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News & ArtsThursday, March 26, 2009
Drugs Why Hippies Hate Me
Posted by Dominic Holden on Thu, Mar 26, 2009 at 11:50 AM
In an article this week, I lay out a grand, grand vision to decriminalize pot in Washington. Actually it's quite simple. A bill to decriminalize marijuana died in the legislature, the discussion about pot laws stalled on the late-night airwaves, and messages about pot decrim are stuck in countercultural irrelevance. The solution, I write, is “to demand attention in an urgent policy proposal that can't be ignored—an initiative.” But I pissed off some folks when I said advocacy was wallowing in the patchouli-stained ghetto of Hempfest. (That image on the right by Flickr user pdgibson was taken at Hempfest in 2007). Now—even though I write about pot legalization all the time and I’ve written at length on the event's importance like this and this and this negative comment was a mere clause—I'm now the enemy. A few comments, which are not unlike a few emails I've received:
I will do everything I can to make sure you are never invited back to speak at Hempfest. There is no longer room for your self importance, your negativity or your elitism at Hempfest.
Tell you what, stay out o’ the ghetto this year bud. The ghetto has moved on.
Are you blaming yourself as an ineffective speaker in that ghetto? If you want to nudge people into action (which isn't the role of organizers of Hempfest: they provide the forum, you -as a speaker- provide the action), it probably doesn't help to call them all patchouli-stained hippies.
It isn't the role of protest organizers to nudge people to action... please take note. Yes, I am an annual speaker at Hempfest—at least, I hope I still am—and, yes, I was a director for many years. (But I left because it was a constant fight with hippies who wanted the event to be as much about celebrating hippie culture as reforming policy. Never mind that the two objectives undermine one another's credibility.)
The problem with Hempfest isn’t that hippies are advocating for legal pot. It’s that other people—filthy hipsters, fastidious soccer moms, obsessive-compulsive janitors—aren’t advocating to legalize pot. This reinforces the stigma that Hempfest is all about hippies perpetuating other hippies' indulgences, not about social justice and sensible use of resources. But politics is all about appearing to represent widespread support. Because hippies run Hempfest, the onus is on them to shed the event's cultural luggage to get everyone else to the event.
Hempfest organizers practically instruct folks to perpetuate that hippie stereotype. They drape the event in prayer flags, tie dyes and other cliché cultural embellishments that deter people who don’t associate with those things. This massive tie dye is actually the backdrop on one of the stages:
Photo via Flickr user Chas Redmond.
I respect the Hempfest hippies. They are some of the most grounded, hardworking volunteers I know. But sometimes folks need to hear what they need to hear. So, Hempfest... don't want folks to think of your event as a patchouli-stained ghetto? Lose the tie dyes, prayer flags, and other hippie baggage.
Read about how Washington can decriminalize pot in the next 19 months over here.
1
AGREED. So many events like this are taken over by those who want to fulfill every cliche possible to fit into a certain group, while calling themselves counter-cultural and rallying for change that they don't actually do any work on. Listening to Phish and carrying your djembe everywhere won't do anything except stroke your self-image.
2
I agree 100%. I support the political aim of legalization (even though I don't smoke the stuff) but will never go anywhere near that tie-dye flag.
4
I'm totally for the legalization of pot, even though I haven't smoked in...fifteen years? But the times I've walked through Hempfest I find myself thinking "Maybe voting a straight Republican ticket isn't such a bad idea?"
Lawmakers wear suits. If you want to persuade people who wear suits of something, send a bunch of people who wear suits. Sad, but true.
Lawmakers wear suits. If you want to persuade people who wear suits of something, send a bunch of people who wear suits. Sad, but true.
5
Second agreed! A festival which supports your opposition's doomsday scenario does not help your cause.
That is how crazy conservatives came to power by appearing sane to moderates. Steve Jobs would not have taken Apple to where it is today if he didn't put on a tie- and he is probably a bigger hippie than most people at Hempfest.
It is frustrating because there also more people who support or are indifferent to leaglization than not.
And what? A single speaker has more power to create action than thousands of people? What are you Ming the Merciless?
That is how crazy conservatives came to power by appearing sane to moderates. Steve Jobs would not have taken Apple to where it is today if he didn't put on a tie- and he is probably a bigger hippie than most people at Hempfest.
It is frustrating because there also more people who support or are indifferent to leaglization than not.
And what? A single speaker has more power to create action than thousands of people? What are you Ming the Merciless?
7
Please keep checking back with the King County Bar Association and its efforts to de-criminalize drugs in general and stop the so-called War on Drugs:
http://www.kcba.org/druglaw/index.aspx
Hempfest does not have to be the only focal point on this issue, and a lot of "button down" people know that Pot is unfairly linked to many problems assciated with chemical addictions. Many advocates do not fit the tie dye sterotypes
http://www.kcba.org/druglaw/index.aspx
Hempfest does not have to be the only focal point on this issue, and a lot of "button down" people know that Pot is unfairly linked to many problems assciated with chemical addictions. Many advocates do not fit the tie dye sterotypes
8
such silly crap - the tie dye is art - ask your critic
and pot smokers cross all sectors, the Domenic theory of movements is brain dead - I am reminded of the debate in the gay community early on about always wearing a suit and tie so people would like us
I have seen pix of Domenic in a old T-shirt - god, Domenic, didn't you know you represent the gay community and should always be dressed to the nines so the right wing will like gay men?
this crap makes no sense, talk about drivel in print - hippies, god, they all moved to the woods 30 years ago
Fnarf needs to write BIG checks, good place for his support - they will be cashed
and pot smokers cross all sectors, the Domenic theory of movements is brain dead - I am reminded of the debate in the gay community early on about always wearing a suit and tie so people would like us
I have seen pix of Domenic in a old T-shirt - god, Domenic, didn't you know you represent the gay community and should always be dressed to the nines so the right wing will like gay men?
this crap makes no sense, talk about drivel in print - hippies, god, they all moved to the woods 30 years ago
Fnarf needs to write BIG checks, good place for his support - they will be cashed
10
prayer flags are Buddhist - now - what is that all about
alternative events are not 100 per cent Catholic ...duh ... thank god
apparently the clue bus no longer runs on Pine Street
alternative events are not 100 per cent Catholic ...duh ... thank god
apparently the clue bus no longer runs on Pine Street
11
Dominic has misgivings about Hempfest.
Hippies hate Dominic.
Everything will get better if there's an initiative.
Got it. Now what?
Talk more about this initiative if it's so important.
Hippies hate Dominic.
Everything will get better if there's an initiative.
Got it. Now what?
Talk more about this initiative if it's so important.
12
"Reforming policy reform"? Sounds like you've been hitting that "hippie lettuce" there yourself a bit, Dominic.
For the record, I do think your comment about Hempfest was offensive and bigoted. I guess it's more important to be provocative and promote your blog than it is to work together for our common cause. Chalk me down as another person who would rather not hear from you at the Fest this year. When will you realize? - It's not about you.
For the record, I do think your comment about Hempfest was offensive and bigoted. I guess it's more important to be provocative and promote your blog than it is to work together for our common cause. Chalk me down as another person who would rather not hear from you at the Fest this year. When will you realize? - It's not about you.
14
Is Rex functionally retarded? I've read and re-read his posts and that's the most likely scenario that I can think up. Any alternative theories for his stupidity?
15
Absolutely. I have never been to Hempfest for exactly the reasons you describe.
But I am in favor of legalization as a hard policy reality. It undermines our society to have a massive underground criminal economy outside the boundaries of the state. That's why The Economist favors it, too.
But I am in favor of legalization as a hard policy reality. It undermines our society to have a massive underground criminal economy outside the boundaries of the state. That's why The Economist favors it, too.
16
Well said Dominic. I'll bet that most government leaders know the war on drugs is a failure, but feel unable to act because it will hurt them politically.
Drug liberalization activists need to win the respect of non-drug users. Its not just about wearing suits, its about convincing people that you are reliable, trustworthy and safe.
Drug liberalization activists need to win the respect of non-drug users. Its not just about wearing suits, its about convincing people that you are reliable, trustworthy and safe.
17
Excellent point. The hemp fest is a cultural sinkhole. Nothing more than a self parody that alienates the very people that should embrace it. And forget about the hippies. What about the brain-dead suburban fat asses sporting their nu-metal t-shirts, oversized Insane Clown Posse pants, and marijuana leaf emblazoned baseball caps. Hello, 1998 called, get a fucking clue retards.
18
Self-described Hippies are some of the most self-absorbed, uptight fuckers you'll ever meet. I can't speak for all of'em (sorry to the good ones), but that's been my experience.
I'm in the same boat as a lot of you posting - support legalization - haven't smoked in years. If and when there is reform, it probably won't smell like Nag Champa. Or wicked BO.
I'm in the same boat as a lot of you posting - support legalization - haven't smoked in years. If and when there is reform, it probably won't smell like Nag Champa. Or wicked BO.
19
I last visited a Hempfest two years ago. The crowd was actually really diverse. I mean, no one was really dressed up that day except for Rick Steves, but I saw a fairly broad cross-section of society there.
Rex @8 is right about one thing: pot smokers cross all sections of society. Why, then, are the festival organizers so hell-bent on only appealing to the narrow hippie subculture? Is it so much to ask that the tone and decor of Hempfest reflect the diversity of the pro-pot community?
Rex @8 is right about one thing: pot smokers cross all sections of society. Why, then, are the festival organizers so hell-bent on only appealing to the narrow hippie subculture? Is it so much to ask that the tone and decor of Hempfest reflect the diversity of the pro-pot community?
20
@14 nope, just another tripped out hippie i guess...
i agree completely with dominic. i have been to hempfest a couple of times and every time i feel embarrassed for the pro-legalization camp. if you want to enact change you have to present an attractive position. hippy culture, with its tie dyes and bull shit strikes most "normal" people as cultish and/or retarded. they won't listen to you if you speak to them in an unfamiliar language. it's pretty simple really.
i agree completely with dominic. i have been to hempfest a couple of times and every time i feel embarrassed for the pro-legalization camp. if you want to enact change you have to present an attractive position. hippy culture, with its tie dyes and bull shit strikes most "normal" people as cultish and/or retarded. they won't listen to you if you speak to them in an unfamiliar language. it's pretty simple really.
21
Add mine to the chorus of voices shouting "amen." I only smoke once in a blue moon, support legalization absolutely, and would never, ever go near Hempfest because tie dye gives me hives.
I think you're dead right that an initiative would be the best way to make this happen.
I think you're dead right that an initiative would be the best way to make this happen.
22
Agreed... after attending one Hempfest, I decided it was not for me...
Its more like a relatively well bathed Rainbow Gathering than anything representing the diversity in the decriminalize pot movement.
Its more like a relatively well bathed Rainbow Gathering than anything representing the diversity in the decriminalize pot movement.
23
#14
so a viewpoint other than yours indicates retardation - I think your question has its own answer built in
so a viewpoint other than yours indicates retardation - I think your question has its own answer built in
26
Rex, I think your posts would be better-received if you would locate and learn to use the keys labeled Shift , . ; and '. And try not to so many words out.
27
It seems like all political movements run the risk of promoting the cultural styles of their chief organizers to the point of interfering with their broader political message.
I think your point is excellent. Hempfest for better or worse is the public face of pot legalization in the Puget Sound metro area. It's a big dressup party that's also for a good cause; not unlike gay pride day.
If you think about it, Hempfest countercultural joie de vie may be a key component in the process of getting pot accepted. For good or bad the hippies were the trend setters for this drug everyone remembers today. Pot has no other cultural anchor in this country.
And without the body of wisdom and comportment, of style and presentation, without a mystique, a consumable substance, be it coffee, wine, tobacco or foie gras, has no redemptive purchase on our appetites. This is especially true if the substance is seen as debasing, as so many are to our reflexive puritanism in this country.
What saves alcohol from this fate is the cultural of fine dining and manners; coffee is raised by its association with european cafe culture with its history as a center of intellectual, art and commercial acitivity.
In this sense its too bad for legalization that pot became a part of the rallying cry of an extremely in-your-face movement which challenged most of the cultural mores of its day.
I'd say hempfest organizers should listen to what Dominic is saying and realize they have the authority and, dare say, the responsibility to create a broadly palatable cultural asethetic for pot consumption if this substance is to become a part of our society.
I think your point is excellent. Hempfest for better or worse is the public face of pot legalization in the Puget Sound metro area. It's a big dressup party that's also for a good cause; not unlike gay pride day.
If you think about it, Hempfest countercultural joie de vie may be a key component in the process of getting pot accepted. For good or bad the hippies were the trend setters for this drug everyone remembers today. Pot has no other cultural anchor in this country.
And without the body of wisdom and comportment, of style and presentation, without a mystique, a consumable substance, be it coffee, wine, tobacco or foie gras, has no redemptive purchase on our appetites. This is especially true if the substance is seen as debasing, as so many are to our reflexive puritanism in this country.
What saves alcohol from this fate is the cultural of fine dining and manners; coffee is raised by its association with european cafe culture with its history as a center of intellectual, art and commercial acitivity.
In this sense its too bad for legalization that pot became a part of the rallying cry of an extremely in-your-face movement which challenged most of the cultural mores of its day.
I'd say hempfest organizers should listen to what Dominic is saying and realize they have the authority and, dare say, the responsibility to create a broadly palatable cultural asethetic for pot consumption if this substance is to become a part of our society.
28
an Init. campaign will require the Hemp Fest folks to do the work - or big time sugar daddies with 400,000.00 on the table for paid signature gathering and the ride to the ballot....
I will sign if it happens, but, that WAS the way the medical mj Init. was passed ..... paid signatures and outside money that paid for the campaign ... Washington is a very divided state, when the polls are done, the problem will be the typical east vs. west and who chimes in on the other side
Wasting time trashing Hemp fest because of bad employment history, or just personal issues is silly. Most voters in this state don't even know what the fuck Hemp Fest means .. Seattle centric is so dreary, and doesn't win state wide elections.
by the way, the wicked Pike Place Market still SELLS tie dye - shit oh shit, how can they be so not cool - and holding back our politics at the same time
I will sign if it happens, but, that WAS the way the medical mj Init. was passed ..... paid signatures and outside money that paid for the campaign ... Washington is a very divided state, when the polls are done, the problem will be the typical east vs. west and who chimes in on the other side
Wasting time trashing Hemp fest because of bad employment history, or just personal issues is silly. Most voters in this state don't even know what the fuck Hemp Fest means .. Seattle centric is so dreary, and doesn't win state wide elections.
by the way, the wicked Pike Place Market still SELLS tie dye - shit oh shit, how can they be so not cool - and holding back our politics at the same time
29
#24
Denver, go home .. Have you ever lived in Seattle? Just curious, you have a lot to say about this turf.
Denver, go home .. Have you ever lived in Seattle? Just curious, you have a lot to say about this turf.
30
@13:
Because not everyone who drives a VW bus is a hippy; in fact, most couldn't afford either to buy a classic Type II (which, if in even remotely decent condition can still fetch resale prices upwards of $7,000 or $8,000) or, the upkeep on one.
Because not everyone who drives a VW bus is a hippy; in fact, most couldn't afford either to buy a classic Type II (which, if in even remotely decent condition can still fetch resale prices upwards of $7,000 or $8,000) or, the upkeep on one.
31
I respect hippie culture, but I'm not one of them. I'm a button-down shirt wearing pot smoker. I've kind of always wanted to go to Hempfest (I certainly want to support legalization), but I always feel like I wouldn't really be welcome, or at least I wouldn't fit in. And in that sense, Hempfest has always seemed kind of elitist to me. Hippie Elitism.
32
@28 I'm missing your argument or perhaps it's just as confused as your writing style. Regardless, I'll paraphrase and you can correct me.
1) Hemp Fest folks will do the work to get pot legalized if this fabled end is to occur.
2) We live in a divided state.
3) Concentrate on the division instead of Hemp Fest.
4) Tie-Dye is totally commercially and socially accepted because it is sold at Pike Place Market.
The problem is that Dominic’s whole post was stating that the very people you say would do the work to legalize pot, are the same assholes that alienate a majority of the folks across the state, including Seattle, and relegate the cause to a fringe issue. As a result, the move to legalize pot (including Hemp Fest) needs more Rick Steve's and less crown wearing, grammatically challenged stoners.
1) Hemp Fest folks will do the work to get pot legalized if this fabled end is to occur.
2) We live in a divided state.
3) Concentrate on the division instead of Hemp Fest.
4) Tie-Dye is totally commercially and socially accepted because it is sold at Pike Place Market.
The problem is that Dominic’s whole post was stating that the very people you say would do the work to legalize pot, are the same assholes that alienate a majority of the folks across the state, including Seattle, and relegate the cause to a fringe issue. As a result, the move to legalize pot (including Hemp Fest) needs more Rick Steve's and less crown wearing, grammatically challenged stoners.
34
What I think you want are NORML lobbyists in $1000 suits walking the halls of congress in tasseled loafers. With briefcases stuffed with policy papers, draft legislation and campaign contributions. Maybe an academic think tank or two.
That's the way to change the law, but if the suits throw a party I'd rather be at Hempfest.
And, by the way, decriminalization would be vastly superior to legalization. Precisely because it keeps the market underground, but not a priority to enforcement. Keeping it counter-culture rather than corporate, and thereby keeping out the suits, stockholders, lobbyists, etc.
That's the way to change the law, but if the suits throw a party I'd rather be at Hempfest.
And, by the way, decriminalization would be vastly superior to legalization. Precisely because it keeps the market underground, but not a priority to enforcement. Keeping it counter-culture rather than corporate, and thereby keeping out the suits, stockholders, lobbyists, etc.
36
@Denver clearly, there is no place for you on the internet. Please go back to the cool refreshing taste of the Rockies.
37
Hempfest in fact is quite diverse and not the tie-dye vortex some people seem to think. Nor does it have a patchouli stink to it. There is an amazingly wide range of people who attend, from ozfest/metalhead types to rastas to ravers to frat boy/sportsbars stoners to cannabis geeks/microsofties to lots of people who neatly fall into one sterotype or another - and yes there are some dreadlocked tie-dyed hippie types too. >ut what do you expext? It's a celebration, a big party, with four stages and hundreds of vendors/small businesses selling everything imaginable. Many of the food booths are at all the big local outdoor festivals (folklife, bumbershoot, etc). Dom - it seems like your point is that somehow you are saying that everyone who suuports ending the war on drugs and decriminalizing marijuana must attend and feel comfortable at Hempfest, right? That,s not realistic, and that's not how social movements work. That's like saying everyone who is for marriage equality must attend and feel comfortable going to the gay pride parade, right? Social movements work because there are so many different people involved that they are never going to be all the same - or even like each other. But they can all come together on a policy issue which may make sense to each group of supporters for very different reasons. No one is going to be motivated to go to day long thing that is just abunch of important but dry policy speeches interspersed with true life stories of the ills of the current policies. If that's what you want - with people in suits and every other apparel - then what you really want is a convention with lots of speakers and policy strategy sessions, not a two day outdoor festival/protestival. All you other folks that have genetic allergies to tie-dye or whatever- what do you want hempfest to look like? folklife maybe but with a few more suits and soccermom outfits? Seriously, I'm asking, what is your vision for a 'better' more 'inclusive' hempfest. On another point, yes those old type II buses do take some maintenance (and no I don't live in Ballard).
