Hippie Interview

Danny Van Bosch and Mitch Lingren

The hippie subculture was a youth movement that spread across the country in the mid-1960s. It first
arose in small communities as a way for individuals to embracing change, enjoy psychedelic rock,
oppose war, and explore their minds and bodies. Their countercultural values soon spread to all over
the world, giving rise to liberal culture, indoctrination of peace and love, and freedom from
oppression.

I have with me here today a genuine hippie who was even present at the famous Woodstock Festival
in 1969 and he’s here to answer some questions;

Why did you choose the hippie lifestyle?

Man, I just wanted to get away from it all. I was young, and wanted to stay hip with what everyone else
was doing.

What was the hippie movement trying to accomplish?

All we wanted was peace, nothing else. We weren’t looking for political power, revolution or war. We all
just wanted to live a simple, peaceful life and maybe even better the human race along the way.

Do you believe that you accomplished anything in the late 1960s and early 1970s?

Of course. We didn’t like, change the world. But through our music, rallies, and influence on the young,
we spread ideas that prevented violence and preserved the environment. Not all of us were lazy as most
made us out to be. Many hippies were educated and influential members of the community.

Can you explain why your clothes are so wild and colorful?

It’s was an expression of our independence, our way of breaking away from the norm, the straight and
square.

What was Woodstock like?

Those three days were the best of my life. Over 500,000 people gathered to witness one of the greatest
shows on Earth. Bands such as Jimi Hendrex and the Grateful Dead played some of the craziest hits of
the age. It was muddy, hot and rainy, but it was worth it.

What is the legacy of the hippie movement?

When people talk about the 60s, they generally refer to psychedelic drugs and rumpled, rainbow
clothing. Yet, I feel that our generation was the first to work towards civil rights and freedom for all. We
spoke out against injustice and empowered the young to follow what they believed in.
Obviously hippies are not as prominent today as they were in the 1960s. Do you plan on ever trying to
live that way again, or influence people to take part in this lifestyle? And if so, how?

I don’t want to influence anyone to do something that they don’t truly want to do themselves. The
reason the hippie movement was so inspiring was that all these kids made the decision themselves to
better their way of life and learn not to hate. I will most likely never live this way again, but I will always
be a hippie at heart.

Thank you for such an insightful interview. Now leave, you smell terrible.