cannabisnews.com: Summer of Love: Are You Going To San Francisco Summer of Love: Are You Going To San Francisco Posted by CN Staff on September 01, 2007 at 06:59:01 PT From Economist.com Source: Economist UK San Francisco, CA -- If the tie-dyed fabric, joss sticks and finger cymbals are not your thing then you should avoid San Francisco at the moment. A flowery-haired throng is expected to attend a free concert in Golden Gate Park on Sunday September 2nd to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the “Summer of Love”. Hippie-era luminaries (survivors, some might say) such as Canned Heat, Country Joe McDonald and Wavy Gravy have promised to appear. Internet rumours that the gathering might be cancelled were reportedly dismissed by the organisers as the work of “Nixon’s retired dirty tricksters”. Events have been held across America to celebrate the spirit of that heady summer, including a festival at Monterey, the sight of the first big outdoor pop-concert in June 1967 and forerunner of the era’s biggest gathering of stoned youngsters at Woodstock. Sunday’s “happening” takes place in the spiritual home of hippiedom. A “human be-in” at Golden Gate Park in January 1967 acted as both prelude and catalyst for the Summer of Love.Timothy Leary, a psychologist and exponent of the psychedelic experience, invited the world to “turn on, tune in, drop out”. Tens of thousands of young “hippies”—a term coined by Herb Caen, a now-deceased San Francisco journalist—took up Leary’s offer and descended on the Haight-Ashbury neighbourhood of the city that year (a “huge invasion“, as the San Francisco Chronicle called it at the time). It is not hard to see why the Summer of Love has been romanticised in popular culture. It was when the young “seemed to be deserting their scripts”, according to Todd Gitlin’s sweeping history of the 1960s. That summer represented the high point of the decade. The Beatles sang a tune about love that was beamed across the world in an experiment for satellite television. A growing sense of optimism that the world could be changed with the application of a little love hit its peak before it all started to go wrong in 1968. More than two-thirds of respondents to a PBS online poll earlier this year said they would liked to have gone to San Francisco in that carefree summer of 1967. The decade still reverberates in the American psyche. The reaction to George Bush’s recent comparison of the Iraq conflict to the Vietnam war is just the latest example. Some are quick to point to the similarities between then and now: a Texan in the White House, an unpopular war, an actor in charge of California. But the differences are just as stark.In 1967, segregationist governors were still in power in the South. Race riots convulsed America, killing dozens in Detroit and Newark. The federal budget deficit, at the high point of big-government liberalism, accounted for a smaller percentage of GDP than the rough estimate of $200 billion for 2007. America’s involvement in Iraq is more unpopular now than the Vietnam war was in 1967. In early August, 57% of Americans said that sending troops to Iraq was a mistake, compared with 41% who thought in July 1967 that it was a mistake to send troops to Vietnam. Attitudes have certainly changed. Asked in February this year whether they would vote for a black person as president, 94% said yes. In 1967, only 53% of the electorate were prepared to make that commitment. Almost 90% said a female president would not be an issue for them, up from 57% in 1967. Cohabitation has increased and the very thought of states even discussing the idea of civil unions and marriages for gay couples would have been shocking to most in 1967. A sizeable proportion of those enjoying the music on Sunday will be Silicon Valley entrepreneurs and wealthy San Franciscans born after that momentous summer. What was once thought outlandish has now become mainstream. Even presidents have smoked (though not inhaled) dope. Organic-food stores have spread beyond Haight-Ashbury to be found in most American cities. One thing has not changed though. The looser sexual mores once associated with 1960s youth still has the ability to raise eyebrows. Just ask one or two Republican senators. Note: America changed for the better after the “Summer of Love”.For more information on the Sept. 2 concert in Golden Gate Park, go to: http://www.2b1records.com/summeroflove40th/Source: Economist, The (UK)Published: September 1, 2007Copyright: 2007 The Economist Newspaper LimitedContact: letters economist.comWebsite: http://www.economist.com/Related Articles:Summer of Love Reduxhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23283.shtmlGroovy: Summer of Love, Message of Lovehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23053.shtmlThe Hippies Were Right All Along -- We Knew That http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23277.