Righteous, Dude

When looking at the world today, there’s often one feeling that I get, a thought that, when said aloud, sounds laughable and naïve. But somehow, I still can’t shake it. I know hardcore right-wingers might say it’s already happened, this thought of mine. And it is such: What if the hippies ruled the world?

Before you snort derisively in my face, I am not talking about the long haired, bell bottomed stoner who says “righteous” a lot of the time. Well, I am. But what I mean is, what if these young, goofy, annoyingly moral kids had actually grown up, instead of staying those goofball hipsters who are now grey-haired and creepy; they became responsible adults, took their liberal principles with them and moved into positions of power, with a say on how this world was run?

Think about it. Seriously. The hippies have been given a bad rep over time. Sure, they had themselves to blame for most of it. The outfits and grubbiness and stupid language and promiscuity may not have done any favours to their image, but the hippies changed the world. Woodstock changed the world.

The 60’s was one of the most important periods in time and that one decade has had more influence in modern culture than almost any other, barring perhaps the Industrial Revolution and maybe American Revolution. The hippies were the catalyst for the change, as much as being the symbol of that change. But thanks to cheesy 60’s dress up parties and the theme that never dies- “Flower Power”, the hippies have become caricatures of themselves, comic figures rather than a symbol of change.

These people were on to something. They marched for equality- racial, gender and socio-economic, an end to violence, eco-friendly attitudes and love among all. To all the hard-line Christian, Republican who claim to despise everything the liberal hippies stood for, are they not reminded of another long haired guy from the wearing robes and slops, preaching peace and love?

If the ideals these hippies stood for, if not the people themselves, had taken hold not only amongst the ordinary people of this world but among those who run it, from politicians to business tycoons, you have to admit, we would be in a better place.

I am not saying that some high-as-a-kite moron with a goatee, wearing a (faux) fur waistcoat and bell bottoms  strumming an out of tune guitar with eyes as red as the Devil’s dick should have been given the keys to the Oval Office, but some kid who marched in the Civil Rights marches, who read poetry, who studied history or philosophy, who travelled the world, who had gay friends throughout their life, surely this person as an adult would make a better leader than George W Bush? Come on!

The kids believed in a better world, and amongst each other, through drugs and music, they experienced this better world. Too bad they never rejoined the real world.