HA! I did that picture, and it is perfect for this post.
For years, those of us that were born in the 60’s and came of age in the 70’s have been victims of cruel teasing. Young people laughed at the clothes, the music, and so much else that went on in those days. Well you know what? The last laugh is on all of you.
You made fun of bell-bottom jeans, and they have come back into style more than once. You need to remember, when looking at history, that most of it is portrayed by the media, either the news organizations or the TV networks. These organizations are made up of people who observe what is happening in society and then try to make money off it.
Real life in those days wasn’t the way they show it to you now. It wasn’t the Brady Bunch, and it wasn’t the Monkees. It also wasn’t just the protests and Vietnam war. It was real life and it was awesome.
Yes, there was some bad music and worse fashions. But it was the era that gave you the Beatles and Led Zeppelin, Stevie Wonder, the Who, and so many songs that still stand up today. They fought the sexual revolution when I was too young to join the battle… but I was just the right age to enjoy the victory party.
Yes, I am the first to admit that there was a corniness, a hokeyness to it all. Peace love and flowers, sharing and caring. It is all a little trite and laughable. But have you improved on that since then? Was gangster rap with its message of violence and lack of respect towards women a better thing? Or was it all just a way for you to rebel?
You know what? Rebellion takes thought. It isn’t blindly doing things to piss your parents off. You have to think about where the world will end up if your revolution succeeds.
So maybe we didn’t change the world too much in the long run. But we added some color to it, and left a few positive signs behind us.
Go ahead… make fun of our tie dye and peace signs. Because when you have kids of your own, you might just stop and consider that when they get to be old enough to rebel against you, you would rather have them going to a concert where the message is all about love and peace.
I wasn’t born until the 80s and have always been a bit peeved at not having lived through the 70s. Nothing has seemed as cool since, I reckon.
And this is why I love you…
I love you too, Art.
yay!
I remember tiedying loads of my tshirts. It was great fun. My parents hated it.
I never did that until a few years ago on a camping trip.