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #44 posted by Hope on September 02, 2007 at 20:50:56 PT Getting Fapped...or trying not to. It's a shame that you have to buy something else to keep you from overusing something you were supposed to have bought already.They're getting internet service set up like so much "Modern medicine", today. Sell you one thing...then someone else can sell you something else to deal with the side effects of the first one you bought. [ Post Comment ] Comment #43 posted by Hope on September 02, 2007 at 20:44:16 PT "Just nothing but love," police Sgt. Mark Im said.Comment 40:0) [ Post Comment ] Comment #42 posted by FoM on September 02, 2007 at 19:06:06 PT aolbites Thank you. I bookmarked it and will check it out. I tried a download program for our 3 hours of free time where we can download as much as we want but it's only between 3 am and 6 am and I couldn't figure out how to set it up to download so I uninstalled it. I appreciate the fact that I have a fairly good connection most times with a satellite but when they get broadband unbound to us I will be very happy. When we didn't have to worry about any FAP policy I was happy. I've had the satellite for a number of years now. I'll gladly give the dish a proper burial when the time comes or make a birdbath! LOL! [ Post Comment ] Comment #41 posted by aolbites on September 02, 2007 at 18:47:12 PT OT: usage meter have you tried out something like DUMeter? I dunno if its worth 20bucks to you, but I've used the demo quite a bit and its got lots of features...theres a free 30 day demo [and its acually 30 days use not just installed 30 days] thats worth trying if you havn't used anything like it before.of course, if you have more than one machine it won't count all your traffic without a bunch of extra effort dumeter [ Post Comment ] Comment #40 posted by FoM on September 02, 2007 at 15:51:23 PT Update on The Summer of Love Concert Thousands Gather To Celebrate Summer of Love's AnniversarySunday, September 2, 2007 (09-02) 15:35 PDT San Francisco (AP) -- Even the closing of the Bay Bridge could not keep thousands of nostalgic flower children away from San Francisco's Golden Gate Park on Sunday to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Summer of Love.More than 100 performers, some who were there the first time around, were scheduled to take to the stage for the free concert commemorating the year San Francisco became the world's countercultural capital.At least 20,000 fans came together to celebrate peace, love and understanding, organizers said, despite the Labor Day weekend shutdown of the bridge connecting Oakland to San Francisco for repairs.San Francisco police said that gathering was proceeding harmoniously, with no incidents reported by mid-afternoon."Just nothing but love," police Sgt. Mark Im said.Copyright: 2007 The Associated Presshttp://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/09/02/state/n153522D11.DTL [ Post Comment ] Comment #38 posted by FoM on September 02, 2007 at 15:33:17 PT Had Enough Thank you. I was amazed that there was only two or three people having a beer. It was so peaceful. We had a great place to sit and see the fireworks. Chairs and blankets and awe at how pretty the fireworks were. We all clapped our hands in thanks like they could hear it? LOL! Stick started the clapping and everyone jumped in! [ Post Comment ] Comment #37 posted by FoM on September 02, 2007 at 15:28:49 PT Dankhank I have a usage page but it runs a couple hours behind real time. I read where they want to make it in real time so we know when to stop everything for the day. The day is from 12 to 12. The fear of going over and getting Fapped keeps me from enjoying anything I might look at. I get nervous. All the fun goes out of it. I haven't used half my daily allowance since I don't know how much bandwidth anything takes. The one time that put me over was 169 and I only have 200 a day. [ Post Comment ] Comment #36 posted by Dankhank on September 02, 2007 at 15:20:05 PT use rate FoM, do you have a place to check usage rate?Is it on the Hughes website or some such?Try experimenting ...couple of hours of rust radio, then check usage ... if you can.jus' brainstorming here ... [ Post Comment ] Comment #35 posted by Had Enough on September 02, 2007 at 15:08:38 PT Good Times Glad you had a cool time. Priceless…Rust Radio is cool. You gave us that link a long time ago and I use it from time to time. Thanks‘Carry Me’ just over.