The Vietnam War: The Meaning Of The Peace Movement

Be damned the bigoted, the narrow minded, the conservative politicians of the United States. “History teaches us that men and nations behave wisely once they have exhausted all other alternatives” said Abba Eban. The Peace Movement was/is a social movement that seeks to achieve ideals such as the ending of a particular war (or all wars), minimize inter-human violence in a particular place or type of situation, and is often linked to the goal of achieving world peace (dictionary.com). This movement began a never-ending battle for the pacification of war and conflict between nations, countries, and peoples. From around 1967, the hippie movement's fundamental ethos — including harmony with nature, communal living, artistic experimentation particularly

The peace movement began with protest of the 1955 Vietnam War. Massive gatherings of anti-war demonstrators helped bring attention to the public resentment of U.S. involvement in Vietnam. These activists, some known as hippies, were battling for peace in a world of war. A hippie is a person of unconventional appearance, typically having long hair and wearing beads, associated with a subculture involving a rejection of conventional values. The hippie counterculture movement began around the same time as the peace movement. The counterculture movement was “an alternative lifestyle that seeked overhaul of domestic policy within the United States”(Richards). These two movements partnered up in the battle to make peace not war. Similar political stand points and actions made to begin the war in the 1960’s have reacurred in the current time, 2017. The peace and hippie movements are now making a strong, necessary

Hippies were viewed as people who were lazy, who did not work, who abused illegal drugs, and who felt they did not have to live up to or follow “The Man’s” expectations. Hippies went against the black and white aspect of the world. Considering the fact this movement began during the Vietnam war explains the hate hippie life received. Paul Gainor, a news reporter in the 70’s reported, “Memorial Park had become a gathering place for members of the counterculture and radical youths in previous years. In the summer of 1969, a radical youth group called Youth for Peace, Freedom and Justice began holding communal suppers in the park, and also obtained a permit for free film showings in the park, including radical films from the Newsreel Film Collective. On May 6, 1970, an antiwar demonstration was held at the park that culminated in a march to the local draft board office. A "fist-swinging melee" between police and 100 youths ensued” stated Gainor. Five youths were arrested, and a policeman and three protesters were injured” according to Paul. However, the hippies that displayed this attitude towards life did not always break the law, and if they did, they faced the consequences of their actions as noted in the previous sentence. Hippies had a broader outlook on what life should stand for; love, peace, happiness,