I'm currently reading "Uncommon Widom" by Fritjog Capra, and it really is a remarkable read. Capra's identity is split between a physicist and mystic as he tries to create a user guide for the universe we live in, both from within and without.

In the introductory passages of the book Capra talks, with love and passion, of the 60's hippie movement, and the expanded consciousness of the time, while I was reading this a thought dropped into my head: We are now 30 years on from Woodstock, the late teen hippies with tales of changing the world, views of freedom, peace and political intrigue, are now entering their 50's. Where are they now? What have they done?

As I reflect on this,removing as much as possible the effects of technology, many things become immediately evident:

1) Democratic blue belts on the coasts of the USA now exist in dominance, I suspect through these individuals.
2) Through the 80's a massive "Green" movement was born, as was Feminism. Both of these movements have maintained massive roll-on effect.
3) Mixed spiritual views are now mostly tolerated world-wide, with many Westerners pulling influences from the East. (This point deserves it's own post)
4) Society is far more prepared to question the authority that we have put into power, there has been a massive shift in how democracy works over the last 30 years.

As much as the world isn't perfect, and we're still trying hard to love our neighbors as we love ourselves, there has been massive culture progress to a more enlightened space.