More...
38
@ 37 should have been ". . . lots of people who don't neatly fall into one stereotype or antother . . ."
39
Gosh, will have to give back my personal style in favor of some normative conformity -- where do I go to get the chip implanted?
#33, quick, tell me.
#32, you need to give smug lessons.
1. Most people beyond Seattle have no connection or interest in Hemp Fest.
2. With no sugar daddy to pay all the bills, an Init. campaign will require thousands of workers. Where will they come from ... think hard.
3. Political victory in this state will depend on solid organizing and messaging to the eastern half - ask the experts. Just because King County polls well the victory will depend on the red counties as well.
Need to go to work, no more meandering for a while.
Hemp Fest means nothing except that in Seattle 80 per cent of potential voters would support reform. Duh ....
#33, quick, tell me.
#32, you need to give smug lessons.
1. Most people beyond Seattle have no connection or interest in Hemp Fest.
2. With no sugar daddy to pay all the bills, an Init. campaign will require thousands of workers. Where will they come from ... think hard.
3. Political victory in this state will depend on solid organizing and messaging to the eastern half - ask the experts. Just because King County polls well the victory will depend on the red counties as well.
Need to go to work, no more meandering for a while.
Hemp Fest means nothing except that in Seattle 80 per cent of potential voters would support reform. Duh ....
40
@ 31 I'm sorry you think you wouldn't feel welcome, because you're wrong. There really are so many different kinds of people at hempfest that most people really don't judge you on the clothes you are wearing. If you do come I garantee you'll find or see something there you never in a million years expected you'd find there. Do keep in mind it is a big festival/party held on a warm August weekend - If someone walked in wearing a 3-piece suit that might get a few looks because it's a bit out of place for the situation - not unlike if you wore your gym clothes to a corporate board meeting. Of course it is a big event and there's a few assholes in every crowd, but people at hempfest are unusually . . . what's the word I'm looking for . . . mellow! And generally tolerant and non-judgemental. So come on down and enjoy the day.
41
Just do the initiative and stop whining about how hard it is to do it.
Action works.
Talking doesn't.
Action works.
Talking doesn't.
42
As the organizer of the electronic music stage, we've never had a single stitch of tie dye as decoration and this year I've banned tie-dye vending from our area as well. OTOH, we're ravers and are gonna play ntz ntz ntz music all day long at high volume, and there'll probable be some kids with plastic jewelry and fuzzy backpacks bouncing around. We are representing a subculture here, too.
43
Hi Mom. I'm pretty sure that Dominic was saying that the legalization/decriminalization agenda should try to separate itself from said hippy culture and that Hemp Fest detracts from this goal by propagating the stereo type. As you stated, people seem to think Hemp Fest is less diverse than it actually is. The idea here is that maybe the legalization effort (and perhaps by association Hemp Fest) should work to advertise and welcome the diversity you allege and not work so hard to enforce the stereo type. Hemp Fest flyers look like hippies and those of the rave-scene, organize and run the show, so is it any wonder the folks who aren't so intimate with the cause fail to recognize the diversity you describe?
Oh and Rex, smug or not you ignored my point. And how smug do you think a conservative, in the very counties you plan on canvassing, is going to be when they answer the door and find themselves confronted by the brand of counter-culture you're selling?
Oh and Rex, smug or not you ignored my point. And how smug do you think a conservative, in the very counties you plan on canvassing, is going to be when they answer the door and find themselves confronted by the brand of counter-culture you're selling?
45
I couldn't agree more, and really look forward to you speaking this year, I'd be really upset if you didn't.
46
#43 Counter culture ? What are you huffing about. I am as mainstream as they come.
I like something more than white bread. I'm gay, and hence, appreciate the differences we all bring to culture and community.
Why does a blog conversation break into stereo types so easily, unless some of the posters reflect all that crap. #44, take some ownership of it. You have the need for people to act, talk, and be the same. Not I.
I have been in sales and and talk to anyone any where. And my background is total working class, with the added value of being very educated.
"Those people" you refer to, that would be my cup of tea, seemingly not yours.
I like something more than white bread. I'm gay, and hence, appreciate the differences we all bring to culture and community.
Why does a blog conversation break into stereo types so easily, unless some of the posters reflect all that crap. #44, take some ownership of it. You have the need for people to act, talk, and be the same. Not I.
I have been in sales and and talk to anyone any where. And my background is total working class, with the added value of being very educated.
"Those people" you refer to, that would be my cup of tea, seemingly not yours.
47
In years past there have been a number of pit bullls and OG's attending Hempfest. Thats been a good thing. I go every year, not because Im a hippie- far from it- but cuz its a good event to support.
I agree with Dom, somewhat, he makes valid points, it is not about trashing the hippies, but including everybody else.
Unfortunately, everybody else, including the dopey hipsters are too self absorbed to do anything like mounting a huge event like HEMPFEST. which regardless of what we say, is one the biggest events of its kind in the US.
Most people dont care or want somebody else to do it, or they like to comment on how everything is wrong and only if the right conditions exist will I get off this bar stool. This, if only, attitude is what has made movements like the anti war movement be completely runned by SWP types. If you want different folks than start showing up.
Sea town loves to be critical, as if movements have to make conditions right for them. Is just plain laziness, almost as bad as my lazy spelling.
So part of the blame goes to those complainers. The hippies in their own smelly way are keepinng it real, though showering would certainly help.
Oh and one more thing, the music sucks, but just like that bumber drum thing, I enjoy laughing at the hippies doing their noodle dancing.
I agree with Dom, somewhat, he makes valid points, it is not about trashing the hippies, but including everybody else.
Unfortunately, everybody else, including the dopey hipsters are too self absorbed to do anything like mounting a huge event like HEMPFEST. which regardless of what we say, is one the biggest events of its kind in the US.
Most people dont care or want somebody else to do it, or they like to comment on how everything is wrong and only if the right conditions exist will I get off this bar stool. This, if only, attitude is what has made movements like the anti war movement be completely runned by SWP types. If you want different folks than start showing up.
Sea town loves to be critical, as if movements have to make conditions right for them. Is just plain laziness, almost as bad as my lazy spelling.
So part of the blame goes to those complainers. The hippies in their own smelly way are keepinng it real, though showering would certainly help.
Oh and one more thing, the music sucks, but just like that bumber drum thing, I enjoy laughing at the hippies doing their noodle dancing.
48
Hippies are like the Mormons of the left. Allies to a point however passively aggresively trying to make their "culture" EVERYONE's culture.
I know it's hard to imagine, but not everyone wants to live like an unkempt hobbit.
I know it's hard to imagine, but not everyone wants to live like an unkempt hobbit.
49
@ 43 Good point - it'd probably be helpful if Hempfest diversified it's advertising look. Doesn't Bumbershoot do something like that? Like have one main graphic design for each year's t-shirts and posters, etc., and then have 4 or 5 other designs for that year? There's no reason Hempfest couldn't do that . Now didn't a bunch of clean-cut people just put together a stunning hour-long educational video about the current state of views on cannabis? And didn't King 5 refuse to broadcast it? I guess that being clean-cut and wearing button-down shirts is no garantee of getting acceptance, is it? This discussion thread seems to me to prove the success of the 'pro-cannabis' efforts - as a movement it has gained enough momentum to have multiple and diverse stakeholders who don' necessarily get along with each other but who all have a stake in changing the currents laws and policies. That's a good thing. It also reminds me of some debates that have gone on forever in the lesbigay rights movement: let's see now, it wasn't the soccer moms and straight (acting) but not narrow suits that started gay rights, it was the trannies and drag queens and butch dykes. Why? Because they were getting shit on the most and had so little to lose in the cultural/political system that they could stand up to it and call bullshit. So too, it seems to me, with the (shudder) tie-dyed hippies a lot of you seem to shut down about. I suppose if marijuana reform had been started by soccer moms and guys in suits, then hempfest would be all about croquet and dry martinis and argosy cruises around the sound, and it'd be the tie-dye hippies not feeling welcome. Or something . . .
50
I clearly remember begging my mom to let me wear tie-dye in 1969 (during my brief hippie wanna-be phase prior to discovering Glam & Punk), and running into a brick wall of '50s-bred conformity and contempt for alternatives.
All you hippie-bashers remind me of my mom.
I'm just saying.
All you hippie-bashers remind me of my mom.
I'm just saying.
52
@43 My bad, it's hard to tell that your brimming with salesmanship through the incoherence and meandering ad homs that make up your posts. As far as "those people" are concerned that's your quote not mine. You recognize and emphasize the apparent division in Washington but can't even reconcile a minor one within the comments section of a blog. As far as the working class roots pissing match is concerned, I'm not going there as it's not worth the effort and I'm not running for office.
@47 You're right, and since I stopped partaking in the affected substance I have been a far less vocal advocate but, at the same time, if those who did care, hippies even, were to actually get an initiative rolling I would support it and I think many others would as well. No one here has said cease the effort, they've simply stated they agree with Dominic and that the effort would be more likely to succeed if it were to shed the bullshit inherent with any fabricated culture.
@49 I see your point and I'm not saying we need martinis at what is essentially a protest, and in so being, outside the mainstream, but that's really the issue. Those not directly impacted need to understand this is more about addressing the direct negative impact criminalization has had on the state and nation as whole and not about advocating a particular drug culture or lifestyle.
Regardless, here's hoping stoners don't ostracize an intelligent and solid voice for legalization just because homeboy doesn't like prayer flags and jam bands.
@47 You're right, and since I stopped partaking in the affected substance I have been a far less vocal advocate but, at the same time, if those who did care, hippies even, were to actually get an initiative rolling I would support it and I think many others would as well. No one here has said cease the effort, they've simply stated they agree with Dominic and that the effort would be more likely to succeed if it were to shed the bullshit inherent with any fabricated culture.
@49 I see your point and I'm not saying we need martinis at what is essentially a protest, and in so being, outside the mainstream, but that's really the issue. Those not directly impacted need to understand this is more about addressing the direct negative impact criminalization has had on the state and nation as whole and not about advocating a particular drug culture or lifestyle.
Regardless, here's hoping stoners don't ostracize an intelligent and solid voice for legalization just because homeboy doesn't like prayer flags and jam bands.
53
Every eventually successful change movement has an inside and outside game. Do you blame Gay Pride organizers for the passage of Prop 8? Do you blame the Montgomery Bus Boycotts as the reason that legislators were reluctant to pass civil rights legislation?
I hate this old tired demoralized (and demoralizing) analysis. It hurts; it doesn't help.
I hate this old tired demoralized (and demoralizing) analysis. It hurts; it doesn't help.
55
Punk Rock loving businesss owner here,
Dominic has hit the nail on the head. Hippie Ghetto is right. Hippie run Hempfest is why so many legalization supporters don't attend.
I don't care for hippies or cops. I am in favor of legalization.
Hempfest is a joke, if the "I wish I was at Woodstock 1969" ethos that Vivian and all his folks embody disappeared, tens of thousands more folks would be more inclined to show up. The hippies are a very small minority of folks that support legalization, yet they dominate the one great day for weed in this town.
I always enjoyed Gay Pride on the Hill, it always seemed to be more fun in such a supportive neighborhood. But my gay friends have won me over after the last few years in the argument that the Pride Parade should be larger, more mainstream, and visible, and therefore downtown and at Seattle Center. Now the parade is huge and a much more effective event for gay rights.
Hempfest is ridiculous. The same old tired music from Country Fair and the Seattle Peace Concerts, the same old self-important hippie-retread speakers, the same old costumed patchouli clowns.
It's 2009 folks, how about updating the movement?
You hippies can keep on trying to hide yourselves in a 40-year old lifestyle just fine, but folks from all walks of life smoke and medicate with the herb, and they just don't feel comfortable at tie-dyed dinosaur dominated events.
Get the legalization movement out of the ghetto!!!!!
Dominic has hit the nail on the head. Hippie Ghetto is right. Hippie run Hempfest is why so many legalization supporters don't attend.
I don't care for hippies or cops. I am in favor of legalization.
Hempfest is a joke, if the "I wish I was at Woodstock 1969" ethos that Vivian and all his folks embody disappeared, tens of thousands more folks would be more inclined to show up. The hippies are a very small minority of folks that support legalization, yet they dominate the one great day for weed in this town.
I always enjoyed Gay Pride on the Hill, it always seemed to be more fun in such a supportive neighborhood. But my gay friends have won me over after the last few years in the argument that the Pride Parade should be larger, more mainstream, and visible, and therefore downtown and at Seattle Center. Now the parade is huge and a much more effective event for gay rights.
Hempfest is ridiculous. The same old tired music from Country Fair and the Seattle Peace Concerts, the same old self-important hippie-retread speakers, the same old costumed patchouli clowns.
It's 2009 folks, how about updating the movement?
You hippies can keep on trying to hide yourselves in a 40-year old lifestyle just fine, but folks from all walks of life smoke and medicate with the herb, and they just don't feel comfortable at tie-dyed dinosaur dominated events.
Get the legalization movement out of the ghetto!!!!!
56
Good article Dom. You are correct, the movement needs a face the political middle will listen to. As a member of the choir, we tend to hang out with like minded while wondering why the rest of the congregation doesn't like our tune.
57
The only real Hippie I ever met was in his late 70s and this was back in the late 60s.That white haired dude was smooth and mellow and so hip.And filthy fuckin rich.Man that guy had a lot of money.I guess it's a little easier to be really hip when you have alot of money.Yes?No?Guy drove a Rolls.So did his wife Betty.Well,actually she had a driver,but she was hip too.Both long gone now.Really great senses of humor.Glad to have known them.His name was Mundy.
58
What about the kids?
I'm a 40-year old high school teacher and parent in Seattle. My teenage kids, all their friends, and all my students know my husband and I attend Hempfest every year.
And they laugh at us.
Now we dress and act a little more like Rick Steves, and we are very passionate about legalization, but we really stand out at Hempfest. Mainstream liberal folks like us run from the Hempfest patchouli plague.
None of ouir peers that smoke and believe would ever be caught at HippieHempfest.
None of these pro-legalization kids will ever attend.
Dominic is correct, the ghetto is killing the movement.
I'm a 40-year old high school teacher and parent in Seattle. My teenage kids, all their friends, and all my students know my husband and I attend Hempfest every year.
And they laugh at us.
Now we dress and act a little more like Rick Steves, and we are very passionate about legalization, but we really stand out at Hempfest. Mainstream liberal folks like us run from the Hempfest patchouli plague.
None of ouir peers that smoke and believe would ever be caught at HippieHempfest.
None of these pro-legalization kids will ever attend.
Dominic is correct, the ghetto is killing the movement.
59
The question is, is Hempfest a big happy summer party, or is it a venue for advocating social change? The one kind of works against the other. Hempfest should probably just embrace its hippie party identity, and have another event, a more sober and socially-normative convention, for the legalistic stuff.
As for me - I'm one of the many that supports legalization without being a pot smoker myself (I can't even be around a candle these days, any kind of smoke destroys me). While I like some of the ideals of hippies, I can't deal with major B.O. or heavy patchouli. So I'd probably stay away from the party. But I might go to a more serious convention for legalization advocacy, one without vendors of any sort (to keep it from just turning into another crafts fair). Hold it in winter, then it doesn't turn into big happy hippie fun day.
As for me - I'm one of the many that supports legalization without being a pot smoker myself (I can't even be around a candle these days, any kind of smoke destroys me). While I like some of the ideals of hippies, I can't deal with major B.O. or heavy patchouli. So I'd probably stay away from the party. But I might go to a more serious convention for legalization advocacy, one without vendors of any sort (to keep it from just turning into another crafts fair). Hold it in winter, then it doesn't turn into big happy hippie fun day.
60
Who is doing this? How do I volunteer and who do I send money to? Dominic, didn't you organize the last successful marijuana policy reform initiative in Seattle? Can I paypal money to your stranger email?
61
Dominic, kudos to your lead on this issue. Yep, Vivian and crew need to let their death grip on Hempfest go, they have done a good job so far, but now we are getting closer and closer to legalization, and the stereotypical hippie stoner is a real drag on forward progress.
You can't get most pro-legal folks to support you if you dress yourself like clown, and dress up your event like a clown convention.
Just like the fading Country Fair, held-tight by a smaller and smaller group of didactic overlords, becoming a lamer and lamer event every year, Hempfest is going down the same path of irreverence.
I've even heard some of the Hempfest Cabal complaining that the Country Fair Overlords are old and washed up and out of touch. Heed your own medicine Hempfest Ghetto Hippies, it's time to step aside and let your baby breathe of something bigger.
You can't get most pro-legal folks to support you if you dress yourself like clown, and dress up your event like a clown convention.
Just like the fading Country Fair, held-tight by a smaller and smaller group of didactic overlords, becoming a lamer and lamer event every year, Hempfest is going down the same path of irreverence.
I've even heard some of the Hempfest Cabal complaining that the Country Fair Overlords are old and washed up and out of touch. Heed your own medicine Hempfest Ghetto Hippies, it's time to step aside and let your baby breathe of something bigger.
62
Hey, to Dom and all the tie-dye bashers out there:
The reason that there are so many tie-dyes at Hempfest is because THE PEOPLE WHO HAPPEN TO LIKE TIE-DYES ARE DOING ALL THE WORK! The people who oppose tie-dye are either NO-SHOWS, or have nothing better to offer!
If you complaining hipsters out there want to see a different image at Hempfest, GO MAKE IT SO! (thank you NaFun for doing just that) Otherwise, please STFU and go start an initiative or something.
Oh and by the way, there's more than one stage at Hempfest And the one with the big tie-dye? It's in the minority.
If you hate and focus on tie-dye, then tie-dye is probably all you're going to see at Hempfest. If you open your eyes, you'll see a hell of a lot more there. As another poster said, it's a HOT SUMMER DAY - you gonna wear a suit, or something more comfortable? But be careful! Don't wear anything TOO COLORFUL! People might judge you by your appearance and not the person you actually are.
BTW, when did tie-dye & patchouli-loving hippies become second-class citizens? I see a lot of bigotry in some of these comments. It's certainly not very "Seattle" of some of you.
And Dom, please don't confuse being pissed-off with hate. I don't speak for the hippies, but I certainly don't hate you and I don't know anyone who does. I know people whose feelings were deeply hurt by your judgmental labeling, but they'll get over it.
Life's too short for the hate.
Peace,
-Clint
The reason that there are so many tie-dyes at Hempfest is because THE PEOPLE WHO HAPPEN TO LIKE TIE-DYES ARE DOING ALL THE WORK! The people who oppose tie-dye are either NO-SHOWS, or have nothing better to offer!
If you complaining hipsters out there want to see a different image at Hempfest, GO MAKE IT SO! (thank you NaFun for doing just that) Otherwise, please STFU and go start an initiative or something.
