While I had a semi short stay at the Diggers in 66', I really didnt resonate with their concept or methods. They were anarchist, they thrived on chaos and I believe they got their high from being cruel. I cannot say they were all that way, but certainly Emmett Grogan, their fearless leader was like that. He was a heroin junkie and turned the innocent young girls into junkies and used them up and threw them away. I did not like heroin, so he could not seduce me with his deviated charms and I was not an 'innocent' I had been around. I guess it's ok if you like that kinda karma. Most of us hippies thought he was an asshole. He would go from store to store on Haight Street and bully the merchants into giving him food stuff, he was very intimidating, him and his band of merry misfits. The Pranksters were alright as long as you were not the subject/target of their 'affection'. I was not looking for chaos but peace and being part of something real and good for everyone. Dont get me wrong, the Diggers did some good things, it was just the manner they used to deliver them. For instance, They had a free store where you could get clotheing, household items, but they would take the best for them selves and leave rags for the hippies. Also when they would bring the free food that they strongarmed the merchants into 'donating' to feed the hippies with in The Panhandle Park, they would come tearing down the strret and come to a screeching stop, jump out dressed to the nines in outlandish costumes. They'd run around the van and take out the food and throw it on the ground and they would stand there and laugh and make pig noises as the starving hippies would scurry for the food.. I wittenessed this with my own eyes. I did not like that about them. The Diggers proffessed chaos, but when the chips were down and you need your back covered, Emmett was no where to be found. Emmitt left the earth on one last big hit of heroin he ripped off from his buddy. The Diggers lasted about a year and then were obsorbed in the jungle. There are still the remenince of them, they have their bonding, some left the Haight and are doing quiet well, some have hep-c and are dying, some are in mental health care facilities, some have regular jobs and some went country, some are still addicted to heroin. I suppose they are the same as the rest of us Strange how our lives go in n out of time. What our past teaches us. Where we are now and how we got here. Talk about a long strange trip.. to say the least. Now what was the topic again..WAKEY BAKEY!! sh
