The hippy movement

By the late sixties, San Francisco had become a mecca for young people. They gathered on Haight Street and Ashbury Avenue, in the panhandle, the long narrow extension of Golden Gate Park, and in small dirty apartments, to smoke marijuana, play the guitar, take L.S.D. and listen to rock music. They called themselves "hippies" and called the rest of society "straight"(recta).They said they had "dropped out "(Decían que "pasaban" ), meaning they did not accept the values and moral standards that had defined American culture since the end of the Second World War. At first the middle class was amused by these flower children.Certainly  they seemed better than the political activists of the previous years.But later when their own children began taking drugs and running away (escaparse) from home, they decided that this new movement was a serious threat (amenaza) to their system.

Who were the hippies? It's difficult to say precisely. But in general they were young people from a variety of economic and racial backgrounds who had become disillusioned with American society.No doubt, many of them had been involved in the civil rights movement and anti-Vietnam war protests until they realized that their protesting wasn't doing any good. There was still racial discrimination.There was still war in Vietnam. But they had gone so far, they couldn't turn back (no podían volver atrás) and accept their parent's beliefs. So, they dropped out and looked for alternative life styles in communes, drugs and eastern religions.

What's your opinion ? Was the hippy movement good or bad ? Are there any hippies in your country now ?