Oh and by the way, there's more than one stage at Hempfest And the one with the big tie-dye? It's in the minority.
If you hate and focus on tie-dye, then tie-dye is probably all you're going to see at Hempfest. If you open your eyes, you'll see a hell of a lot more there. As another poster said, it's a HOT SUMMER DAY - you gonna wear a suit, or something more comfortable? But be careful! Don't wear anything TOO COLORFUL! People might judge you by your appearance and not the person you actually are.
BTW, when did tie-dye & patchouli-loving hippies become second-class citizens? I see a lot of bigotry in some of these comments. It's certainly not very "Seattle" of some of you.
And Dom, please don't confuse being pissed-off with hate. I don't speak for the hippies, but I certainly don't hate you and I don't know anyone who does. I know people whose feelings were deeply hurt by your judgmental labeling, but they'll get over it.
Life's too short for the hate.
Peace,
-Clint
63
Dominic,
While Dave Meinert's gladhanding gadfly butt-kissing ways are personally repulsive to me, the dude does know how to organize movements and parties. If Hempfest was like Sasquatch or the Cap Hill Block Party or an Obama Rally, 95 of my friends would attend and support the legalization movement, instead of my 5 friends that can stand to go to Hippie-stinking Hempfest.
So, how about talking to Meinert, or folks like him about putting together a more politically enabling event, along with the defiant reeefer huffing?
While Dave Meinert's gladhanding gadfly butt-kissing ways are personally repulsive to me, the dude does know how to organize movements and parties. If Hempfest was like Sasquatch or the Cap Hill Block Party or an Obama Rally, 95 of my friends would attend and support the legalization movement, instead of my 5 friends that can stand to go to Hippie-stinking Hempfest.
So, how about talking to Meinert, or folks like him about putting together a more politically enabling event, along with the defiant reeefer huffing?
64
I attended Hempfest when I was 18. Happened to be an election year (my first time voting) and medical marijuana was on the ballot. Before Hempfest, I was indifferent. Afterward I voted an unequivocal and absolute "no" for medical marijuana (and all decriminalization measures) and every year thereafter I kept voting "no" for at least good decade or more. I saw very few convincing reasons to legalize pot at Hempfest, but I did see plenty of reasons to support "the war on drugs". I'm sure I'm not the only person who's gone to Hempfest and been swayed against decriminalization.
Hippies are passé. They have been since 1979 (or earlier). It's time to grow the fuck up and join the new century, okay. The only thing Hippies inspire now is the desire to roll one's eyes and stop listening.
Hippies are passé. They have been since 1979 (or earlier). It's time to grow the fuck up and join the new century, okay. The only thing Hippies inspire now is the desire to roll one's eyes and stop listening.
65
Dominic,
Like all self-identifying "freak" movements, the tie-dye army is pretty-defensive about their choice of garb. They are like the Mohawk punk army of yesteryear, circus clowns that made a great statement and opened folks minds. But most of us fellow travelers with likeminded sympathies, don't have to dress up ourselves or a movement to make forward progress. It's what is in our minds and words that ultimately makes a difference. So all you hippies, it's time to take off your costumes, or let the folks that know that Halloween is over take over and make some real, concrete progress on legalization.
GRow up!
Like all self-identifying "freak" movements, the tie-dye army is pretty-defensive about their choice of garb. They are like the Mohawk punk army of yesteryear, circus clowns that made a great statement and opened folks minds. But most of us fellow travelers with likeminded sympathies, don't have to dress up ourselves or a movement to make forward progress. It's what is in our minds and words that ultimately makes a difference. So all you hippies, it's time to take off your costumes, or let the folks that know that Halloween is over take over and make some real, concrete progress on legalization.
GRow up!
67
So Hempfest undermines the legalization of marijuana because it reinforces stereotypes of pot smokers?
The exact same argument can and has been made about the Pride festival and its parade of gay stereotypes.
And the argument is really lame in both cases.
Dominic, I love what you've done for marijuana rights. Stop undermining yourself by dissing people with cheap insults.
The exact same argument can and has been made about the Pride festival and its parade of gay stereotypes.
And the argument is really lame in both cases.
Dominic, I love what you've done for marijuana rights. Stop undermining yourself by dissing people with cheap insults.
68
I and many of my friends have volunteered at Hempfest. None of us go anymore. Most of us have lots of organizing experience. I don't know who you are Dominic, but we all felt shut out, that Vivian and crew were more about reliving their past glories of Hippylove, or trying to relive, or recreate Woodstock, than to really progress legalization. We all tried to move up in the ranks of volunteers, but we were not accepted into the dominant hippie culture that rules the Hempfest organization. And like the poster above, a lot of us are veterans of Obama, MoveON, and Meetup, and civil rights for gays and women, and know how to use technology to organize. But with Hempfest, it was more important to be be braindrained head veteran from Country Fair than have skills.
Hempfest is more
hippie spectacle than a political statement, and the hippie gods are way ok with that.
It sucks.
Hempfest is more
hippie spectacle than a political statement, and the hippie gods are way ok with that.
It sucks.
69
Dom - I guess I might have more respect for your opinions on activism in the State of Washington if you'd actually been one in the last three years and not worked with Allison Chin-Holcomb and the ACLU to screw the medical marijuana community in the state of Washington. I'm sure you'll be up on stage again this year promoting whatever new agenda you and your handlers at NORML and the ACLU are planning on shoving down our throats this year.
NORML is nothing more than a referral organization for high-paid pot attorneys. They want legalization as much as DUI attorneys want to return to alcohol prohibition.
You're a far more sinister part of the problem than people wearing tye-die at Hempfest. While I no longer wear tye-die, and keep my hair short, I'm still one of those filthy hippies at heart. Your obvious distain for those who will no longer buy your deceit, self-promotion and lack of activism tells me that things may actually be changing in Seattle. This gives me some hope that we may actually be winning this war.
Obama and Holder just got caught lying about their new "policy" on avoiding raids on medical marijuana patients and providers when they raided another dispensarie in San Francisco yesterday. Where is your article on THIS issue? I guess I'd avoid that too if I needed the support of the Democratic Party here in Washington for your future political career. Instead of writing about this and the totally spineless democratic leadership in this state, you decided to attack the people at Hempfest, without whom you'd be just another second-rate waiter.
These "hippies" (and medical marijuana patients) "hate" you because they know you. To know you is to distrust you.
Steve Sarich
Executive Director
CannaCare
steve@cannacare.org
More...
NORML is nothing more than a referral organization for high-paid pot attorneys. They want legalization as much as DUI attorneys want to return to alcohol prohibition.
You're a far more sinister part of the problem than people wearing tye-die at Hempfest. While I no longer wear tye-die, and keep my hair short, I'm still one of those filthy hippies at heart. Your obvious distain for those who will no longer buy your deceit, self-promotion and lack of activism tells me that things may actually be changing in Seattle. This gives me some hope that we may actually be winning this war.
Obama and Holder just got caught lying about their new "policy" on avoiding raids on medical marijuana patients and providers when they raided another dispensarie in San Francisco yesterday. Where is your article on THIS issue? I guess I'd avoid that too if I needed the support of the Democratic Party here in Washington for your future political career. Instead of writing about this and the totally spineless democratic leadership in this state, you decided to attack the people at Hempfest, without whom you'd be just another second-rate waiter.
These "hippies" (and medical marijuana patients) "hate" you because they know you. To know you is to distrust you.
Steve Sarich
Executive Director
CannaCare
steve@cannacare.org
70
@ 62 Amen.
@ 55, 58, 59, 63, 65, and 68:
All right. Put up or shut up. There's enough room in this town for more than one "protestival" or whatever.
I'm calling an organizing meeting of the "not-Hempfest" pro-decriminalization/pro-legalization festival/protest/public relations coup, and all of you are on the committee.
Seriously - Peet's Coffee at Broadway and Denny Way at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 11.
Be there or be square - and no one better be wearing tie-dye.
(oy vey!)
@ 55, 58, 59, 63, 65, and 68:
All right. Put up or shut up. There's enough room in this town for more than one "protestival" or whatever.
I'm calling an organizing meeting of the "not-Hempfest" pro-decriminalization/pro-legalization festival/protest/public relations coup, and all of you are on the committee.
Seriously - Peet's Coffee at Broadway and Denny Way at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 11.
Be there or be square - and no one better be wearing tie-dye.
(oy vey!)
72
It's amazing how many people in these comments are essentially focusing solely on "dress" and "appearance" and "growing up". Do any of you seriously not see the shallowness of your commentary? Hempfest has been damn-near center-stage for I-75 and I-692, both of which are now LAW.
Hempfest was nearly EXTINGUISHED a few years ago when SAM carved out a chunk of Myrtle Edwards park and made it nearly unsafe to hold ANY event in the park. Hempfest fought back, ensuring YOUR RIGHT to hold and/or attend a constitutionally free-speech event in that public park.
You self-important people who are all into dress and appearance need to step out of your fancy clothing and realize that you're just a bag of bones & meat - same as all the "dirty hippies" you find it so easy to decry.
And to you who think that Vivian and crew are holding a death-grip on Hempfest, please, give me a break. They're just trying to make sure we can have ONE MORE HEMPFEST. This isn't some big moneymaker. It's not about hippies, tie-dyes, patchouli, ego, or even music & rock & roll. IT'S ABOUT EDUCATING & MOTIVATING PEOPLE TO CHANGE THE LAWS - AND SO FAR, IT'S BEEN PRETTY EFFECTIVE!
In addition, Hempfest has cultivated a very positive and respectful relationship with Seattle Police, who have even come to Hempfest's defense in various city meetings.
I heard one commenter above (68) say she tried to "move up" in the ranks of Hippie volunteers. There's no MOVING UP. Nobody gets paid. It's all about WHO DOES THE WORK. IF YOU DON'T DO THE WORK, SOMEBODY ELSE WILL. So if you didn't "move up" in the ranks, it's probably because there really aren't ranks to move up in. If you're effective, you get tasked. If you're not, you don't.
I have to say, this discourse is really depressing to me personally after having given so much of my life, money, and energy to bringing people together to hear the truth about cannabis and to continue to move towards legalization. I can only imagine how it feels to those who have been at it for a decade longer than I have. Hate on Viv all you want, but he's done more for legalization than just about ANY of you folks out there.
You hippie haters out there, take a look in the mirror and ask yourself "How am I so much BETTER than those dirty smelly hippies?"
big⋅ot⋅ry
/ˈbɪgətri/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [big-uh-tree]
–noun, plural -ries.
1. stubborn and complete intolerance of any creed, belief, or opinion that differs from one's own.
2. the actions, beliefs, prejudices, etc., of a bigot.
Sound familiar anyone?
Peace,
-Clint
More...
Hempfest was nearly EXTINGUISHED a few years ago when SAM carved out a chunk of Myrtle Edwards park and made it nearly unsafe to hold ANY event in the park. Hempfest fought back, ensuring YOUR RIGHT to hold and/or attend a constitutionally free-speech event in that public park.
You self-important people who are all into dress and appearance need to step out of your fancy clothing and realize that you're just a bag of bones & meat - same as all the "dirty hippies" you find it so easy to decry.
And to you who think that Vivian and crew are holding a death-grip on Hempfest, please, give me a break. They're just trying to make sure we can have ONE MORE HEMPFEST. This isn't some big moneymaker. It's not about hippies, tie-dyes, patchouli, ego, or even music & rock & roll. IT'S ABOUT EDUCATING & MOTIVATING PEOPLE TO CHANGE THE LAWS - AND SO FAR, IT'S BEEN PRETTY EFFECTIVE!
In addition, Hempfest has cultivated a very positive and respectful relationship with Seattle Police, who have even come to Hempfest's defense in various city meetings.
I heard one commenter above (68) say she tried to "move up" in the ranks of Hippie volunteers. There's no MOVING UP. Nobody gets paid. It's all about WHO DOES THE WORK. IF YOU DON'T DO THE WORK, SOMEBODY ELSE WILL. So if you didn't "move up" in the ranks, it's probably because there really aren't ranks to move up in. If you're effective, you get tasked. If you're not, you don't.
I have to say, this discourse is really depressing to me personally after having given so much of my life, money, and energy to bringing people together to hear the truth about cannabis and to continue to move towards legalization. I can only imagine how it feels to those who have been at it for a decade longer than I have. Hate on Viv all you want, but he's done more for legalization than just about ANY of you folks out there.
You hippie haters out there, take a look in the mirror and ask yourself "How am I so much BETTER than those dirty smelly hippies?"
big⋅ot⋅ry
/ˈbɪgətri/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [big-uh-tree]
–noun, plural -ries.
1. stubborn and complete intolerance of any creed, belief, or opinion that differs from one's own.
2. the actions, beliefs, prejudices, etc., of a bigot.
Sound familiar anyone?
Peace,
-Clint
74
I attended the year that "The Emperor Wears No Clothes" author Jack Herer spoke. He should be a highly respected figure for the hempfest crowd. What I witnessed in the audience were boos and middle fingers thrown up at him. You see, the Kottonmouth Kings were up next, but not soon enough. Is that not low-life behavior?
I was very disappointed with hempfest that year ('06??) and have not gone back since. It was not intellectually stimulating, it was dumbed down as hell. It seemed full of social dropouts, not subversives. some products and orgs being represented there were cool though. I have appreciated hippie culture, but it has to evolve and remain/get smarter.
I was very disappointed with hempfest that year ('06??) and have not gone back since. It was not intellectually stimulating, it was dumbed down as hell. It seemed full of social dropouts, not subversives. some products and orgs being represented there were cool though. I have appreciated hippie culture, but it has to evolve and remain/get smarter.
75
chester, Hempfest is big, you have to find your own *personal* Hempfest.
You see, I learned something today. Hempfest is about Pot Pride in ALL of it's beautiful glory.
I could go on for about all the varied and wonderful groups of people I see there, but the bottom line is that I see an amazing cross section of humanity in Hempfest. You who avoid it, for whatever reason, deprive Hempfest of your own styles and culture. Without YOU, how can Hempfest represent YOU? You aren't tourists, you are participants. Come. Please, wear a tie if you so desire.
YOU ARE HEMPFEST.
If it's initiative-planning and political movement that you're after, there is a lot to be learned and shared about initiative writing, campaign planning, etc. at Hemposium. Meet the movers and shakers. If you're a mover and shaker, be there.
Use Hempfest - it's there for you - and you might have a good time while you're at it.
You see, I learned something today. Hempfest is about Pot Pride in ALL of it's beautiful glory.
I could go on for about all the varied and wonderful groups of people I see there, but the bottom line is that I see an amazing cross section of humanity in Hempfest. You who avoid it, for whatever reason, deprive Hempfest of your own styles and culture. Without YOU, how can Hempfest represent YOU? You aren't tourists, you are participants. Come. Please, wear a tie if you so desire.
YOU ARE HEMPFEST.
If it's initiative-planning and political movement that you're after, there is a lot to be learned and shared about initiative writing, campaign planning, etc. at Hemposium. Meet the movers and shakers. If you're a mover and shaker, be there.
Use Hempfest - it's there for you - and you might have a good time while you're at it.
77
Yeah the US would have a communist revolution if the revolutionaries would just wear suits and ties. Whatever...
78
Just some info about Hempfest:
(!warning for those averse to tie-dye!)
Rick Steves at Hempfest 2007:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUkk80v1l…
Other Hempfest videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Suuf_Hdfh…
Marijuana: It's Time For A Conversation:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leK3ikZGh…
http://hempfest.org
PS: See you all Saturday April 11 at 10 a.m. at Peet's Coffee at Broadway and Denny!
(!warning for those averse to tie-dye!)
Rick Steves at Hempfest 2007:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUkk80v1l…
Other Hempfest videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Suuf_Hdfh…
Marijuana: It's Time For A Conversation:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leK3ikZGh…
http://hempfest.org
PS: See you all Saturday April 11 at 10 a.m. at Peet's Coffee at Broadway and Denny!
79
This Dominic Holden person is a gay man bashing hippies? Now that's some sick shit! Why did the Hempfest people ever allow such a narrow minded bigot into their ranks? That concerns me much more than a few tie dyes. I have been to Hempfest many times. There are all kinds of people there, perhaps I hippie in every 100 people. This person needs to quit the petty name calling and write a real story about something.
81
After walking next to you in the sweep for three years...loving the way you loved what you were doing and then reading these words-I miss the man helping herd attendees out of the park with a jolly hippy-ass smile on his face. I am sorry things have come to this. The movement, more than anything needs unity that stretches beyond the type of harm done by this type of labeling and infighting. I invite you and "those hippies" to have dinner at this hippy house and make peace with each...for the sake of the sacred mother plant.
82
When I was traveling with the Grateful Dead and the "dirty hippies" we sang the lyrics to one Dead song...
"Ain't no time to hate"
Mr. Holden, you should sing a different tune.
"Ain't no time to hate"
Mr. Holden, you should sing a different tune.
83
Hippies put their image over absolutely everything. If not looking like a hippie for half a damn hour would bring world peace they would not do it. This is what they cling to, the patchouli and their lame-o identity as the counter-culture. If they actually got what they wanted and had no "man" to rebel against they would be disoriented and uncomfortable. They don't like to be uncomfortable.
84
why do hippies wear patchouli? why? It is the most disgusting stuff ever. Ugh. Lavender oil would be much better for hippies because it kills bacteria that would cause odor.
85
Can't we all just get along? It makes me sick to see this mentality that divides the human race into us versus them. There is only us. I can't shed that in order to make myself acceptable to others and I don't think Hempfest should either. Hempfest isn't just about prohibition, it's more about that much greater diabolical thing that prohibition is only an accoutrement of.
It seems like you never really knew us, Dom, if you didn't know all along that Hempfest is about more than merely trying to make it legal to smoke pot and use hemp industrially, it is a celebration of all civilization's hope for the social transformations that will result in more just existence for hopefully for us within our lifetimes and for future generations. That might sound like an empty hippie platitude to many, but I bet much those same people truly and honestly want a better world for all.
I thought you knew that what we need is not merely some law passed or abolished in Olympia or Washington DC but a more fundamental change in our global and local communities as well as within ourselves. I thought you knew that what we need is to address is what in society lead to the possibility of marijuana prohibition.
Hempfest just throws a party every year in due honor of these inevitabilities.
It seems like you never really knew us, Dom, if you didn't know all along that Hempfest is about more than merely trying to make it legal to smoke pot and use hemp industrially, it is a celebration of all civilization's hope for the social transformations that will result in more just existence for hopefully for us within our lifetimes and for future generations. That might sound like an empty hippie platitude to many, but I bet much those same people truly and honestly want a better world for all.
I thought you knew that what we need is not merely some law passed or abolished in Olympia or Washington DC but a more fundamental change in our global and local communities as well as within ourselves. I thought you knew that what we need is to address is what in society lead to the possibility of marijuana prohibition.
Hempfest just throws a party every year in due honor of these inevitabilities.
