Flower Power

Have you ever wondered what it must have felt like to live through the 60s or the 70s? Well, when the figures "60s" and "70s" are put together in the same sentence as the word "America", the first thing that comes to mind is the stereotypical idea of soothing music, a free-willed gift to speak and most of all, the Flower Power. Flower Power, back the, was recognised worldwide as a catchphrase to promote the idea of non-violence and encourage peace after countless civil wars and the 2 world wars. 

This ideology of peace was created to oppose the wars, more specifically the Vietnam War. This expression of peace originated from an American Beat Poet, Allen Ginsberg, in 1965 as an intention to revolutionise war protest into a much more peaceful outlook. 

The idea of using flowers to express this ideology also created the term "hippie". "Hippie" outfits consist of flower patches matching up with vivacious tones and flowers which were used as hair ornaments. Flowers were an important symbol in this era and the people of that generation were labelled the "flower children". In conjunction with this issue's theme, flower power conveys the aura of nature. Being one with nature always gives us the perception of sheer tranquility. 

By 1966, the Flower Power had been spread globally, especially in New York City where the "hippies" had stages multiple protests by giving out balloons and flowers with their anti-war propagandas. Similar to all flower power movement bloomed in the midst of the 60s and slowly withered away by the start of the 70s.

"You have it in your power to make your days on Earth a path of flowers, instead of a path of thorns." 

- Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Written by Lydia Leong and Michellejeet