For those who were around in the sixties...

[ho1ogram]

...and remember them, I have a question.
People feel there are changes in the air now (awakening, 2012, benevolent et's etc.) and I was wondering if it felt similar back then. There was a climate of fear (possible nuclear destruction) and a change in societies consciousness during the sixties. Now we have media fear (global terrorism) running parallel with the anticipation of 2012, or whatever, consciousness raising.

Subjectively speaking, from your perspective, what is the difference now compared to then? Do you feel any great differences or great similarities between the two?

[supertzar]

I wasn't around then, born in '72, but from what I know about it people had more spirit back then. In my town in the late 60's the people took over a street, blocked it off and declared it a People's Park. Thousands partied in the street for two days before facing off with the cops in a major confrontation. And it all started because someone got a ticket for popping a wheelie.

On the other hand, the explosion of knowledge is helping us tremendously now. More people are getting hip to what is actually happening and I think we have a real opportunity to change the world in a big way.

[graflok]

The 60's was a very strange time in the USA.

On the one hand there was a terrible war, rioting, civil rights atrocities, and the
govt. began to suddenly appear evil to many of us.

On the other hand there seemed to be a renaissance of many forms of art.
Music, of course, but also literature, painting and other arts. There was the
apparency of a great hope that the human race was taking a positive step
forward.

It was both scary and (seemingly) uplifting. It was called "the dawning of the
Age of Aquarius." Many people thought the bad stuff was just growing pains
and we'd soon reach a new, higher plateau.

But, of course, there was "something wrong" with even the part that seemed
positive to me. I felt it and I'm sure many others did too. The renaissance
seemed too connected up with drug-taking and other vices to me (and I wasn't
a prude, believe me). My artist heroes (musicians mostly) seemed to be
dropping like flies in the late 60's and the ones that survived seemed to
suddenly change into something else (Dylan, for example). Something was
wrong with this renaissance, but I didn't know what.

My, god -- John Wayne even turned out to be a government stooge and
supported the Viet Nam war. That really pissed me off. That coward
never served a day in any military service but he used his movie role
image to appear like a military hero advising the people. What a phony-
baloney dickhead!

The current scene seems similar in some ways but different in others. The idea
of disorder ushering in a new age is similar in both periods. The negative
aspects of the Iraq war and other world situations is similar too. What is
different though is we don't have the apparent positives that we seemed to
have back then. The arts, for example, are not in a renaissance. In fact they
seem trashier than ever to me.

There's also more sheep-type behavior now then there was then. In the 60's
many people believed we might just blow our selves up if we don't watch it.
There was even a pretty good awareness that events like riots, etc. were
staged and actually instigated by agents. But, now, I think most people aren't
as concerned and most just accept what the government does. There's more
of an attitude that "it will work itself out."

I have a personal "theory" that the uproar of the 60's was created to set
the stage for our current times. In part I think the NWO boys were testing
the effects of certain mind control elements and they were also setting
the stage for a real upheaval. Most Americans aren't too concerned about
current events because similar things have happened in the 60s but "nothing
too bad happened" then.

I think maybe they are using this to catch us (Americans) by surprise. Most
Americans think "everything will be all right because these things always
seem to work themselves out." I think that's what they want us to think.

Anyway, that's my take on it.

[notaslave]

I think the main difference now compared to the 60's is most of the people now are truly apathetic about politics.

I would compare now to pre-war Germany, not that I was alive then but it seems to the same kind of ignorance.

[lemonique]

...and remember them, I have a question.
People feel there are changes in the air now (awakening, 2012, benevolent et's etc.) and I was wondering if it felt similar back then. There was a climate of fear (possible nuclear destruction) and a change in societies consciousness during the sixties. Now we have media fear (global terrorism) running parallel with the anticipation of 2012, or whatever, consciousness raising.

Subjectively speaking, from your perspective, what is the difference now compared to then? Do you feel any great differences or great similarities between the two?

The Tavistock social engineering got under way in the 60's. The break up of family life started with the advent of the pill for women, and the sexual revolution in general. Us girls at that time thought that this freedom was a good thing, look where it has led us!! It is now in 2007 considered an OK thing to farm out our elderly rellies into old folks homes, Divorce rate has sky rocketed. Our toddlers are put into crappy day care centres (to start their indoctrination into the NWO agendas) while their Mums are expected to carry on working to help with the finances, as it's impossible to live on one person's' pay packet. STD's are rife...and there's AIDS etc. So the 60's was an exciting time in some ways, as we were not aware of what TPTB were actually up to. Well, we know now.
The cat's on my knee demanding attention, so this post is a bit sketchy:o:o
Cheers

[lifeofbrian]

...and remember them, I have a question.
People feel there are changes in the air now (awakening, 2012, benevolent et's etc.) and I was wondering if it felt similar back then. There was a climate of fear (possible nuclear destruction) and a change in societies consciousness during the sixties. Now we have media fear (global terrorism) running parallel with the anticipation of 2012, or whatever, consciousness raising.

