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Beatniks, hipsters and hippies are a form of an American style bohemian subculture. And the bohemian subculture is deeply rooted in centuries old liberal European artistic scene. But what made the hippies different from all the other groups was that they demonstrated against US Government's policies in the nineteen-sixties, and brought about many social-political changes in their homeland and the world. Hippies also questioned many popular values and beliefs. They professed ideas of peace, love, pacifism, ecology, civil rights, gay rights and more. Hippies had followers allover the world in just a few years. Hence, in America the tern "hippy" or "hippie" became a synonym for "a social reformer" and also a "user of soft, psychedelic drugs". However, few are aware of the great role The Beatles played in the initiation, popularization and globalization of the hippie movement and ideas. That's why I decided to build this page dedicated entirely to them.

The Beatles were very popular among almost all progressive-minded social groups of their times. That made them good bridge-building Ambassadors for the 1969s Peace Movement/ Hippy Movement. Yet, some of The Beatles still shocked parts of the public and their fans when they openly spoke out on verious issues. The most controversial of the four was John Lennon. John was charged for drug abuse in England and had to seek refuge in America. He applied for a Green Card (permanent residence) at the Immigration and Naturalization Office in New York. But even though John was still a British citizen, a fugitive from the law and awaiting approval from the American authorities he and Yoko Ono - his Japanese wife did not refrain from public criticism of the Vietnam War or President Nixon.

The Beatles did not conform to the system and stood by what they believed in. In a short time they and the hippies had much of the nation and the world behind them. As a result of this support, work of antiwar activists and other events that followed President Nixon lost office, the US backed out of Vietnam and President Carter amnestied draft evaders such as I - The Polish Hippy. Since then, no other generation of young Americans had to face a draft.

I wonder if there is any other place in the world today where foreigners could do as much for any nation as the Beatles did for America then. I also wonder if there is any other place in the world where one generation of young people could have so much influence on its government's fundamental policies as the hippies had in such a short time.

It was also The Beatles' first coincidental interest in two Yoga teachers from India (Maharishi Yogi and Prabhupada) that made those two teachers probably the best known Hindu Gurus in the world today. Later, Paul and George also finished Yoga Teachers training courses and did a lot of teaching through their own music. Guess, in a way The Beatles were like four Gods (Sans.: Anthakarana) who came to the rescue of the world (and The Stones were like the five sense organs). And in a way, Haight Ashbury [Hashberry], Chicago's Old Town, NY's Greenwich Village and other 60's hippie Meccas will be remembered as a kind of sacred grounds by many of us. Oh, and lets not forget the Monterey Music Festival that got the hippie movement off the ground and the things that followed were probably initiated there and then. It probably marks the dawn of the hippie movement at its Golden Age. The time of the Summer of Love Festival was like a great holiday for many hippies and especially for me because on the First of January of 1968 I turned sixteen. And as you may know, when one's sixteen there's love in the air and everything's beautiful in its own way even though, as Barry McGuire used to sing, it may be "the eve of destruction" or a kind of transformation from one state of being to another. Guess, that's why they call it sweet sixteen. So in a way, the Summer of Love vibration was in harmony with my life vibration. After that in mid-August 1969 followed the Woodstock Festival, which was also one of the most important historical hippie events that perhaps also marks the Autumn of the Movement. The events that followed Woodstock brought about rapid changes and an end to the Vietnam War. Between these important events there were also many other less remembered ones. There were many happenings, be-ins, folk music festivals, concerts, coffee houses where hippies gathered and in many parks and on many campuses where there were long haired boys, some music, a sense of brotherly love and a smell of incense in the air... was a time and a place of a hippie festival/ holiday.

from: beatles.murashev.com

But now, let's get real for a minute... whether this new age will be a better one or not does not depend on the stars, the position of the planets or anything else like that, as some may believe. It will depend mainly on all of us; on what we believe in, what we stand up for (before it's too late), and how we stand up for what we believe in. Sooo, Flower Children, have hope and keep the faith, and may the groove (the force) be with you always.