86
"c'mon people now..smile on each other..everybody come together try to love one another right now...right now.......an old hippie song
87
Patchouli . . . yes, it does have a scent that people either love or hate. It has a 1,000 year history of use among humans:
Botanical: Pogostemon patchouli
http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patchouli
It may be that among it's etheric properties patchouli wards off people with negative vibes and closed minds - a useful quality in political work.
(Note: the FDA requires that I say this claim has not been substantiated by millions of dollars of research.)
It seems that a lot of people posting here have never met a real hippie (or will never admit they have) and instead are confusing that with the counterfeit found in nature: the "drainbow burnout." People please, know the species and genus of whom you speak - mistaking the counterfeit for the real may be toxic, just like mushrooms!
By the way, anyone going to see Zeperalla on April 9 at the Tractor
(d'oh! the humanity! think of the tie-dye!)
Botanical: Pogostemon patchouli
http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patchouli
It may be that among it's etheric properties patchouli wards off people with negative vibes and closed minds - a useful quality in political work.
(Note: the FDA requires that I say this claim has not been substantiated by millions of dollars of research.)
It seems that a lot of people posting here have never met a real hippie (or will never admit they have) and instead are confusing that with the counterfeit found in nature: the "drainbow burnout." People please, know the species and genus of whom you speak - mistaking the counterfeit for the real may be toxic, just like mushrooms!
By the way, anyone going to see Zeperalla on April 9 at the Tractor
(d'oh! the humanity! think of the tie-dye!)
88
#81 Sadly, I watched a video tape of Dominic leading the sweep out of hempfest two years ago, and his words through the bullhorn to the exiting attendees was "roses are red, violets are blue, hempfest is over, so go the fuck home!" Dominic used to be the media coordinator at hempfest until a few years ago when he walked away from the volunteer position without a word to anyone to pass his work over to a new volunteer. The immensely important position went unmanned for months that year, because Dominic would not answer calls or emails from hempfest organizers asking if he was still the media coordinator.
I vocalized my feelings last year to some hempfest organizers that we should give Dominic a few years off from being a speaker at hempfest. I hope that others demand the same.
It is disappointing that Dominic has characterized hempfest as he has, when he knows better. Any search of hempfest photos would produce scores of attendees that are not hippies, or wearing tie dye. There are many people of all varieties. Many of the speakers wear suits, although it is extremely hot in august.
Dominic has a right to his opinion, however sharing it in this way has only further alienated the local movement. If his intention is to create a new force to be reckoned with, and he actually inspires some of you hippie haters to action and you create your own legalization initiative and support it, and work collecting signatures as well as promote it to the voters, then I am wrong. My hunch is, like others have pointed out, it is those most marginalized, and with less to lose that do something about trying to change the laws. Most of the hippie haters are probably the type that feel they are doing something by sending money to the ACLU for the medical marijuana legislation they drafted in 2007 that the local patient population did not want and did not support.
I would like to point out an interesting point. Most of the people that have agreed with Dominic, and dissed the hippies at hempfest, voiced support for working for a legalization initiative in our state. Dominic is not advocating for that. He is only interested in running a decriminalization initiative. There is a big difference between the two.
More...
I vocalized my feelings last year to some hempfest organizers that we should give Dominic a few years off from being a speaker at hempfest. I hope that others demand the same.
It is disappointing that Dominic has characterized hempfest as he has, when he knows better. Any search of hempfest photos would produce scores of attendees that are not hippies, or wearing tie dye. There are many people of all varieties. Many of the speakers wear suits, although it is extremely hot in august.
Dominic has a right to his opinion, however sharing it in this way has only further alienated the local movement. If his intention is to create a new force to be reckoned with, and he actually inspires some of you hippie haters to action and you create your own legalization initiative and support it, and work collecting signatures as well as promote it to the voters, then I am wrong. My hunch is, like others have pointed out, it is those most marginalized, and with less to lose that do something about trying to change the laws. Most of the hippie haters are probably the type that feel they are doing something by sending money to the ACLU for the medical marijuana legislation they drafted in 2007 that the local patient population did not want and did not support.
I would like to point out an interesting point. Most of the people that have agreed with Dominic, and dissed the hippies at hempfest, voiced support for working for a legalization initiative in our state. Dominic is not advocating for that. He is only interested in running a decriminalization initiative. There is a big difference between the two.
89
Well, this is none of those instances where if you don't say anything you are made to look weak, and if you stand up for yourself you are accused of having your buttons pushed. You cannot win a flame war against a publication, especially in their publication!
It has been interesting reading the comments.
I am the director of Hempfest, and since I am an obvious hippie, it is hard not to take some of this a little personally, he he. However, we throw a big rally and we need to be able to take some big criticisms because it comes with the territory.
There comes a point where you want to at least set the record straight. This is one of those times.
First off, Dom, this hippie does not hate you at all. I love you. I am not gay, I love you like a brother. I don't know why you think it is a good idea to print the stuff you have been saying, i guess you really believe it all. That is your right.
But I'll tell you something. You are reminding me of Joseph McCarty more than dom Holden. So there is a stage at Hempfest with a tie dye. That's holding back drug policy reform? Really? Come on, Dom.
You would think a bunch of hippies who actually DID something would get a medal. The truth is, however, that Hempfest is NOT run by hippies. And you know that Dom. Hempfest is run by a reasonably diverse group of people and it is an insult to them to try to insinuate otherwise.
Hempfest makes zero excuses for anyone wearing patchouli, a tie dye shirt, or even that offensive "i love dirty hippies" shirt you wear every fucking year. Hempfest is about freedom of choice, free expression, liberty and freedom.
It just happens to be popular with hippies too. Hey, it is HEMPFEST, remember?
And what if Hempfest WAS just a bunch of hippies? Everybody else has their god damned festivals. You would think people who worked all year meeting all of the legal and financial obligations would have earned the right to have any event they wanted as long as it was safe. You would think the thousands of people who attend Hempfest would also have the right to attend the event as is.
Whaddya want? everyone wearing little alligators on their polo shirts? This is fucking Seattle for Christ's sake.
Hempfest is what it is. Tie dyes, smelly hippies, warts, ciggie butts on the ground and all. We don't pretend to be the answer to pot legalization. We do not pretend to be anything other than the world's biggest pot rally.
You don't like Hempfest? That's OK with us. We have a job to do and we cannot afford to be sidetracked by the reality that we have not pleased everyone. We never will, all we can do is follow our hearts and be what we is.
To expect anything more of us than that is just plain snarky and unreasonable.
Call us names, stoners are used to that. You can't kill our pride. we know who we are.
Proud to be Seattle Hempfest, baby!
More...
It has been interesting reading the comments.
I am the director of Hempfest, and since I am an obvious hippie, it is hard not to take some of this a little personally, he he. However, we throw a big rally and we need to be able to take some big criticisms because it comes with the territory.
There comes a point where you want to at least set the record straight. This is one of those times.
First off, Dom, this hippie does not hate you at all. I love you. I am not gay, I love you like a brother. I don't know why you think it is a good idea to print the stuff you have been saying, i guess you really believe it all. That is your right.
But I'll tell you something. You are reminding me of Joseph McCarty more than dom Holden. So there is a stage at Hempfest with a tie dye. That's holding back drug policy reform? Really? Come on, Dom.
You would think a bunch of hippies who actually DID something would get a medal. The truth is, however, that Hempfest is NOT run by hippies. And you know that Dom. Hempfest is run by a reasonably diverse group of people and it is an insult to them to try to insinuate otherwise.
Hempfest makes zero excuses for anyone wearing patchouli, a tie dye shirt, or even that offensive "i love dirty hippies" shirt you wear every fucking year. Hempfest is about freedom of choice, free expression, liberty and freedom.
It just happens to be popular with hippies too. Hey, it is HEMPFEST, remember?
And what if Hempfest WAS just a bunch of hippies? Everybody else has their god damned festivals. You would think people who worked all year meeting all of the legal and financial obligations would have earned the right to have any event they wanted as long as it was safe. You would think the thousands of people who attend Hempfest would also have the right to attend the event as is.
Whaddya want? everyone wearing little alligators on their polo shirts? This is fucking Seattle for Christ's sake.
Hempfest is what it is. Tie dyes, smelly hippies, warts, ciggie butts on the ground and all. We don't pretend to be the answer to pot legalization. We do not pretend to be anything other than the world's biggest pot rally.
You don't like Hempfest? That's OK with us. We have a job to do and we cannot afford to be sidetracked by the reality that we have not pleased everyone. We never will, all we can do is follow our hearts and be what we is.
To expect anything more of us than that is just plain snarky and unreasonable.
Call us names, stoners are used to that. You can't kill our pride. we know who we are.
Proud to be Seattle Hempfest, baby!
90
DRAINBOWS exactly!!!
This is why I can't stand hempfest anymore. Clint and Vivian, if you weren't providing a whole lot of effort producing a playdate environment for drainbows, a hell of a lot more people would be supporting Hempfest.
The Country Fair and Rainbow Fests exist for all you folks, a great place to live out your hippie fantasy world. But the legalization/medication movement has eclipsed its hippie roots and gone mainstream. You know the latest poll numbers. Even Repugthugs support legalization/medication these days. I like the posters that mentioned how Gay Pride left the ghetto as a maturing movement, and now parade downtown to incredible success.
I was with you guys when I was younger, wore flowers in my hair, but you still exist in the hippie love bubble and don't realize the extent to which you are mocked. A hell of a lot of people think that you and hempfest are a big joke, and they don't climb on board. Seriously, the hippies are a very, very small representation of smokers anymore, the sixties are over. It's reality boys. The tie dyes and dreads represent a smaller and smaller group of people every year, but that whole lifestyle is imprinted and overpowering hemp from going forward.
Freak Power got the hemp movement to where it is today, it was fun and all, but it is time to evolve.
I smoke with hundreds on a yearly basis, at parties, shows, picnics, and BBQ's. I know that not one of them supports or will go to Hempfest anymore. It just doesn't represent your average stoner demographic.
We have all come a long way, so have I , I still have most of the values, but I'm not living for Jerry, Jerry's dead. Bob Marley's dead.
I can bring my kids to Gay Pride, no problem, but what does Hempfest have to offer for all of us families that used to support it, but would like to see the event evolve?
I've reading a lot lately about about founder burnout in organizations, about how movements and organizations stagnate because the founding leaders can't let go of what it used to be. Country Fair is a prime example, and I hear all of you Country Fair goers bitch about that fact, so you know what I'm talking about.
The idea and the movement are bigger than you now, are you gonna choke it with your 20-year old production, 40 year-old philosophy, and keep coddling the Drainbows?
The same vendors every year? Do you realize how your vendor mix drives so many folks away? I don't know how to solve that problem, and keep the necessary revenue flowing, but somethings got to change.
I don't know how to solve all these problems, but instead of group hugs and proselytizing about how we ought to all hold hands and love the mother and every body and each other, big turn-offs for most stoners and hemp supporters, maybe you ought to listen to Dominic, and go talk to Gay Pride, let the hippie/dread/love thing be what it is in its world, and seriously brainstorm on how to get everyone that's pro-pot into the tent.
I'm a Soccer Mom, and I smoke pot.
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This is why I can't stand hempfest anymore. Clint and Vivian, if you weren't providing a whole lot of effort producing a playdate environment for drainbows, a hell of a lot more people would be supporting Hempfest.
The Country Fair and Rainbow Fests exist for all you folks, a great place to live out your hippie fantasy world. But the legalization/medication movement has eclipsed its hippie roots and gone mainstream. You know the latest poll numbers. Even Repugthugs support legalization/medication these days. I like the posters that mentioned how Gay Pride left the ghetto as a maturing movement, and now parade downtown to incredible success.
I was with you guys when I was younger, wore flowers in my hair, but you still exist in the hippie love bubble and don't realize the extent to which you are mocked. A hell of a lot of people think that you and hempfest are a big joke, and they don't climb on board. Seriously, the hippies are a very, very small representation of smokers anymore, the sixties are over. It's reality boys. The tie dyes and dreads represent a smaller and smaller group of people every year, but that whole lifestyle is imprinted and overpowering hemp from going forward.
Freak Power got the hemp movement to where it is today, it was fun and all, but it is time to evolve.
I smoke with hundreds on a yearly basis, at parties, shows, picnics, and BBQ's. I know that not one of them supports or will go to Hempfest anymore. It just doesn't represent your average stoner demographic.
We have all come a long way, so have I , I still have most of the values, but I'm not living for Jerry, Jerry's dead. Bob Marley's dead.
I can bring my kids to Gay Pride, no problem, but what does Hempfest have to offer for all of us families that used to support it, but would like to see the event evolve?
I've reading a lot lately about about founder burnout in organizations, about how movements and organizations stagnate because the founding leaders can't let go of what it used to be. Country Fair is a prime example, and I hear all of you Country Fair goers bitch about that fact, so you know what I'm talking about.
The idea and the movement are bigger than you now, are you gonna choke it with your 20-year old production, 40 year-old philosophy, and keep coddling the Drainbows?
The same vendors every year? Do you realize how your vendor mix drives so many folks away? I don't know how to solve that problem, and keep the necessary revenue flowing, but somethings got to change.
I don't know how to solve all these problems, but instead of group hugs and proselytizing about how we ought to all hold hands and love the mother and every body and each other, big turn-offs for most stoners and hemp supporters, maybe you ought to listen to Dominic, and go talk to Gay Pride, let the hippie/dread/love thing be what it is in its world, and seriously brainstorm on how to get everyone that's pro-pot into the tent.
I'm a Soccer Mom, and I smoke pot.
91
Can't we all just get along? I understand your frustration at the seemingly lack of progress in the movement towards legalization. Hempfest itself has is and will continue to be a forum for discussion about hemp and marijuana. As a 501c3 non profit organization it as an organization can not work of legislation or towards changing the laws. Hempfest is a jumping off point for people to start talking and learning and if the people feel it is time then take the information you learned at hempfest and the people you met at hempfest and in the community around you and form an organization to petition to change the laws and pass the bills that the people of Washington State and the rest of America wants. It is time for us the people of America to tear down our culture walls and work together toward esuring that all of the people of America have the freedom to pursue life liberty and happiness. I for one am looking forward to changing laws that are based on racism and greed into laws that allow adults to choose for themselves what they do with their bodies as long as it doesn't infringe on the rights of others. Legalizing hemp for agriculture industry and manufacturing and marijuana for medicine is something people from all walks of life can get behind especially because it will create jobs where there weren't any before and innovation for this incredibly useful and environmentally invigorating plant.
I am ready for change, are you. I am ready to work for it, are you? I am ready to put my money where my mouth is, are you?
Let's get together, all who want change, and work toward that goal. Everyone form the dirty hippies to the farmers to the blue collar workers to the scientists to the suit wearing white collar workers lets get together and make the change. The laws after all are by the people and for the people.
Congratulations to Seattle Hempfest and all the other hemp festivals across this great nation of ours for keeping this issue in our minds and hearts and congratulations to reporters like Dominic Holden and others who also write and talk about this issue because it gets the people talking and sharing ideas. Talk is great but it seems now is the time to put words into action. ARE YOU WITH ME?
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I am ready for change, are you. I am ready to work for it, are you? I am ready to put my money where my mouth is, are you?
Let's get together, all who want change, and work toward that goal. Everyone form the dirty hippies to the farmers to the blue collar workers to the scientists to the suit wearing white collar workers lets get together and make the change. The laws after all are by the people and for the people.
Congratulations to Seattle Hempfest and all the other hemp festivals across this great nation of ours for keeping this issue in our minds and hearts and congratulations to reporters like Dominic Holden and others who also write and talk about this issue because it gets the people talking and sharing ideas. Talk is great but it seems now is the time to put words into action. ARE YOU WITH ME?
92
One more thought. Maybe the reason the event has so much "hippy" stuff is that many (dare I say most) of items used to decorate the event are not purchased for the event, but brought from the homes of those "hippies" who work their behinds off all year to throw the event. Want less of a hippy influence? Then tell your friends in their slacks and button downs to volunteer for the event--and donate their things from their homes to decorate the event.
93
Dominic, it's hard to believe that hippies hate you. You have always seemed to me, to be a kind-hearted person with a warm smile. You work very hard for the things that you are passionate about, and once, when you were a "hippy" yourself, you knew that hippies would rather "love" than "hate".
As an always "wannna be" hippie, I lacked the nerve to "be free"! I was born with the right to "be free", but I have rarely felt true "freedom", except in the presence of the people I have come to know through being a Seattle Hempfest volunteer.
I have never felt so "FREE" as when I walk down the lovely paths of Myrtle Edwards Park, in Seattle, WA, on the beautiful waterfront, I smell "freedom" ( not patchuoli oil) . I see a "free world" where police officers smile and talk to people they pass... and those people smile and talk back. I feel the vibration of peace and harmony, community and love. I feel truly safe and "ALIVE"!!
I have witnessed superb education on all parts of the cannabus plant, by many "world renouned" and other Hemp and Marijuana activists. I have witnessed the communication between many of these people, and seen how all of us have helped each other to end cannabis prohibition. Freedom is coming. Not with hate but with love. Hippies might be mad at you right now, but I know that they still love you. I say "FREE DOM"!
As an always "wannna be" hippie, I lacked the nerve to "be free"! I was born with the right to "be free", but I have rarely felt true "freedom", except in the presence of the people I have come to know through being a Seattle Hempfest volunteer.
I have never felt so "FREE" as when I walk down the lovely paths of Myrtle Edwards Park, in Seattle, WA, on the beautiful waterfront, I smell "freedom" ( not patchuoli oil) . I see a "free world" where police officers smile and talk to people they pass... and those people smile and talk back. I feel the vibration of peace and harmony, community and love. I feel truly safe and "ALIVE"!!
I have witnessed superb education on all parts of the cannabus plant, by many "world renouned" and other Hemp and Marijuana activists. I have witnessed the communication between many of these people, and seen how all of us have helped each other to end cannabis prohibition. Freedom is coming. Not with hate but with love. Hippies might be mad at you right now, but I know that they still love you. I say "FREE DOM"!
94
@89
"We don't pretend to be the answer to pot legalization. We do not pretend to be anything other than the world's biggest pot rally."
So there really is no progressive purpose to hempfest. Rally for what? What a waste of people's attention.
"Whaddya want? everyone wearing little alligators on their polo shirts?"
So you see the world in black and white? Hippies vs. Preppies? You are color blind.
You are a hinderance to progress my friend......but by all means please have your "god damned festival." Or is it a rally?
"We don't pretend to be the answer to pot legalization. We do not pretend to be anything other than the world's biggest pot rally."
So there really is no progressive purpose to hempfest. Rally for what? What a waste of people's attention.
"Whaddya want? everyone wearing little alligators on their polo shirts?"
So you see the world in black and white? Hippies vs. Preppies? You are color blind.
You are a hinderance to progress my friend......but by all means please have your "god damned festival." Or is it a rally?
97
Here Dom i will help you out and maybe this will be the day you will be on top of the "most commented on slog" good luck and hempy dreams...
