As I read reactions to the Rainbow Family I notice prejudice against "dirty hippies" is still alive and well. 

 When we bought our little 10 acre farm out west of J.City, we were "those G.D. Hippies from California."  I can tell you many stories of the discrimination we faced.  It was not a great deal of fun.  I'm 74 now and now an "old hippie," and very willing to acknowledge it.

  The Rainbow Family folks are "hippies" too and today face the kind of hatred many posters express in this stream.  They're decent, self-supporting folks, who have a different lifestyle from some.  They may wear tie-dye instead of a suit; they may go to the Country Fair or the Rainbow Gathering instead of the Country Music Festival and the Pendleton RoundUp and "worship" nature instead of fundamentalist Christianity.  So what?  They're peaceful, loving persons who harm no one. They gather each year to celebrate life and community.  They leave their camp area cleaner than they found it.  (cont)