Hippies Vietnam
Hippies started around 1965 when a group of young people who rejected mainstream culture wanted to live an alternative life. They were an easy going group who were in favor of love, peace, mind-altering drugs, and very optimistic. Hippies were mostly living in Haight- Ashbury district of San Francisco, California. By mid 1966 incense, head shops, boutiques, and coffeehouses with girly type weird names like Blushing Peony. The community consisted largely of youngings and teenagers who are rebelling against backgrounds containing conservative middle classes.
Alienation and distrust was common in the social and political institutions. Hippies rejected status quo and authority believing their changing of society was best chanced by dropping out of materialistic world of their parents. Believing in free love and hoped to expand and open their minds by using psychedelic drugs. Hippies had a very distinct look, usually long scrappy-like hair, beads, colorful clothing, bell bottoms, and paisley. Hippies held celebrations of their growing community with music where the drug LSD was distributed. LSD, a very illusion made drug was often taken by hippies, along with marijuana. The hippie lifestyle, while being popular reached a peak during the 1967 Summer of Love fest. At that time thousands made their way to San Francisco to live the lifestyle. It became so fashionable to smoke weed, quit school, and wear colorful clothing. Ronald Reagan, who was then the governor of California, defined hippies as people “who looked like Tarzan, walked like Jane, and smelled like a cheetah.” Haight- Ashbury and its hippie residents were internationally known by 1967, although soon after slowly deteriorated. Hippies numbers of young people decreased soon after internationally known. Due to rapes and drug arrests increasing as criminals moved into the area to take advantage of the young people gathered there. By the early 1970s hippies decreased, most of them realized it was difficult to be back in society when known as a dropout. Retaining once principles that motivated them was also a turning point for hippies to regain place in society. However, every year since 1971, informal hippies have used computers and words from mouth to organize festivals bringing others who enjoy the hippie lifestyle of being carefree, together. |