Modern Hippies

Admittedly, I concoct many theories as I travel through life. Most of them are supported by evidence that would usually be considered common knowledge. I’m not saying I have such innovative ideas that they are going to bring me any closer to winning the Nobel Peace Prize, but perhaps they are at least intriguing to those around me. Mostly they’re just for kicks, yet I like to think that they have a hint of “truthiness” to them.

One such theory is labeled the “Modern Hippie” theory.

Relax, it’s not a whole concept centered around the many things that people cringe about when they think of historical hippies. It focuses more on the positive outcomes of the hippie era and how the present generation seems to mirror those outcomes.

Now let’s first review, what good things came about during the time of the hippie (1960’s)? Increased global awareness is an obvious one. People stopped just considering their own household or neighborhood as the only place of importance in the world and turned their attention elsewhere (specifically toward the ‘conflict’ in Vietnam). Friends and family were being drafted to fight in a place that no one knew much about.

Another positive thing was increased attention to needed societal change. Social and ethical issues (particularly racism and violence) which were originally unacceptable for anyone to speak about became the topics of heated conversation and debate. Sit-ins, protests, and marches were commonplace and were ultimately the seeds of change that we are reaping the benefits of at present. Revolutions of ideas were caused through actions.

Environmentalism seems to also have originated in the 1960’s. Tree hugging was not a popular past time until hippies made it such. They recognized that humans have a tight, dependent relationship with nature. Such thinking was not the norm until then, and in reality it hasn’t soaked into the psyche of this nation until oh….2007?

Now that it is evident that hippies have in fact done the world some good, let’s look at the current generation: those of us who are living through the age of the Internet. Barring a plethora of technological advances, what positive things has this generation, even this decade brought about?

Really I don’t think we have much to brag about when it comes to novelty. As technology has expanded (yes, I said to not bring up technology, I know…but I’m mentioning it in passing, settle down) our global awareness has expanded as well. We know the political climate and can chat instantly with anyone across the world. We also have troops fighting wars in foreign nations so we keep close tabs on those goings on too.

Social and ethical issues are at the forefront of discussions now more than ever it seems. Poverty, AIDS, and terrorism are just a few major issues that practically everyone has a serious stance and concern. Campaigns are springing up everywhere to combat the world’s ills: One, (red), Make Trade Fair, Save Darfur, etc.

Also, if you are not an environmentalist in some form or fashion by this point you are evidently living under a rock. Global warming, ever heard of it? If not, you need to go have a chat with Al Gore, or one of his buddies. Or just take into account how we trash the lovely planet we call home; now that’s just not very respectful. Tree hugging is definitely cool once again.

So to put it simply, this era, this generation, is just following the footsteps of the hippies before it. Now that’s not something to be ashamed of. We are the modern hippies: we care about things outside of ourselves and we even have the technology to put our beliefs on issues into action (and to maintain daily personal cleanliness). And just like those before us, after our calls for change the world will not be the same.