Greetings hipsters! I need a little quantitative data for a paper. I'm posting the same in the Young Hippies forum so I can get a comparison between the two generations. So lets get to it, here's the question. Question: Which do you feel is the most important element to Hip Culture? 1. Politics\Protesting 2. Music\Media 3. Drugs 4. Spiritual values 5. Health values\Vegetarianism
dj_cloudy_chamber, IMHO it was NEVER about Politics\Protesting or Music\Media or Drugs or Spiritual values or Health values\Vegetarianism. It was, and still IS, about doing right, about doing no harm, about not looking down on a person unless you are extending your hand to help him up. Once we, as a people, as a species, are able to do right, to do no harm, are able to look down on someone ONLY when we are extending our hand to help them up (or when there is NO REASON to help our fellow human up because we are all one on the level playing field), THEN all other things will follow, meekly. But, to answer your question in an attempt to assist you with your paper: Politics was the reason for Protesting. Music, to some degree, spurred us to political activism, i.e. protesting. Drugs just happened in the same time frame. Spiritualism, perhaps enabled by awareness provided to some by some drugs (there are no absolutes), and/or provided by people of like minds gathering together in the quest of the NEW and/or the DIFFERENT (more likely), also happened in the same time frame. Health values\Vegetarianism: I really have no take on these issues other than to speculate that expanded conciousness attained either through drugs (least likely) or a higher group mind flow opened up the possiblility that there was more than what we were being told by the idiot box. Perhaps spirituality, especially Eastern spiritualism, played a part in this as well. Just more mindless mutterings from someone who doesn't remember the sixties. Beware, brother, beware. Best wishes for your success on your paper.
For me I believe it has always been the spirit in me that has led me along my path. When I was young I seemed to have had a type of awakening unto myself, a "sense" of something inside me that "guided" me. Whenever I was in a situation that I struggled with I only had to be quiet and "listen" to my soul, the answer always came. As I have gotten older I have tried to be more gentle with myself and others and REALIZE that we all have a spirit inside us, guiding us, some choose not to listen and keep making the same mistakes over and over, some screw up but LEARN, and some "get it" and go on. We are all on a path, some further than others and we must accept where others are and not judge, but help when we can and pray that we all find our way. We all are connected...and bound by a "ripple effect". If we live pure, other things fall into place. It really is about LOVE. I don't like some things going on around me,but they are of a human nature,I do what I can to help, but I cannot walk anothers path.
Hi DJ... I'm gonna pass on taking the Poll, don't like 'em (she says with a good humored smile) and I don't really think there is a thing as a "Hip Culture" (bigger smile). Not in my age group anywho. We all individual Bozo's riding on this bus, and there is such a wide range of things which motivate individuals that a small sample poll like this tends to give an off-kiltered view. Protest/Politics... "I went down to the demonstration, To get my fair share of abuse. Singing, we got to vent our frustrations. Or else we're gonna blow a 50 amp fuse." for all the rest of the poll questions: "You can't always get what you want. You can't always get what you want. No, you can't always get what you what... But, if you try sometime, You might find... You get what you need." ~ Stones And that's what I have to say about that. Good luck on your paper.
a combination of all these really - can't say one or the other - a certain undefineable element perhaps...........
For me, the sixties and the present are always a quest of the spirit...and the freedom to try to understand and be one with the Great Spirit that indwells us all. Even as a child, in the sixties, I felt this way...for me, this spiritual journey is the the basis for everything else.
Thanks for your response, I found it very interesting. But wouldn't you say, that doing no harm and helping others would fall under spiritual values? To me it seems like the old philosophy of wicca, do what though wilt, but harm none. Yet I suppose it would be more closely related to moral values, since religion is not really a factor in hippiedom. Sorry I didn't phrase the question better. And thanks to all those who responded! My paper is due tomorrow! EEEK!