Subjectively speaking, from your perspective, what is the difference now compared to then? Do you feel any great differences or great similarities between the two?

I like these kinds of topics as they encourage thinking and putting things in perspective. Good topic. Looking back it is as if there are two realities running on parallel tracks - the subjective and objective. Or "how much are we influenced by the times we live in" kind of attempt to separate what was me and what was Britain and the rest of the world at the time. But from the points you mention then:

As I am getting on a bit and have seen a few new generations emerge and voice a different "trend" in the different systems - mostly as a reaction to the previous one - I can say nothing has changed in the sense that people are easily influenced like people always have been. Regarding the trends replacing each other: the "universal conscience" in the 60's was replaced by the collective narcissism in the 70's and then the worship of the contents in the wallets and bank accounts in the 80's back to the narcissism in the 90's and now religio-spiritual revival in the 00's. What - to me - seems to have gotten worse is the narcissism as it has been fuelled by spiritual ideas. I think people have been trying to live their ideals and ideas - and in the process have lost a lot of common sense.

In the 60's the rebellion against the "perfect" Stepford "feel" of the 50's brought the so called sexual revolution - it also gave us the first stirrings of porn which escalated in the 70's - and often very sick porn now turned into an industry: soylent green is people indeed (in the film: women = furniture). People in denial call it "freedom".

In the 70's "equality" between the genders created a lot of confused children who were forced to deny their basic drives and become "good little genderless peaceful socialists in purple velour pants" seems like. Jesus Christ Superstar - Superstar - Superstar. Hair. Feminism - of course - some women claimed they had brains too and not just tits, imagine that. Men killed due to wars forced the widowed women to work and hand over their children to the state. That became an ideal. Freedom to handle resources - money.

In the 80's individualism as the reaction to the collective "we are all the same" and the advent of computers gave a hint to the isolated and warrior-type mentality we have today - materialism and cynicism and dog-eat-dog and cold brilliant intellectualism coupled with coke and porn for a nice sociopathic mess. Sorry - mix.

In the 90's the militant shoulderpads and chrome and mirrored walls gave way to "freedom" and "peace, dude" again - street culture and creative instincts from the heart - but the hivemind of the 70's and the computers and drugs of the 80's were still there and now spirituality (the magic of computers translated into the human experience) was boosted and everybody thought they were starseed and so there was no need to get involved with real problems as Oprah introduced psychobabble for us to worship. Navel gazing became the new trend.

In the 00's we have people who think pain and crisis are "unnatural". They try to kill themselves if they are dumped by their girl- or boyfriend. An Idol is a human right to be -Jesus Christ Superstar - and oral sex is something young teens perform as if it is a handshake - soylent green is people. "Illnesses" like allergies are seemingly affecting all young people - what, they were never allowed to get dirty and be in contact with animals and so build up a good immune system?

George Carlin calls it "The Pussification" - and that seems very apt.

Comparing the 60's to the 00's then: No. It is the same fears that have always been around. Fear of comforts gone and unwanted change and most of all - fear of impotence as in not having a say or the power to control something or somebody. People are no smarter today and not kinder and not more "aware". They seem to think that changes they choose are good and changes they do not choose are bad. Nothing new.

But - I have to underline: it is the privilege of every new generation to think they are exceptional. Everybody should have the chance to make a mark if they so choose - or not.

PS. How much of the above has been "engineered" is in a way irrelevant I find as we all help to shape the world we live in by our attitudes and actions. With common sense I think people would be stronger and better equipped to deal with a lot of crap everywhere - but I am not saying that without empathy for everybody alive today as life is not easy - it never was. Other people make life bearable - heaven is other people.

[klinker]

I was a 60s love child. Born in 65 to peace loving parents. :)

[i_am]

The sixties were awesome! Hippies, flower power, protests, great music, Woodstock!

The protestors knew something was very wrong but did not realise how deep the rabbit hole went. They believed it could be fixed by government. Now we know that the government and our so called leaders are just puppets. Now we know this but we don't seem to be able to organise ourselves into anything like the flower people of the sixties.

