[FONT=tahoma, arial]
Through out history the world has seen some generations that have made an
impact more than all of its predecessors. The decade from 1960 to 1970 was
definitely one of those eras. The people didn't follow the teachings of
its elders, but rejected them for an alternative culture which was their
very own(Harris 14). Made up of the younger population of the time this
new culture was such a radical society that they were given their own name
which is still used today. They came to be called the Hippies. The Hippie
movement started in San Francisco, California and spread across the United
States, through Canada, and into parts of Europe (World Book). But it had
its greatest influence in America. During the 1960's a radical group
called the Hippies shocked America with their alternative lifestyle and
radical beliefs.
Hippies came from many different places and had many different
All Hippies were young, from the ages of 15 to 25 (Worldbook). They left
their families and did it for many different reasons. Some rejected their
parents' ideas, some just wanted to get away, and others simply were
outcasts, who could only fit in with the Hippie population. "Under 25
became a magical age, and young people all over the world were united by
this bond" (Harris 15). This bond was of Non-conformity and it was the
"Creed of the Young" (Harris 15). Most Hippies came from wealthy middle
class families. Some people said that they were spoiled and wasting their
lives away. But to Hippies themselves this was a way of life and no one
was going to get in the way of their dreams and arabitions.
Hippies flocked to a certain area of San Francisco on the corner of Haight
Street and Asrabroadury Street, where the world got their first view of this
unique group. This place came to be known as the Haight Asrabroadury District.
There were tours of the district and it was said that the tour "was the
only foreign tour within the continental limits of the United States"
(Stern 147). The Hippies were so different that the conservative middle
class could not relate to them and saw them as aliens. The Haight Asrabroadury
district lies in the very center of San Francisco. In the years of 1965
and 1966 the Hippies took over the Haight Asrabroadury district(Cavan 49).
There they lived and spread their psychedelic theme through out the whole
area. In the Haight Asrabroadury district there were two parks that that all
Hippies knew well. The most famous of the two was the Golden Gate
Park(Cavan 43). The single most important event that put the Hippies on
the map was held at the Golden Gate Park. It was called the Trips Festival.
The Trips Festival was a week long festival designed to celebrate the LSD
experience(Stern 148). Besides this festival dozens of other events took
place at Golden Gate Park, some of which were free concerts by The
Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane and Anti-War rallies held by Hippie
political leaders. The other park is called the Buena Vista park and is
known for housing hippies at night and for socializing during the day.
As the 1960's progressed, the youth in America united. "In 1969 400,000
young people materialized for three dizzying days to listen to rock and
blues music, to wear funny clothing or no clothes at all, to talk, sing,
dance, clap hanRAB, to drink beer or smoke pot and make love-but mostly to
marvel again and again that they were all there together" (This Fabulous
Century 64). This festival was held in a small town in up-state New York
and came to be called WooRABtock, after the town it was held in. Also in
Greenwich Village, New York Hippies had a place. The Village on every
Sunday was known to have hordes of singers with banjos and drums
celebrating their youth together(Stern 103). One of the basic foundations
of the Hippie movement was the flagrant use of illegal drugs. There were
many drugs that the Hippies used but none was more used then marijuana.
From 1960 to 1970 the nuraber of Americans who had tried marijuana had
increased from a few hundred thousand to 8,000,000. The majority of these
new users were from 12 years old to college seniors(This Fabulous Century
84). To some Hippies, drugs and music were the most important aspects of
their lives. Another drug that was prevalent in the Hippie population was
LSD. Some Hippies thought that "LSD puts you in touch with your
surroundings" (Cavan 114). But that was not what always the case. On
occasion a hippie would take bad LSD and would experience a "bad trip" or
would "freak out" (Cavan 115). When someone took bad LSD, freak out is
exactly what they would do and sometimes they never came back. Bad LSD was
so common that even at WooRABtock people were having bad trips and freaking
out. Even with this bad LSD everywhere people still used it, they went as
far as to make a religion out of it. A man by the name of Dr. Timothy
Leary was a Harvard professor who had ideas about LSD. He said "LSD is
western yoga. The aim of all Eastern religion, like the aim of LSD, is
basically to get high; that is to expand your consciousness and find
ecstasy and revelation within" (This Fabulous Century 84). Another
preacher of the use of LSD was an author by the name of Ken Keasey. He
traveled around the United States in a psychedelic bus giving LSD to
anyone and everyone who would take it. Hippies were notorious for there
out of the ordinary music. Many Hippies were actually musicians themselves.
