Abbie Hoffman Rant

[@OBADTZXO]

In 1987 he was disgusted at student (and American) apathy. The topic of his talk was the important part music could play in unifying the nation's youth and how neither student nor musicians were utilizing this powerful media tool. He said "I get together with college students today and all they want to do [with me] is sit around and sing songs from "HAIR!" I was at this event and spoke with Abbie quite a bit. He was a brilliant, measured thinker. I miss him.

[@Prokifiev]

You're so right. I'm remembering Abbie today, 20 years after he passed away. I wish he'd been around to witness America's first black president. A friend and I are having a drink for him tonight in our home town, Newcastle Upon Tyne, England.

[@drholmes1954]

What the fuck happened? Where'd it all go? I wasn't born long ago enough to actually share the same time period of the master culture jamming Yippies, or the Black Panthers, or the ghetto organizers, or the anti-war resisters, or the feminists which made the era such an amazing eruption of love and truth, but all I know is that all of this is more important today than it was in 60s, 70s, and 80s. We miss you Abbie. You were the best!

[@shotten99]

We need him more than ever.

[@OBADTZXO]

This video is only the wrap-up sentence of a keynote address that Abbie made at the 1987 CMJ (College Music Journal) conference in NYC. It's unfortunate that this is all we have of it, because the rest of the speech was thoughtful and funny. He only started to "rant" as a farewell statement.

[@tedwilson8228]

No, he has a son, named america. He was actually quite the ladies man back in the 60s. Which isn't very surprising, nice hair, a good mind and also funny. He was married to Anita Hoffman until he went underground, in 74 he got with Joana Lawrenson/Hoffman. Not gay. He was a genius in his own right. Charisma ran from this man like water from a faucet. To everyone saying we need another Abbie in this world, why not be the new Abbie? I know I'm for it.

[@PeterCRissKISSgod]

You measure a democracy by the freedom it gives its dissidents, not the freedom it gives its assimilated conformists -Abbie Hoffman.

[@DeedKleptomaniac]

Actually, the guy that plays Borat is supposed to play Abbie in a film called 'The Trial of the Chicago Seven.'

[@AChaise]

Michael Moore would have never had a ledge to stand on had it not been for Abbie Hoffman. Yippie!

[@SirCoughsalot]

Right on!

[@LoveShiaGDSN]

Abbie was a YIPPIE not a Hippie. there is a difference. and John Lennon will always live on through his music and the people who it effects. how could someone that at one time was "more popular than Jesus" end up in hell? not to mention someone that contributed as much greatness to the world that he did. I don't think so.

[@OMGItsJimmyNash]

@TheGibsonman59 Look... Carlin was everything you say... a truly awesome individual. But as far as balls go? Carlin never had to take the sort of risks that Hoffman did. Abby put his ass on the line in a very REAL way... he got the crap beat out of him on various occasions, had the CIA all over his arse, and spoke up during a time when it was not just unpopular to do so, but actually DANGEROUS.

[@franhazlewood5287]

Awesome analogy..

[@WilliamSlaght]

Well I am a musician myself... I understand now, like I perform but I felt bad and felt I sucked, but actually I was good, but I still thought I could do better, like that?

[@augie127]

Now you have to resort to insulting my music. you are truly a class act and you loving hoffman makes all the sense in the world. one last note MCCAIN/PALIN 08 that should make you happy

[@Zachariavoo]

Give me your input sir on his ideas sir.

[@OMGItsJimmyNash]

@nubrubber To quote Mr. Nicholson's character in 'one flew over the cuckoo's nest' : "But I tried, didn't I? Goddamnit. At least I did that"

[@coma8coma1]

goodbye abbie hoffman

[@robbatkinson666]

Same reason we have countless Holocaust movies but not one Amercian film about Japanese atrosoties commited against other Asians and Allied soldiers.

[@coachoconnor1]

I completely agree with that statement

[@KevinSean116]

Got that right Jim!

[@WilliamSlaght]

Well from what I hear from them, from Pete and Roger, they keep saying it was bad, because it was their worst experience ever... That's what they said... I've never heard a Who song from Woodstock, because I thought they were serious about this... Did they perform well? I don't want to watch it, because well I don't want to hear the band sound bad, but be embarrassed by watching it... But if it is good, then why do they think it is bad? Because of how they felt?

[@gjc82071]

The "Red scare" has nothing to do with the majority of the population not wanting their country turned into a socialist state. & if you want bread lines, just let the government continue spending this country so far into debt, it can never escape. As for weeping at our sons graves, no need to wait for that. Parents are weeping NOW, at the graves of 5,000 soldiers lost in the pointless & illegal war in Iraq. We need change alright. Politicians that answer to the people. Not the reverse.

[@robbatkinson666]

Yeah, these days they only hear RIGHT WING stuff like Rage Against the Machine and John Stewart.

[@inkydinkydooky]

No bananito2, I only LOVE The Lord. I like other things. I don't smoke pot either. I don't do any drugs. I'm very conservative. You love Abbie Hoffman. Don't you think he was a hippie?

[@stargate121]

I totally disagree. We have the birdbreath giving his succinct, direct opinion of Abbey. Then we have randall's retort, in which he attempts a clever comeback. He fails miserably, tigerbreath.