98
I guess, when I think of Woodstock 69. There was a LOT of diversity, a lot of cultural stimulation, and a lot of sensory overload when it came to music (Hendrix? the who?). I used to listen to "jam" music in high school. And I decidedly, shortly after farmhouse. That I couldn't listen to it anymore. Phish is the only contemporary "jam" band that I found interesting and can still occaisonally listen to, but they also had a decent song writing. I hear all my friends back east pining over their reunion shows, and I can't help but think to myself, been there, done that, why the hell does anyone want to drop the dough to go to all those nostalgic shows.
These days, I work pretty hard. I love my gym time and don't really feel like compromising my body by throwing in too many foreign substances (never was into drugs, I support marijuana legalization ... does not work for me). And as for music, I like electronica, new wave, heavy funk, anything more aggresive. Living in Oregon, most hippie-folk shit left me so flat. A jug band does not make for a concert. It's a total snooze fest with nothing to keep you awake but the nagging smell of patrouli and B.O. I'm relatively new to Seattle, and i will NOT be attending Hempfest. I may go to bumbershoot and the tattoo expo.
If I want to listen to real energy, I'll listen to some of my old phish bootlegs from high school, or watch the woodstock documentary where the Who, Hendrix, and Sly ROCKED a scene of unsuspecting fans!
Clint, peace love and all that. But come on now, I think the modern "hippy" movement is missing the point and in reality are a bunch of lazy shits.
These days, I work pretty hard. I love my gym time and don't really feel like compromising my body by throwing in too many foreign substances (never was into drugs, I support marijuana legalization ... does not work for me). And as for music, I like electronica, new wave, heavy funk, anything more aggresive. Living in Oregon, most hippie-folk shit left me so flat. A jug band does not make for a concert. It's a total snooze fest with nothing to keep you awake but the nagging smell of patrouli and B.O. I'm relatively new to Seattle, and i will NOT be attending Hempfest. I may go to bumbershoot and the tattoo expo.
If I want to listen to real energy, I'll listen to some of my old phish bootlegs from high school, or watch the woodstock documentary where the Who, Hendrix, and Sly ROCKED a scene of unsuspecting fans!
Clint, peace love and all that. But come on now, I think the modern "hippy" movement is missing the point and in reality are a bunch of lazy shits.
100
I'm not a hippie, far from it. I took offence to that section of your story because I felt it was an unneccessary jab that didn't serve to strengthen your arguement, you used pejorative stereotypes to describe Hempfest when you should know damn well it's a bullshit perception.
You talk about the "hippie culture" holding back Hempfest, but to me, it's in part effective only because of the marginalizations and stereotypes that you too are perpetuating with comments such as the one you made in your last story..Which you yourself admit was not a necessary part of the story, "it was a clause"....gee all the more reason to include it, Dom.
I want you to answer something for me,
Why exactly do the so-called "hippie influences" hold back Hempfest?
Is it because they are so "dirty"?
You talk about the "hippie culture" holding back Hempfest, but to me, it's in part effective only because of the marginalizations and stereotypes that you too are perpetuating with comments such as the one you made in your last story..Which you yourself admit was not a necessary part of the story, "it was a clause"....gee all the more reason to include it, Dom.
I want you to answer something for me,
Why exactly do the so-called "hippie influences" hold back Hempfest?
Is it because they are so "dirty"?
101
I'm getting tired of people thinking it's okay to denegrate hippies with derogatory words & phrases etc...
I am not a hippie myself, but since I listen to extreme metal I have to hear it all the fucking time.
The line I hear the most goes about like this, "Hippies are so dirty and smelly"
Okay that is an opinion and everyone has the right to one...but lets see how that phrase works if you replace the "hippie" with some other often persecuted or marginalized subculture or group:
"Gays are so dirty and smelly"
"Blacks are so dirty and smelly"
"Women are so dirty and smelly"
It doesn't work does it?
No, it is fucking wrong.
I am not a hippie myself, but since I listen to extreme metal I have to hear it all the fucking time.
The line I hear the most goes about like this, "Hippies are so dirty and smelly"
Okay that is an opinion and everyone has the right to one...but lets see how that phrase works if you replace the "hippie" with some other often persecuted or marginalized subculture or group:
"Gays are so dirty and smelly"
"Blacks are so dirty and smelly"
"Women are so dirty and smelly"
It doesn't work does it?
No, it is fucking wrong.
102
@101
Dude, it's because THEY ARE!
Until you hanging in a basement with a bunch of hippies, you have no idea!
Sure there are PLENTY of hipsters and punk rockers who have less than stellar hygiene. But they aren't overflowing with hair, B.O., cumin, and cheatoes nearly as much.
I would rather hang out in the urine/puke soaked floor of a dive bar or a mosh pit than in some new age basement of hippies.
But that is just me.
Dude, it's because THEY ARE!
Until you hanging in a basement with a bunch of hippies, you have no idea!
Sure there are PLENTY of hipsters and punk rockers who have less than stellar hygiene. But they aren't overflowing with hair, B.O., cumin, and cheatoes nearly as much.
I would rather hang out in the urine/puke soaked floor of a dive bar or a mosh pit than in some new age basement of hippies.
But that is just me.
103
@#94
Actually, Dominic is the one with the "black or white" arguement: you either have the "hippie" event full of smelly losers or you have the "homogenized" tasteful event where no one is forced to look at the distasteful banners etc while they enjoy the FREE MUSIC EVENT....So you arguement agaisnt that person's post is a false one... : )
What we are doing is not the answer to eveyrone's problems and we have never proported it to be. We are trying to do OUT PART, as you should be to. Doing out part includes being true to who we are, not what other people want us to be...Especially if those people are so trivial that a fucking tye-dyed banner can cause them to avoid (in disgust) a FREE festival put on entirely through volunteer work.
THAT makes me sick. There are people languishing in jail right now, what about them? Tell them you wan to show your support to Hemofest's aims but your are waiting until they get rid of those unsightly banners and artwork...
@All the people who hate against the attendees of Hempfest: They are Americans too and they deserve their rights just as much as you "smart folk"...Who are you people to judge?
Actually, Dominic is the one with the "black or white" arguement: you either have the "hippie" event full of smelly losers or you have the "homogenized" tasteful event where no one is forced to look at the distasteful banners etc while they enjoy the FREE MUSIC EVENT....So you arguement agaisnt that person's post is a false one... : )
What we are doing is not the answer to eveyrone's problems and we have never proported it to be. We are trying to do OUT PART, as you should be to. Doing out part includes being true to who we are, not what other people want us to be...Especially if those people are so trivial that a fucking tye-dyed banner can cause them to avoid (in disgust) a FREE festival put on entirely through volunteer work.
THAT makes me sick. There are people languishing in jail right now, what about them? Tell them you wan to show your support to Hemofest's aims but your are waiting until they get rid of those unsightly banners and artwork...
@All the people who hate against the attendees of Hempfest: They are Americans too and they deserve their rights just as much as you "smart folk"...Who are you people to judge?
104
@102
How strange, we both agree on something:
I too would rahther you be on the urine/puke soaked floor of a dive bar or a mosh pit than be around anyone I know, that is if you are going to have such stereotyped and bigoted ideas about a whole subculture.
I know jsut as many so called straight looking people who smell like shit too. It is completely a bull shit arguement and you sadden me for perpetuating it. You are not differentiating between people who are street culture and people who have a house.
How strange, we both agree on something:
I too would rahther you be on the urine/puke soaked floor of a dive bar or a mosh pit than be around anyone I know, that is if you are going to have such stereotyped and bigoted ideas about a whole subculture.
I know jsut as many so called straight looking people who smell like shit too. It is completely a bull shit arguement and you sadden me for perpetuating it. You are not differentiating between people who are street culture and people who have a house.
105
Also, you have no idea just how many hippie basements I've been in. So you are quite ignorant on that subject and should probably refrain from trying to "school" me on such things in the future ;)
106
@104
I guess I find that on the west coast, vs. the east coast (or maybe its a Northwest thing). People are more likely TO POSESS their stereotype.
It's not as bad here in Seattle as it was in Oregon. But in Vermont, there were plenty of people who ran track, lax, etc. who were clean, shaven, and partied at the shows. They seemed to be the minority in Oregon. You go into a tattoo parlor, and there are people tattooed all over the face. Yet many owners WILL CHASE OUT kids who want their hands tattooed back east. Many owners carefully ask the occupations of clients before doing full sleeves. This is more common in Seattle, than it is is Oregon.
I felt that in the east coast, a social and personal identity was somethign that you held valuable and persued OFF THE CLOCK.
And I do have some cred for this, comign from Burlington VT, I never been around hippies that smelled so bad until I came to the west coast.
I guess I find that on the west coast, vs. the east coast (or maybe its a Northwest thing). People are more likely TO POSESS their stereotype.
It's not as bad here in Seattle as it was in Oregon. But in Vermont, there were plenty of people who ran track, lax, etc. who were clean, shaven, and partied at the shows. They seemed to be the minority in Oregon. You go into a tattoo parlor, and there are people tattooed all over the face. Yet many owners WILL CHASE OUT kids who want their hands tattooed back east. Many owners carefully ask the occupations of clients before doing full sleeves. This is more common in Seattle, than it is is Oregon.
I felt that in the east coast, a social and personal identity was somethign that you held valuable and persued OFF THE CLOCK.
And I do have some cred for this, comign from Burlington VT, I never been around hippies that smelled so bad until I came to the west coast.
107
And alex, you and most certainly agree that if you want to be a dready rasta who preaches deoderant causes alzheimers which is just an excuse for laziness ... that is fine by me!
It is a free country, and let it be known that it is my right as an American to not be attracted to it aesthetically or otherwise. That it's my personal right to find your women undesirable, and the men ... well understimulating.
But it is most certainly their right to behave a certain way. I do quirky shit too ... like post on slog.
But I agree with Dominic. There was a time and place for extreme counter culture to wave the legalize pot flag. That time has passed, and it needs new energy and it needs to be more inclusive of those that don't like B.O. or folksy unending shitty jams. (sorry, I just judged ... folksy extended transendental jams).
God bless America
It is a free country, and let it be known that it is my right as an American to not be attracted to it aesthetically or otherwise. That it's my personal right to find your women undesirable, and the men ... well understimulating.
But it is most certainly their right to behave a certain way. I do quirky shit too ... like post on slog.
But I agree with Dominic. There was a time and place for extreme counter culture to wave the legalize pot flag. That time has passed, and it needs new energy and it needs to be more inclusive of those that don't like B.O. or folksy unending shitty jams. (sorry, I just judged ... folksy extended transendental jams).
God bless America
108
No one is saying the hippies and the drainbows can't have their festival of music and pot and love and woo woo. What people, for the most part, are suggesting is that, if we are to make significant progress toward a rational policy on marijuana use, advocacy needs to have another venue, one that is perhaps somewhat more palatable to the average joe or jane.
109
hear, hear! as a less-than fastidious soccer mom i agree that there needs to be a more credible source for marijuana advocacy. sign me up. what is an effective way to fight for our rights and not waste our time?
110
Hey, former tri-state, have you ever actually BEEN to a Seattle Hempfest?
It's been correctly posted repeatedly here that Hempfest is NOT just a bunch of patchouli-stained hippies. Hempfest is HUGE. I don't smell patchouli at the fest. I SMELL FREEDOM (and some pretty good smells from the food vendors and festival-goers too).
You wanna paint Hempfest acts with the brush of your own musical experiences, that's your choice, but you're the one missing out on a hell of a lot of diversity.
Hempfest strives to have, and certainly does have, an amazingly diverse mix of musical styles to choose from. Don't care for hippie jam music? Well, that cuts out about 1/30th of what is available at the fest. Go to a different stage, or wait for the next act.
Don't like tie-dyes? Go to a different part of the festival. Don't like music? Go to Hemposium and discuss drug-policy-reform with some of the foremost movers and shakers in the movement.
Look, if you haven't been there, you have no valid position to judge it from.
Last year, we had a broadway-style musical: "Reefer Madness - The Musical" perform directly before Tony B's Hip-Hop Revue. Both acts were AWESOME and the crowd LOVED 'EM. The cultural juxtaposition was PRICELESS. Where else are you going to find that (FOR FREE no less)?
BTW, I don't wear tie dye or any kind of fragrance other than my deodorant. I wear comfortable work-pants, black work shoes, and button-down shirts to the festival. I'm a hippie at heart, but you'd never know it by looking at me. I have a college degree and have been busting my ass as an I.T. professional for well over a decade and a half.
I can look past the visual appearances and olfactory emanations of people to realize we are AMERICANS who are UNITED to promote the legalization of marijuana.
What have YOU done to promote legalization?
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It's been correctly posted repeatedly here that Hempfest is NOT just a bunch of patchouli-stained hippies. Hempfest is HUGE. I don't smell patchouli at the fest. I SMELL FREEDOM (and some pretty good smells from the food vendors and festival-goers too).
You wanna paint Hempfest acts with the brush of your own musical experiences, that's your choice, but you're the one missing out on a hell of a lot of diversity.
Hempfest strives to have, and certainly does have, an amazingly diverse mix of musical styles to choose from. Don't care for hippie jam music? Well, that cuts out about 1/30th of what is available at the fest. Go to a different stage, or wait for the next act.
Don't like tie-dyes? Go to a different part of the festival. Don't like music? Go to Hemposium and discuss drug-policy-reform with some of the foremost movers and shakers in the movement.
Look, if you haven't been there, you have no valid position to judge it from.
Last year, we had a broadway-style musical: "Reefer Madness - The Musical" perform directly before Tony B's Hip-Hop Revue. Both acts were AWESOME and the crowd LOVED 'EM. The cultural juxtaposition was PRICELESS. Where else are you going to find that (FOR FREE no less)?
BTW, I don't wear tie dye or any kind of fragrance other than my deodorant. I wear comfortable work-pants, black work shoes, and button-down shirts to the festival. I'm a hippie at heart, but you'd never know it by looking at me. I have a college degree and have been busting my ass as an I.T. professional for well over a decade and a half.
I can look past the visual appearances and olfactory emanations of people to realize we are AMERICANS who are UNITED to promote the legalization of marijuana.
What have YOU done to promote legalization?
111
@ 102 I believe you are referring to drainbows, not hippies. Please be more clear in your future posts. It seems that Dom's issue is more about debating whether hippies should still exist rather than a serious discussion of anything to do with hempfest. If you watch any of video links I posted above that show scenes from hempfest you'll see that most people are wearing short hair, t-shirts and shorts or jeans, just like most people on any seattle sidewalk in mid-august. In fact the ratio of tie-dye to other clothing is something like one person wearing tie-dye out of every 100 people. This shows that there is a lot of diversity at hempfest, and that it has reached a stage of broad appeal to a large cross-section of people. I think what's bugging a lot of the people doing the hater posts on this thread is that they don't understand how a hippie movement has not only survived but sustained and grown over the past 40 years when really all the conditions that gave rise to the "first generation" of hippies have long since vanished. I alos think the hater posters don't understand how these "dirty lazy hippies" have managed to put on an event year after year that takes a lot of hard work and a lot of cash, and that has like a couple hundred thousand people attending most of whom are not "dirty lazy hippies" themselves. But right, hempfest is some "marginalized ghetto" or something that has become nothing more than an irrelevant distraction to where the real heart of the pro-pot movement is . . . which is . . . the Bellevue PTA! No, I meant to say, The League of Women Voters! Or is it the Sierra Club?! Hey it's fine if you've decided that hempfest isn't for you, but it does seem that the hater posting folks are a bit jealous of what the "dirty lazy hippies" (and all the hundreds of other folks working together) continue to achieve by putting on hempfest every year. I say put up or shut up. You want a different event or organization to represent to a wider range of people? Then make it happen - the same way those dirty lazy hippies did. April 11 at 10 am at Peet's Coffee at Broadway and Denny. Word.
More...
112
So, it sounds to me more like you are saying that 'straight looking folks' such as yourself are not stepping up because Hempfest is not 'inclusive' inclusive enough.
You deride the culture of the people putting the event on, but tell them they are not inclusive enough?
It sounds me more like you want Hempfest to not only accept your values and image but to exclusively do so yet you do not accept the hippie culture's right to exist at all at the event, relegating it to a 'extremist' culture of the past.
I'm also supposed to completely ignore the obviously trite jabs placed in your comments and just consider any possibly valid points?
Arrogance knows no bounds...
You deride the culture of the people putting the event on, but tell them they are not inclusive enough?
It sounds me more like you want Hempfest to not only accept your values and image but to exclusively do so yet you do not accept the hippie culture's right to exist at all at the event, relegating it to a 'extremist' culture of the past.
I'm also supposed to completely ignore the obviously trite jabs placed in your comments and just consider any possibly valid points?
Arrogance knows no bounds...
115
Alex ... Clint. Maybe I WILL check out Hempfest this year. But bear in mind, I found the "functional" hippies a relative minorities in Eugene, OR. I moved to Seattle in hopes to find the exception. And so far, I have been impressed. It just might take me a while to recover from farses like the Oregon country fair.
Now THAT is exclusivity! The joke being, we'll take your money durring the daytime, but if you aren't counter culture enough, you don't get to go to the real party at night. Every year veneta was befuddled while chasing squatters off their property, and not exactly sure what to do or feel about it. So when Dominic says that the "hippie" movement has more or less taken over the Hempfest vibe. I sure as FUCK was planning on staying away from it! Do I support their cause, sure why not ... do I appreciate their intrussion or inclussion ... not so much.
But Clint and Alex, do I support your stand for freedom AND being an actually functional member of society. Hell yeah! as far as I understood, that's what this country meant to me.
Will I try to rekindle a love for widespread panic ... uhm perhaps not.
Now THAT is exclusivity! The joke being, we'll take your money durring the daytime, but if you aren't counter culture enough, you don't get to go to the real party at night. Every year veneta was befuddled while chasing squatters off their property, and not exactly sure what to do or feel about it. So when Dominic says that the "hippie" movement has more or less taken over the Hempfest vibe. I sure as FUCK was planning on staying away from it! Do I support their cause, sure why not ... do I appreciate their intrussion or inclussion ... not so much.
But Clint and Alex, do I support your stand for freedom AND being an actually functional member of society. Hell yeah! as far as I understood, that's what this country meant to me.
Will I try to rekindle a love for widespread panic ... uhm perhaps not.
116
Here is an open, INCLUSIVE invitation to anyone who wants to work to change Hempfest. You are all welcome to join us at working hard to produce, through 100% VOLUNTEER power, the world's largest Hempfest this August 15th and 16th. We will accept all volunteers who can refrain from hating others, and listen to your ideas for change. Want less tie-dye at Hempfest? Contribute to some other decorative scheme. Want a more unified, modern theme? Contribute $or your time to the planning and production of this giant event. Did I mention we are an All-Vounteer Non-Profit org with no giant corporate sponsors? Email staff@hempfest.org if you want to make change. Join us in producing a safe, fun, free event for over 100,000 attendees for the 18th year in a row!
117
And alex ... I don't exaclty "look straight" either. I'm tattooed under my clothes and I kept my hair long. But because I'm built like a football player/swimmer or maybe texas country musician it works for me. I don't really fit in to any stereotype and I more or less reject all of them. I take what I like and leave the rest.
