In mem. Of a Working Class Hero.

               Like anyone growing up, at an early age youth takes affection for pop culture celebrities. Movie stars and musicians seem to always carry an addictive property.  It takes place in both adults and children. “Oh mommy I want this to dress like such and such”. We listen to music because X artist sings and is popular at the time. Celebrity adoration is a social thing as well. The styles, taste in music and politics, even how we talk becomes accepted and wanted due much to celebrities.  We see this growing up, we see this when we are old. People love celebrities…except for me.

I have never been bothered with the adoration for celebrities. In my 19 years of life I have never felt emotion for the man on the movie screen, or the pop deva singing her newest hit. I've never felt a connection with a celebrity. Since my youth I always found them superficial and dull. But today I have to hold back tears.  See today is the 30^th anniversary of John Lennon. With this day I find my heart and mind in a situation that it hasn’t been in before. Multiple times today I have literally been choked up, carrying a knot in my throat all day. I find it odd because not only do I feel emotion towards a celebrity but I’m mourning them. Today I’m mourning the death of a man who lived and died before my birth. It’s an alien concept to me. Right now I wish I was in Strawberry fields for the NYC candle light vigil. It’s alien because my calling to pay respect, my emotional sadness for this man is real.

Thinking about it more deeply though and it starts to make a little more sense to me.  Celebrities as I said, were always fake and superficial to me. I had no interest or passion in what they did, nor did/do still the majority of celebrities character appeal to me. Don’t mistake me and think I hate celebrities, I don’t, I just find no connection to them and therefore am rather distanced from them. But John Lennon is someone who I view in a completely opposite way. See my core belief and wishes for peace were shared by John, because of this I begin to feel a deep connection with John.  Having the same passions will do that. Then there is his music. On the one hand I have unlimited respect for his musical achievements.  But there’s also the content of his music. Its deep, personal, and deals with human many qualities and emotions I have experienced as well struggle with. John’s music  paints him clearly and when you listen to it you really get to know Lennon on some level as a human being, no longer a distant celebrity.

So today 30 years ago John Lennon was murdered. 19 years ago I was born. I never saw John give a speech, I’ve never waited in line for his new album, never seen him perform live. But I can’t help but feel John Lennon was a voice so remarkable and respectable that his words are still relevant. A man who I almost feel like I’ve experienced just through his music. Today I mourn John for multiple reasons. I feel like someone I knew was shot and killed. I feel like I have been robbed by not getting to see John in my life time. So today I mourn not only a celebrity, but an important humanist icon who’s mind effected not only music but the world around him…and still does.

               In memory of John Winston Lennon 1940-1980.

               

Those drums

Those drums! They drive me mad!

Don’t you hear them, see them!? Feel them…..Don’t you smell them!?

Those drums ah they hurt! They break my bones and bow my back…. Oh those drums!

They used to only play occasionally…they used to far…yes far away where I couldn’t be hurt where they couldn’t touch me.

Those drums yes oh yes those drums.

When I was a child those blue skies, those soft pastures….no drums touched me no, no they didn’t.

But then slowly oh so slowly that sound, that desperate, methodical sound crept into my heart! It had always been rooted in my mind! But now it marches through my heart!

I hear them now leading me, that doll drum that they send forth, that echoes in my mind! That locks my heart into that deep bass rhythm!

In everything I do they are there now! I thought I would escape them when I heard them coming. No said I! Not the drums in my heart, not the drums pounding in my brains!

When I work it’s not for me! It’s not for her or them! Its for those drums. Those drums make me do it not him, those drums make me do it not I. That rhythm, that captivating, fate binding, poverty soaked drums! They bend my back, without need, without my want! They just do….to that rhythm hey keep bellowing out every morn I go in, every punch I make on that time card those drums!

Those drums, oh my those drums. Hahaha oh how those composers, those instructors and professors play them so sweetly! They make soft little tunes on those drums, I almost fell asleep to them….Oh God I almost fell asleep to them!

Dum, de, tee,dum

She doesn’t pound those drums, oh no she doesn’t. Do they!? But she doesn’t, my brena, she muffles those sounds by those around her they pound those drums. Those rhythms that expect me to jump like this and jump when told! Ha! Those drums are almost ridiculous, almost not worth hearing but then you realize your ears are bleeding.

