Should we go back to the 1960s?
During this past month, a topic has continued to surface inside my mind, in between brief preparation and argument. I kept thinking about what life, and how the times were like during the 1960s. Most of you may make the association with the hippie culture, drugs, free sex, and other forms of extreme behavior, but the 1960s were also, to some extent, a time of political and social peace, tolerance, and acceptance of others. Also, I cannot recall during the later part of the 60s ever feeling as if terrorism or the threat thereof was something that this country needed to consider, or worry about. Freedom of thought was present, the political parties seemed to work together, division being the extreme rather than the norm. For the most part, individual and women's rights were secure, and the idea of our country becoming a magnified 'police state' was not ever an issue. There were so many differences, as my husband and I noted this morning to warrant distinction.
Here is the question of the day? Even if you were not alive during the 1960s, but have information about the environment and what had occurred, do you think we should go back to those times? Are there aspects about the 1960s that you feel made us better off as Americans than we are today? Are their aspects that you would like to change or get rid of from that time? Do you believe that the 1960s were a more peaceful, accepting and tolerance time in the history of America?
Thank you for your minds.
Here is the question of the day? Even if you were not alive during the 1960s, but have information about the environment and what had occurred, do you think we should go back to those times? Are there aspects about the 1960s that you feel made us better off as Americans than we are today? Are their aspects that you would like to change or get rid of from that time? Do you believe that the 1960s were a more peaceful, accepting and tolerance time in the history of America?
Thank you for your minds.
16 Comments:
Ahhh, a fun and interesting question. Thanks, Barbara!
The 60s were a strange time. I wouldn't sum it all up as being an age of tolerance. After all, we had the race riots. We weren't OK with people living together, and the hippies were considered to be on the fringe. They were seen by standard America as being a little below vermin.
We were way too naive about nuclear weapons. My ex husband lived through the Cuban Missile crisis here in Florida. They would have the school children go through drills where they'd take cover under their desks in the event of a nuclear attack. Looking back on it, everyone laughs because when it comes to nuclear attack you can run, but you can't hide.
Birth control pills were first introduced in the 60s, which opened up the 'free love' attitude of the late 60s and early 70s, and reintroduced sexually transmitted diseases. Luckily, we had penicillin! However, despite modern portrayals, there wasn't nearly as much promiscuity as occurred afterward in the 1970s.
If you weren't a married couple, you'd better sign the hotel register as Mr. and Mrs.
Illegal drugs became a large part of the hippie culture, and many 'thinkers' also started using them to 'expand' their horizons. Acid was very popular. I've never tried it, but heard some amusing (AND horrifying) stories about it.
Fashions returned to the 1920s flapper styles.
On the other hand, there were still more possibilities when we were a younger nation. Women and minorities were just beginning to get equal rights. But many states still made it illegal for blacks and whites to intermarry. And homosexuality was outlawed, as was living 'in sin'.
I don't think there was more tolerance of debate, but there were definately new, intriguing ideas that hadn't been introduced before.
Over all, I like the time we live in now. I wouldn't trade it for the 1960s, or even the 1970s.
Normal Jew, *LOL*
y'know, until yesterday, i was thinking that we had perhaps reclaimed some of the spirit of the 60s (the good bits!)
i was thinking of the numbers of people who walked on the anti-war march in london a couple of years back (1m) and the momentum generated (partly by the UK govt) on the third world poverty agenda and its widespread support from ordinary people (i've lost count of how many white wristbands i've seen in the last few weeks)
in fact, i still feel it in many ways but my brain is a little addled after yesterday's atrocity
anyway, for what it's worth, you might be interested to read this piece by a respected british journalist/intellectual who just turned 70 from the uk guardian a couple of weeks back: http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,,1498010,00.html
I was just just a young child growing up in the sixties, I watched my older siblings appear to have fun.
I really was a 70`s person, at least, by that time I was plotting to leave home and get out into the big wide world!
As saurkraut said, women were really just beginnibg to get independance in the 60`s, but I think it took a lot longer for women to work out the best way of living this sense of freedom, and what it meant to them.
I`m not sure that everyone had such a good time in the sixties though.
For some peculiar reason, known only to the UK government, rationing, instigated during WW2 had really only ended mid to late 50`s.
My memories of the sixties were of a lot of families struggling a bit.
During the sixties, the National Health Service here were above question, doctors discussed patients as if they weren`t actually present in the room, whereas nowadays, the patient is treated with utmost respect, and they are obviously allowed to question.
The music was a real turning point in the sixties, as was fashion!
I think the sixties were the wake-up call for everyone, a much needed fresh approach, and set the pace for what came after.
It probably is a shame that life is more cynical, but it had to happen.
Like saurkraut, I like the time I live in now, technology is better, health is better, and hopefully, if you ask me the same question in a few years time, about now, I hope that I will prefer the time period that I`m living in at that point too!
I really hope that last bit made sense!!!
Good question Barbara!
Oh, what a brilliant post! Love it.
I was young in the 60s and lived in the L.A. area. What fun we had. I protested with the best of them. The music was wonderful. Just a great time and place to be alive. I frequently say, "No matter what, I was young and in L.A. in the 60s. They can't take that away from me!" We rocked!
But abortion was illegal. In places other than CA, homosexuals had to be VERY careful or they'd land in JAIL. Women who got pregnant "out of wedlock" were not accepted. And the differences of opinion about the war were very dividing. Far more dividing than the civilized disagreements about the current war.
On balance, I would not go back to those times. I miss the fun we had, but not the turmoil.
Sometimes I think I was a gay male hippie during that time, died, and was reborn in '72 to square (as hell) parents who thought all hippies were (and I quote) "Dinks."
