We were gonna change the world...what happened?

Ha haaa, I'll bet the devil let the stoner go too 'cause he never hurt anybody, some things never change.

 

The answer is YOU. Are you a part of that solution, or are you still part of the problem? My answer is that your generation was more interested in it's comfort than it was in making real and lasting changes. You didn't NEED it, and it fell away. My parents are a perfect example.

How are you living your life that's part of the solution?! I ask all of your generation!



I can tell you that I am doing everything in my power to be the change I want to see, and be part of real solutions!

 

there can be no big change without small ones first.

 

Wow, I just returned to the forums and am plesently surprised to see that this thread is still going. I love you guys and didn't realize how much I missed you!

I agree that we have to be part of the solution. It is so important to live our lives simply, helping others and the earth. Over the past year I have been encouraged by what I see here on the local level. We have a thriving program that is bringing local organic produce into the city on a share basis, and sharing the extra with those in need. The interest in green friendly living has increased enormously as well. I've not had much time online because I've been busy with all this living, but I'm so encouraged to see young and old working side by side to make this a better world. :O)

 

Welcome back Mo. It's good to see you, we have missed you too..... It sounds like you have been fulfilling your dreams and preparing for better things to come... in this day and age, you have to do what needs the doing, ortherwise nothing gets done...... I think the way The System of Things are crumbling right before our own eyes, we can no longer excape it and we are forced to recon with it in the Now. Young and old and inbetween, we are all affected..... The shift is taking place as we speak. It is upon us....we all realize that we as a ppl have to make the change progress and get involved on a personal level and start making the transition.....We start with baby steps a few scissor steps and maybe a hop or two till we get to the giant steps (mother may I .. It is not just the US that is crises, it's the whole damn world...it affects everyone everywhere...You can start by growing your own veggies, even in an apartment you have enough room/light to grow a few potted veggies, it's a start and you'd be suprized how easy it is... It will also give incentive to do more... put up a Can Only can up around different locations around your area.. you'd be amazed how much $$ you can collect from the recycle center and help clean up the enviroment too... Green Bags are an alternative to 'paper or plastic' and you can make your own with old jeans or other scrap material... I like the jeans bc they have pockets that use can keep stuff in, like your wallet, keys ect... A farmers market is the way to go for sure... direct from farm to homes, without the high cost of the middleman........... We find ourselve with a lot of access produce when everything comes in at once at harvest...... I can and freeze and dehydrate what we will use and end up giving the rest away....... There is alway A LOT of access bc we over plant and I would like to get a return on our time, energy and $$ it takes to raise such a garden.... We don't have a local Farmer's Market here, it's like 50 or so miles and with gas prices as they are, and the time it takes, it becomes an ordeal... I would love to see one open around here.... Maybe that is something I should look into and see if it would be fesable to get one started..... Thanks for the inspiration Mo'.... Bright Blessings

 

the world did change, it is changing, it will change, and it changes all by itself

 

I agree it's the little things that add up. If you look at it as an all-or-nothing proposition, The Solution seems insurmountable, but if you whittle away at it over time, you'll eventually get there, or at least you'll be better off than those that don't even think about it, or don't even try. Patience, education, and compromise is the key, but there are tradeoffs. Farmers markets are great, I'm fortunate enough to have one within a couple miles of my house that I can walk to, but it may not make sense to burn the gas it takes to drive fifty miles to one. I'm looking at renewable energy, like solar panels, and converting my diesel car to burn veggie, but these changes take time and money, so I continue to education myself about the alternatives, and put 'em in place when the opportunity presents itself.

The reason the progressive movement can't seem to make a difference is they can't agree on anything. They're so busy smugly sitting in their coffee shops, looking down their snotty noses at each other, driving their hybrid cars, they can't get anything done. Meanwhile the bankers and oil men are unified in screwing us and the environment. OK, I may be over generalizing a bit, I consider myself a progressive, and I don't drive a hybrid, but you get my point. We gotta get along and be patient with each other, and stop with the judgemental holier-than-thou bullshit already, that gets us nowhere.