Dum,de,tee,dum,doolllll

Why do I hear you know drums in every way I turn?

Oh now its these drums, those drums that play that man…sams the man….his tune, his rhythm, those war drums. The rhythm of the war drums! These drums I mock! These drums I know how to fight! These drums are what I was born to destroy…before they destroy me? These drums ask me to throw away my life, they try to break my bones, they try to reason with that sweet sickening rhythm of the war drums. See I know the secret to these black drums that white piano la la lalala laaa la la la. It clears the noise of the rhythm of the war drums.

Those Goddamn drums!

Dum,de,tee,dum,dool,de,dum,tee,doll,te,te,dom dollll. I wish I knew how to get rid of all these drums,to be able to play my fiddle. Dum,de,tee,dool,tee,te,te she has those drums playing too! De dum. Does she know the way? Dom dun,te dummm, dollll or is she just like me? Dom de till te dom I think dum de so. 

Johnny

Johnny wake your eyes to the bright light of the world, for this is the day you are born.

Johnny wake your ears to the toll of the church bells. Hear you will be told how to live, and God will instruct you in what to believe. For he gives you breath.

“Johnny! Guard your mind!” said the preacher. “Do not have acceptance for these neighbors of yours that spew forth false prophecies! For they are wrong and we are right! Judgment will be upon them!”

Johnny wake your eyes to the first day of school. Here your education will begin. Absorb what we will tell you.

“Johnny! Guard your mind!” said the teacher. “Those lies you argue are from nations that want to tear down our great land. Patriotism is your gift granted by God. This country you live in you owe everything to! For this country allows you to breathe!”

Johnny wake your eyes to the end of your eyes to the start of your military service. You are a child of this God blessed country.  Don’t worry you will be fine, and in turn for you patriotism we are kind enough to grant you funding for education, and 3 meals a day!

“Johnny! Cool your heart!” Said the leader “That man over there, wants to harm your country, destroy your very right to breathe! God has blessed our country be his tool of judgment! Pull the trigger.” Johnny pulled the trigger.

 Johnny wake your eyes to a new day, one filled with riches from your college education!

“Johnny buy that sports car!”, said the sales man, “It’s not greed, you deserve this God has given you this money! Those who starve on the streets had the same opportunities that you have had!”

Johnny wake your eyes to this gray day. Your life is near its end. All those holidays spent working alone, thus a life time alone, all those independent thoughts and actions you never fulfilled. In place you killed for your country, justified your greed and murder through your God. Now you can go and meet him. As we reveal the truth to you now. Johnny pulled the trigger…

When Johnny awoke in a place of light and life he saw no greed. No one went hungry on these streets. Johnny wandered all across the world saw no war. No one lost their life to another man. Johnny saw no monuments to Gods or places of worship. For a second he thought maybe God was absent from this world, after all no one was killing false prophets, everyone seemed equally blessed. Yet somehow he felt as if God was closer than ever before. Then Johnny wondered why he and his fellow men hadn’t made the choice for this life all those years ago….

Ethic checks and balances

Since Barrack Obama’s election in 2008 the United States of America has become dangerously polarized. Signs of this before 2008 were apparent but now more than ever it’s clear the country is largely divided into two camps. One camp with a right wing, conservative agenda the other a camp with a more progressive liberal agenda. The irony is the needs of both these groups are the same. It’s how they think they can obtain it that divides them. But why is America so dangerously and heavily divided now more than ever?

               The phrase “it takes all kinds” is something one must always remember when looking at how civilization advances. Civilization has generally had two base thought processes that define how it moves and how societies will develop, one a conservative force.  Conservative forces in America generally have a religious base that is tight on government spending and size. This is undoubtedly one reason why the new found “Tea Party” movement has taken the up its self-entitled name.  Conservative Ideals justified by histories example of giant socialist empires, tyrant kings and bankrupt nations. The liberal force in America is a different beast. One formed primarily with ideals of the modern age verses monarchical opposition. Formed of human rights campaigns, loose spending, and government sponsored programs. The liberal force doesn’t come without justification. Longer life spans by rival countries far superior government sponsored health care and welfare program. Fascist governments where supersession of belief and orientation have stifled not only happiness but progress providing the foundations of the liberal base.

