My own cynical definition of hippie is a college aged person who didn't want to get drafted so he grew long hair and attended protests. The music and the sex was frosting on the cake.
By the way, I was a draftee and had many conversations with ex-hippies while I was in Vietnam.;)

I do not remember any college aged persons who "wanted" to get drafted in the late 60s and 70s regardless of the length of their hair.

To me, a hippie was never a draft dodger per se. A hippie did believe in peace and truly felt war was morally wrong whereas a draft dodger avoided the draft out of a fear of dying -- HUGE difference. The Haight had many who played at being a hippie, but they were there for the drugs and the free sex. Hippies set up their communes (several in the wine country; Carmel Highlands had several; so did Central California and Big Sur). Yes, they used drugs but many times to bring a sense of enlightment rather than just to get high. They were willing to protest (peacefully) for their beliefs. In many ways, it was a form of Communism, but not the Russian version -- it was the original version of everyone doing their share and everyone sharing. Vietnam was protested with a passion -- not only was it a war, but it was a war that was morally wrong in and of itself. Segregation was protested. Equal rights was again starting to matter.

I did admire their convictions and their willingness to go to jail and be injured for those convictions. I knew men who became hippies upon returning from Vietnam. Muhhamed Ali was willing to give up a title and be imprisoned rather than fight a war he felt was wrong and corrupt (he wasnt a hippie but he certainly had many of their values). The biggest difference between Black Muslims and hippies was that Black Muslims were willing to fight for their beliefs -- peaceful protest was definitely NOT their thing.

I was never a hippie. I could never have shown that level of disrespect to my father or my brother. Also, I was a very materialistic young woman and giving up everything to share with my brethren was just not in me. Communal life was an anathema to me -- I loved my solitude. So, that's my take on hippies. It really was so much more than free love and drugs.

Definitions have a way of meshing, sometimes it is hard to distinguish.
Many hippies were draft dodgers. Many draft dodgers were not hippies.

Many cut their hair and used their diploma to make alot of money when the war was over. Funny, the conscience objectors who came to Nam and thought they would avoid conflict because they thought they were morally superior were made medics. The first time they went out to the jungle they were unarmed. The second time they went out, most of them took weapons with them. I guess you have to draw the line somewhere.:o

Tribute
 

Don't think i've ever talked about my Woodstock experience where the Vietnam War was not part of the discussion.April 30th 1975, the Vietnam War was officially over.58,195 names are on The Wall at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. The Wall pays tribute to the members of the Armed Forces who answered their country's call,we honor and remember their sacrifice.Thank God we learned our lessons well, never to be repeated again. OH !!! I forgot, Iraq,Afghanistan.................................. ........Never Mine?????

:rolleyes::ohdear::confused:

I have no idea where your going :undecided:

Over....
 

What ever it was, the politicizing of this thread effectively killed a very nice disscussion!

Too bad, I was enjoying it.

Well, if there wasn't a war I doubt very much there would have been protests, anti war demonstrations, anti-war songs etc. etc.

The original poster was asking about a discussion group. I suppose the group could talk about the concert and the music and all the fun they had, but it would not mean much without explanations on the origins of the counter culture. Let's be truthful, much of the music was about the war and how we should have "peace" right?

Remember, if the war wasn't politicized, it would never have ended.

Hard to argue with that.


.

Back to Woodstock
 

In Aug '69 I was working in our airport coffee shop in Broome County, NY waiting to go back and finish my senior year in college. It's a VERY small airport and usually in the evening there wasn't much business. That Friday we started getting an influx of what could only be described as 'hippies'. They drifted into the coffee shop looking for directions to Woodstock and then drifted out into the night never to be seen again - hope they made it. At the same time my brother, who had just finished his freshman year in college, asked my parents if he and some buddies could go to a concert they heard about 'down the road a bit'. They piled into the station wagon and got as far as they could until the road closed, then they walked. They got home a few days later covered in mud with some wild stories (none of which they shared with my parents of cours). Can't help but think it made an impression on him. Today he is a musician and composer strongly influenced by the music that was playing that weekend.

funny thing about love and peace
 

:agree::agree:"Everytime you open your heart to love you create a space for a global altenative".

My Woodstock memory is such, that on the Monday following Woodstock weekend I was to report to begin my basic training at Fort Jackson, SC. Because of this I didn't go with my brother and friends who made the trip up there in my father's new '68 Chrysler Town & Country station wagon, which my brother abandoned on the side of a highway when he could drive no further because of traffic.
I first heard the music of Woodstock in the army and became a fan of these musicians who would become icons.
When I came home on my first leave my brother and my friends were well on their way to embracing the "hippie life" with the hair and the paisley clothing and the beads and what-not. It was surprising.
I eventually was shipped out to Viet Nam where I was one unhappy camper. I got through it though and eventually returned to my former life as best I could and grew my hair and blasted my Jimi Hendrix and the rest is history.

What is global altenative?:wave:

Jerry Garcia
 

Today is Jerry Garcia's birthday. Happy Birthday, Jerry! I miss you!!!