As for what I'm doing for drug policy. I'm incognito as a scientist. I work a zillion hours (running a reaction now). And well ... I work with drugs, both directly and indirectly. I have an academic fascination with much of it. And I guess I try to get to know peoples MO, and vote accordingly. And why they think the way they do. I'm fascinated with people's hot button issues and why they feel so deeply about things. I also have little patience for knee jerky reflex responces based on political dogma. Even if it's right, I want to hear WHY the person thinks its right.
And this is the kicker ... and this will give me LOADS of trouble ... sometimes I find that people who go to great lengths to present an issue or demonstrate a visual appearance to the world, have the absolute least value or insight to offer on the inside. (In other cases they are riddled with internal pain ... but damn, that's like a thesis topic)
As for what I'm doing for drug policy. I'm incognito as a scientist. I work a zillion hours (running a reaction now). And well ... I work with drugs, both directly and indirectly. I have an academic fascination with much of it. And I guess I try to get to know peoples MO, and vote accordingly. And why they think the way they do. I'm fascinated with people's hot button issues and why they feel so deeply about things. I also have little patience for knee jerky reflex responces based on political dogma. Even if it's right, I want to hear WHY the person thinks its right.
And this is the kicker ... and this will give me LOADS of trouble ... sometimes I find that people who go to great lengths to present an issue or demonstrate a visual appearance to the world, have the absolute least value or insight to offer on the inside. (In other cases they are riddled with internal pain ... but damn, that's like a thesis topic)
118
Hey Hippies!
Love you guys, you've done great work for the hemp, but you are truly a laughingstock for the majority of folks that pack Sasquatch, Fremont Fair, Cap Hill Block Party, and Bumbershoot. You've had your day, it's time to move on or evolve. Weed is going to be legal as soon as or before gay marriage. It's time, it's critical mass.
I know it hurts to hear the truth, and you sure are getting defensive about it, but seriously, take a poll, most of you don't rate any higher than a circus or clown show. It's over, the tie-dye is ancient history. It's fucking 2009, not 1969. 40 years of plugging away in tie-dye Day-Glo has had its run.
Hippies are probably about 1% of pot huffers these days, but you won't let go of your merry circus. There is a huge majority of us that would show up if we weren't so embarassed by associating with the fading hippie nation and the drainbow losers.
Be a rainbow, not a drainbow, right?
Love you guys, you've done great work for the hemp, but you are truly a laughingstock for the majority of folks that pack Sasquatch, Fremont Fair, Cap Hill Block Party, and Bumbershoot. You've had your day, it's time to move on or evolve. Weed is going to be legal as soon as or before gay marriage. It's time, it's critical mass.
I know it hurts to hear the truth, and you sure are getting defensive about it, but seriously, take a poll, most of you don't rate any higher than a circus or clown show. It's over, the tie-dye is ancient history. It's fucking 2009, not 1969. 40 years of plugging away in tie-dye Day-Glo has had its run.
Hippies are probably about 1% of pot huffers these days, but you won't let go of your merry circus. There is a huge majority of us that would show up if we weren't so embarassed by associating with the fading hippie nation and the drainbow losers.
Be a rainbow, not a drainbow, right?
119
@118 - we still pack 'em in every year, so we must be doing *something* right.
And by the way, I do take polls. At most places that I do business, I mention volunteering for Hempfest - most people who have been to Hempfest usually respond *very* positively about their own experiences there. I don't think they're *all* blowing smoke up my ass.
And, if it sounds like we're defensive about it, it's because Hempfest is being painted VERY UNFAIRLY as an ineffectual hippie event. Dom cherry-picked his hippie photos, and I hear people who haven't been to Hempfest in years (or ever) basing their opinions on these misleading characterizations.
Hearing the truth doesn't hurt. Hearing falsehoods spouted about a very serious labour of love of mine hurts.
Go browse the photos and videos of Hempfest. You'll find that there are people from *many* slices of Americana there. Again, people: Focus on the "hippies" and that's ALL you're going to see. Open your eyes and look around. Hempfest has evolved. It is YOUR PERCEPTION that remains in the ghetto.
And if your "huge majority of us" actually put aside your petty "embarrassment" and showed up, wouldn't you then be in the MAJORITY? ie: relegating the hippies to the MINORITY? Oh, and if the "hippie nation" is fading, then if you and your "huge majority" were to actually show up, maybe you could accelerate the fading process.
Put up, show up, or shut up.
And by the way, I do take polls. At most places that I do business, I mention volunteering for Hempfest - most people who have been to Hempfest usually respond *very* positively about their own experiences there. I don't think they're *all* blowing smoke up my ass.
And, if it sounds like we're defensive about it, it's because Hempfest is being painted VERY UNFAIRLY as an ineffectual hippie event. Dom cherry-picked his hippie photos, and I hear people who haven't been to Hempfest in years (or ever) basing their opinions on these misleading characterizations.
Hearing the truth doesn't hurt. Hearing falsehoods spouted about a very serious labour of love of mine hurts.
Go browse the photos and videos of Hempfest. You'll find that there are people from *many* slices of Americana there. Again, people: Focus on the "hippies" and that's ALL you're going to see. Open your eyes and look around. Hempfest has evolved. It is YOUR PERCEPTION that remains in the ghetto.
And if your "huge majority of us" actually put aside your petty "embarrassment" and showed up, wouldn't you then be in the MAJORITY? ie: relegating the hippies to the MINORITY? Oh, and if the "hippie nation" is fading, then if you and your "huge majority" were to actually show up, maybe you could accelerate the fading process.
Put up, show up, or shut up.
120
Hey Hippies,
What if the burners, or punks, or latinos, or gays, or blacks or women had their stamp all over a movement that was as mainstream as pot legalization?
THE MOVEMENT WOULD BE MARGINALIZED!
Get your head around it, while most of the aformentioned groups have never had a chance when promoting Freedom and civil rights on their own, some became extremely powerful when they joined or attracted others.
While your Rainbow Country Fair Sideshow Circus has been extremely successful (major props!!!) so far in making Hempfest a huge event, you are truly stuck in the ghetto. Tons, if not tens of thousands of folks in the Northwest would attend Hempfest and support legalization if pot lost the stigma of the Hippie Nation.
Smoking pot, and being pro-hemp doesn't mean you have to carry on with the 24-7 Rainbow Nation anymore. Just like the post above, if you could get a fraction of the people who attend Bumbershoot, Cap Hill Block Party, and all the other big mainstream events too take Hempfest seriously, then you would really be truly kicking ass.
The vast majority of pro-pot legalization folks laugh at Hempfest. You all need to get out of your bubble and seriously poll folks. Ask a thousand pro-pot people if they take Hempfest seriously, have attended, or would attend again? I'm sorry to report that you are not going to get very encouraging results. The vast majority of pro-pot people don't rave, burn, take ecstasy, shroom, drop acid, wear tie-dyes, dread their hair, paint their faces, tattoo, group hug, or freak out.
I've done all of them, I'm going to Burn, Rave, and Country this summer, but I know and realize that Burning Man, and Raves, and Country Fair are all fun cultural sideshow activities, and not the mainstream, thank the Goddesss!
But pot is as mainstream as support for Obama, and what would the results of the last election have been like if Obama rallies would of been like Hempfest? Or Burning Man, or Gay Pride?
You've got to change, you've got to evolve, you've got to pass it on.
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What if the burners, or punks, or latinos, or gays, or blacks or women had their stamp all over a movement that was as mainstream as pot legalization?
THE MOVEMENT WOULD BE MARGINALIZED!
Get your head around it, while most of the aformentioned groups have never had a chance when promoting Freedom and civil rights on their own, some became extremely powerful when they joined or attracted others.
While your Rainbow Country Fair Sideshow Circus has been extremely successful (major props!!!) so far in making Hempfest a huge event, you are truly stuck in the ghetto. Tons, if not tens of thousands of folks in the Northwest would attend Hempfest and support legalization if pot lost the stigma of the Hippie Nation.
Smoking pot, and being pro-hemp doesn't mean you have to carry on with the 24-7 Rainbow Nation anymore. Just like the post above, if you could get a fraction of the people who attend Bumbershoot, Cap Hill Block Party, and all the other big mainstream events too take Hempfest seriously, then you would really be truly kicking ass.
The vast majority of pro-pot legalization folks laugh at Hempfest. You all need to get out of your bubble and seriously poll folks. Ask a thousand pro-pot people if they take Hempfest seriously, have attended, or would attend again? I'm sorry to report that you are not going to get very encouraging results. The vast majority of pro-pot people don't rave, burn, take ecstasy, shroom, drop acid, wear tie-dyes, dread their hair, paint their faces, tattoo, group hug, or freak out.
I've done all of them, I'm going to Burn, Rave, and Country this summer, but I know and realize that Burning Man, and Raves, and Country Fair are all fun cultural sideshow activities, and not the mainstream, thank the Goddesss!
But pot is as mainstream as support for Obama, and what would the results of the last election have been like if Obama rallies would of been like Hempfest? Or Burning Man, or Gay Pride?
You've got to change, you've got to evolve, you've got to pass it on.
121
@Former Tri-state: If you do show up, I recommend the North Entrance. Most "lemmings" opt for the South entrance, which winds up being way more packed than the North Entrance. You'll find better parking closer to the North Entrance too.
The Amgen/Prospect St. Footbridge is your best bet, and it's right on a major bus line should you wish to leave the car at home.
Hope to see you there!
The Amgen/Prospect St. Footbridge is your best bet, and it's right on a major bus line should you wish to leave the car at home.
Hope to see you there!
123
Clint,
I sincerly appreciate your clarification and enthusiasm.
I remember the 4:20 fests at the University of Vermont before the administration stamped them out. I haven't back to VT in years and I don't know if the same energy came back. But it was a universal energy and something to appreciate, even if you didn't smoke.
I sincerly appreciate your clarification and enthusiasm.
I remember the 4:20 fests at the University of Vermont before the administration stamped them out. I haven't back to VT in years and I don't know if the same energy came back. But it was a universal energy and something to appreciate, even if you didn't smoke.
124
Thank you for writing this Dominic. It's a no brainer that in your face hippie culture is going to repel many of us from wanting to participate in the pot legalisation movement. And as much as I'm more than capable of writing reams here about why hippies annoy me, I won't. But here's what I think the solution may need to be. And it's death by a thousand cuts (not to the hippies, to the prohibition laws). Realistically, and event called hemp fest is probably always going to attract large numbers of annoying people. I think the solution may be for people who aren't hippies to actively promote it. entertainers and media people such as yourself who aren't hippies should promote the cause. Here is a small list of personalities who have done their bit for promoting pot as a non hippie substance:
- sarah silverman in her mirror makeout skit
- some aussie comedian who was totally pompous and camp, who once said "I'm a writer, or to put it another way, I smoke a lot of pot."
- you, here, in writing this piece.
Dominic, this article, in a small way, may be the catalyst for the death by a thousand cuts non pachouli stained anti prohibition movement. It needed to be done.
- sarah silverman in her mirror makeout skit
- some aussie comedian who was totally pompous and camp, who once said "I'm a writer, or to put it another way, I smoke a lot of pot."
- you, here, in writing this piece.
Dominic, this article, in a small way, may be the catalyst for the death by a thousand cuts non pachouli stained anti prohibition movement. It needed to be done.
125
I would attend more PTA events but the things are controlled by Soccer Moms. Soccer Moms with their Gossip and mini-vans and McMansions and fucking “Grey’s Anatomy” all smell like fucking Nordstroms. They are catty and bitchy and WAY too in to other people's business because none of them have jobs and they don't know what to do with their time. They all cluster up and try to out white-bread each other with their "fiber-cement siding" all painted muted pastel bullshit.
I moved to a different neighborhood but these "yack, yack, yack" homogenous soulless with a different pair of eye-glasses so you have a small chance of differentiating them seem to be in control of every one of them. THESE PEOPLE EFFECT OUR KID’S EDUCATION!!!!
PTAs should be disbanded so that people like me, THE REAL PEOPLE, can run the movement. I can’t tell you how much this sickens me to think that those people run something so important. Do you think the Gucci logo is big enough on your fucking enormous bag? Do they make sunglasses with bigger lenses? You are a joke. Cool people laugh at you when they are out having fun and you are watching your kids.
If I see one more Starbucks or David Sederis book I am going to scream. I don’t care that you hate your parents, GET OVER IT! Don’t you have to be at your creative writing class anyway? Shouldn’t you be snowboarding or typing blog entries on your Mac? Eating sushi after shopping for overpriced “vintage” knickknacks? Shouldn’t you be preaching at someone for not using a “Reusable Shopping Bag” or for having a TV or for having a house that is not LEED certified.
Techno-listening, liberal arts degree having, latte drinking, psychologist seeing, Nordstrom smelling Soccer Moms. It is all so “before the crash”. Get out and let someone else run the PTA!!!!!
More...
I moved to a different neighborhood but these "yack, yack, yack" homogenous soulless with a different pair of eye-glasses so you have a small chance of differentiating them seem to be in control of every one of them. THESE PEOPLE EFFECT OUR KID’S EDUCATION!!!!
PTAs should be disbanded so that people like me, THE REAL PEOPLE, can run the movement. I can’t tell you how much this sickens me to think that those people run something so important. Do you think the Gucci logo is big enough on your fucking enormous bag? Do they make sunglasses with bigger lenses? You are a joke. Cool people laugh at you when they are out having fun and you are watching your kids.
If I see one more Starbucks or David Sederis book I am going to scream. I don’t care that you hate your parents, GET OVER IT! Don’t you have to be at your creative writing class anyway? Shouldn’t you be snowboarding or typing blog entries on your Mac? Eating sushi after shopping for overpriced “vintage” knickknacks? Shouldn’t you be preaching at someone for not using a “Reusable Shopping Bag” or for having a TV or for having a house that is not LEED certified.
Techno-listening, liberal arts degree having, latte drinking, psychologist seeing, Nordstrom smelling Soccer Moms. It is all so “before the crash”. Get out and let someone else run the PTA!!!!!
126
@125
so the soccer mom's that crucified Michael Phelps do suck (even though they still check him out.) But it's not like they don't have their own chemical dependency issues. They have LEGAL drugs at their disposal! From Oxi to valium!
We can rant about rednecks too, but damn even I think you are defensive.
so the soccer mom's that crucified Michael Phelps do suck (even though they still check him out.) But it's not like they don't have their own chemical dependency issues. They have LEGAL drugs at their disposal! From Oxi to valium!
We can rant about rednecks too, but damn even I think you are defensive.
127
How come the smartest, most lucid thinking on here is that of the soccer moms?
I'm a young dreadlocked, multi-pierced, tattooed, Rainbow Family member that is getting dis-illussioned. Is this all there is? I am starting to accept the fact that most of my peers are total burnouts. Besides getting laid a lot by hippie chicks, I don't know why I grew out these stupid dreads. I got crabs three times. Soccer mom seems to be telling the truth. I think I'm going to cut off my dreads and go back to school. Us hippies didn't get Obama elected or are we ever going to get pot legalized. Hey, Dominic, can I help?
I'm a young dreadlocked, multi-pierced, tattooed, Rainbow Family member that is getting dis-illussioned. Is this all there is? I am starting to accept the fact that most of my peers are total burnouts. Besides getting laid a lot by hippie chicks, I don't know why I grew out these stupid dreads. I got crabs three times. Soccer mom seems to be telling the truth. I think I'm going to cut off my dreads and go back to school. Us hippies didn't get Obama elected or are we ever going to get pot legalized. Hey, Dominic, can I help?
128
Wow, so many of the thougfhts on here are so uncool. We need a massiv group hug and mellow session. Pot is the mother weed the goddess has given us so we can all get beautiful. Do you all want to hang out and sweat and talk? I could make it happen. I can borrow some of the beautiful childrens farm near Oly for a retreat to regain balance and perspective, it has to be vegan though. All of you can come and we can heal together for the mother herb. Let me know. Yuo can find me at the Blue Moon, just ask.
Peace and Love, Moongoddess
Peace and Love, Moongoddess
130
Hi,
I was a worthless burner until just recently. I realized one day that all the meth and club drugs were turning me in to a complete arrogant, elitist fuckhead. All of my friends were posing little bitches that really weren’t as interesting as they thought they were. Also, as much activity as we seemed to be doing, we were in a desert and nobody sober noticed. I also got syphilis and my balls exploded.
I decided recently to become a hippie. Since then I was awarded $1,000,000 (usd) and got a pony.
Signed,
A completely believable burner
I was a worthless burner until just recently. I realized one day that all the meth and club drugs were turning me in to a complete arrogant, elitist fuckhead. All of my friends were posing little bitches that really weren’t as interesting as they thought they were. Also, as much activity as we seemed to be doing, we were in a desert and nobody sober noticed. I also got syphilis and my balls exploded.
I decided recently to become a hippie. Since then I was awarded $1,000,000 (usd) and got a pony.
Signed,
A completely believable burner
131
@ 120 According to you there are way more non-hippy people who are pro-pot in the area, so why do they need to have anything to do with hempfest? I mean this virtual army of soccer moms could launch their own protestival practically overnight since they have the connections, the organizing skills, probably access to funding, and the respectability of mainstream society, right? So just do it (remember that Nike quote?) Or why even bother with an festival . . . just have a massive coming out/smokeout day where at 4:20 pm (or whenever) everybody at the PTA meeting whips out their stylish chihully-inspired smoking pipe and lights up a bud. The 2 or 3 non-pro-pot people in the room will get the hint. Humor aside, why do you obsess on what you don't like about your perception of hempfest when you so obviously could put on your own better organized and far more relevant pro-pot event?
132
#131- Because he is a burner-hater bitch and wouldn't know a "soccer mom" (so 1994!) if one kicked him in his nuts and stuffed him in a garbage can. (You know who you are)
BTW- I acually love non-hater burners. I just had to call this guy on his shit.
BTW- I acually love non-hater burners. I just had to call this guy on his shit.
133
BTW, Burner-Hater, these people, who are not hippies for the most part, stuck their junk out during the GEORGE W BUSH days and produced the world's largest pot festival inside the US. Now that Obama is safely in you want to assume control 'cause now it's cool? Get a life! If you would have had stones you would have been in the gov't's grille this whole time. I know cool burners that were. You are a simpering, culture war starting, talking about community while at the same time dividing it, asshole.
134
OK, the former hippie gay writer guy is dissing an event that attracts more people than any other event like it, for not attracting the right kind of people. This former hippie guy who is a gay writer for a cynical elitist art fag zine, contends that somehow, right when the movement is actually making great strides, and a national debate raging finally about legalization, the Hempfest is holding the cause back.
This former hippie gay writer guy says that Hempfest is stigmatizing the entire national pot movement because it is virtually nothing but a "Patchouli stained ghetto" of "wallowing" hippies. He uses the patchouli reference to allude to that fact that these dirty hippies stink.