               It only takes a moderate minded sensible person to realize both of these groups are a necessity for civilization to progress due to the liberals, and progress and a safe moderate speed due to the conservatives.  But right now we see both camps totally opposed to working together. With many of the right wing 2010 elects vowing to repeal Obama’s health care reform and the left wing not wanting to back down on spending. Why are these groups so totally opposite and stone cold against each other?

               In 1981 conservatives won a huge battle. Ronald Regan came into the presidency and with his party not only enacted many conservative based laws and bills but rearranged government spending in accordance with a conservative ideology. Reganomics.  America’s primary agenda since them has been one largely conservative. While the democrats did win in 1993, Bill Clinton’s one and only big progressive act was shot down. It was health care reform. Regan along with the following administrations threw out the ideals of clean, renewable energy that President Jimmy Carter had started in 1977. Now in 2010 we are faced with issues like gay rights such as don’t ask don’t tell.

               Lets look at how the liberal agenda was spread out and how it was denied:

·        In 1977 Jimmy Carter elected, installs solar panels on the white house, and drastically cuts America’s dependency on foreign fuels. Ronald Regan refuses to continue this trend, takes down the solar panels and dependency on foreign fuels dramatically increases until present day.

·        In 1993 Bill Clinton is elected, proposes Health Care reform that will include health care parts sponsored by the government. Conservative America shoots down any hopes of reform happening

·        In 2010, The gay rights issues has come to a boiling point with the likes of proposition 8 and the repeal of don’t ask don’t tell. Again because of the conservative movement

·        In 2008 Barrack Obama is elected who vows to focus on clean renewable energy, repeal don’t ask don’t tell and pass health care reform. Effectively promising to do 38 years of progressive policies in one term.

 A.I.E.R as of 2006

For 38 years one could argue America has not moved forward in social policy. It’s not a coincidence that America has one of the lowest health care ratings among developed counties. It’s why America is totally dependent on other countries for energy. Its why despite being “the land of the free” abominations like don’t ask don’t tell still exist.  Plain and simple the conservative force in America did not uphold its responsibility. Being conservative does not mean shooting down every progressive movement that the liberals ask for. Conservatism is a vital necessity in not only America but civilization, but one must not forget it takes all kinds and that liberalism is just as important.

So why are we polarized? Well America needs the past 38 years of Liberal agenda now. Movements that have been shot down and as a result crippled us as a world power are needed by the American people. Because the liberal agenda has largely been stalled for 38 years in order to get all this now it must be dumped on the country at a ridiculously fast rate in large volume.  This of course makes conservatives unhappy. It’s too much all at once, and to some degree.. They’re correct. Progressing this much at once has a degree of danger with it, normally it would be absurd. But we as a country are not under normal circumstances.

W.O.H as of 2000.

               For 38 years the country has been at a standstill and suffered. Because the conservative force was not conservative, it was focused on being totally anti-progress.  A country’s health comes from both liberals and conservatives working together. A country’s safety and security comes largely from the conservative ideals of spending and defense. A country’s quality of life comes from the liberal programs of health care, and social security. All of this is necessary and as  Americans none of us can afford to forget our ethic system of checks and balances. The balance between both mind sets that balances a nation.

Happy Birthday John!

