What Do You Think?

I am borrowing a thought provoking subject from the Optimistic Existentialist. You can see his post on the subject as well as the many thoughtful comments by clicking on the link.

I was a teenager and a young (very young) woman in the 1960's. It was a time of turmoil in the United States. We were embroiled in the Viet Nam War. We were experiencing "make love not war" with the Hippies. Drugs were becoming a popular pastime.

The world had experienced wars before. Many of the wars were not popular with many people. Viet Nam was no exception. The difference was that our soldiers and sailors were not treated with the dignity they were due when they finally came home.

A lot of citizens disrespected the government. They destroyed symbols of the United States.

It was the first war fought on television. We saw some of the awful conditions our soldiers were in as they trudged through jungles and swamps. We were horrified and wanted it stopped.

There were demonstrations and sometimes riots. Some people disapproved and some participated. After too many service-people were killed or maimed the war finally ended with no real outcome.

Hippies were referred to as Flower Children. They said they preferred love of mankind and the colors of flowers to the evils of society. Free Love was the cry of the Hippie. "If you can't be with the one you love, honey, love the one you're with" to quote The song Love The One You're With written and performed by Stephen Stills (and the Isley Brothers).

Some were anti everything establishment. Some simply wanted what they considered to be a more beautiful world. They paid little attention to anything else.

The use of drugs became a leisure activity. Several of the drugs that are illegal today were legal then. LSD is one of them. Even after they became illegal they were still used.

Timothy Leary was an assistant clinical professor of medical psychology. He advocated the use of psychedelic drugs in controlled situations for therapeutic reasons. He coined the phrase "turn on, tune in, drop out" to encourage drug use.

We had presidential elections. Important people were assassinated. It was a confusing time.

There were births. There were marriages. There was (in my mind) some of the greatest music ever.

I mention that time because that is when I became most aware of the world farther away from my own little community. Decades that came after the 60's were more of the same. Specifics were different but there were good and bad occurrences.

The Optimistic Existentialist posed this question: Is the world really worse off than it has ever been?

I found two songs that I think represent the opposite sides of the 60's. I think they fit today too. How would you answer the question above and which song most conveys your feelings about the world today?

I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing Lyrics.

I'd like to build the world a home
And furnish it with love
Grow apple trees and honey bees
And snow white turtle doves

I'd like to teach the world to sing
In perfect harmony
I'd like to hold it in my arms
And keep it company

I'd like to see the world for once
All standing hand in hand
And hear them echo through the hills
For peace through out the land
(That's the song I hear)

I'd like to teach the world to sing
In perfect harmony

I'd like to teach the world to sing
In perfect harmony

I'd like to build the world a home
And furnish it with love
Grow apple trees and honey bees
And snow white turtle doves

I'd like to teach the world to sing
In perfect harmony
I'd like to hold it in my arms
And keep it company

I'd like to see the world for once
All standing hand in hand
And hear them echo through the hills
For peace through out the land
(That's the song I hear)

I'd like to teach the world to sing
In perfect harmony

I'd like to teach the world to sing
In perfect harmony

I'd like to teach the world to sing
In perfect harmony, that's the song I hear

Written by Bill Backer, Roger Cook, Roger Greenaway, and Roquel Davis

Sung by The New Seekers

For What It's Worth

There's something happening here
What it is ain't exactly clear
There's a man with a gun over there
Telling me I got to beware

I think it's time we stop, children, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down

There's battle lines being drawn
Nobody's right if everybody's wrong
Young people speaking their minds
Getting so much resistance from behind

I think it's time we stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down

What a field-day for the heat
A thousand people in the street
Singing songs and carrying signs
Mostly say, hooray for our side

It's time we stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down

Paranoia strikes deep
Into your life it will creep
It starts when you're always afraid
You step out of line, the man come and take you away

We better stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Stop, now, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Stop, children, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down

Written by Stephen Stills

Sung by Buffalo Springfield