Counterculture movement

Counterculture movement is the “revolution” of values, culture and lifestyles which is popular among young Americans in the 1960’s, symbolized by antiwar and counter mainstream culture. It was a direct reaction against the conservative values most persuasi ve in the 1940’s and 1950’s.

There were plenty of factors that led to the movement. However, the main causes come from family, education and politics.

After experiencing World War Two and Depression, American parents placed high hopes on their children. Furthermore, unprecedented richness at that time provided good conditions for them to realize these hopes. The children lived a comfortable life and even became spoiled, which gave them a feeling of superiority and confidence in themselves in the future. Therefore, when their ideals had conflict with the facts, they couldn’t accept easily. Many of them lost themselves.

Next, Prosperous society also gave this “baby boomer” generation better chances to get high quality education, which open their minds and broad their horizons. In fact, the number of college students is as much as two times of their parents’ generation. Moreover, the school education presented a world of multi-culture including whites’ cultural legacy and also minorities’ philosop hy and ideology. As a result, they became less conservative and more thoughtful compared with their parents.

The direct causes for this movement are mainly in the political affairs. The policy of “New Frontier” which was put forward by the government of John F. Kennedy did not change the poverty and unemployment of the people near Appalachian Mountain. More incredible, this president was cruelly assassinated at last. The respectable civil rights movement leader Martin Luther King’s death covered more shal lows over American democracy. The failure of the government decreased the belief and confidence of Americans one time after another. As a catalyst, the war in Vietnam lit the flames of fury of the young. Day by day, they could not tolerate that their relatives, friends and even themselves devoted their precious life to the unjust war.

With a country in shambles, thousands of young men and women took their stand through rallies, protests and concerts. With common value of freedom and democracy, thousands of youths united as one.

Indeed, the counterculture movement has a deep effect on America even the whole world.

First of all, a new kind of life style----“hippie” emerged from that time. From then on, many young Americans wore strange miniskirt and long hairs, used

drugs, listened to rock music, and went out of their home to live a primitive communal life in the countryside. Under the guide of “going back to “prehistorical society” and “seeking true friendship”, they built “free village” across the country. These trends were imitated and developed generation by generation and are even reflected on our fashion today. In addition, their concept of love and homosexual love influenced the values of marriage and family in large degree. Large number of single and homosexual partner was an example of this point.

On the other hand, many believed that the movement contributed to the end of the Vietnam War. Through constant confrontation and demonstration, the youngsters helped to turn the public support away from the war. Thus, they exerted pressure directly on president Johnson, Nixon and the government officials result in the American withdrawal from Vietnam. In this way the movement was also an evidence of the power of people united.

Importantly, the movement had notable impact on the ideology of human society. They put more emphasis on simplicity, egalitarianism, religious nature and individual freedom. By contrast, they oppose uniformity and regimentation. “Power to the people” was a popular slogan that conveyed the movement’s philosophical view of shifting the power from the institution to the people. To this extent, this movement reinforces the notion of democracy.

In general, the counterculture movement makes more positive impression on the world although some behaviors are a bit radical. It is a fact to manifest the greatness of people’s forces and encouraged people to fight against unfairness and discrimination. Whenever, I reflect on it, the outcry of “love, justice, free dom and peace” will stir in my deep heart.