Hippie

Hippie (or sometimes "hippy") is a term originally used to describe some of the rebellious youth of the 1960s and 1970s. The word, "hippie" was coined by the late San Francisco Chronicle columnist Herb Caen.

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Though not a cohesive cultural movement with manifestos and leaders, some hippies expressed their desire for change with communal or nomadic lifestyles, by renouncing corporate nationalism and the Vietnam War, by embracing aspects of non-traditional religious cultures, and with criticism of Western middle class values.

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Such criticism included the views that the government was paternalistic, corporate industry was greedy and domineering, traditional morals were askew, and war was inhumane. The structures and institutions they rejected came to be called The Establishment.

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The term "hippie" has also been used in a derogatory sense, to describe long-haired unkempt drug users, who by Beat standards was someone that was not "Hip" or "aware" or "clever" enough to really be "hip". Conservatives of the time and today used the term "hippie" as an insult towards young liberals and progressives.

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"Hippies" of the time were interested in "tuning in to their inner minds" (with or without drugs, mystic meditation) and improving mainstream society. This influence was sometimes from far eastern metaphysical and religious practices that were done mostly by monks and aboriginal shaman in the past. The inclusion of far eastern religious practice in religious circles of the 1970s became a New Age movement for Mystics and "Spiritual Seekers," as well as a joke for hipster comedians.

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1960s: The 1960s, or The Sexy Sixties, in its most obvious sense refers to the decade between 1960 and 1969, but the expression has taken on a wider meaning over the past twenty years. The Sixties has come to refer to the complex of inter-related cultural and political events which occurred in approximatel...

1970s: This article provides extensive lists of events and significant personalities of the 1970s. For an in-depth article on the cultural and social trends of the decade, please see The Seventies...

San Francisco Chronicle: The San Francisco Chronicle, the self-described "Voice of the West," is Northern California's largest newspaper. Serving primarily the San Francisco Bay Area, it has a daily circulation of over 500,000. The paper has been owned by Hearst Communications, Inc. since July 27, 2000. At one time the Chro...

Hippie related Images and Photos (experimental)

AMT Hippie Hemi Model Kit

Hippie Poet Allen Ginsberg Smoking

Hippie Couple Randy Brook and Laurie Thruelsen Hitchhiking Cross Country

NoFx - Never Trust a Hippie