Of course this is a lie, ans aynone who attends the event will quickly see that hippies are sparse there compared to all of the non-hippies. There is a stage with a tie dye (OMG!) and a stage with some prayer flags, and this somehow justifies his somewhat bigoted rant against the Hempfest organizers, and the people who attend it. All 100,000 of them.
This writer does not realize that there plainly is not 100,000 hippies in Washington State.
Furthermore, this GAY MAN is marginalizing and STIGMATIZING thisb event by trying to convinvce people who have not attended that it is all stinky hippies. This man is a liar. This man is a bigot.
Forget the work his "hippies" may have done for gay AIDS patients. "Ohh, make him leave the pot and go away. He is a stinky hippie! thanks god he is gone. How dare that smelly hippie bring me some medical marijuana. I can;t believe they let them into this nice condo!"
Pathetic.
These people who have been producing this world class event for free, keeping it free, you say they are the hardest working most dedicated people. It is just that they are dirty stinky hippies that my gay friends at the Stranger hate, that is REALLY the problem with this gay former hippie writer.
I have attended Hempfest. What a great bunch of honest, real people. People who do not insult others, or denigrate others based upon how they look and dress.
SHAME! SHAME! SHAME!
You are next going to suggest gas chambers. On your blog you have a video of |hippies crying over trees" You REALLY hate hippie types, don't you?
What happened to you, Dude? To make you so petty and superficial. YOU NEED TO SMOKE SOME POT and grow a heart.
In fact, grow your fucking hair. I sincerely hope you are not a speaker at the next Hempfest or I am going to have to register a complaint.
Your premise is flawed, the piece was mean spirited, and you owe the Seattle Hempfest an apology, not for what you were saying, for the words you chose to say it. You can't really hate these people as much as it appears you do. Can you?
More...
This former hippie gay writer guy says that Hempfest is stigmatizing the entire national pot movement because it is virtually nothing but a "Patchouli stained ghetto" of "wallowing" hippies. He uses the patchouli reference to allude to that fact that these dirty hippies stink.
Of course this is a lie, ans aynone who attends the event will quickly see that hippies are sparse there compared to all of the non-hippies. There is a stage with a tie dye (OMG!) and a stage with some prayer flags, and this somehow justifies his somewhat bigoted rant against the Hempfest organizers, and the people who attend it. All 100,000 of them.
This writer does not realize that there plainly is not 100,000 hippies in Washington State.
Furthermore, this GAY MAN is marginalizing and STIGMATIZING thisb event by trying to convinvce people who have not attended that it is all stinky hippies. This man is a liar. This man is a bigot.
Forget the work his "hippies" may have done for gay AIDS patients. "Ohh, make him leave the pot and go away. He is a stinky hippie! thanks god he is gone. How dare that smelly hippie bring me some medical marijuana. I can;t believe they let them into this nice condo!"
Pathetic.
These people who have been producing this world class event for free, keeping it free, you say they are the hardest working most dedicated people. It is just that they are dirty stinky hippies that my gay friends at the Stranger hate, that is REALLY the problem with this gay former hippie writer.
I have attended Hempfest. What a great bunch of honest, real people. People who do not insult others, or denigrate others based upon how they look and dress.
SHAME! SHAME! SHAME!
You are next going to suggest gas chambers. On your blog you have a video of |hippies crying over trees" You REALLY hate hippie types, don't you?
What happened to you, Dude? To make you so petty and superficial. YOU NEED TO SMOKE SOME POT and grow a heart.
In fact, grow your fucking hair. I sincerely hope you are not a speaker at the next Hempfest or I am going to have to register a complaint.
Your premise is flawed, the piece was mean spirited, and you owe the Seattle Hempfest an apology, not for what you were saying, for the words you chose to say it. You can't really hate these people as much as it appears you do. Can you?
135
Oh thanks, 133, I forgot about that part. This guy supposedly is with NORML! And he is driving a wedge into the local movement by dividing the people involved in the actual work, at a critical time in America for legalization. He may as well work for the DEA. The Hempfest people are real. He is a phony.
136
"The problem with Hempfest isn’t that hippies are advocating for legal pot. It’s that other people—filthy hipsters, fastidious SOCCER MOMS, obsessive-compulsive janitors—aren’t advocating to legalize pot."
Excerpt from the article above. Coincidence I am sure.
Excerpt from the article above. Coincidence I am sure.
137
Original article where the self identifying "soccer mom" seems to be quite represented contrary to the assertion of this diatribe:
http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/shit_…
Weird coincidence: The stars must have aligned and the Clinton era Soccer Moms are all coming out at once. Welcome back gals! I've missed you.
http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/shit_…
Weird coincidence: The stars must have aligned and the Clinton era Soccer Moms are all coming out at once. Welcome back gals! I've missed you.
138
Wow, the Stranger has ethics?
http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Conte…
They use the word "journalism" in this article. Read it, its funny.
Dominic- Where is your degree from? You know, the one that taught you journalistic ethics?
http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Conte…
They use the word "journalism" in this article. Read it, its funny.
Dominic- Where is your degree from? You know, the one that taught you journalistic ethics?
140
Hey ASSif, Soccer Mom, and Dominic,
The best arguments on here are coming from the Soccer Mom, she's blowing you out of the water. How about a good rebuttal, or are you hippies too stoned to function?
Please explain to this Anarchist pothead who hates all of you, why hippies are good standard bearers for legalization, c'mon now, effective critical thinking!
Ain't gonna happen, all you are capable of is hippie burner whiner pablum.
Braindead shitheads.
The best arguments on here are coming from the Soccer Mom, she's blowing you out of the water. How about a good rebuttal, or are you hippies too stoned to function?
Please explain to this Anarchist pothead who hates all of you, why hippies are good standard bearers for legalization, c'mon now, effective critical thinking!
Ain't gonna happen, all you are capable of is hippie burner whiner pablum.
Braindead shitheads.
142
Tell you what,ASSif. If you are an Anarchist pothead and hate Burners, why don't you tell me why Burners suck? Go into detail. They are an easy target and you hate them anyway.
Or maybe you are a Burner-Hater fuck posing as an Anarchist to start shit with the Hippies.
Or maybe you are a Burner-Hater fuck posing as an Anarchist to start shit with the Hippies.
143
And this thread is a great example of Dominic's and the Strangers use of negative shit-stirring that rightwing talk radio, Fox News and Bill O'Rielly has raised to an art form: take an offensive stereotype and apply it to a group or event that from a distance looks like it might fit and assert that it does. Then when dittoheads start piling on, and people whom the stereotype is being applied to speak up to point out the stereotype isn't applicable, then accuse them of being defensive and assert that the alleged defensiveness proves that the stereotype is true. Then lather, rinse repeat. This tactic is not journalism, does not create a community conversation, and mostly shuts down any constructive dialogue. It is the media equivalent of picking a fight for the only reason of being the center of attention. And the reason Fox News, Bill O'Rielly, the Stranger and now Dominic uses this tactic is because it works to make you the center of attention . . . for a while. And it does have costs, mainly of eroding the authors credibility and perception of having integrity, which means over time that author will come to be seen as a stereotype themselves. But it does drive web traffic and page views . . . perhaps Dom's paycheck was getting thin this week or the Strangers ad revenues are down?
144
It doesn't matter whether you are a soccer mom, a burner, a pot head, a dead head. Labels are what the media uses to keep us separated and thereby render less effective the efforts of anyone trying to make change. The only way that the people have any power is if we learn to look beyond the clothes, haircuts, and yes sometimes even smells of other people and see the person with shared ideals living inside the costume. The important thing is that apparently we all share a desire to see the laws changed. I cannot believe the amount of time we have all had to take out of the real work of drug law reform to defend our right to wear what we want. I would like to us return to a focus on how these different types of personalities can work together for the greater good of our society.
That being said...if you believe in the change and want to be a part of it...then DO something to help...and if you are comfortable letting others do the work-then do this...be quiet and let us get some work done. Every minute we waste fighting over this...is a minute we are wasting when we could be fighting for our common goal. We are at a critical point in the fight-we are so close we can all see the finish line...let's run the race together-not trip each other up.
That being said...if you believe in the change and want to be a part of it...then DO something to help...and if you are comfortable letting others do the work-then do this...be quiet and let us get some work done. Every minute we waste fighting over this...is a minute we are wasting when we could be fighting for our common goal. We are at a critical point in the fight-we are so close we can all see the finish line...let's run the race together-not trip each other up.
145
I'm starting to see something here.
For people who dislike the sight large gatherings of hippies, the claim that it is a negative thing goes without saying. But for people who don't have a distaste for the styles, and culture of (overt) hippies, the claim is interpreted as meanness for its own sake.
I would love to see a debate, or discussion of sorts between self described hippies, and their haters. The hippies might learn about themselves and the way that their behaviour impacts others around them, and the haters might grow to understand their behaviour a bit better, and see that some of it has more to it than simply following others.
Maybe the stranger could start a column like what the Vllage Voice has with "ask a mexican" with an "ask a hippie" column where people could write in and ask the hippie all the questions they were afraid to ask to their face, such as "hey hippie, why are you the way you are?
For people who dislike the sight large gatherings of hippies, the claim that it is a negative thing goes without saying. But for people who don't have a distaste for the styles, and culture of (overt) hippies, the claim is interpreted as meanness for its own sake.
I would love to see a debate, or discussion of sorts between self described hippies, and their haters. The hippies might learn about themselves and the way that their behaviour impacts others around them, and the haters might grow to understand their behaviour a bit better, and see that some of it has more to it than simply following others.
Maybe the stranger could start a column like what the Vllage Voice has with "ask a mexican" with an "ask a hippie" column where people could write in and ask the hippie all the questions they were afraid to ask to their face, such as "hey hippie, why are you the way you are?
146
Hempfest is not a hippie culture. Hempfest is not a hippie event. Anyone that attended Hempfest would see that the cross section of people are about the same as any summer Seattle event. There is a jam stage that is more friendly to that culture as there is a electronic stage that has more of a raver scene. You are as likely to see tie-dye as pacifier or death metal shirt or mohawk. There are far less of the NASCAR scene represented but, is that so horrible? All are welcome.
Hempfest had more of a hippie appearance when Dom was in charge. Dom used to be a hippie. Dom used to wear tie-dye. Dom has smelled of patcholi. Dom did not leave Hempfest over disagreements over hippie culture.
I think fashion sensibilities and drugs of choice has changed leaving only intolerance for the past. It is sad really.
Hempfest had more of a hippie appearance when Dom was in charge. Dom used to be a hippie. Dom used to wear tie-dye. Dom has smelled of patcholi. Dom did not leave Hempfest over disagreements over hippie culture.
I think fashion sensibilities and drugs of choice has changed leaving only intolerance for the past. It is sad really.
147
#145- Or Dominic could do a "Hey Bigot" column.
Do the oppressed really have to later become the oppressors? Harvey Milk was a hippie.
Do the oppressed really have to later become the oppressors? Harvey Milk was a hippie.
148
Fair Warning: Below is a lightly edited version of the long comment I posted on the other stupid blog that Dominic wrote. I think the point bears repeating. I've also posted it on the activist blog page on my employer's website: www.hightimes.com
I have just read Dominic Holden’s “Shit Or Get Off The Pot” and "Why Hippies Hate Me" and I would like to make the following personal observations. Let me be clear that these opinions are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of High Times magazine or its staff of which I am member. I am speaking as a marijuana activist and businessman who has remained quiet on the subject of cultural bigotry within our movement for far too long.
On the number of professional occasions that I have been with Mr. Holden I have always sensed a thinly-veiled bigotry on his part towards the so-called “hippie” faction of the counterculture. Those of you who might know me would probably agree that I look like and exemplify the stereotype of an old hippie and, like any other cultural minority, I have learned to identify and avoid those people who intrinsically dislike me and my kind. As a pot smoking hippie for 37 years I have been culturally targeted for my entire adult life by the police, employers, coworkers, dimwitted bureaucrats, ad nauseum. I’ve never liked it and I don’t find it funny. For these reasons, I have always kept my professional interactions with Dominic at a minimum.
A few years ago I was on a panel with Dominic at Hempfest with Jack Herer and after Jack and I said our piece it was Dominic’s turn and he quickly brought the level of the discussion down to long-haired, Patchouli-smelling activists who he thought were detrimental to the cause of marijuana-law reform and advised all present to wear the proper haircuts and wear the proper clothes if they want to be effective activists for marijuana law reform. I was about to vehemently disagree when the panel ran out of time.
I too believe there is a place for mainstream-styled activism to present itself to mainstream-minded individuals and media in order to promote marijuana law reform; but that message should never be promulgated at the expense of any portion of its constituency. Such personal bigotry disguised as strategic activism is offensive, counterproductive and gives ammunition to those who would do marijuana smokers harm. In fact, a very large percentage of the 20 million marijuana smokers who have been arrested in the U.S. since 1965 have been long-haired, holes-in-your-jeans patchouli drenched hippies like myself, the targeted class to which you, Mr. Holden, turn up your nose.
Strategically speaking, Mr. Holden’s words are a detriment to our cause, That a former co-director of the highly-popular Seattle Hempfest would refer to that event as a “ patchouli-stained ghetto” is shameful; that one would use that phrase in the following context: “the current discourse about pot is wallowing in the patchouli-stained ghetto of Hempfest” is simply inaccurate. The current discourse about pot revolves increasingly around marijuana being seen as a possible solution to our nation’s economic woes and, for that reason, more possibilities for national reform exist right now than at any other time in recent memory. Mr. Holden alluded to this reality later in his blog but not before he vented his spleen on his least favorite minority.
On a side note, speaking as a journalist, I find it unbelievable that The Stranger did not insist on identifying its blogger as a member of the NORML Board of Directors or as a former co-director of Hempfest. Such standard citations exist to protect the public against possible bias and the public was ill-served in this instance.
I believe Dominic Holden’s consistent negative public comments on a viable portion of the marijuana law reform community make him a poor choice to represent any part of that community. Our movement needs to be inclusive, not excluding. Our movement needs to embrace the full variety of its constituency not pander to those few small-minded individuals who have since the beginning of time marked “those people” as the problem (quote marks are mine). I would suggest that Mr. Holden be removed from the NORML Board of Directors which is a shame because I think he has been sincere in his belief in marijuana law reform, smart, well-read, well-spoken -- all the things our movement needs to take advantage of this moment, and I certainly don’t hate him because real hippies don’t do that sort of thing. It’s just that his statements are bigoted and that can only hurt our cause.
More...
I have just read Dominic Holden’s “Shit Or Get Off The Pot” and "Why Hippies Hate Me" and I would like to make the following personal observations. Let me be clear that these opinions are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of High Times magazine or its staff of which I am member. I am speaking as a marijuana activist and businessman who has remained quiet on the subject of cultural bigotry within our movement for far too long.
On the number of professional occasions that I have been with Mr. Holden I have always sensed a thinly-veiled bigotry on his part towards the so-called “hippie” faction of the counterculture. Those of you who might know me would probably agree that I look like and exemplify the stereotype of an old hippie and, like any other cultural minority, I have learned to identify and avoid those people who intrinsically dislike me and my kind. As a pot smoking hippie for 37 years I have been culturally targeted for my entire adult life by the police, employers, coworkers, dimwitted bureaucrats, ad nauseum. I’ve never liked it and I don’t find it funny. For these reasons, I have always kept my professional interactions with Dominic at a minimum.
A few years ago I was on a panel with Dominic at Hempfest with Jack Herer and after Jack and I said our piece it was Dominic’s turn and he quickly brought the level of the discussion down to long-haired, Patchouli-smelling activists who he thought were detrimental to the cause of marijuana-law reform and advised all present to wear the proper haircuts and wear the proper clothes if they want to be effective activists for marijuana law reform. I was about to vehemently disagree when the panel ran out of time.
I too believe there is a place for mainstream-styled activism to present itself to mainstream-minded individuals and media in order to promote marijuana law reform; but that message should never be promulgated at the expense of any portion of its constituency. Such personal bigotry disguised as strategic activism is offensive, counterproductive and gives ammunition to those who would do marijuana smokers harm. In fact, a very large percentage of the 20 million marijuana smokers who have been arrested in the U.S. since 1965 have been long-haired, holes-in-your-jeans patchouli drenched hippies like myself, the targeted class to which you, Mr. Holden, turn up your nose.
Strategically speaking, Mr. Holden’s words are a detriment to our cause, That a former co-director of the highly-popular Seattle Hempfest would refer to that event as a “ patchouli-stained ghetto” is shameful; that one would use that phrase in the following context: “the current discourse about pot is wallowing in the patchouli-stained ghetto of Hempfest” is simply inaccurate. The current discourse about pot revolves increasingly around marijuana being seen as a possible solution to our nation’s economic woes and, for that reason, more possibilities for national reform exist right now than at any other time in recent memory. Mr. Holden alluded to this reality later in his blog but not before he vented his spleen on his least favorite minority.
On a side note, speaking as a journalist, I find it unbelievable that The Stranger did not insist on identifying its blogger as a member of the NORML Board of Directors or as a former co-director of Hempfest. Such standard citations exist to protect the public against possible bias and the public was ill-served in this instance.
I believe Dominic Holden’s consistent negative public comments on a viable portion of the marijuana law reform community make him a poor choice to represent any part of that community. Our movement needs to be inclusive, not excluding. Our movement needs to embrace the full variety of its constituency not pander to those few small-minded individuals who have since the beginning of time marked “those people” as the problem (quote marks are mine). I would suggest that Mr. Holden be removed from the NORML Board of Directors which is a shame because I think he has been sincere in his belief in marijuana law reform, smart, well-read, well-spoken -- all the things our movement needs to take advantage of this moment, and I certainly don’t hate him because real hippies don’t do that sort of thing. It’s just that his statements are bigoted and that can only hurt our cause.
150
Its a clown and faerie problem. Nobody takes clowns and faeries seriously. Or ravers or burners.
When you dress up in hedonistic regalia what are we supposed to think?
Are we supposed to take you seriously?
Sorry folks, but clowns and jesters trivialized your import centuries ago. When you dress up in costume, you are perceived as a clown, even by other clowns.
Only the Pope, the Dalai Lama, Generals, and Cops get away with respect for the costume.
I've been studying affinity movements for a few years now, we often do focus groups to test how big groups of people quickly regroup into smaller tribes along visual and self-identity ritualization. This reinforces both cultural and sexual stereotypes, racism, and classism. The first people to identify with each other are often the most outlandishly clothed and coiffed.
The next group often along racial or gender lines, etc.
Last to group are most often the straights.
It is a very interesting and illuminating exercise.
Always, the dreaded and the hippies gather first. Everyone else is a lot more wary initially. But the dreads and hippies almost instantly create bonds and feel safe with each other. They are most likely to initiate physical contact long before the other groupings.
It's wierd, like moths to a flame.
When you dress up in hedonistic regalia what are we supposed to think?
Are we supposed to take you seriously?
Sorry folks, but clowns and jesters trivialized your import centuries ago. When you dress up in costume, you are perceived as a clown, even by other clowns.
Only the Pope, the Dalai Lama, Generals, and Cops get away with respect for the costume.
