The Legacy of the 60s is Still Very Much With Us

Pajamas Media » Blog Archive » Viewing the 1960s From My 60s

This particular piece written by Burt Prelutsky alludes to some of the major hypocrisies of the Baby Boomer generation. While I personally feel that Mr. Prelutsky comes across as a bit bitter in this particular article, he brings up some very valid points. I especially enjoyed his discussion of how subsequent generations have used "Free Speech" as a way to silence the opposition. That is exactly what is happening across the world today.

One of the biggest revelations for me came from one of the comments attached to the piece:

As a teen in the 70s, I could never get my head around the concept of conforming to non-conformity. The self-indulgent behavior of those around me seemed immature and ultimately self destructive. I saw a lot of young people from the neighborhood wrecking their lives with sex and drugs and alcohol; some of whom ended up on or welfare or Disability Insurance, or in jail; a few who died prematurely.

The negative repercussions of the irresponsible embrace of immaturity reverberate to this day in many poor communities. Would some of the people I knew have destroyed their lives anyway had the 60s never happened? Undoubtedly so. But the unfortunate legacy of the 60s was to make self destruction look cool, acceptable and desirable, and thus an easier choice for them to make.

If I had changed "70s" to "90s," I certainly could have written that comment (minus the issues with punctuation and sentence structure). I never could grasp the concept of conforming to non-conformity either. It became especially glaring while I was in college during the earlier part of this decade. I could never understand why people ascribing to multiculturalism, free speech, and the like never wanted to hear the other side of real issues. I understand now that it is a means to hang on to power. I still can't quite get over the sheer hypocrisy though. Now I know why Idol Gives back bothered me though. More on that here. It all leads back to hypocrisy. In most cases, I can't stand Hollywood simply due to the arrogance, hypocrisy, and moral relativism present in that particular fishbowl.

Lindsey

Robin Williams on American Idol Gives Back

As much as I cringed at the ultra-Liberal love-fest that was American Idol gives back, this Robin Williams piece made it worth it. By the way, I think the charities they support are wonderful. I fully support what they are doing; I am sickened when celebrities turn it into a political statement. I wish that they could just support a cause without having to play the political card and make it appear that only liberals support such causes. I digress.

Anyway, this particular piece is laugh-out-loud funny. Brian was literally on the floor laughing just due to the name of the Russian Idol (i.e. Robin Williams). I've been so serious on this blog lately, I really needed to lighten things up. I urge anyone who can to donate to Idol Gives Back.