Cyber ​​Heroes

Chapter 398 Hippies
In the 60s and 70s, there was a strange movement in the United States called the "hippie" movement.

"Hippie", music, poetry, nature, starry night, yoga, meditation, occultism.

And, of course, hallucinogens.

Love and peace, anti-war and anti-tradition, and anti-worldliness are integrated by people in an extremely emotional way.

So people took to the streets, against the war, against the United States.

Of course, there are also drugs and sex.

"Then, what kind of people do you think these guys are?" Jing Hongtu asked Xiang Shan.

Xiang Shan pondered for a moment: "Idiot?"

Jing Hongtu nodded: "Well, there is some truth to it—what's the reason?"

"Modern civilization and industrialization have provided as many people as possible with the best possible material conditions. Although it may be the worst era in history, it is more hopeful than all the eras of the pre-industrial era." Xiang Shan said: "Want to dismantle society and return to the so-called 'simple and simple primitive life' - how many people will die of poverty because of insufficient resources?"

"As expected of you, you really care about this angle the most." Jing Hongtu nodded: "This is an angle. However, you are a person standing in the lower reaches of history, Xiao Xiang. They couldn't see it in their era. The 'history' you see. There weren't many choices people could make at that time."

"Go on."

"After World War II and the reconstruction of World War II, the national power of the United States has expanded unprecedentedly. The material living standards of the people are constantly improving. Everyone can see 'hope'. But at the same time, the cloud of the Cold War is still there. They really live under the shadow of 'the world may end'."

"Although the society promises them that they can dream, but the greed of big corporations and the shackles of conservative morality are restraining them. Their country will make young people cross half the world to fight a battle with extremely low cost. In this kind of hope and despair Under the torment from the two directions of dream, dream and broken dream, some of their consciousness collapsed. This is not an individual phenomenon, but a group phenomenon."

"So, people stood up. I don't know if you've seen an old photo of a young man with long hair in a turtleneck, sticking carnations in the muzzle of the guns that the military police pointed at him. It's beautiful. , Xiao Xiang. Can you imagine? How noble and beautiful this scene is. When I saw the record of this incident when I was young, I also wanted to cry for it."

Xiang Shan took out his mobile phone, opened the search engine, and quickly found the photo.Then he nodded: "This is the first time I know...it really looks like a saint."

"At that time, there were indeed very noble hippies. They abandoned the existing social concepts, so they would be resented by those with vested interests. They must bear all kinds of stigma. The word 'hippie' was in the mouth of conservatives. It directly became a swear word."

Xiang Shan hesitated: "So I said they are idiots... Is it too much?"

"It's not too much. Thanks to them, a small number of people in the United States still think that the 'welfare society' and the 'red trend of thought' include free hallucinogens." Jing Hongtu said, "They seek the road of self-salvation , but they didn’t go the right way, so now there are only gangsters left.”

Xiang Shan was a little confused: "Then are they good or not?"

"This is a very complicated issue. I can't tell you whether it is 'good' or 'bad'." Jing Hongtu shook his head: "It is really difficult to describe many things as 'good' or 'bad' Yes. It's a very complex issue."

"They lived in big houses and ate sugar and meat that were extremely cheap compared to their own income. They had money to go to the movies, and they had TVs, radios, and even cars at home. In other contemporaries From the perspective of the country, the material conditions are extremely good. But is the happiness of mankind like this? Let’s just say you. In fact, the material conditions of the Republic are already better than those of the United States at that time, and they are also better than any point in the history of our country. Good. Then do you think you have obtained 'absolute happiness'? That is, 'I don't come to the conclusion that I am happy after comparing my material conditions with others, but I am always brimming with happiness without comparison'."

Xiang Shan fell into deep thought.

Jing Hongtu waited for Xiang Shan to think for a while, and then said: "As an engineer, you may not like this kind of non-quantifiable standard. But judging from what the two of us chatted before, I'm afraid you are not that kind." A person whose heart is overflowing with happiness."

Xiang Shan rubbed his neck: "Maybe I'm naturally hypocritical."

"No. Because modern life is too contrary to the instincts of hunter-gatherers, and there is a huge conflict with the culture left over from the farming and nomadic era. You always think that this kind of conflict should let the modern society overcome instinct and culture naturally. , but things are not that simple." Jing Hongtu shook his head, "Let's talk about those hippies again."

"They are poor people who can't feel happiness, so they struggle against the world and authority. But they are people from the United States. There are more poor people in Asia, Africa and Latin America, maybe they are more pitiful than them. But aren't they pitiful? No. They really don’t realize the greatness and glory of the United States, and they really don’t have a sense of happiness, so they can only use this method to send out confrontation.”

"The activities of the hippies have left a deep mark in history, both positive and negative. Their activities have greatly promoted the innovation of modern art and aesthetics. For example, there are quite a few artistic Sensitive posters, the covers of books and audio-visual products, can be traced to them from the perspective of art history. On the other hand, the flood of "love and peace" people in the United States and the almost unstoppable drug abuse can also be attributed to them body. They also created a massive cognitive dissonance in which some people in the United States associate 'progressivism' with 'drug use'."

"But at least they do have a sublime aesthetic. Recall, when you argued with Professor Voigt, and with the little hacker girl, and I saw that 'flower on the muzzle' similar to the emotion in the photo? This 'can't help but be attracted' feeling."

Xiang Shan nodded: "Yes, yes, yes... I also think this is the smell. Then how did you overcome this confusion."

"This confusion will accompany you for a long time, Xiao Xiang. Because from a moral point of view, those hippies, as well as Professor Voigt and that little hacker girl, are all right. They are wrong in the method On. Lacking the correct methodology, they have not really changed the world. But the original motivation is absolutely not false. Being attracted by their spirit is not a bad thing, and it is even more shameful. But you have to understand the difference.”

Jing Hongtu pointed to the handle: "Also, if you don't want to do it, let me do it for a while."

"Oh."

(End of this chapter)