I've been studying affinity movements for a few years now, we often do focus groups to test how big groups of people quickly regroup into smaller tribes along visual and self-identity ritualization. This reinforces both cultural and sexual stereotypes, racism, and classism. The first people to identify with each other are often the most outlandishly clothed and coiffed.
The next group often along racial or gender lines, etc.
Last to group are most often the straights.
It is a very interesting and illuminating exercise.
Always, the dreaded and the hippies gather first. Everyone else is a lot more wary initially. But the dreads and hippies almost instantly create bonds and feel safe with each other. They are most likely to initiate physical contact long before the other groupings.
It's wierd, like moths to a flame.
151
Perhaps you might ast yourself; Is this what we should steep the future in?
Perhaps we should give our children a new way to be; one that stresses tolerance.
The alternate is giving our children dress codes and focusing them on the superficial. Is that the direction we want to go as a society?
Dr. King talked about viewing each other for the "content of character" vs. our outward appearance. This is probably a good thing to teach our kids.
You have dreads but that does not make you a bad person. I think you are mostly a good person. Let's get rid of the stereotype baggage.
Perhaps we should give our children a new way to be; one that stresses tolerance.
The alternate is giving our children dress codes and focusing them on the superficial. Is that the direction we want to go as a society?
Dr. King talked about viewing each other for the "content of character" vs. our outward appearance. This is probably a good thing to teach our kids.
You have dreads but that does not make you a bad person. I think you are mostly a good person. Let's get rid of the stereotype baggage.
152
@ 150 Are you supposed to take us seriously? Yes, you are. Why? Because all people desrve respect. Because we are all on this spaceship earth together. Because what matters is what's in a person's heart not what clothes are on their back. Quite frankly the most dangerous people I know of wear suits and ties and polo pull-overs. These people believe its okay to shove the mentally ill and those less capable of us out of homes to live their lives in the cold and hungry street. These people start wars of choice which is crippling our coutry for the next couple decades. These people knowingly drive our economy over the cliff because they can get their hands on lots of money by doing so. And these people bully people into passing laws and locking people in cages for using a plant that less harmful than tobacco, alcohol or sugar, and they make lots of money telling lies to keep it so that lots of people will get locked up. So no, I see people who do these things and who wear suits and ties and clean-cut faces and old spice as the ones we should not take seriously, as the ones we should always question and as the ones we should prevent being in positions of power or as role models wherever possible. And I am calling bullshit on your presumption that people like that hold as much power as you suggest they do. They don't. They are terrified of how they are losing power little by little, and they will say and do almost anything to keep whatever shred of it they can. It's sad, because there is nothing to fear really. We're just all humans here, and we're already welcoming them to rejoin the tribe of the heart when they are able to let go of personal gain at the expense of so many others and the planet. So yes, if taking someone seriously for you depends on what they wear and not on what's in their heart or the quality of their thought, then yes, for your own wellapbeing you especially need to to take us seriously.
More...
153
@ 150 Are you supposed to take us seriously? Yes, you are. Why? Because all people desrve respect. Because we are all on this spaceship earth together. Because what matters is what's in a person's heart not what clothes are on their back. Quite frankly the most dangerous people I know of wear suits and ties and polo pull-overs. These people believe its okay to shove the mentally ill and those less capable of us out of homes to live their lives in the cold and hungry street. These people start wars of choice which is crippling our coutry for the next couple decades. These people knowingly drive our economy over the cliff because they can get their hands on lots of money by doing so. And these people bully people into passing laws and locking people in cages for using a plant that less harmful than tobacco, alcohol or sugar, and they make lots of money telling lies to keep it so that lots of people will get locked up. So no, I see people who do these things and who wear suits and ties and clean-cut faces and old spice as the ones we should not take seriously, as the ones we should always question and as the ones we should prevent being in positions of power or as role models wherever possible. And I am calling bullshit on your presumption that people like that hold as much power as you suggest they do. They don't. They are terrified of how they are losing power little by little, and they will say and do almost anything to keep whatever shred of it they can. It's sad, because there is nothing to fear really. We're just all humans here, and we're already welcoming them to rejoin the tribe of the heart when they are able to let go of personal gain at the expense of so many others and the planet. So yes, if taking someone seriously for you depends on what they wear and not on what's in their heart or the quality of their thought, then yes, for your own wellapbeing you especially need to to take us seriously.
More...
154
The Drugwar was created by using stereotypes of blacks and Mexicans, lies in the media about rapes and murders that were not happening. All through the last 80 years they have been scapegoating cultural underclasses as justification to imprison people and subjugate the powerless. They choose sub-cultures that have little influence or political power for a reason.
The hippies were perfect for them in the 60's to marginalize so as to thwart the political environment of that time. It worked well.
That is why, Mr. Holden, you have made a terrible error in judgment by framing your argument by suggesting that Hempfest "lose" the tie dyes. Lose = ban.
The irony is just too much. The hippies are the problem. Where have we heard that before? What would you do? Not allow them?
Someone else should have written that piece considering your history. Now so much hurt, anger, even hate is being brought up. Why?
Typical Stranger building community again. You can always count on the Stranger to insult, attack, put down, marginalize, make fun of, lash out at, someone in our community. The Stranger helped kill the music scene here. They only write about their friends, lovers, or national acts. The Rocket (which they ridiculed) covered everybody.
The hippies were perfect for them in the 60's to marginalize so as to thwart the political environment of that time. It worked well.
That is why, Mr. Holden, you have made a terrible error in judgment by framing your argument by suggesting that Hempfest "lose" the tie dyes. Lose = ban.
The irony is just too much. The hippies are the problem. Where have we heard that before? What would you do? Not allow them?
Someone else should have written that piece considering your history. Now so much hurt, anger, even hate is being brought up. Why?
Typical Stranger building community again. You can always count on the Stranger to insult, attack, put down, marginalize, make fun of, lash out at, someone in our community. The Stranger helped kill the music scene here. They only write about their friends, lovers, or national acts. The Rocket (which they ridiculed) covered everybody.
155
Congratulations Dom,
Dom, I can see you have great talent. You really wrote a biting column that got lots of attention, and brought a ton of opinionated comments (Some even good) to your slog. I truly am jealous and wish I could write and speak as well as you. Great job making the Stranger the center of media attention. Everyone at Hempfest is now concerned about your perception of hippies. Really we should have spent the weekend at Greenfest, learning about how a festival can have a lower carbon footprint - but that would not sell papers now would it? I think you even got more slog than Dan Savage's comment he was going to throttle you.
Of course we all know you love us. You are not really a hater, and you work well and live around crowds of diverse people. I also assume you cannot possibly expect Hempfest to change it's image. I work many other festivals, including Bumbershoot, and I realize all of them have culture, and an image, that stays static, with a hierarchy of organizers that hold onto their power. Try telling Seafair to stop being so drunken NASCAR Redneck. Bumbershoot pays their staff quite well yet they have trouble finding workers as efficient as Hempfest has; and they get fewer attendees in four days than Hempfest gets in two. I fear that 2009 will pack the park beyond it's capacity, even though Hempfest now has the full 1.3 miles of Myrtle Edwards for our use on August 15th and 16th. So really, if people don't like the culture DO NOT Attend.
PS The McWilliams Memorial stage that I am a part of plays only metal/punk/hardcore and makes no attempt to be hippie, Like NaFun's stage we appeal to a specific music crowd that does not wear patchouli
Later,
Steve Phun
Dom, I can see you have great talent. You really wrote a biting column that got lots of attention, and brought a ton of opinionated comments (Some even good) to your slog. I truly am jealous and wish I could write and speak as well as you. Great job making the Stranger the center of media attention. Everyone at Hempfest is now concerned about your perception of hippies. Really we should have spent the weekend at Greenfest, learning about how a festival can have a lower carbon footprint - but that would not sell papers now would it? I think you even got more slog than Dan Savage's comment he was going to throttle you.
Of course we all know you love us. You are not really a hater, and you work well and live around crowds of diverse people. I also assume you cannot possibly expect Hempfest to change it's image. I work many other festivals, including Bumbershoot, and I realize all of them have culture, and an image, that stays static, with a hierarchy of organizers that hold onto their power. Try telling Seafair to stop being so drunken NASCAR Redneck. Bumbershoot pays their staff quite well yet they have trouble finding workers as efficient as Hempfest has; and they get fewer attendees in four days than Hempfest gets in two. I fear that 2009 will pack the park beyond it's capacity, even though Hempfest now has the full 1.3 miles of Myrtle Edwards for our use on August 15th and 16th. So really, if people don't like the culture DO NOT Attend.
PS The McWilliams Memorial stage that I am a part of plays only metal/punk/hardcore and makes no attempt to be hippie, Like NaFun's stage we appeal to a specific music crowd that does not wear patchouli
Later,
Steve Phun
156
While the jobs are drying up and the black kids below Lake Union are having schools closed on them....while Seattle's public transit system stays ineffectual and young people and minorities face being priced out of the city, threatening the diversity that everyone says is so important-
you goddamn boomers are still fighting the goddamn culture wars.
you goddamn boomers are still fighting the goddamn culture wars.
158
@158,
I'd beg to differ on that. The culture and behavior of Cold War-era American culture that hippies were (and still are) rebelling against was (and is) worse by several orders of magnitude.
I'd beg to differ on that. The culture and behavior of Cold War-era American culture that hippies were (and still are) rebelling against was (and is) worse by several orders of magnitude.
161
Is it a fair assesment to say that I may not like or care to join or participate in "hippie" cultural activities.
But I do accept their right to exist and be happy. No it doesn't make me happy, and sometimes I find their cause to be passive aggresive and overbearing. Like I said, they are the mormans of the left. Hard working, friendly, but have a something to them that resembles a super agenda.
An agenda I don't buy.
I came to Seattle eventually to exercise my right to have refined tastes. I do like having a couple relatively well kept burner friends, maybe a few obnoxious party people, some clubbers and mellow families etc. etc.
I generally hold anyone possessed by their stereotype in very high suspicion. Holding on to simple truths for too long, will relegate some practices into the dogma pile. Remember ethanol?
I no longer belive in organic produce. The TRUE answer is much more sinister. It's the not the quality of food and environment, it's the quantity of people! With 6 billion people on the planet, organic foods are a LUXURY. A truth that some find offensive.
That is one example of many why "cultural" identification and stereotyping will get anyone in trouble. And when people surrender themselves entirely ... they may lose the bigger picture.
But I propose this. There are some people we are always not going to like. Just simple sparking a bowl, is not going to cure societies ills and make everyone get along. And to be honest, a world without any conflict is so god damn boring.
What Dominic did, whether it was on purpose, was absolutely brilliant. He took a common complaint of the mariquana movement, addressed it, and insighted passion for the cause, esepcially from people who feel marginalized by their inadvertant association with the hippy movement. There are plenty of people who smoke pot, maybe I'm not one of them, but I see so many closeted users who contribute great things to society.
But in my experience, and maybe this is my Oregonian experience. Those damn dirty hippies are some of the most passively inclussive drug addled whatevers. Who go about peddling pot and universal peace like it was the book of morman ... which it is not.
More...
But I do accept their right to exist and be happy. No it doesn't make me happy, and sometimes I find their cause to be passive aggresive and overbearing. Like I said, they are the mormans of the left. Hard working, friendly, but have a something to them that resembles a super agenda.
An agenda I don't buy.
I came to Seattle eventually to exercise my right to have refined tastes. I do like having a couple relatively well kept burner friends, maybe a few obnoxious party people, some clubbers and mellow families etc. etc.
I generally hold anyone possessed by their stereotype in very high suspicion. Holding on to simple truths for too long, will relegate some practices into the dogma pile. Remember ethanol?
I no longer belive in organic produce. The TRUE answer is much more sinister. It's the not the quality of food and environment, it's the quantity of people! With 6 billion people on the planet, organic foods are a LUXURY. A truth that some find offensive.
That is one example of many why "cultural" identification and stereotyping will get anyone in trouble. And when people surrender themselves entirely ... they may lose the bigger picture.
But I propose this. There are some people we are always not going to like. Just simple sparking a bowl, is not going to cure societies ills and make everyone get along. And to be honest, a world without any conflict is so god damn boring.
What Dominic did, whether it was on purpose, was absolutely brilliant. He took a common complaint of the mariquana movement, addressed it, and insighted passion for the cause, esepcially from people who feel marginalized by their inadvertant association with the hippy movement. There are plenty of people who smoke pot, maybe I'm not one of them, but I see so many closeted users who contribute great things to society.
But in my experience, and maybe this is my Oregonian experience. Those damn dirty hippies are some of the most passively inclussive drug addled whatevers. Who go about peddling pot and universal peace like it was the book of morman ... which it is not.
162
Tristate, is the real question, are hippies just stupid and ignorant?
Exactly.
The Hemp-addled hippies are probably the closest affinity group to braindead religious folk and repubs. Show me a hippie/spiritualist that wants to have a real conversation based on facts or science. Hippies follow without question, incredibly just like the religious and conservative fanatics. It is incredibly rare to find a nice hippie, and I know thousands here in Seattle, that can process reasonable cognitive thought without claiming some allegiance to fanciful thought or beliefs.
Try to deny that all you hippie apologists?
Brilliant, left-leaning people some hippies may be, they relegate themselves to imbecility when they try to justify their crap-addled belief systems.
I've heard it all, and listening to the vast majority of hippies trying to explain life and our being on rare exception rises beyond gross ignorance, foolishness, and ineptitude.
So these unthinkers are the people we want as the face of legalization? Just like we want rebubs to be in charge of the environment and human rights? Or the religious/ spiritual types to be in charge of public education?
Exactly.
The Hemp-addled hippies are probably the closest affinity group to braindead religious folk and repubs. Show me a hippie/spiritualist that wants to have a real conversation based on facts or science. Hippies follow without question, incredibly just like the religious and conservative fanatics. It is incredibly rare to find a nice hippie, and I know thousands here in Seattle, that can process reasonable cognitive thought without claiming some allegiance to fanciful thought or beliefs.
Try to deny that all you hippie apologists?
Brilliant, left-leaning people some hippies may be, they relegate themselves to imbecility when they try to justify their crap-addled belief systems.
I've heard it all, and listening to the vast majority of hippies trying to explain life and our being on rare exception rises beyond gross ignorance, foolishness, and ineptitude.
So these unthinkers are the people we want as the face of legalization? Just like we want rebubs to be in charge of the environment and human rights? Or the religious/ spiritual types to be in charge of public education?
164
The smartest, most educated hippies I know are as dumb as Christers when they start trying to explain their belief systems. Most hippies are as dumb as rocks, which is why they are so universally despised. They are just lucky that they have their favorite avarice of choice being weed, so while being despised for being idiots, they have a general activity that allows them to be tolerated by everyone else that smokes the herb.
167
Sing it everybody-----
ALL YOU GOT TO DO IS TOKE
ALL YOU GOT TO DO IS SMOKE
MAKES IT SO EASY TO COPE
IN A WORLD SO FULL OF HATE
AND SO FORSAKE OF HOPE
ALL YOU GOT TO DO IS TOKE
ALL YOU GOT TO DO IS SMOKE
MAKES IT SO EASY TO COPE
IN A WORLD SO FULL OF HATE
AND SO FORSAKE OF HOPE
170
I still maintain the problem here isn't that Hempfest exists, or that it's attended by hippies, whether patchouli-stained or otherwise. The problem is that Hempfest is trying to be all things to all people; it's trying to be a big happy summer fun festival - which is a GREAT thing, and kudos to those of you working your butts off making it happen, Seattle needs more happy summer fun festivals - but it is also trying to present itself as a legitimate outlet for legalization advocacy.
How many of our state Congressmembers attend publicly? How many speak at the event? I would imagine the answer is damned few. And why should they? They don't go to Norwescon and dress up as Klingons or Cylons, either. Because Norwescon is a party and a fan convention; it is not trying to present itself as a valid platform for legal change.
Separate that piece from Hempfest. Get the lobbyists in the halls of Olympia, in the city council chambers, hell, speaking at school board meetings. Get legislators on your side. That isn't going to happen at a party.
How many of our state Congressmembers attend publicly? How many speak at the event? I would imagine the answer is damned few. And why should they? They don't go to Norwescon and dress up as Klingons or Cylons, either. Because Norwescon is a party and a fan convention; it is not trying to present itself as a valid platform for legal change.
Separate that piece from Hempfest. Get the lobbyists in the halls of Olympia, in the city council chambers, hell, speaking at school board meetings. Get legislators on your side. That isn't going to happen at a party.
171
"If you do drugs you're a hippie, and hippies suck." - Eric Cartman
That pretty much is the layman's viewpoint.
That pretty much is the layman's viewpoint.
173
this is a place for haters to hide behind a phony nickname and spew their cowardly little rants of bigotry. c o w a r d s and the writer's supporters creating phony reader comments.
cowards use the comments section to spew hate talk
fuck you cowardly bigots and hippie haters, you make pond scum look good.
there is no such thing as a hippie, all there are is people, and you are among the worst of them, HATERS!
The Stranger should change its name to Dan Savage's The HATER
cowards use the comments section to spew hate talk
fuck you cowardly bigots and hippie haters, you make pond scum look good.
there is no such thing as a hippie, all there are is people, and you are among the worst of them, HATERS!
The Stranger should change its name to Dan Savage's The HATER
174
your name here, i can't help but notice you are hiding "behind a phony nickname." plus, "there is no such thing as a" hater, "all there are is people, and you are among the worst of them"!
"you cowardly" hater hater.
"you cowardly" hater hater.
175
Jason Zape, you really shouldn't post pictures of your own vandalism crimes on flicker. Defacing private and public property is not art.
176
Hi all,
Dominic is right but he meant no harm. My hat is off to the wonderful people who organize and go to Hempfest, they are part of the solution and they deserve a huge pat on the back.
But the movement against the (incredibly stupid, hateful, nation-destroying) War on Drugs has to include every single responsible person, including people who would never think of showing up at Hempfest and wouldn't dream of using pot themselves.
People like me, come to think of it.
Thanks all,
New Left Conservative # 1
Dominic is right but he meant no harm. My hat is off to the wonderful people who organize and go to Hempfest, they are part of the solution and they deserve a huge pat on the back.
But the movement against the (incredibly stupid, hateful, nation-destroying) War on Drugs has to include every single responsible person, including people who would never think of showing up at Hempfest and wouldn't dream of using pot themselves.
People like me, come to think of it.
Thanks all,
New Left Conservative # 1
177
Hi all,
Well after reading Rick Cusick's comment I should add an adendum to my own: Dominic, audit your behavior from now on: make sure Rick doesn't have a point when he says you show disdain for hippies.
Let's all be respectful of people and show disdain only for things like the War on Drugs.
Cheers,
new left conservative # 1
Well after reading Rick Cusick's comment I should add an adendum to my own: Dominic, audit your behavior from now on: make sure Rick doesn't have a point when he says you show disdain for hippies.
Let's all be respectful of people and show disdain only for things like the War on Drugs.
Cheers,
new left conservative # 1
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