Woodstock, peace signs, drugs, peace- these all bring to mind the notorious group of the sixties recognized as hippies. To many people, hippies seemed frightening, mystifying, and inexplicable. They were perceived as being dirty, drugged, and disrespectful to elders and society. While the young men were styling long hair and beards, men and women were dressing in outlandish fashions and passionately publicizing peace and love. What was going on with the phenomenon called the hippies? My parents had an active role in this bewildered society in the 60's. They, along with the rest of the hippy generation, were simply unsatisfied with humanity, and thought they knew the cure for it.
My parents were on a quest for enlightenment. They were convinced that the manner in which to achieve peace in society was through love. To them, it was a matter of reverence for others and their right to freely be who they were. "Love is all you need," these Beatles' lyrics clearly expressed the bases for their beliefs. …