Flower Authority Utterance Is Not Dead

A 91 year-old woman was badly shaken when a would-be burglar invaded her home in the United Kingdom. The burglar then sent his victim a bunch of flowers, with an apology. He said he was sorry he had frightened her, but he thought the house was empty at the time. He left the woman's house without stealing anything. Police are asking him to give himself up. What will they charge him with? Sending flowers to a would-be victim, or just for scaring an elderly woman?

Flower language, however, is not a new art. Floriography, is commonly believed to have originated from the Victorian age, when flowers were used to send secret messages. However, flower language began in medieval and Renaissance culture. Saints were depicted in paintings with flowers that were symbolic of the virtues of the saint.

Some of the most common terms used in the secret flower language are: daisies for innocence and blue violets for faithfulness, red roses for love, pansies for thoughtfulness, carnations for admiration, white lilies for purity, pink roses for a lesser affection, white roses for eternal love, to name just a few.

There is however a more modern flower power that has left its mark on our society.

Flower Power had its most powerful uprising in the late 1960's and early 1970's in the counter-cultural movement of the Hippies. The Hippies or Flower Children symbolized a movement of peaceful ideology, in the face of nations using war to solve international crises. In particular the Hippies stood against the hopeless and seemingly senseless war in Vietnam. The Flower Children were determined in their call for social change as they also stood against the cold war of nuclear threats between the superpowers.

The Hippy movement became known for giving flowers to policemen and placing flowers in the ends of guns and revolvers, as a symbol of peace not war. For the most part they were pacifists and participated in non-violent political demonstrations. Regarding the political activity of Hippies, it was said "They mostly prefer to be stoned, but most of them want peace and they want an end to war of any kind".

A photograph captured, for the Washington Post, of a clean cut looking teenager, dressed in a turtle neck pullover, placing flowers in the barrels of the policemen's guns, became an emblem of the era, alongside the brightly painted VW buses commonly used by the Flower Children.

They became known as the 'love generation' and embraced the sexual revolution of free love. They were also known for their liberal use of soft drugs, such as cannabis, in an effort to discover alternative states of consciousness. Their buses became the predecessors of the modern-day art cars. Many Hippies liked to hitch-hike around the world. This was their means of meeting new people and it was also economical.

Their theme song was 'Give Peace A Chance'. The Flower Children practiced religious as well as cultural diversity, frequently embracing Eastern philosophies and spiritual concepts. They strongly opposed recognized institutions, both by their actions and their mode of dress.

It is only since the Hippie sub-culture that unmarried couples of any age feel they have the freedom to live together, or travel together, without social stigma. Sexual frankness became more common, even to the rights of homosexuals, bisexual and transsexual. Interest in natural foods, herbal remedies and vitamin supplements are all a legacy from the carefree days of the Hippies. Mustaches, beards and long hair became acceptable and bright colourful clothing more common. The music festival Woodstock became a turning point in the acceptance of large music fests, in spite of some unfortunate incidents where young people were killed. The festivals concentrated on peace, love and a balanced, though alternate lifestyle. Self-sufficiency and sustainable energy had its formation laid down in the Hippy movement.

The Hippies and their flower power, has had a major effect on communities across the globe. The Hippy era has influenced popular music, fashion, television, film, literature, health foods and art. It also was the period that saw the beginnings of the revolution of Cyber Space. People would be unable to say the things they do on the Internet, if there had not been the era of the Hippies.

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