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