the remote mountain
site. Many of them carried their bedding and provisions on their back
for as far as 16 miles. Another 750 persons were on the tortuous
1.5-mile mountain trail that rises a thousand feet up from a county
road on the edge of Grand Lake into the Arapaho National Forest.

Still another 3,00 festival-goers were making the long walk up the
dusty road seven and a half miles from the paved highway, U.S. 34, to
the base of the mountain trail

'Gathering of Tribes'
By mid afternoon outlaw motorcycle gang members, many with their club
colors on their backs and wearing German-type helmets, were roaring
through Granby on their chopper-style machines, also headed for the
mountain gathering.

The gathering was not a music festival but instead a "gathering of the
tribes," or communes, from across the nation and was arranged by the
Rainbow Family of Living Light, from Eugene, Ore.

They came to meditate in the forest, to chant prayers together, talk
over things and play flutes and guitars and drums under the spruce and
aspen trees.

Gov. John A. Love said 11 days ago that it was the state's aim to
prevent the gathering, not just discourage the long-haired young
people. He handed over the job to Lieut. Gov. John Vanderhoof.

But the state's plans collapsed under the weight of the thousands who
came to Granby. When the state barred all access to the campground, the
young people hiked across the mountains to get there.

For a time, the state attempted to bar all food from the lake, but gave
up after three days.

Instead, the state officials settled on a plan to bar the main roads to
the site.

There were warnings of health epidemics by physicians at the lake said
that things seemed to be under control. At the site there was little
evidence of poor health conditions.

Slit trenches for garbage and human waste were dug and promptly covered
over when full.

Dr. Kenneth C. Osgood, one of four physicians at the lake, said that
one young man had fallen from a tree and apparently broke a wrist and
his back, and another apparently suffered an acute attack of
appendicitis. Both were removed by Colorado National Guard helicopters.


"We've got enough penicillin so we could treat half of New York City,"
said Dr. Osgood, who is on leave from the Denver Department of Health
and Hospitals.

Mrs. Dorothy E. Davidson, executive director of the Colorado chapter of
the American Civil Liberties Union, called the state's efforts to block
the event "a tragicomedy" "It was comical because it had no tragic
consequences," she said after climbing to the site and touring it
today.

"At the same time, we should compliment state and local officials for
their wisdom in not forcing the issue and precipitating a violent
confrontation".

The A.C.L.U. went fruitlessly to both state and Federal offices to
force an end to the state's roadblock.

Finally, however, it was the young people who decided the issue. About
3,000 marched out of Granby at 3 P.M. yesterday heading for the lake
and the outnumbered police decided to let them through.

Despite Official Opposition
The young people had been gathering in Granby for seven days and
townspeople said they were glad to see them go.

"I'll be glad when this is over." Ken Vinsonhaler said at his motel
west of Granby. "I've been losing $100 to $200 a day. The tourists
aren't coming and this is Fourth of July weekend."

Hikers arriving at the mountain site were greeted by a sign that read
"Welcome Home," and they camped in a circle that extended about five
miles around a marshy meadow.

Smoke from many fires filtered through the trees and some of the young
people strolled about naked.

An occasional marijuana cigarette was passed aroundby some, but members
of the Rainbow Family said they would oust anyone caught selling drugs.
Little other drug use was evident.

One young man, viewing the mountain scene said: "This was written by
the finger of the Lord."

 

Thanks, that gives some perspective to what's happening now.

 

I think that's what we should do. Gather at the permitted site until there are enough of us to move to where we should really be.

 

if only we could bring back the music