re: All things considered, do you think the 1960s were positive for society?

It was in the 1960's when we saw America live up to its promise of equality for all.
It was a time of change on many other fronts, as mentioned in the OP. Try to imagine if you were in your 40's when this was happening. You would have lived through the depression, was probably drafted into ww2, used the gi bill to get an education and home with 2.5 kids. this person knew nothing but hard work and sacrifice all of his life. Imagine what they thought of the hippy movement, draft dodgers, counterculture figures, recreational drug use, 60's music, breaking of social norms, the changing racial hierarchy. It probably was overwhelming and they resented the baby boomers. I would think they saw them as spoiled brats who were wasting the sacrifice his generation made.
Overall, I'd say it was a positive time. I just thought I'd point out that positive change is sometimes hard for good people to accept.