Neo-hippies
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Neo-hippies (or "hepcats") are the modern offshoot of the Left-of-Center political establishment, people who share some or many of the the 1960's hippie philosophy. Some of these are sons, daughters and grandchildren of the original hippies. Others are anti-religious, or modern-greens; LGBT, or antiwar activists.
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[edit] 1990s
The modern, Neo-hippie movement was born out of various social and civil issues that came up from the 1970s and 1980s. Those included religious freedoms, sexual freedoms, LGBT rights, and environmental awareness. Various Liberal groups that formed in the 1980s banded together in the early 1990s around common liberal themes; giving far greater numbers to help fight for each minor groups cause. With the death of the electric car, the reeling in of social freedoms and the various attempts to ban LGBT relationships; coupled with the growing religious impact within the government, the Neo-hippie was born. Beyond a shared respect for their past; neo-hippies rarely have the same social outcast mentality. Most demonstrations are displays of passive resistance and non-violent protest; i.e. chaining themselves to trees and equipment, blocking entry en mass to companies they disagree with.
[edit] Neo-Hippie Beliefs and Philosophy
In holding to the past, neo-hippies remain pure-earth. They forgo many comforts to protect and save the planet for future generations. They live waste-free; recycling, reusing, and composting most, if not all of their discarded materials. They hold the belief that all that has been made can be unmade. They often support environmentally responsible construction of high-rise buildings and multi-family living, whilst remaining staunchly opposed to cookie-cutter homes and any new development on open land. Many neo-hippies also believe in equal protection rights for animals as are granted for humans.
The neo-hippie still adheres to free-love and free-sex, but to a very different end. While the 1960s [hippie] fought for racial equality in relations, both of friendship and of intimacy; the neo-hippie currently accepts that if not necessarily socially accepted such relationships have gained legal protection. The fight now is for legal protection and constitutional equality for LGBT relations. Many neo-hippies also adhere to naturalism (the refusal of women to shave and wear bras) and Naturism (acceptance of the human body in its natural form, not needing to be hidden from view with clothing). Neo-hippies often oppose the current mandates of abstinence-only funding for public schools that teach sexual education.
Neo-hippies tend to be anti-corporate in mentality. They actively demonstrate and over the past 10 years have even moved to litigating against corporate "evil". Such notable cases include McLibel, The People vs PETA (California), PETA vs USPS, and Midwestern Greens, The Party Of vs United States Postal Service (Illinois), among many others.
Neo-hippies strongly adhere to the basic freedom to believe in any spiritual or religious philosophy. Many also believe that that includes freedom from religion. Neo-hippies believe in the natural right to practice an philosophy at any time as long as it does not hinder anyone else's beliefs. Most neo-hippies are against any reference to religious beliefs in public forum by members of the government and oppose staff-sponsored organized prayer in public schools.
[edit] Music, Culture, and Social Structure
One of the biggest differences in the neo-hippy movement contrasting the original hippy society is the music and culture. Neo-hippies have in many circles shed the image of psychedelic music, hand-made tie-die clothing and other drug related stimulants. Neo-hippies have commonly fallen into either cross-interest or tight specific groups of musical genres. The common tastes include classic Folk music, heavy folk-rock, Jam Bands (like the Grateful Dead), progressive rock, bluegrass, techno 80s industrial, new age and [, and the sub-groups of those core genres. As well as a wide range of electronic music including drum n bass, goa psy-trance, breakbeat, jungle offshoots (such as ragga and bashment). Whilst gatherings still often revolve around music, many neo-hippies have become politically involved as well. Organizations such as Moveon.org and PDA have chapters that are made up of mostly or entirely neo-hippies, as well as other notables including PETA American Greens and Earth Love. In the UK neo-hippies are heavily involved in perpetuating the rave/freeparty music scene
[edit] Criticisms
Many criticisms of the hippie period following the Summer of Love continue to resonate: critics say neo-hippies can be shallow and hedonistic, and that their lifestyle is often fueled by drugs and the same middle-class money it claims to oppose. Critics also argue that most neo-hippies do not adhere to their beliefs, but instead use their "hippie" image for the purpose of fashion. Another criticism is that the few neo-hippies who truly believe in their rhetoric have essentially disconnected themselves from society.
The Rebel Sell details a more thorough criticism of both original and neo-hippie 'counter-culture' as being essentially individualistic and materialistic--thus consumer advocating, despite claims to the contrary. This individualistic approach is evident in the isolating back-to-the-land movement, and in the non-aligned hippie and neo-hippie political approach. Back-to-the-land ideas echo the original frontier mentality of American expansion and, ironically, lead to environmentally destructive suburban sprawl. Political individualism is contrary to the co-operative principles of compromise and defining common ground, essentially the same each-for-oneself ethos that defines unadulterated capitalism.
In the US, the art car has almost replaced the VW Bus since the latter has become sought-after by enthusiasts; however, a few hippie-era buses remain. In the UK and Europe, New age travellers in converted buses and trucks are generally referred to by others as "hippies", although most of them will strenuously reject this and other labels. Environmentally friendly technology is also associated with the hippie ethos--hybrid vehicles, biodiesel and SVO/WVO technology.
Drug use is almost as acceptable as in the original hippie days, although most neo-hippies do not consider it necessary to take drugs in order to be part of the lifestyle. Some neo-hippies frown upon excessive drug use, and many neo-hippies denounce the use of illegal drugs in general, with the exceptions of cannabis and psychedelics, such as LSD, psilocybin mushrooms and mescaline-containing cacti, such as peyote.
[edit] Various Gatherings
One of the largest original-minded music and arts festival is called The Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival. It is a four-day, multi-stage, summer camping festival held on a 700-acre farm in Manchester, Tennessee, and it is reminiscent of the festivals of the 1960s. Its emphasis on all levels of art and music has brought with it an open minded attitude.
Rainbow gatherings are another expression of hippie and neo-hippie culture, still active and viable. Burning Man is a also a gathering of this culture. It takes place in the desert of Nevada, and is often referred as a temporary community/city, called Black Rock City.
[edit] Other Sources
New Political movement for for global solidarity
