Re: the Noble Hippy
AntiUtopia@aol.com
Sun, 08 Feb 1998 09:15:25 -0500 (EST)
In a message dated 98-02-08 00:36:05 EST, you write:
<< For those who live in or around Philadelphia, the name of the
coffeehouse is Lionfish...it's in North Philadelphia, as I mentioned. I
don't have the address now, but could probably find it if anyone's
interested. They would love to see you, whoever you are.
Brendan
>>
heh...good one, Brendan :) That post of mine was a poor imitation of
something Mark Twain wrote called The Noble Red Man. The purpose of it isn't
to bash a group, but to undermine romantic visions of them. Twain tried to
undermine the romantic vision of the American Indian presented by guys like
Hawthorne, for example. I saw a romantic vision of hippies being presented on
the list. I have a couple of English profs who, by their dress and looks (and
age), could be classified as hippies. They're pretty cool too. But they've
settled down, own a home, have jobs, and are living a pretty establishment
life--something a real hippie wouldn't do, I don't think.
Human beings are human beings--we are all capable of great love and self
sacrifice, and great stupidity and selfishness. There's just no sense
idealizing any group, or vilifying any group.
Jim