25 Years Ago
… Imagine That
”
Imagine there’s no heaven, it’s easy to try, no hell below us,
above us only sky. Imagine all the people living for today .
”
25 Years Ago … Imagine That
“Imagine there’s no heaven, it’s easy to try, no hell below us, above us only sky. Imagine all the people living for today .”
John Lennon was murdered 25 years ago on Dec. 8.
The song “Imagine” was written in 1971 while the Vietnam War was still raging out of control.
Lennon was one of the voices of my generation. As I look back on the last four years, I wonder what Lennon would be saying if he were alive today.
If he were like me, perhaps he would be embarrassed by our generation. And perhaps he would be sad because we are further from living as one than we were at the time of his death.
“Imagine there’s no countries, it isn’t hard to do, nothing to kill or die for, and no religion too. Imagine all the people living life in peace.”
My generation was the one that populated the killing fields in Vietnam. My generation was the one who didn’t believe in the lies of Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon.
My generation was the one that understood that the Domino Theory, that is, the theory that communism was going to knock down countries like dominos, was a lie. My generation should be the one that understands that the new Domino Theory, that is, the theory that terrorism will spread from country to country, is a lie, too.
We are being lied to by my own generation. How embarrassing. There is such a thing as a “self-fulfilling prophecy.” Bullies, and people who may be missing a chromosome or two, fall right into the trap that is laid by this prophecy.
The Emperor of the United States, exhibiting all of the qualifications, fell into the trap after 9/11. Interesting sidebar, Clinton lies to us about frolicking with Little Willie, and he is impeached.
The Emperor lies to us, gets thousands of young men and women killed and injured, and all he gets is a low approval rating. We are now stuck in Vietnam War version 2005. Imagine that.
“Imagine no possessions, I wonder if you can, no need for greed or hunger, a brotherhood of man. Imagine all the people sharing all the world.”
Unfortunately, there are members of my generation who came from wealthy families, who were privileged.
They could buy or influence their way out of anything.
Unfortunately, there are members of my generation who were just plain stupid and clueless about how all of us, and the environment, are all interconnected.
Unfortunately, there are members of my generation who never understood that the only thing we need to fear are the fanatics…of any religion, or race, or class, or system of government. There are Christian fanatics that are every bit as dangerous as Islamic fanatics.
Do we live in a true democracy? We all have our own definition of democracy. We live in a “capitalistic society.” Where politicians, elections, and people can be bought or influenced by money.
Can we imagine no possessions? No, but how about less possessions? Is it really true that “he who dies with the most toys wins”?
I am embarrassed by my generation. Embarrassed by the Tom DeLays, the Enron’s, the corporations that live off of greed.
As a nation, and a world, we are more greedy and hungry than we were at the time of Lennon’s murder. Imagine that.
“You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one, I hope some day you’ll join us. And the world will live as one.”
Have we as a people and a nation evolved since Lennon’s death? I wish he were alive to answer that question.
Lennon had a vision of “We are all in this together. Let’s work together to make this world a better place.”
But Lennon’s vision of the “world living as one” did not include the whims and the transgressions of people like the Emperor. Lennon’s vision did not include “my god is an awesome god and your god sucks”.
We need more people like John Lennon. People who subrogate communion for greed, and for classism, Thank you John Lennon for your vision.
You may say that I am a dreamer, but I am not the only one. I hope some day that you will join us, and the world will live as one. Imagine that.
