by Ray John Pila
~*~
I love meaningful quotes from the movies
Here's a quote from a classic film, Easy Rider
Just something to think about
I grew up in a small southern town
I can still remember how folks around town
Used to talk about them long-haired hippie freaks
~*~
Wyatt (Peter Fonda), Billy (Dennis Hopper), and George (Jack Nicholson), rode into a small southern town on their motorcycles. They went into a restaurant. They waited and waited but no one would wait on them. Meanwhile, the men (customers) got to talking about them long-haired hippie freaks - nothing but dirty animals - outta be exterminated. The boys left the restaurant, got on their bikes and headed just out of town where they found a place to camp for the night. As they were sitting around the campfire, George gave this very thought-provoking speech:
"George Hanson: You know, this used to be a helluva good country. I can't understand what's gone wrong with it.
Billy: Man, everybody got chicken, that's what happened. Hey, we can't even get into like, a second-rate hotel, I mean, a second-rate motel, you dig? They think we're gonna cut their throat or somethin'. They're scared, man.
George Hanson: They're not scared of you. They're scared of what you represent to 'em.
Billy: Hey, man. All we represent to them, man, is somebody who needs a haircut.
George Hanson: Oh, no. What you represent to them is freedom.
Billy: What the hell is wrong with freedom? That's what it's all about.
George Hanson: Oh, yeah, that's right. That's what's it's all about, all right. But talkin' about it and bein' it, that's two different thangs. I mean, it's real hard to be free when you are bought and sold in the marketplace. Of course, don't ever tell anybody that they're not free, 'cause then they're gonna get real busy killin' and maimin' to prove to you that they are. Oh, yeah, they're gonna talk to you, and talk to you, and talk to you about individual freedom. But they see a free individual, it's gonna scare 'em.
Billy: Well, it don't make 'em runnin' scared.
George Hanson: No, it makes 'em dangerous."
Just food for thought