[@iorioriorio]

Right , I wasn't there , but I was at alot of smaller ones soon after, He was for real, as for athesword, he worked the medical tents trying to prevent tragedy..you need to check up what happened....powa to tha people, eyyyy

[@Fr33zeBurn]

'Hippy' is a dead term. I have long hair, smoke weed, want love and peace and love sitting on grass but I am not a hippy

[@Werenotskitzo]

Exactly

[@colwilpro]

He died in '89 mate.

[@inkydinkydooky]

Good point bananito2. Everyone on the right or left, or in between usually has something valid to say. I just think this guy was a kook for the most part.

[@WilliamSlaght]

No, he did that because The Who were performing so bad, that it was unbelievable... And he was just angry he was watching and listening to this, and he couldn't leave, because he was in the front. After 1 hour of listening to The Who of their worst performance, he just went up and said that! He was fed up with being stuck with this performance... The Who at Woodstock, man it was terrible, it was BAD! But it wasn't their fault, some idiot slipped LSD in their drinks before they had to perform.

[@BlueJWay999]

And he liked to say the F word! F this, and F that, and every time he said the F word, people would cheer!

[@enemymouse]

I say "no" to homeless people all the time, thanks.

[@stargate121]

Wow, randall, you are fucking clever. Holy Fucking Shit!!!! GENIUS!!!

[@exc123]

Oh where is Pete when you need him.

[@trevster2905]

lol! i'd love to hear what borat would have to say about him.

[@lalalamort]

student-athletes he said student apathy, not atheletes just for your inforamtion

[@tripfunkmonster]

@TheGibsonman59: What does George Carlin (one of my favorite comedians) being intelligent have to do with Abbie Hoffman? If we had a couple of people like Abbie Hoffman around today, we would be much better off. A couple hundred million Americans who confuse sub-par entertainment with information need to be educated in a big way.

[@Tritium8]

ever heard of operation paperclip? look it up

[@Jabtizemo]

abbie for president, posthumous.

[@boomac62]

Should have been president.

[@atgskater14]

@cazaleah2 I think he learned that one the hard way.

[@WilliamSlaght]

People see him as bad... Just because they thought he insulted The Who... LOL!

[@vantrifan]

well the fact that those countires supported Saddam's Chemical warfare, Trained the Taliban soilders, allowed hitlers Germany to take parts of poland with no polish consent, And supported Japan after a massive war with Russia that allowed it to become imperialistic is what he is talking about

[@liketanyanot]

That was actually kind of clever, in a "sad little man" kind of way. Whatevs. McSame doesn't stand a chance with that clueless bimbo at his side now. Anyone who goes to school to be a newsreader off a teleprompter while wearing makeup you can ski through is just one step away from being an acting major. Is she one of those people who never had a passport before she became Governor, too?

[@andrelebaron]

He was funnier than Michael Moore.

[@MrJimmyboy1972]

you have a great command of the english language. i take it, you learned these phrases from your parents at home. gee! i wish i had been raised in an enlightened home environment just as you. i suppose you will celebrate thanksgiving and christmas on the streets with the rest of the homies. I DONT THINK SO! while you are shoving the last couple of pounds of turkey down your gullet remember the real people out on the streets. somewhere abbie never was.

[@blastingcaps]

Ol abbie just screaming about shit. haha! thats awesome.

[@atgskater14]

@exc123 damn it was just about to say that 11 months later than you..,

[@frankesposito2182]

Guy was a Jerk

[@LoveShiaGDSN]

seriously, where is Pete Townshend when you need him? ;)

[@JCHaywire]

Poor guy.

[@gjc82071]

@r0llskyay0 I'm not following you. So are you agreeing/disagreeing with me?

[@deullist]

Oh really? If not like him, than who?

[@cazaleah2]

JUST SAY NO TO JUMPIN ON THE STAGE WHILE THE WHO ARE PLAYIN LOL

[@TheAmazingamerica]

they all moved to xsrael, they like war now.

[@dbrad02]

y does he look so different?

[@SorayaZiai-p6v]

Luv you and yeah Ronnie luvs you in memory of Huey Newton and Jerry Rubin killed by kooleros

[@Boky505]

@TheGibsonman59 Leave the guy alone he's dead, have some respect

[@mussman717word]

GOODBYE RONALD REAGAN!!!!

[@liketanyanot]

You totally misunderstand what his point was. You have totally misread Hoffman's ideas.

[@exc123]

@atgskater14 LOL - I love it

[@bennyshaversmusic590]

If Richard Simmons was a radical liberal.. ^ ^

[@exc123]

LOL

[@liverbitz91]

Rad.

[@exc123]

@atgskater14

[@dbrad02]

oh yeah cuz of the cocaine and everything. he looks 73 tho...

[@OMGItsJimmyNash]

@Halftrac Wow... you're still afraid of the commies?

[@OMGItsJimmyNash]

@jcoopercam You demonstrate your ignorance... Zionism was one of the things Hoffman spoke out against.

[@Catnip11147]

Just another failed hippie! Too bad Pete Townshend's Gibson SG didn't knock some sense into him!

[@augie127]

i am a disgrace?? laughable. you are supporting a drug addict and i am the disgrace, hmmm what a funny world we live in.

[@jimfarrowlove]

Just say no to self-righteous, loud-mouth blowhards...left-wing, right-wing - when they go on decible breaking shouting rants, they all seem like facists.

[@TomatoCheeseGarden]

communist.