‘For Free’ on now. [ Post Comment ] Comment #34 posted by FoM on September 02, 2007 at 14:59:13 PT Had Enough We had Woodstock cranked up and the windows wide open while we were outside trimming our shrubs and it was nice. We had a great time last night watching our local towns fireworks. We had a lot of people there and the weather was perfect. We had a fire and sat around and talked for quite some time. We made good memories. [ Post Comment ] Comment #33 posted by FoM on September 02, 2007 at 14:54:17 PT Had Enough I miss Rust Radio. I would listen to it when Roel put it on line almost every weekend. If I knew how much bandwidth it uses I would listen again. Enjoy it is a great service. [ Post Comment ] Comment #32 posted by Had Enough on September 02, 2007 at 14:51:32 PT Imagine That!!! I’ve got Rust Radio on because of the concert today. Woodstock would do as well.I guess we are on the same page here. I can dig that.Working on house today (still). Tunes cranking in background. And thinking of what a good time the people are having at that gathering. Cool. [ Post Comment ] Comment #31 posted by FoM on September 02, 2007 at 14:41:31 PT Had Enough Today we watched Woodstock because of what is happening in San Francisco. I wish that the spirit of Woodstock would take hold again. It would give more people hope. [ Post Comment ] Comment #30 posted by Had Enough on September 02, 2007 at 14:32:21 PT Got Parts? Sometimes part of here and now is part of past present and future.Summer of Love Concert – Now that’s something I could appreciate being part of. Past present and future, all in one place. :) [ Post Comment ] Comment #29 posted by FoM on September 02, 2007 at 14:00:04 PT Had Enough I have found that looking back doesn't help with living in the present. When we live in the past we bring those negative images right along with us. The future is all we have and we should look at what's ahead as an adventure we haven't done yet. Onward and upward thru the fog we go. [ Post Comment ] Comment #28 posted by Had Enough on September 02, 2007 at 13:53:58 PT Yes FoM re: #25Yes; that was a very good answer.I subscribe to here and now, but sometimes I screw it up and have to get up brush off the bruises and go at it again.Summer Of Love Concert. What a place it is to be there today. [ Post Comment ] Comment #27 posted by Had Enough on September 02, 2007 at 12:34:54 PT Jammin' Bob Marley - Jammin'We’ll be Jammin till the Jammins’ donehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfW-Ku2DuAk [ Post Comment ] Comment #26 posted by FoM on September 02, 2007 at 12:18:07 PT I'd Like That That would be great to meet someday. [ Post Comment ] Comment #25 posted by FoM on September 02, 2007 at 12:16:23 PT Had Enough It reminds me of how Neil answered a question from a reporter one time. The reporter asked him when was the best time in his life? He answered right now!I thought that was good. [ Post Comment ] Comment #24 posted by Had Enough on September 02, 2007 at 12:09:49 PT Re: #22 Jam at FoMs’ house.The “Victory Jam”The "Knights of Cannabis" (KoC) will gather there. [ Post Comment ] Comment #23 posted by Had Enough on September 02, 2007 at 12:02:41 PT "mourning their lost youth" Sounds more like mid life crisis to me.By the way, what is this thing called mid life crisis. If there is one I wish it would come and go so I could get it over with. I don’t have much time for that sort of stuff. ;) [ Post Comment ] Comment #22 posted by Hope on September 02, 2007 at 11:57:10 PT Toker00 comment !7 Maybe someday we'll have that get together, celebrating peace and overcoming excessive oppression, and you can perform it for us in person. [ Post Comment ] Comment #21 posted by Had Enough on September 02, 2007 at 11:55:45 PT Summer of Love Concert I wish I could go. I have spent some time in that area about 20 yrs ago. If I were still out there you know where I’d be today.For all those that can attend will see and experience something they will remember for the rest of their lives.Concert goers, have at it and have fun.***********Toker00 – Cool tune. Amazing how current events can inspire artistry.***********Yep!!! The hippies were right!!!and…We Knew it all along…and still do. [ Post Comment ] Comment #20 posted by Hope on September 02, 2007 at 11:53:35 PT "mourning their lost youth" Lost youth? Ridiculous.It's celebrating. "Mourning" is way different.Celebrating the era of that youth, that was, and is, and always will be.I don't see it as lost. It's what was, and it was really something.The "Lost" ballgame that we won that time?Ridiculous. [ Post Comment ] Comment #19 posted by FoM on September 02, 2007 at 10:45:50 PT Related Article from The San Francisco Chronicle Baby Boomers Try To Recapture Youth at Summer of Love AnniversaryBy C.W. NeviusSunday, September 2, 2007Excerpt: Of course, the idea that a wave of peace, love and understanding will sweep the nation sounds a little far-fetched. What is more likely, says UC Berkeley psychology Professor Dacher Keltner, is that the interest in the anniversary is Baby Boomers mourning their lost youth."The obvious example is that, as people reach the last 20 or 30 years of their life, they get profoundly nostalgic for their 