Hippie Pt. 2: The American Dream
Just as the times are a-changin' for the perception of what a modern day hippie really is (or means), the perception of what the American Dream is has also changed. In evaluating what today’s hippie has become, there must also be some evaluation of the non-hippie. What does this person want? What does this person represent? The changes that have developed in the way the modern individual adult approaches life in some ways crosses over with what hippies may have represented. The days where much of society's norms were driven by the “The Man” have certainly changed. Today, societal norms are more fluid and non-conformist.
The 1960s-1970s era of original hippies are aging, as are their “working stiff” counterparts. Those who chased the American Dream are approaching completion. The goals of earning enough money to get married, buy a house, have a few children, work at the same job for forty years, and retire have been obtained. For them, moving and shaking was not necessarily a priority. In capitalist North America the big dream could certainly have been bigger, but this was the reality of the era. "Normal" goals and priorities were what was expected. There were those who took advantage of opportunities, but there were also those who seized only what they saw as necessary. To me, this would be the opposite of what a hippie was. It does not apply to every single person in North America of course, but it was pretty widespread. Enough so, to be tagged the dream of Americans.
Nowadays, things are different. The “selfish generation” not only wants to have their cake, but they want to eat it too. Today’s young adults brush the lines of careers, dreams, and indifference. The American Dream is now skewed. We are constantly seeking to satisfy not only our career goals, but also our extracurricular goals. Making enough money to satisfy the bill collectors doesn’t do enough to ease the mind. Our minds are not fulfilled without hobbies, activities, and ways of life that push us past whatever persona, or image our job may give us. No one wants to be defined by what they do. In fact, I find it a bit odd that this is one of the first things we ask new people we meet, or people we haven’t seen for a long time. What do you do? Well, I like to write, play hockey, and listen to music. Oh, and I also work this 9-5 job that pays for my survival.There are lucky ones of course who have a job that they allow to define them, because they’ve combined passion and career. Still, I think today’s American Dream is more about designing who you are, rather than letting society box you into something.
Part of the American Dream is envisioning that you will leave the next generation a better future than the one you created for yourself. I guess it is safe to say that this theory didn’t necessarily apply to the environment. Maybe it was more of a monetary thing. I mean, it’s my guess that every parent wishes their child to achieve greater financial success than they ever did. That would be pretty crazy for a parent not to wish that. Having said that, is today’s generation of young adult as concerned about their financial statements, and their children’s future financial statements, as they are about simply living their lives the way they really want? There are a lot of throwback trends within “normal” society that reflect the original hippie’s intent. So, as labelled members of society change, as does society.
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