The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary defines culture as, “the customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits of a racial, religious, or social group.” Within the United States there are cultures ranging from Jewish to teen, and even ranging from motorcycle cultures to vegetarian cultures. Though there are many cultures in America, only one culture in particular exists that has affected mainstream American society significantly: the hippie culture. The hippie culture came about as a reaction to the clouted lives of European and American living. Since then, it has evolved from a small following, to an enormous movement and now exists as part of mainstream America. The hippie culture influenced typical American beliefs in three specific subjects which are political beliefs, sexual attitudes, and drug use. One of the key foundations of the hippie culture is to challenge the “accepted” workings of the government.
The most memorable questioning of the United States government came during the Vietnam War. Many hippies felt that the Vietnam War was an unjustified war and that all American military personnel should immediately be brought back to the United States. In order to have their opinions heard, many hippie groups participated in anti-war and anti-Vietnam protests. There were reported incidents of these protests leading into violent confrontation between the hippie culture and military figures, but it was recently discovered that these confrontations were incited by government officials. The government created these altercations in order to discredit the hippie movement, and to have the “common man” not like the hippie culture. These government actions however, did not work. Thus, the hippie view of utter pacifism and views opposing war have affected the current American state of mind. The people of the twenty-first century are now more prone to question the motives and actions of the American government, such as the invasion of Afghanistan, and the subsequent invasion of Iraq. Also, the hippie movement advocated personal freedoms, such as interracial dating, vegetarianism, and the legalization of drugs.
These hippie beliefs have had lasting effect on American culture which have been proven by a rise in interracial marriages and American vegetarians and an increased call for legal drug use. Preceding the hippie movement in America,anti-miscegenation laws existed. These laws prohibited interracial dating and interracial marriage. Early on, the hippie culture did not support these laws, and in fact flaunted partners of different racial heritages. This era of free love challenged these relationship taboos set forth by certain American states. The hippie culture had a profound effect on the anti-miscegenation laws being repealed in 1967 in the landmark case of Loving v. Virginia. The liberal ideas of interracial dating still carry on strong to this day, including both Tiger Woods who was born of mixed heritage and Keanu Reeves who was married to a non-white wife. Besides promoting interracial dating, the hippie culture expressed belief in equality for homosexuals and bisexuals. However, there was no full acceptance of homosexuality when applicable to communal living. Many hippies shied away from this, even though they did believe in equal rights and fair treatment for bisexuals and homosexuals. This belief in equality resonates still today in modern day America, where homosexuality and bisexuality are no longer as taboo or looked down upon as they once were. Even though the hippie culture changed America’s view on politics and sexuality, the most controversial belief is related to drugs. Drug use and legalization went hand in hand with the hippie idea of personal freedom. In the eyes of the hippie culture, drug use was seen as not something evil, but something used to transcend consciousness. A wide variety of drugs were used, ranging from marijuana and hashish to mescaline and LSD.
Hippies proclaimed that these drugs should be used to learn about oneself, but ironically discouraged substance abuse, however discouragements were not always heeded. The most significant drug activity in relation to the hippie movement was the Love Pageant Rally. California was passing a law to ban LSD, and in response, the Golden Gate Park was filled the day before the ordinance went into effect. At the same moment, all the participants took his or her hit of LSD. This even spoke loudly to America; it showed a huge act of civil disobedience, and an energy to pursue the legalization of drugs. It is testament that the issue of drug use proves that the seeds that the hippies planted have blossomed with the existence of NORML, a marijuana legalization party, and many other anti-War On Drug organizations. Without these hippie forerunners, many topics would have gone on unchallenged.Throughout America’s history, many cultures have helped to shape it. From the Founding Fathers to Masons, and from Kabbalistic Jews to Irishmen, all cultures have contributed to the society of America. However, one of the most influential cultures of modern America has been the hippie culture. This culture has shaped the Americans’ current views on politics, sexuality, and drug use. ‘If if this culture had not emerged during the right time, America would still exist in a period of ignorance.