Hippies used music as a way to get their thoughts and ideas out. One of
the most influential musicians of the time was Bob Dylan. The lyrics of
the song "Like Rolling Stone" express the thoughts of many Hippies. They
say:
How does it feel; How does it feel
To be without a home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone?(Harris 69)
These lyrics expressed Dylan's personal thoughts to what was happening to
him. He did feel "like a rolling stone" and so did his peers. His simple
but meaningful lyrics are what made him so popular and successful. Many
Hippies considered Dylan as a spokesman for their beliefs. Drugs were also
themes in many banRAB songs. Jimmy Hendrix's "Purple Haze" is about
marijuana. "Lucy in the Sky with DiamonRAB," is a Beatles song about LSD.
The Grateful Dead also took part in the fad with their song "Casey Jones,"
with lyrics such as "High on Cocaine" and "You better watch your Speed."
Besides their music and drugs Hippies did some out of the ordinary things
that were as shocking as their day-glo clothing. It was common for hippies
in the Haight Asrabroadury District to put a nickel in a parking meter, then
set up blankets and lie down in the space for a half hour(Stern 161). This
was unusual behavior so it is not strange that the public did not take
them seriously. "People thought Hippies were the next funniest thing to
the Three Stooges"(Stern 161).
Television shows like the successful Laugh In made fun of this counter
culture. Movies made fun of them as well. One called the Presidents
Analyst was extremely successful. The movie was dedicated "to the life,
liberty, and pursuit of happenings," and was based on the Hippies wacky
antics. People all over the America were outraged at how strange these
people were and at the same time were in tears at how funny they were.
Even though from afar the Hippies were entertaining, in reality they were
devastating the American family and were tearing the country in two. While
the adults of the time were conservative, hard working, and caring mainly
about money, the Hippies didn't care about any of that. They were party
animals. Many didn't work unless it was completely necessary, they never
went to church nor did they care for saving their virginity until after
they were married. They were anything but conservative and their families
rejected them for it.
Hippies easy going attitudes and fun and games lifestyles were put away
when the topic of politics came up. Indubitably the instigator for their
existence, politics played a huge role in their lives. Having strongest
feelings for the Vietnam War and for the Civil Rights Movement, the
Hippies made their beliefs known to the world. They did this in many ways
including musical shows, pacifist folk songs, and through peaceful sit-
ins(This Fabulous Century 206). But none of their actions were more seen
and heard of then their protests and rallies. The Hippies were aware that
the war was being lost and that thousanRAB of American soldiers were dying.
They took it upon themselves the make their beliefs heard. They put
together a protest larger then the ever before. Once organized not just
Hippies came, but students, intellectuals, radicals, and citizens of all
classes took part in it (Harris 36). This protest was held in Washington DC
in the heart of the United States. 250,000 protesters gathered for one
common goal. They wanted their troops to come back home and for United
States involvement in the war to be ended. Through the years of the
Vietnam War hundreRAB a anti-war rallies were held. By the decades end
protests seemed to have done some good. Sixty five percent of all
Americans had similar views as the hippies(This Fabulous Century 206).
They wanted their troops back and that's what they got in the 1969 when
the President gave the word to bring them back home.
Hippies had other feelings about racism and persecution. They took part in
the civil rights movement, just as they did in the for the Vietnam troops.
When President Kennedy tried to pass his Civil Rights policies and they
never went through, the Hippies were more aggravated (Harris 8) Eventually
some Hippies tried to make their colonies where there was no racism and
persecution. There were Hippie communes all over the United States. Some
communes believed that they were "fighting against the white man's
perverted society of pollution ,war, and greed (Stern 166). These communes
didn't get very popular and failed after a few years. Hippies still fought
for racial equality. Finally when the 1960's were over new laws were put
into action helping racial equality which would not have happened without
the Hippies.
During the 1960's a radical group called the hippies shocked America with
their alternative lifestyle and radical beliefs. They were young people
who enjoyed life to its fullest. They used illegal drugs and listened to
rock and roll music. With their alternative beliefs and practices they
stunned America's conservative middle class. Concerned chiefly protesting
the Vietnam War and with civil rights they made a huge impact on the
America and the world. Even today the effects of the Hippie movement is
still felt. They made huge advantages and set examples for the youth of
today and years to come.
