40 years on: Today's generation has parents to thank for liberal values
An article in the Times today was a heartening reminder that amidst all the talk of neo-conservatism and religious fundamentalism rearing its ugly head, most of us are really a load of hippies at heart. And we may have our parents to thank for this...
That's my Mum, back in 1967, year of the 'summer of love' which took place an astonishing 40 years ago. To many, it seemed as though the hippy ideals of the sixties were lost as the former flower children cut their hair, took out mortgages and generally went to seed. But now it seems we have our parents to thank for a generation that values of peace, love and concern for the planet. I'm sure it's no coincidence that it also favours flowing maxi-dresses (in organic cotton) and has a big fondness for festivals...
The Times article proves its point with some statistics which, while encouraging, are also kind of bizarre: apparently 82% of us now 'want to save the planet' (and the rest want...what?) while three quarters believe in sex before marriage (the other quarter exists?). Still, it's a step in the right direction.
So let's hear it for those peace-loving, long-haired hippies whose dreams of a greener, more sustainable and self-sufficient lifestyle were just the seeds of what's now become a blossoming new way of life, work and play.
