A response to labels...

response to labels, originally uploaded by PrincessEmily210.

I think I'm pretty comfortable sitting here typing this and saying that i have never really labeled myself as a hippie. I think the idea of hippies is so far gone, so far in the past that the only *real hippies* are the ones out there with a cause- a cause other than "let's smoke some herb." and i think that nowadays it is really unfair to label someone a hippie- just because i eat organically, use hemp shampoo, wear patchwork pants, smoke, and generally care for the wellbeing of other people should not classify me as a hippie. Yes I am anti-war and pro-choice, but i am not a hippie. Tree hugger seems to be more of a fitting phrase, but hippie, no. By being called, or calling yourself, a hippie, you are automatically grouped together with the "hippies"- actual non-hippies. the kids out there who smoke weed all day and every few days treats themselves to some acid and listens only to jerry or keller. I'm not that person.
I started thinking about this a few months ago, long before those comments appeared on my journal. One of my friends was getting dressed and turned to me, completely seriously, and said "when i wake up in the morning, my first thought is- 'I have to make sure to dress like a hippie so everyone will know when i ride my bike down the street that i am a hippie." and i sat there thinking- how can you live your life confined to be one type of person? What if that's not who you really are? then what? you waste an entire lifetime trying desperately to be something youre not.