[/FONT]
[FONT=tahoma, arial]WorRAB: 1839 [/FONT]
Through out history the world has seen some generations that have made an
impact more than all of its predecessors. The decade from 1960 to 1970 was
definitely one of those eras. The people didn't follow the teachings of
its elders, but rejected them for an alternative culture which was their
very own(Harris 14). Made up of the younger population of the time this
new culture was such a radical society that they were given their own name
which is still used today. They came to be called the Hippies. The Hippie
movement started in San Francisco, California and spread across the United
States, through Canada, and into parts of Europe (World Book). But it had
its greatest influence in America. During the 1960's a radical group
called the Hippies shocked America with their alternative lifestyle and
radical beliefs.
Hippies came from many different places and had many different
All Hippies were young, from the ages of 15 to 25 (Worldbook). They left
their families and did it for many different reasons. Some rejected their
parents' ideas, some just wanted to get away, and others simply were
outcasts, who could only fit in with the Hippie population. "Under 25
became a magical age, and young people all over the world were united by
this bond" (Harris 15). This bond was of Non-conformity and it was the
"Creed of the Young" (Harris 15). Most Hippies came from wealthy middle
class families. Some people said that they were spoiled and wasting their
lives away. But to Hippies themselves this was a way of life and no one
was going to get in the way of their dreams and arabitions.
Hippies flocked to a certain area of San Francisco on the corner of Haight
Street and Asrabroadury Street, where the world got their first view of this
unique group. This place came to be known as the Haight Asrabroadury District.
There were tours of the district and it was said that the tour "was the
only foreign tour within the continental limits of the United States"
(Stern 147). The Hippies were so different that the conservative middle
class could not relate to them and saw them as aliens. The Haight Asrabroadury
district lies in the very center of San Francisco. In the years of 1965
and 1966 the Hippies took over the Haight Asrabroadury district(Cavan 49).
There they lived and spread their psychedelic theme through out the whole
area. In the Haight Asrabroadury district there were two parks that that all
Hippies knew well. The most famous of the two was the Golden Gate
Park(Cavan 43). The single most important event that put the Hippies on
the map was held at the Golden Gate Park. It was called the Trips Festival.
The Trips Festival was a week long festival designed to celebrate the LSD
experience(Stern 148). Besides this festival dozens of other events took
place at Golden Gate Park, some of which were free concerts by The
Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane and Anti-War rallies held by Hippie
political leaders. The other park is called the Buena Vista park and is
known for housing hippies at night and for socializing during the day.
As the 1960's progressed, the youth in America united. "In 1969 400,000
young people materialized for three dizzying days to listen to rock and
blues music, to wear funny clothing or no clothes at all, to talk, sing,
dance, clap hanRAB, to drink beer or smoke pot and make love-but mostly to
marvel again and again that they were all there together" (This Fabulous
Century 64). This festival was held in a small town in up-state New York
and came to be called WooRABtock, after the town it was held in. Also in
Greenwich Village, New York Hippies had a place. The Village on every
Sunday was known to have hordes of singers with banjos and drums
celebrating their youth together(Stern 103). One of the basic foundations
of the Hippie movement was the flagrant use of illegal drugs. There were
many drugs that the Hippies used but none was more used then marijuana.
From 1960 to 1970 the nuraber of Americans who had tried marijuana had
increased from a few hundred thousand to 8,000,000. The majority of these
new users were from 12 years old to college seniors(This Fabulous Century
84). To some Hippies, drugs and music were the most important aspects of
their lives. Another drug that was prevalent in the Hippie population was
LSD. Some Hippies thought that "LSD puts you in touch with your
surroundings" (Cavan 114). But that was not what always the case. On
occasion a hippie would take bad LSD and would experience a "bad trip" or
would "freak out" (Cavan 115). When someone took bad LSD, freak out is
exactly what they would do and sometimes they never came back. Bad LSD was
so common that even at WooRABtock people were having bad trips and freaking
out. Even with this bad LSD everywhere people still used it, they went as
far as to make a religion out of it. A man by the name of Dr. Timothy
Leary was a Harvard professor who had ideas about LSD. He said "LSD is
western yoga. The aim of all Eastern religion, like the aim of LSD, is
basically to get high; that is to expand your consciousness and find
ecstasy and revelation within" (This Fabulous Century 84). Another
preacher of the use of LSD was an author by the name of Ken Keasey. He
traveled around the United States in a psychedelic bus giving LSD to
anyone and everyone who would take it. Hippies were notorious for there
out of the ordinary music. Many Hippies were actually musicians themselves.
