Patti's thoughts
Laderman says “The conservative society rejects them (Billy and Wyatt) more than they reject it; that they seek acceptance in their very difference, but that society cannot tolerate such difference.” I think what Laderman says is supported by what Wyatt says at the end of the movie. Wyatt says, “We blew it!” to Billy towards the end of the film. Wyatt is saying that they didn’t fix America like they wanted to. They just wanted to fit in and the only trouble they got into wasn’t their faults. For example, when they enter the dinner to eat and there was the policeman, his friend, and then a table full of girls. The three men decide to leave because they don’t feel comfortable. They didn’t provoke anyone intentionally but the males were very threatened by them because Wyatt, Billy and Charlie were different or counter-culture. Wyatt and Billy wanted America to see that they were people too, but they “blew it” because the only people they interacted with were other “different” people who were also on the periphery of American society. They “blew it” because America was still the same and so were they.