My friends call me an oxy-moron, because I have conservative political views yet I'm into arts and culture. I say this to preface that I just watched a thought provoking program on PBS.

The program was American Experiance-Summer of Love about the hippie invasion of San Fransisco's Haight Ashbury district during the summer of 1967.

When I was young, I looked with admiration, at what had taken place in this time. I aspired to be like the people of that time. I felt like they really knew what was going on. I actually didn't know all that much about the hippies other than what some of the songs from their time said. I didn't know about the things that are covered in this PBS movie.

I'm a grown-up now and understand that the hippies didn't know what was really going on. In fact it appears they didn't have a clue! They were young, and easily influenced. I was too. So are many people today.

There is no invsion of Haight Ashbury, or a hippie drug culture. There are a lot of young people being influenced by similar type movements though. At least that's the way I see it. It may not be peace and love that are the topic of conversation, but it appears that the conversation may be as short sighted now as it was then.

I certianly could be way off base here but I see a parallel between that time and now. I feel that when you have entire television networks like Mtv and Comedy Central, who's target audiance are young people, influencing these young people with hate inspired rhetoric disguised as unity, the end result could be similar to that of the late 60's. The only problem is, this time it might take down a lot more innocent people in the process. It could have far reaching implications for the entire country.

How do you view the events of the hippie eara? Do you think that something like that type of movement could happen today?

 

unwashed, unemployed, lazy, drug hazed philosophy, with no clue of any reality, useless, worthless, pustules on the hind end of decent society

just my $.02

 

As I lived thru that era, I saw it as a reaction to mass murdering of the youth of America in the name of a police action called Viet Nam. When you are looking at forced service in the military, and you know you will end up on the front line, the love and peace movement seemed to be a lot better than looking down rifle sights at another human. Our Government was blatantly wrong being in Viet Nam. The hippie movement was a direct reaction to it. Can it happen again? Why not? While I understand that we need a military that is ready to go at a moments notice, I don't think we are the worlds police. Maybe if we stayed out of others business the US wouldn't have such a lousy worldwide reputation. But I also believe that if another country is our friend, we need to do what is right to protect our friends. Those that choose not to be a friend, they are on their own including any natural disasters. My .02

 

So we shouldn't get involved with whats going on in the world (military wise). I believe that was our stance in the late thirties, we waited until Japan and Germany were so huge and powerful that it cost a quarter million lives in four years opposed to keeping things from getting out of hand at the rate of 4200+/- over 5 years?

I don't want to have to get involoved either but at somepoint, when nobody else will (which they wont) the USA will have to deal with it, don't you think its better to deal with it a little at a time?

 

except all those dirty hippies from the 60's are now ceo's and cfo's and such, in other words they are the "man" and just as bad if not worse than the ones they were railing against in the first place

 

It was a very rebellious time.. the Hippies made a statement. Will it happen again? NO! It took a lot of time and commitment to make the statement. Something needed to be said and done. It did get attention. The youth of today don't have the ***** or the brains to put a movement of that magnitude together. Young people are too divided and don't seem to care (as a group.) Maybe if the draft was reinstated......no, I Don't want that again. Was the movement worth it? Probably not, but it was an interesting time to be alive. JMO.
My draft # was 262 what is yours?
"Peace, Love and all that Hippie Chit."

 

I was to young for the draft, but your #262 sounds like you where already on the boat

 

Wasn't vietnam part of the cold war! the expansion of communisim.
That was when we be the good guys , right?
I read another analagy years ago that said our interest was really oil leases. I never got around to looking it up.
About hippies ," most of them were there for the drugs", "At least that is what Walter krokite said

 

Will it happen again?

There is a scenario....
New GI Bill passes,(this is highly likely)
retention numbers for military drop
McCain wins Presidency and uses the Bush blank check from Congress to move on Iran while maintaining Iraq numbers.
retention plummets along with recruitment.
Draft reinstated.
Hippies reborn as young people burn their draft cards, go thru their grandparents attics, bringing down tie-dyed shirts, love beads, head bands and goat-skin wine flasks.

 

One can retrace all of America's problems to the baby boomers. Our WWII GI's came home to the greatest era of prosperity and growth our nation has ever seen, thier children did not have to struggle like they did, as a result they were weak minded and impulsive to every idea that came down the lane. The drugs, the hippie peace, love and harmony concept, the "stickin it to the man" mentality. For what??? You can name a problem this country has and I can PROBABLY link it to the baby boomers. Drugs, crime, immigration, economy, etc. My grandfather was the smartest, hardest working, most ethical man I've ever met because he earned it. Luckily my dad followed in his footsteps and earned his place and didn't buy in to the hippie crap. I hope I can at least maintain a shred of what my Grandfather stood for. Every generation since has fallen further and further from grace and I weep for this country when the gang bangers and skater punks and emo's take over. Geeze.

 

It is history repeating itself , as it has many times. With the comunication speed factored in it just happens more rapidly

 

Nope! They took the first 10 out of my draft year and Nam was over! I really respect Nam Vets!!! They got a really bad deal in my opinion. I knew too many guys that were a few years older than I am that went to Nam.

 

Just bring back the tie-dyed shirts!
Peace.