hey everyone, i just(literally 5 seconds ago) finished writing an essay about who hippies really were and what they stood up for in society. its not too great but i sure learned a lot and im in the process of ordering some really interesting books of the internet that i stumbled across. below is my essay, well the rough draft, give me some feedback! im sure you will reconize some of the quotes that i used. keep on rockin, keep on truckin, keep your head high Ab “Hippies started the ecology movement. They combated racism. They liberated sexual stereotypes, encouraged change, individual pride, and self-confidence. They questioned robot materialism. In four years, they managed to stop the Vietnam War. They got marijuana decriminalized in fourteen states during the Carter Administration.” As told by Timothy Leary, Hippies did more then just sit around all day smoking weed, having sex, and dancing to “groovy” music. Many People believe “hippies” were just drug addicted outcasts when, in truth, many “hippies” were actually social activists working for change in American society. A significant amount of citizens have an ideal image placed in their head that pops up with someone used the term “hippie”. In the dictionary, a “hippie” is said to be “a person who opposes and rejects many of the conventional standards and customs of society, especially one who advocated extreme liberalism in sociopolitical attitudes and lifestyles.” People took it into their own hands to create a totally diverse meaning. “The term “hippie” was used with the pejorative connotation that they subject participates in recreational drug usage, as least to the extent of using marijuana, and does not think or care much about work, responsibility, or personal hygiene. The tried to accomplish a common goal and make a change that everyone else was too afraid to stand up for. In fact, a numerous amount of people agree that they brought about their own culture, their own way of life. “Why is it that as a culture, we are more comfortable seeing two men holding guns then holding hands?” Their culture acknowledged the human body, aside from sex, hugged each other, and weren’t ashamed to be naked. They lived without constraint of time, in harmony with earth and with each other. Their own culture came about as a result of being at odds with society. But they didn’t show affliction or distress, they were happy with their position and their lives even if no one else took the time to understand and comprehend their way of living. In reality, hippies fought against society on a varied number of important topics. The majority concern associated with their campaigns included peace and civil rights movements. Hippies also renounced nationalism and the Vietnam War. They tried to convince any and every American citizen who signed up to fight in the war to reconsider and think about the choice they were about to make. They protested that the way to peace was simple and began with love and tolerance .Music was often used to express their arguments and concerns. Great artists of the sixties including the Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane made a huge impact. Gatherings such as Woodstock promoted their beliefs and helped spread the word. “All we are saying is give peace a chance” was a commonly heard quote by John Lennon. A numerous selection of people today consider themselves as hippies, however, their number has greatly decreased. The term “hippie” is not used quite as often. Hippies today refer to themselves as liberals. The definition of a liberal, according to the dictionary, is “One favoring proposals for reform, open to new ideas for progress, and tolerant of the ideas and behavior of others; broad-minded.” Liberals stand for the exact same things hippies did forty years ago incorporating new topics of debate. Demonstrators such as Stephen Gaskin and Martin Luther King cleared a path for success. Gaskin was famous for his Monday night classes where he lectured about hippie values. He soon took to the road and found that many followers formed a “caravan of wandering gypsies, 400 people in sixty vehicles.” He settled down and created “The Farm, an ongoing Tennessee commune which pioneered organic and alternative methods of agriculture, education and social interaction.” Martin Luther King is well-known throughout grade school and high school text books. Luther was the leader of the civil rights movement. Although many people do not consider Mr. Luther to be a “hippie” he demonstrated “hippiedom” by protesting political and sociable equality for everyone. Many people insisted on protesting against hippies and didn’t even give them a chance or listen to what they had to say. Hippies did more than what people thought and judged, they stood for more, fought for more, represented more, and believed in a better world. “I’ve been smiling lately, dreaming about the world as one. And I Believe it could be. Someday its going to come.” i would love to hear comments (negative or positive) and any input. thanks!!
