60's Idealism Meets 21st Century Ennui

Bonjour de France, ma amie. Sixties idealism has been transformed in many ways. It is one of the themes I like to explore. Suffice to say, that the Clintons are not a very representative vector of this transformation, though they do offer an example of how public campus speech has evolved into other public expression, including, in their case, political speech.

A less obvious change has been the way in which many Sixties and Seventies idealists took their interests private and become entrepreneurs. Ironically people like Steve Wozniak and Bill Gates have re-entered the policy arena now that they are independently wealthy, but are covering areas in which few politicians venture. I'm not sure if these two bought into the original idealism ethic, but they have been very effective in promoting idealism in their more recent ventures.

Did you feel like this in the 60s? Oh, wait, I'm making the mistaken assumption that you were an adult by then....so I take it that you heard this song and felt this way from the start? Just like my son did when I put on a Judy Collins CD called Blue and he said, "Yuck! Her voice is terrible!" He likes music where the people sit around and yell in unison.

Cute Beth. I'd hammer out love between my brothers and sisters, all over this laaaaaand.

Bells are mostly used for annoying neighbors. Tie a few jingle bells to your shoelaces and wear them to work and see how much your coworkers are really willing to tolerate you. Idealism flies right out the window and suddenly becomes a call for capital punishment!

If I could teach the world to sing... I'd skip that and just give em the coke. Much more cost effective.

Smile, nicely done Beth. 60's ideals get lost at speed the world moves now.

I liked this one Beth. Kind of reminds of that old bumper sticker that I loved
"Nuke the Whales" Hey, if you cant laugh at yourself, you are doomed. I used to say that all the time, but some of my comrades were not amused.

James, I'm honored that you checked in from France. Yes, the ways idealism is expressed has certainly changed over the years. But the innocence and certainty behind it is much the same.

Jane, I don't even feel this way now. ;-) I was looking for something for Humor Monday, and for some reason this song stuck in my head. Was imagining what a young person today might think of it.

I was a child in the 60s and I'll admit that the turbulent world I saw on TV scared me. People protesting, angry faces on the news, teens spaced out on drugs, assassinations. Young people yelling at police and business owners My first memory of meeting a group of hippies in person? They were stinky. Big time. I wondered what was fun about not bathing for several days. (I think my odor detector is over sensitized!)

TV images were vivid. It took me a few more years to really understand what was happening.

Bet you never imagined then that you'd be friends with hippies today!

Nicely done, Beth. I wonder what you can come with for "Puff the Magic Dragon".

Or Dancing In The Streets...Thanks for posting this to Best Original Photos, Art and Writing for 2008.

This was so well done, Beth. Thanks for posting to Writing Essentials: Humor Monday.

I want a Mamas and Papas song a week, Beth!

Groovy, Beth. For whatever reason, this made me think of the oxymoron that is "penny candy."

Whizzzzzzzzzzz!

That was the reference flying by me.

Don't feel bad, Viv, it flew right by me too. I'll pretend I know the reference and laugh anyway. :-)

Okay, now I'm feeling old. I need to go read some more humor articles to get me to laugh.

Sorry Beth.