Hippies used music as a way to get their thoughts and ideas out. One of
the most influential musicians of the time was Bob Dylan. The lyrics of
the song "Like Rolling Stone" express the thoughts of many Hippies. They
say:
How does it feel; How does it feel
To be without a home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone?(Harris 69)
These lyrics expressed Dylan's personal thoughts to what was happening to
him. He did feel "like a rolling stone" and so did his peers. His simple
but meaningful lyrics are what made him so popular and successful. Many
Hippies considered Dylan as a spokesman for their beliefs. Drugs were also
themes in many banRAB songs. Jimmy Hendrix's "Purple Haze" is about
marijuana. "Lucy in the Sky with DiamonRAB," is a Beatles song about LSD.
The Grateful Dead also took part in the fad with their song "Casey Jones,"
with lyrics such as "High on Cocaine" and "You better watch your Speed."
Besides their music and drugs Hippies did some out of the ordinary things
that were as shocking as their day-glo clothing. It was common for hippies
in the Haight Asrabroadury District to put a nickel in a parking meter, then
set up blankets and lie down in the space for a half hour(Stern 161). This
was unusual behavior so it is not strange that the public did not take
them seriously. "People thought Hippies were the next funniest thing to
the Three Stooges"(Stern 161).
Television shows like the successful Laugh In made fun of this counter
culture. Movies made fun of them as well. One called the Presidents
Analyst was extremely successful. The movie was dedicated "to the life,
liberty, and pursuit of happenings," and was based on the Hippies wacky
antics. People all over the America were outraged at how strange these
people were and at the same time were in tears at how funny they were.
Even though from afar the Hippies were entertaining, in reality they were
devastating the American family and were tearing the country in two. While
the adults of the time were conservative, hard working, and caring mainly
about money, the Hippies didn't care about any of that. They were party
animals. Many didn't work unless it was completely necessary, they never
went to church nor did they care for saving their virginity until after
they were married. They were anything but conservative and their families
rejected them for it.
Hippies easy going attitudes and fun and games lifestyles were put away
when the topic of politics came up. Indubitably the instigator for their
existence, politics played a huge role in their lives. Having strongest
feelings for the Vietnam War and for the Civil Rights Movement, the
Hippies made their beliefs known to the world. They did this in many ways
including musical shows, pacifist folk songs, and through peaceful sit-
ins(This Fabulous Century 206). But none of their actions were more seen
and heard of then their protests and rallies. The Hippies were aware that
the war was being lost and that thousanRAB of American soldiers were dying.
They took it upon themselves the make their beliefs heard. They put
together a protest larger then the ever before. Once organized not just
Hippies came, but students, intellectuals, radicals, and citizens of all
classes took part in it (Harris 36). This protest was held in Washington DC
in the heart of the United States. 250,000 protesters gathered for one
common goal. They wanted their troops to come back home and for United
States involvement in the war to be ended. Through the years of the
Vietnam War hundreRAB a anti-war rallies were held. By the decades end
protests seemed to have done some good. Sixty five percent of all
Americans had similar views as the hippies(This Fabulous Century 206).
They wanted their troops back and that's what they got in the 1969 when
the President gave the word to bring them back home.
Hippies had other feelings about racism and persecution. They took part in
the civil rights movement, just as they did in the for the Vietnam troops.
When President Kennedy tried to pass his Civil Rights policies and they
never went through, the Hippies were more aggravated (Harris 8) Eventually
some Hippies tried to make their colonies where there was no racism and
persecution. There were Hippie communes all over the United States. Some
communes believed that they were "fighting against the white man's
perverted society of pollution ,war, and greed (Stern 166). These communes
didn't get very popular and failed after a few years. Hippies still fought
for racial equality. Finally when the 1960's were over new laws were put
into action helping racial equality which would not have happened without
the Hippies.
During the 1960's a radical group called the hippies shocked America with
their alternative lifestyle and radical beliefs. They were young people
who enjoyed life to its fullest. They used illegal drugs and listened to
rock and roll music. With their alternative beliefs and practices they
stunned America's conservative middle class. Concerned chiefly protesting
the Vietnam War and with civil rights they made a huge impact on the
America and the world. Even today the effects of the Hippie movement is
still felt. They made huge advantages and set examples for the youth of
today and years to come.
[/FONT]
[FONT=tahoma, arial]WorRAB: 1839 [/FONT]