Joan Rivard

Peace Drums Joan Rivard

A dynamic community of youth still live in Golden Gate Park and near the famous intersection of Haight and Ashbury in San Francisco. They hold onto that special place in a kind of siege against brutal gentrification. Despite the hardships they endure living outside, many of them seem strangely, sublimely happy. They enjoy much of the community and friendship which have been lost to us in modern society. Is this the only reason why, against tremendous challenges, they keep talking about the Golden Rule, freedom, and fixing everything? The kindness they believe in is the same thing taught by the Prince of Peace. They think it can repair the world. Bright clothing and long loose hair, a badge of liberty, remain in the dream visions of millions of Americans. What many don't realize is that "the Sixties" are still with us today, not only in history books. These true stories are about young people's goodness and common sense, as they defy the world of robots and plastic and cameras to hunt for truth and meaning. Music is everywhere on Haight Street and in the park, especially below Hippie Hill, where people think the drums of all the nations, the Peace Drums, heal the Earth. The incredible stamina and courage of the "house-free," and the mighty music of the drummers, show the power we still have to find solutions. The ideal of universal brotherly love still resonates with vast numbers of people who still believe in a time when hopes were new. This book provides a fresh spin on Jesus, and valuable information about corporations and dogmatic religions. It captures the magic of Haight Street while addressing serious issues about how we live.