68 years ago today John Lennon was born in Liverpool, England. He is probably best known as a founding member of the Beatles, and together with Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, he helped create rock n' roll music as we know it today.
I love the music of John and the Beatles, but what I admire him for most was his fierce opposition to the Vietnam War and the relentless advocacy for peace practiced by he and his wife, Yoko. They staged two "bed-in"'s for peace, attended rallies, spoke out on television, and held concerts as a form of protest. John earned a place on Nixon's enemy list because Tricky Dick feared that Lennon's support of McGovern might cost him in the 1972 election.
John received his green card on Independence Day 1976, our bicentennial, and would have become eligible for U.S. citizenship in 1981. There's little doubt who he would be supporting this year if he had not been assassinated in 1980. Here's some words of Lennon's that John "There's Gonna Be More Wars, My Friends" McCain should take to heart:
If someone thinks that love and peace is a cliche that must have been left behind in the Sixties, that's his problem. Love and peace are eternal.
Videos and more below the fold:
I would encourage everyone to remember John Lennon today and take some time to think about the biggest difference between Senator Barack Obama and Senator John McCain: war. Barack Obama opposed the Iraq War from the very outset, at a time when it was politically dangerous to do so. John McCain sponsored the AUMF in Iraq bill and was one of George Bush & Dick Cheney's biggest cheerleaders, making the rounds of all the news programs to gin up the case for an unnecessary war. So while Barack Obama will handle the economy better, his health plan will be superior and cover more Americans, etc. - just bear in mind that most important of all the issues is this: Barack Obama is best suited to keep us out of more wars. Barack is the candidate who will act coolly and rationally, who will exercise diplomacy first and foremost, who will reach out to and enlist the support of our friends, who will talk to our enemies in an effort to resolve our differences amicably prior to attacking them, and who will never send our troops into harm's way without exhausting all of the above remedies that are at his disposal first. John McCain's volatile temperament has alienated many of his colleagues in the Senate, he often makes rash and reckless decisions, and has been hawkish and bellicose in his world view, as exhibited by his policies and even his sense of humor. So on the birthday of a great ambassador of peace, remember what's at stake in November - something more important than mortgages, jobs & health care.
Here are a few of John's videos:
Here is a pretty powerful video of "Happy Xmas (War is Over)", which can also be found on John's official website, http://www.johnlennon.com , which is maintained by his widow Yoko Ono.
WARNING: The video contains some pretty saddening and sometimes graphic footage of the consequences of war:
"Imagine" (after John's death Yoko signed over all of the royalties for this song to "Amnesty International", an organization dedicated to the prevention of torture and the mistreatment of prisoners):
Finally a video I shot (somewhat clumsily but the sound is good) in Central Park's Strawberry Fields on December 8, 2005, the 25th anniversary of John's death. A group of fans and musicians assembled to honor John's memory and sang some of his songs in tribute:
John Lennon Memorial
I encourage everyone to comment below with their favorite John Lennon songs, and encourage undecided voters who are on the fence to "give peace a chance" on election day and remind them that "War is over if you want it".