Freedom Land of the 70s

I wish I had grown up in the 70s. I love to hear stories from friends and family about the 70s.

I mean, it wasn't perfect, or some fairytale, but there was something freeing about that era.

It's known for throwing away the old norms of society and trying to find new ones that were a better fit.

A period of transition.

You can at least respect that ideal-Transition.

It wasn't just about survival and getting by like our current era; reaching the very top of some pre-constructed social ladder that will forever allude us-a goal that's been ingrained into our heads as something we've wanted since we were in diapers with only the ability to drool and vomit.

We will always want, regardless of class. And we will never stop wanting. That is why our system is so successful at making money, and everyone is so miserable with wanting things. Our system always makes us want more, and convinces us that we wanted something even before we knew it existed and was aware of what it did!

We are programmed to never be satisfied. To always want the latest gadgets that promises us lasting happiness, until the newest model comes out of course (tablets/phones, anyone?) that promises us the same thing.

In my opinion, the 70s were a time to be a little crazy and just rebel....shocker moment here... for the sake of rebelling. Because happiness is something that needs to be continually fought for, not pleaded for, or something to slave over.

We don't do that anymore though. We rebel against ourselves.

I don't see many bouncy afros, or high platform shoes, and I'd love to wear some kind of afro though I know people would disapprove. Or other wacky outfits that would most certainly be looked down on.

We no longer have that unquenchable fire in us, of never being satisfied but for the right reasons. To change things so we can keep experimenting with our reality to find something better. To find something more freeing and meaningful. To find something that expresses peoples' talents on a wider scale.

Rebelling for the sake of rebelling, but in my opinion, it was rebelling just to be heard.

Just to have people acknowledge who you are, what you are, and how you were exercising your role as a citizen of a country with many diverse cultures that shouldn't have one set of rules to conduct life. A country that shouldn't have a dominant culture (commercialized/pop culture) with one set of rules for everyone.

A one size fits all kind of thing.

Now, we identify with ourselves more as consumers of the same products than citizens of the same country.

Civic duties are seen more as a pain in the ass than anything interesting or something to get really riled up about or fired up about. It's no longer seen as a way to be influential and a part of the change occurring by protesting your hippy pants off.

What happened to wanting to be riled up about something and going out there and rebelling against the dominate, modern world?

Or am I being too idealistic in thinking the 70s were about this at all?