??!Hippies!?? both FACT AND OPINION #9 and #12

'Hippie' not a slur to be taken lightly --- Christopher Brod --- December 3, 2006
"For the second time in recent months, a person openly, and to my face, hatefully called me a "hippie," inferring that I was somehow lesser of a human being due to my long hair and beard. Most recently it happened at Snow mass ski area."

The writer of this editorial and fact based article clearly states a brief history of racial slurs and bigotry. He mentions that only, "80 years ago women gained the right to vote, 50 years ago blacks gained equal rights as American citizens, and 60 years ago that eight million Jews, Romas, Poles and homosexuals were systematically murdered in the holocaust." He describes it as "collaterally damaged," and refers to our own present War in Iraq. He even states that "extreme racism still exists today in the United States. The protection of our rights and liberties as equal persons is more fragile than we realize or admit." I completely agree with this statement. I too beleive that in our World as much as we'd like to think racism does not occur , it does. If you disagree with this statement you are just in denial.

He speaks several good terms for hippies. Saying that they deserve more respect than they really get. "Hippies have proven an effective and valuable force in America over the past 45 years." Stating they have excercized many rights valuable to humanity and the constitution to protest and go against many situations invovling the disruption of civil liberties. They go against the mainstream, always being individuals. Brod also clearly expresses not only have they opened the World to far more, but that hippies have shown "America to a freedom of sexuality, which was and is so oppressed by residual Purtitanical restrictions of right and wrong." If you look into our history, this is truly precise. Our World before minorities was completely "one way." Not only just because of hippies but, hippies certainly have done their good deeds. This is why he voices "Who cares if they do drugs and don't want to work in the conventional model? Whatever it is they do, regardless if it upsets our sensibilities, has provided them with self - awarness and conciousness of a high and rational moral center, and an ethical motive to action few religions or governments have ever to succeeded to inspire." I dont neccesarily believe drugs is the way but, really why do we care so much what another person does. They have some of the most morals. They try so hard to put a stop to anything they believe is wrong. Anything they see civic fault in.

They symbolize PEACE!!!!! HELLO is our World retarded! This is the reality. No other form of group in history beside maybe Buddhism has ever tried to advocate this. They advocate non-violence. Our Wrold desperatly needs this factor. People of all ethnicities, religious groups, peopel all around the World hold grudges and hatred. They are simply unhappy with the way life is. This causes this anger and hatred. "Hippies are sages of this country who have defended and upheld the basic human rights and freedoms all you "haters" out there take for granted."

"When will we learn to have true respect for other human beings?" I question this all the time. I have no hope for anything. We need to completely redue our code of ethics and morals. We need to discard religion and all these "subscultures," which in reality fill our World with poor judgments and labels upon others. Who is richer than the next? Or who is more poor? Who is what religion? What race are you? Where are you from? These are all ways to apply judgment on another. We need to ride ourselves of them. "Maybe that day will come when we learn nonviolence towards other creatures (of all species.)"

I had an extremely hard time finding two articles, one being the fact and opinion and the other being the opinion, so I decided to kill two birds with one stone... Metaphorically speaking..... Actually with what I read before should not have even said that... I am joking. I searched FOREVER! I know this is not as updated as you'd of liked but I found it a tremendous article... It includes both fact and opinions.... Things that have been shown through out history, which are true as well as the opinion of a great man!! He speaks as if it was the easiest thing he could do.... I believe and agree with the majority of what he says. Though it is very bias, he is trying to make a point... That not only are hippies great! Even though he does emphasize that they are.... But that individuality is a wonderful aspect of life.... Something we should treasure.... He includes one up to date films BORAT, historically accurate data and also he advises that mainstream is not he best way.... I found this article intirely useful... Figured I could use it for both.....