20s," Keltner says.However, he adds that the idea that today's generation might mount its own cultural shift is not out of the realm of possibility. Based on what he's seeing in his students, Keltner says, they have moved from the "me" generation to the "we" generation."I have to say there has been a shift in the undergrads I am seeing here," Keltner says. "They have shifted out of that purely economic interest and are interested in bigger ideas. It's exciting."http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/09/02/BA99RT7T9.DTL [ Post Comment ] Comment #18 posted by FoM on September 02, 2007 at 07:05:57 PT Just a Note I hope everyone is having a great holiday weekend. There isn't any news that I've seen so far to post. For those going to the concert today have a wonderful time. [ Post Comment ] Comment #17 posted by Toker00 on September 01, 2007 at 16:59:51 PT Hope Thank you very much! Want to hear me perform it? lol.Toke. [ Post Comment ] Comment #16 posted by Toker00 on September 01, 2007 at 16:58:42 PT FoM Call me and I'll play it for you.Toke. [ Post Comment ] Comment #15 posted by Hope on September 01, 2007 at 15:40:36 PT Toker00 I like your song a lot. Probably the way I imagine the way it being played and sang isn't at all like you really do it. But I see that it's singable. And again. I like it. [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by Toker00 on September 01, 2007 at 14:27:16 PT It is a song, FoM. I just wrote it and gave it to all my friends here at c-news. Simple chords. G,D,G,D,E,D,C,D,G.Maybe I'll call my Son and Sing it for him over the phone to get his opinion before I record it. lol. Toke. [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by FoM on September 01, 2007 at 13:32:34 PT Toker00 That is good. It should be a song.Hope, thank you. Our little town decided not to try to compete for fireworks but made it for tonight instead of the 4th of July. It's amazing they have any fireworks since the town is slowly disappearing with empty homes since all the good factory jobs are gone now. So no matter how big or small it is it will be wonderful. [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by Hope on September 01, 2007 at 13:21:48 PT Oh, FoM... That sounds like fun. Have a good time.Out some last evening and the mosquitoes didn't seem nearly as bad as they have been. I didn't get bitten at all. [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by FoM on September 01, 2007 at 12:59:23 PT Hello Whig I hope you are having a nice time. We'll be leaving soon for a cookout and a fireworks display at a friend's house. We can see them from his front porch since he lives near the stadium. It's a very beautiful and cool day here. A nice breeze is blowing in the air and it will be a perfect night for fireworks. I'm excited. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by whig on September 01, 2007 at 12:54:18 PT FoM Hello from Trinity county. :) [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by FoM on September 01, 2007 at 11:21:56 PT Summer of Love Schedule http://www.sfbg.com/blogs/music/2007/08/summer_of_love_schedule.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by FoM on September 01, 2007 at 11:19:45 PT 'Summer of Love' Reached Behind Iron Curtain http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2007/08/54FB2170-B589-43F4-9857-EB7A39D6C07F.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by FoM on September 01, 2007 at 10:37:41 PT Live Stream Tomorrow Tomorrow is Summer of Love 40th Anniversary - 2007 September 2nd, Speedway Meadows, Golden Gate ParkFREE Live Stream 10:00 AM Sunday, September 2nd, 2007 http://www.2b1records.com/summeroflove40th/ [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by FoM on September 01, 2007 at 10:35:18 PT Max Flowers I'm so sorry that you will miss it. Whig went away this weekend so he is missing it too. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by Max Flowers on September 01, 2007 at 10:31:56 PT I'm glad it's happening ...but I won't be attending, as the crowds will just be too much for me. I'm sure it's going to be a blast for those going though. I'll be with them in spirit. Peace, man! Far out... [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by FoM on September 01, 2007 at 10:31:25 PT Truth Have a wonderful time! Maybe some people will have flowers in their hair! [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Truth on September 01, 2007 at 10:19:08 PT I'll be there.... but I'm putting the flower in the rolling papers, not my hair : ) [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by FoM on September 01, 2007 at 07:05:32 PT If You're Going To San Francisco For those who can watch Youtube check out Scott McKenzie. I hope they have a wonderful day tomorrow.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2kT87EoHog [ Post Comment ] Post Comment