   October 9th 2010 John Lennon would have been 70 years old.John did not live to see his 70th birthday sadly but we celebrate it none the less. We celebrate it as though John Lennon were on Facebook, Twitter, or giving a concert today to mark his birthday. People do this because John did and still means so very much to them and our world.John missed out on the computer, and things like twitter. I'm sure he would have made use of it that would put most tweeting celebrities to shame. We can only imagine (pun intended) what John Lennon would be like for his 70th Birthday.
                    John Lennon left a momentous legacy that few of us dare to dream of doing ourselves. John starts his legacy with being a part of the biggest and arguably, most influential band of all time, the Beatles. Where his talent and ingenuity for song writing created some of the biggest pop hits of modern culture. The world didn't really get to know John until his solo career though. A stage in his life where his song writing became an unflinching self reflection of his faults, life, and beliefs. Titles like "Mother" tell us so much about his childhood in Liver Pool that we barely have to look up any facts. God clearly declares all of Johns core beliefs, giving us the only window we need into his position on matters. With "Working Class hero" he sings clearly in defiance of  the new age profit title so many fans have given him. Working Class hero also doubles as  a subtle cry for anyone born and raised in middle class society.
                       Sean Lennon recently said,
"On my dad I must admit I've always been slightly jealous of the world for having had more time with my father than I did.....My only chance of having a relationship with my father was in becoming a musician. I remember the first time I picked out a tune on the piano. It was either "imagine or Yellow submarine". I was six years old and for the first time since his passing it was as if he were there with me again....Everyone spoke as if they knew him, and the fact is they did. My father had touched the lives of an entire planet, had shaped the world around me, and had entered into the deepest most private parts of the human psyche. He didn't belong to me, he never did, he belonged to everyone."
                      John wasn't just an artist, and he wasn't a politician. But an activist none the less. Lennon redefined the ideals of peace. John and Yoko (as the two are inseparable even to this day) were the voice for their generation. Leading out crys against Nixon and the Vietnam war with controversial peace demonstrations such as "John and Yoko's bed in for Peace" or the genius "Bagism" approach.The Lennon's even rented out bill boards across the world and sent out fliers with the message "WAR IS OVER. if you want it". Some right next to army recruiting offices.   The couple knew because of their combined fame they were in the spot light and made sure that spot light was used as a pedestal to shape the world. John's beliefs about peace didn't end in the 60's 70's or even the 80's after his passing. No they are still ever present today even in the 21st century. When the ball in time square dropped for 2010, one tune was playing leading up to it "Imagine"
                     Imagine. John and Yoko's simple statement, that may also be the most powerful deceleration to another human being that can be made. The idea to be open minded and imagine peace, to think peace , act peace and peace will spread is a phenomenal one. Certainly it is taken from Martin Luther King and the likes of Gandhi, but before John how many had put it in that simple word? The song "Imagine" is probably Johns complete legacy in one song. It was John's wishes and dreams for the world, it was his deceleration and ideal, his instruction to humanity. To imagine peace, to imagine for an instant what life would be like with out all these things that cause war. If one truly listens ,stops and ask themselves to imagine the evidence is clear how superficial and unnecessary our core logic for war is. That without a few certain misconceptions and unnecessary ideals war would indeed be over. And its with that statement and word that war no longer makes sense for any reason anywhere.
                       So I celebrate October 9th. John Lennon himself feels like a friend. I honestly have never felt a connection to any celebrity but I feel one towards John like I would a dear friend I've known for years. And that's just it. We do know John. Listen to his music! He's all there! I feel a connection with him as well because of how he would sing of his own faults. Titles such as "Jealous guy" or yes "Imagine", come unnervingly close to my own feelings, faults and beliefs. Lennon was born on October 9th I on October 3rd. Peace is a quality of the Libra sign so maybe our connection has more to do with the stars than I know. Make no mistake I know John was no saint, he had problems like we all do and  I do disagree with him from time to time. His words are not holy in any sense. Hes not my idol I wish to aspire to be just like.  But John Lennon  is someone who I have great admiration for. Because of all he did in regards to peace, because of how he helped impact the world in such a positive, loving way , John Lennon is my hero. So I consider John a friend, he helps cool my head with his music, express myself, and put my own individual ideals into words such as "Imagine".He inspires me with his art like as if an adrenalin shot to my beliefs. So...

            
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOHN LENNON!....it's been a pleasure getting to know you.

"I believe strongly that John wanted his voice to come out for the people and for the world at this moment. We are feeling the depletion of energy on many levels. Depletion starts in our minds, our spirit and our soul. So wake yourself up, my friends. Listen. Enjoy. Dance with it in your heart. Keep John close to you. He loves you." -Yoko Ono Lennon. (August 9th,2010)