During the 1960's, younger society members, known as hippies, rejected the American way of life. Caught up in the rising frustration circling around Americas increased involvment in Vietnam, many protest were made against war, and many of the young generation rebelled against their way of living. The movement, embraced a lifestyle of, long hair, brightly colored clothes, communal living, free sex, and rampant drug use. Hippies and many other members of the counter culture attracted media nation wide. The Summer of Love and woodstock imaged the spirit of protest.
On January 14, 1967, counter culture leaders called for a "Human Bein," in San Francisco, California, gathering in Golden Gate Park, to promote peace, happiness and love. Summer of Love boasted music festivals, poetry reading, speechs, and even theatre. Summer of Love was sucessful in its ability to spread the counterculture message, "Peace." On October 6, 1967, with the "Death of Hip," ceremony, which acknowledged that the countercukture had transformeded into something more worse then "Flower Power." Although, peaceful protest had begun in the summer of Love, one final event grounded in the founding priciples.
Throughout the 1960's, music serveda as a major part in the counterculture movement. Protest against war and oppression, hippies organized outdoor music festivals across the United States. Woodstock, which took place in August 1969, protested for "peace." Songs played by Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, and many more, revolved around peace and anti war. A song called, For What It's Worth by Buffalo Sprinfield was a powerful song about anti-war gatherings but rather gatherings protesting anti-loitering laws. In the first verse, "I think its time we stop children whats that sound everybody look whats going down," is interesting, since it suggest youth and innocence. In the final verse, "Paranoia strikes deep, into your life it will creep, it starts when your always afraid, step out of line the man come and take you away," the singers concern is about the loss of innocence, and the introduction of violince and fear into the community. The song is truly one of the best anti-war songs.
Counterculture youth brought about love and anti-war during the 1960's. Hippies were a remarkable image during the time, and still remain a historical figure.
Peace and Love
-Erin
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