As for the hippie generation, you can't blame them for everything. Ignorance was bliss, because no one knew what was in store. The world was a different place then, oil was plentiful, and the industrial revolution and automobiles seemed like the logical answer to life's problems. I doubt many folks were thinking about the prospect of running out of oil, or the impact we were having on our environment. To our credit, things are changing, with recycling becoming the norm, and renewable energy becoming an economy.

We'll get there eventually, or we'll destroy ourselves trying...

 

thanks for the welcome shameless! You have some great ideas and advice. My daughters and I have crocheted cotton bags for carrying produce and we give to everyone as gifts to encourage them to use their own bags when shopping. They make great gift bags for any gift.

Mellow yellow you are right that we didn't really forsee most of what we are dealing with today, but I remember back in the mid-seventies there was a gas "crisis" and I can remember waiting in line to fill up the tank. In fact I think we could only buy gas on even days and others on odd days. That "crisis" passed but at what cost? We don't even remember it today let alone have learned from it.

the same with the environment, we were talking about protecting the earth in the 70's and air quality has improved in many cities, but for the most part we were just laughed at and considered extremists. I guess nothing has really changed on that front.

 

Sloth Outta Here!

 

well i realize that i am probably way too young to comment by many peoples standards but, the people of the change the earth era, even though they cared, couldn't beat the ones who didn't....

 

You guys DID change things. You opened people's eyes, showed us possibilities of peace and unity. You may not have been able to carry out the plans you'd had, but now you can help prepare the new hippies with your wisdom so we can finish the plans you made. Things are only finished if we give up hope, which is something we mustn't do. Pass down your knowledge, vision, and wisdom to the next generation, if hippies, young and old, collaborate things WILL change for the better. We young hippies cannot do it without you, we need your help. If you hadn't made an impact then I wouldn't be here believing the way I do. Never sell yourself short.

 

I agree. You guys totally changed things even though it wasn't what you invisioned. I think of the movement as spore just waiting for the right conditions to flourish again. I live near a university and there is a program there for creating organic gardens in the area. It's amazing how many students come out to volunteer.

 

I know, he's passing as black, but face it his mother was a hippie.....
Just maybe things are changing....

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEg9EcjdGkA

 

What I like about the hippie movement is the concern with the environment, and the racial egalitarianism. What I dislike is the sexual revolution. Even that had the beneficial effect of reducing the birth rate. Unfortunately, it also increased the illegitimacy rate. Children do best when they are raised by both biological parents living together in matrimony.

Because the hippie movement lacked a coherent philosophy too many hippies adopted the selfishness of the Republican ascendancy. "Do your own thing," could segue into the libertarian, "I've got mine. Get yours or get lost."

 

NO!! It's I got mine, you want some??? WE shared everything. You got it backwards.

 

That you did, and it's ridiculous what sexuality has become to most people, a commodity to be bought and sold, or something to be guarded like some sacred shrine, which it's not.

Then again, y'all didn't have to worry about AIDs, nor did my generation for that matter.

There was sexism though, guys who beat their spouses and got away with it, like it was OK because it happened to everyone, deadbeat dads. Maybe on some levels we've evolved a bit.

Now we just need to level the playing field a bit more when it comes to gender equality, we're not quite there yet...

 

Well the way I remember things (which are fuzzy at best) We all did the good stuff and protested almost everything, the war ended and the party was on. When the Viet Nam war ended many seemed to loose intrest and focus, the people that were left didn't seem to care much anymore.
Sorry.:-( IMO

 

rozrohabra... welcome to the forums

 

We did change the world. You see it in the health food businesses, computers, new age health care, and we still have a long way to go. It may be more subtle these days , but, were still doing it day by day. And now, were getting back in touch with Green living more than ever. I believe, that it is a changin again.