Picture, if you will, San Francisco in 1967. Those whom Scott Mackenzie characterised as "gentle people with flowers in their hair" are converging in their thousands to the 'Be-In'. They are there to make history, to engage in free love, to experiment with drugs and reach a higher plane of consciousness. They are there to let the world know that a new social phenomenon is emerging: the hippie. A counterculture of socially conscious young people who were establishing a peaceful resistance against an untrustworthy political establishment, controversial foreign military action, and violent prejudice against people of colour in their own country.
Sound familiar?
The turbulence of current events will no doubt be likened to the West in the 1960's, both culturally and politically, as this decade comes to a close, but I argue that the re-emergence of counter-culture attitudes to tolerance, peace and respect are stronger and more sure-footed than before and are reaching a wider audience.
Some would argue, for good reason, that the original hippie phenomenon was inevitably a weak movement in that it had soured within a year of its time in the spotlight. A social movement which balanced a desire for sexual and hallucinogenic experimentation with social justice was always bound to collapse in on itself, but there is modern proof that the original hippie message of Peace And Love has undoubtedly stood the test of time, and is needed more urgently now than ever before in the past 50 years.
Hope and unity across all walks of life
The hippie way of life was met with deep scepticism by the older, mainstream audience for its association with illegal drugs, liberal views on sexuality and relationships, and 'sticking it to The Man'. But if you take away those debatable elements you are left with a strong, powerful and most importantly far-reaching ideology based on the notion that love will conquer all and peace must prevail.
Idealistic it may be, but hope and unity can be a powerful weapon in the face of violence and uncertainty, and there is evidence in the aftermath of the Manchester attack, the London Bridge attack and the Finsbury Park attack that it is no longer remaining a soft-centred, 'hippie' point of view.
The important distinction is that striving for these ideals this time around doesn't just come from a counter-cultural youth rebellion.
Now, it is borne of multiculturalism, an acknowledgement of Britain's involvement in the inception of Islamic extremism, and resistance to the deadly possibilities of austerity. Muslims, multiracial working class people, children, and members of the general public have all been targeted in or affected by the events of the past month. It is a movement and a message that people from all backgrounds are getting behind as it becomes clear that unfounded retaliatory hatred and suspicion leads to terrible events like Finsbury Park and the murder of Jo Cox. What seems to be working as an encouraging and cohesive public message is an intense focus on supporting and uplifting the people of the cities and areas affected.
The constant messages of love for and solidarity with Manchester and London in the media and on social media are helping turn the tide against those who would preach hatred and exclusion.
In conjunction with this, many are referring back to other moments in modern British history when we were attacked on home soil: the image of a milkman going to work as usual during the Blitz has made the rounds on social media, and Ken Livingstone's well-chosen words to describe Londoners in the wake of 7/7 inspire many to return to the now-timeless adage: Keep Calm And Carry On. When this sentiment is reproduced in a modern, multicultural Britain where hate preachers will do or say anything to tear our ideals and communities apart, there stands a rock-solid message to terrorists and far-right extremists that as a nation, we can and will do our best to stand together.
The Summer of Love taught the world that peace and love are both desirable and achievable. 50 years later, we must continue to keep that message alive.