We had the Vietnam war and we knew it was wrong but now we know why it was wrong. Had they had the knowledge back then, I believe, things would be much different today. There was no internet and therefore we had to rely on what the media told us.

But then the time was not right for the massive shift in consciousness that we see today.

[ho1ogram]

I LOVE YOU

Thank you for your replies. I have been thinking about this a lot... is there really a global awakening? Can there be one? If we all have free will it means everyone on the entire planet would have to choose it. It could happen through the ripple effect... but ask a kid in Iraq who's best mate was just torn to pieces by shrapnel and he might say, "Yeah right". Or someone who has been living under a tarpaulin in a refugee camp for eight years and sees no hope of release may not feel the global population is very enlightened. But anything is possible.

Throughout history I reckon people would have said that the world is becoming more enlightened... the renaissance; when the printing press was invented; after the first world war... etc. What is so special about now?

I reckon some people expect there will be a flash of bright light and everyone will ascend to a heavenly existence... Nup. I reckon it is all individual, you may realise nirvana at any time in any place, it is not dependant upon any 'time' in history (matrix illusion/matrix astrology) or what the rest of the population is feeling/going through. The external world is a mirror... and also a playground where we may experience hell, suffering, exuberance, hope, etc... but ultimately we are already spiritual, already 'God' and we can remember and return to initial state at any time... but individually, not as a global whole. If the whole planet was to 'ascend' then we (because we are God) would have to invent another world of fear so that we could re-experience what we are not... which is what we are doing imo... having the opportunity to remember nirvana... this world of relativity that we are dreaming is so we may experience the opposite of what we truly. A world of lies so we may compare it to TRUTH (our natural state). A world of apparent opposites and seperation that gives us a screen to reflect off so we may know ourselves fully... catch my drift? LOL

Realising we are all one is an individual thing, it can't be forced because that defeats the whole purpose.

THANK YOU

[ho1ogram]

I LOVE YOU

Wow, I am... this thread hasn't been posted on for ages and then we both post within two minutes of each other!! LOL

THANK YOU

[i_am]

I LOVE YOU

Wow, I am... this thread hasn't been posted on for ages and then we both post within two minutes of each other!! LOL

THANK YOU

:D synchronicity??

[ho1ogram]

I LOVE YOU

Great minds... :D

THANK YOU

[woghd]

I was born in 1964, and I have some very vivid memories of the sixties and on until around 72' . I think there was definitely an ENERGY. I can remember singing folk song with our neighbors (a commune which happened to be next door). I remember my dad (a straight arrow) didn't like the flower children, but one night a bunch of them came over and woke us all up because one of the girls was giving birth, and my dad went next door and delivered it. (They didn't have 9-11 calls in those days) and when the ambulance finally arrived, mother and baby were already doing fine. After that, they gave us a bunch of gifts, cleaned our yard, etc. and my dad no longer distrusted them, (or them him, in all likelihood). We all became very good neighbors, and I was then allowed to visit with them and play with the "hippie kids".

I have a lot of really cool memories of those times, it's a shame I can't impart them all to you guys as it would fill a book.

Be well.

Archangel

[william_mac]

If you wouldn't mind too terribly much, I would like to include my thoughts as a 21 year old young man living in Atlanta, Georgia. I believe that my thoughts will be interesting to you due to my extreme consideration and study into the 60s and early 70s (as well as history in general).

Since a little boy I've been raised up on "classic" rock n' roll. Steve Miller Band, The Doors, Stealy Dan, Led Zepplin, The Rolling Stones, The Velvet Underground, ZZ Top, The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, The Mamas and The Papas, The Hollies, Fleetwood Mac, Queen, and many, many others whom are too many to name. This was my life, and it seemed incredibly familiar.

As I grew older I began becoming entranced with what was deemed as "vintage" (of course not vintage to you). Andy Warhol and the silver sixties New York, the Beat writers, Hunter S. Thompson, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, San Francisco, Woodstock, On The Road, communes, Easy Rider, and the entire culture spanning across the nation ranging from musical artists to writers to films to radicals.

Beginning at around the age of 14 I would study these things. I would feel as though I missed the proverbial boat. I felt as though I would have been much happier participating in something that had worth. And, to me, the 60s had worth. I felt as though a door had been opened up so incredibly wide, and that possibilities were boundless. I thought perhaps that the door was not yet fully shut, and that there was still room for an awakened generation to stretch it open once again.