Should we go back? I have no idea. But I would love to go to Woodstock.
"a time of political and social peace, tolerance, and acceptance of others."
Huh? Barbara, the 60's were filled with race riots, campus unrest, violent protests against the Viet Nam War, shall I go on?
thc,
I have noticed a pattern to your posts, mostly you ask a question of a question, and there is some negativity about associated with what I say. Is there a reason for this? I have been reading over your posts, and am curious about this, nothing more. Have you noticed this yourself? Is there something to be made of it? Just curious, and thank you.
Yes, normal Jew's comments are funny, and saurkraut, you do raise some good issues as do you tan lucy.
I was young during the 60s, my husband was older, and I think his comments stem from a different perspective.
What seems to me that has occurred in society today, is almost a machine like approach to life. I see it in my own children, and everywhere I look. Coupled with that, especially in the area of politics, is so much deviciveness, and intolerance, with each party rarely uniting on points, but more often than not dividing. I am also deeply disturbed about all the terrorism in the world today, which is scary for me and my children.
And contrary to what many think,it seems that people today, in gneral are less tolerant and accepting of others whose points of view differ from their own, either being dismissive, negative or just plain mean.
But your points about women, and their struggles are definitely well taken. Personally, I remember the 70s much better than the 60s, from my own life experiences.
You know, this post really made me think, but in a different way.
I began thinking about women's rights (which I feel very strongly about).
I remember seeing a movie (for the life of me, I can't remember which one it was) and there was a female cop in it. The movie was made in the early 80s. The woman was treated by her fellow males with patronization. And she comes off as being too ... feminine. Not real. And too defensive of her role as a cop. It was odd, because our mentality has changed so much since then.
Looking back, I remember that as late as the early 90s, lots of workplaces demanded that women wear dresses, skirts, and pantyhose. You weren't allowed to wear pants (heaven only knows why). Talk about discrimination! I always seethed about it. Now all civilized workplaces 'allow' women to wear pants. ;-p
I'm also a member of the Lucy Stone League, which promotes equality in last name choice. They're not saying that women shouldn't take their husband's last name, but they're pointing out that everyone should discuss this and consider both last names equally. I am constantly amazed to find that modern young women who are getting married are abandoning their heritage this way...
But I'm deviating from the topic. Sorry.
I was born in the 60s but I remember the 70s much better. I'm with sauerkraut -- national consciousness regarding issues surrounding women's rights and government-supported childcare was much more advanced than it is today. We have regressed dramatically, and I look back at that time with a great deal of nostalgia.
And I too get sad that so few women keep their given names upon marriage. I kept mine, but I read somewhere recently that about 95% of women change theirs. I find that astonishing. I regard my name as a marker of the people I came from, not the person I married. I respect women's (and men's) right to change their names (I know one woman who was sexually abused by her father and couldn't WAIT to shuck his name), but I resent that I'm supposed to feel pressured to change MINE.
The irony is that the only person in our families who won't accept that I kept my name is my own mother. But she's got major issues. Boy, could I go on about her issues.
Okay, now I'M getting off topic... :-)
I hear you winterwheat. I kept my maiden name, 25 years ago, when it was considered quite shocking for a woman not to be identified on the basis of her spouse! Some relatives were so unaccepting that their addressed mail to Mr. Smith and Spouse!
Today, it is more common, thankfully, but I hope that we are not headed backwards regarding women and their rights. (see my post above.)
I didn't change my last name when Wolf and I married three years ago. Just about all the mail we got came to Mr. and Mrs. Wolf, along with checks. I sent them all back with notes explaining why and everytime after that when I got mail to Mrs. Wolf, I sent it back "addressee unknown." People got the idea really quickly--except my grandmother.
My point is it's still a contentious issue.
Interesting one,
I keep typing, rethinking, then typing again!
I had been going to say that the sixties were really important because ordinary people felt that they could change things...but then I thought..no, people were doing that in different ways, centuries before...
so why should I think the sixties were so different?
But, interestingly, there is definately something different about the sixties that we all acknowledge.
It feels different to us..isn`t that strange?
We think of the sixties as a time of enlightenment, a more optimistic time, where people made a difference, and things changed.
But when I question my reasoning for this, I can`t quite justify it.
It may well be that the seeds of change were sown in the 60`s, but that the real changes evolved afterwards, and are still doing so.
But, in thought, I`m not sure that the 60`s were more optimistic, or that we are indeed more cynical today, as I said in my last post.
The world has always been a dangerous place, and I`m perhaps not convinced that it is any less or more dangerous than it was previously.
I remember in the 60`s growing up with a constant fear of nuclear war, and the cuban crisis seemed so real and immediate..as if it would happen at any moment. It took me years to lose the fear that nuclear war was something which would definately happen at some point.
But, Fortunately, I saw the end of apartheid in my lifetime, something which seemed so unachievable at that time.
So, where am I going with this one...help me someone!....well, Barbara, it is certainly a good question!!
It`s making us challenge our memories against what we see now...
not sure if I think things are that much different, on reflection...
and I think my wee brain has melted!
Good to see you back on form Barbara!
Barbara: I would love to go back to the 60s if it was a decade of political and social harmony, as you suggest. But your assumption has me confused, otherwise it's a very interesting question.
My recollection of the 60's is that it was a decade of assassinations, race riots, burning and looting on college campuses and war protests, some quite violent.
I say YES! I have always wanted a 1967 Camaro.
Gas was cheap, pot was cheap, we only had to worry about the Russians (who were even more worried about us - nobody was going to push the button)
Seems like a good trade off to me!
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