Hippies, peace and love, and Charles Manson

My parents did their small part, but they were up against a political mountain. And they have an FBI file to show for it. My folks met in the peacecorp and since my dad retired from his ministry, they have been traveling the country and the world helping fix homes after the natural disasters that have struck. My parents did what they felt was right and I respect them for it. And they both were and are peaceful people. I just question the whole peace movement of the counter culture as not being as peaceful as they claim.

I agree.

My folks protested the war, but they did not protest the soldiers. I'm glad for that. A number of the people who lived in the house with us did gather at the airports to scream at the soldiers who were disembarking. I think it is sad that they risked life and limb, only to be spat on upon return. Frankly, I do believe that most of the Manson Family were trying to experience the life that my parents and their friends had. We were a family and we all had and have a heavy sense of humanity.

We are the same age. I was born in 69, but the environment I grew up in was very 60's. The life my parents lead is still very 60's. I think the movement was good hearted, but the kids who were involved just didn't know how to approach it. I remember peaceful protests. I remember violent protests. I remember watching my father get punched in the face and he walked away as the man who hit him called him a chicken shi!. My mom then jumped on the man's back and beat the crap out of him, but that is beside the point. "Just like not all (for example) Christians do it right ya know or not all Pagans or Gay Rights supporters or Pro Lifers and so on." I agree soooo much with this statement. As I stated to someone above, my parents corresponded with the Black Panther Party. They agreed with the ideals, just not the methods. But the Panthers had a louder voice than the passive teachings of the MLK movement. They both served their purpose, but only one was peaceful. I am a great supporter of gay rights, as you know, but groups such as "Outloud" annoy the crap out of me. My mind tells me that they are doing more harm than good. But history tells me that they are making their point. Abby Hoffman, who was a friend of my father, and the Chicago seven made their point, but they did it without peaceful intent. dam, I'm rambling. They intentionally disrupted and caused havoc. The point was made, but it caused difficulties for the rest of us. My house was raided on numerous occasions. One cop called my dad Charlie. And when you are five, this is a scary thing. Several years later, when my first husband beat me, I was reluctant to call the cops. I called my brother, though. LOL I guess my thing is that the loud mouths and the people who would bomb a lab that did animal experiments and the people who would spit on soldiers coming back from the war gave the real "hippies" a bad name. Those who promoted peace and did what they could to exhibit peace were out shouted by those who took a more militant approach.