Yet, now as a 21 year old, I've revised my ideals. I believe that I should perhaps learn to not repeat the mistakes of that generation, yet adopt the ideals and passions thereof. Of what I know and have observed from my generation, we are clinging to the "vintage" 60s and using it as an identity. Our rock n' roll seeks to emulate it here in America, and we find ourselves wishing that we were a part of this amazing generation in which our parents were a part of... no matter how much they have turned predominately stern and corrective. We dress "vintage" we listen to "vintage" music and we dig the "vintage" movies and we eat up re-creations of the "vintage". Just look at the myriad of Bob Dylan documentaries and re-creations, or the whole silver 60s New York based films coming out, or even films by people like Quentin Tarantino who seek to emulate the film style and subject matter of the 60s.

Yet, I believe that my generation should be a tad bit more sly, especially considering the technology that we have. Instead of creating another Woodstock, we should instead create an open-aired, anything goes, all opinion forum, chat room, or website. Instead of congregating in protest among the Nation's capital, we can subtly sign internet petitions and put global pressure on governments through the use of internet. Instead of shouting our ideas through a megaphone, we can instead share our ideas with each other globally.

The only kicker, however, is that we must first have that universal spirit of the 60s within us. Without that we will never realize the brotherly love and universal importance of education, equal rights, free speech, and the resistance of control.

As it as currently, my generation -- the generation that I am a part of -- longs for the passion and gut of the 60s children. Yet, on the contrary, due the failure of this movement and the lack of education on our own part, we believe that nothing we can do will ever change a single thing for long. Therefore we fall under the radar, we become dissenchanted, we hide ourselves in drunkenness to lick imaginary wounds, and we hide ourselves in virtual self-consumed worlds, and we shun the grim realities of our time. Yet, ever often do we look back to our parent's generation. Ever often do we sigh and say "I would have fit in better there". Ever often do we muse that the 60s was the real deal, and we are nothing but the bastard child.



-William
www.William-Mac.com

[a fine naked fellow]

I’m a peaceful hippie. C’mon people lets go!
We create our reality! All is one! Exploring consciousness!
Glorifying in freedom and individuality ! C’mon lets go!
All we have is each other. Free yourself from limitations.
Follow your excitement. Desire is perception!

[lifeofbrian]

A funny feeling tells me growing up in the '60s wasn't always easy :)

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd291/lifeofbrian_photos/hippiecartoon.jpg

[cafetimes1991]

Bump. I'd like to hear more views on the 1960s, having being born much later in 1991.

[margaretr]

I was born in 1942.
I missed out on the 'liberation' of the 60s because I was a working mum and every minute was dedicated to work and child care.
The overwhelming influence on my subconcious mood for the major part of my life was the threat of nuclear war.

I did not realise this until the Berlin Wall came down in 1989, and I was aware that 'a weight had been lifted off my shoulders' and I became cheerfully optimistic for the future for the first time ever.

Sadly, that lighthearted optimism has now gone, but it gave me a glimpse of what could be.

[tyler]

I was born in 1948 and lived through the sixties in England, Outside of London there really wasn't a lot of this so called flower power etc and most towns were as drab and grey as they had always been in post war Britain. Most young people were pretty conservative and there wasn't a lot of real awareness of who was behind what.
The sixties revolution was really an American thing. They had that awful divisive war in Vietnam and young people rebelled against the draft. We didn't have that threat hanging over our heads in England though there were many big demonstations and marches against the war and capitalism. I was on the biggest and most famous, the demo in Grosvenor Square outside the American Embassy in 1968.
There were a few half hearted attemts at communal living and a lot of squatting went on in London. The real fun seemed to be happening over in America with the hippies, yippies and the the likes of Ken Kesey and his convoy. Timothy Leary and Andy Warhol were making a big impression too.
The riots in Paris threatened to over throw the government and our lot were nervous but overall we didn't have the sunshine and the money to have the fun that drop out young Americans had.

[nofuture]

'The Sixties' as in the counter cultural phenomenon began in about 1965 and lasted until the early seventies.

[decim]

The 60's began with the TV programming in the early 1900's

The Bee Bee See has HEX'd the UK ever since

[motleyhoo]

One big difference between the 60s and now is the current collapse of the newspapers and investigative journalism. Back in the 60s newspapers were the main way people had to see what was going on and many, many more people read them. The likelihood that they contained information of real consequence was also much greater back then. Most people today (in the US anyway) are still relying on old news media, and have not caught up yet to the idea that if you really want to know what is going on you have to get on the internet and do your own legwork. What I mean by this is that most people are way less informed these days.

[charles d ward]

A VERY interesting and cool article on the subject of hippies... in case you´ve missed it.

http://www.hippy.com/php/article-243.html