You know what I find sad. Many teenagers today aren't aware of John Lennon. Really. Perhaps as a Beatle, if they've delved into the history of rock. But not fully as a man; his music, life, and death.
The lyrics to this song will forever resonate with who I am as an individual. Second verse, first line. Remember the story I mentioned writing in 8th grade, the one with no countries, all of us as one?
My family didn't raise us with any religion, too. My mother took my sister and me to various churches, temples and gathering places for high holidays and festivities. She is a spiritual person, who was raised going to church (Episcopalian?), met my father at a young people's church group, and yet didn't go to any one church. We did celebrate Easter and Christmas, and read children's books and stories about them. My father was raised going to a variety of churches. I think he started as a Baptist in Kentucky and as my grandfather rose on the corporate ladder, the religion changed to suit his rung. I don't ever remember being in a place of worship with my father except for my maternal grandmother's funeral. My paternal grandparents didn't have funerals. Of the 14 siblings I grew up with, only three have been married in a place of worship: one an Episcopal Church, one in a Jewish Temple and one in a Buddhist Temple.
Most of my life, my possessions would fit in a car. When I moved on the boat, Ron declared only one duffle bag worth of stuff was the limit. When I moved off the boat three years later, I rowed ashore with one duffle bag. When I drove from the East Coast to the West Coast, it was in a 1970's Ford that my stepmother had just inherited after her father died in Florida. She drove it to Maine and then I drove it to California. I'd been living in NYC, for 4 years without a car, and it was really nice of her to give the car to me. I named it Howie, after her father. All my possessions fit in that car, except my kayak, that I strapped to the top. It wasn't until my early my mid-30's in SF that I needed more than a car to carry my stuff. And after marriage and two kids, when we moved back to the East Coast my wasband drove a big rig and towed our car ( I flew back with the kids; 18 months and 4 yrs old at the time). Now I have a house full of stuff. Most of which I could do without. I figure that as the kids flight feathers strengthen and grow in the next decade, we'll decant the house and ultimately I'll return to my less is more status.
War. What is it good for? Absolutely nothing! War is about control. Control of monies, resources, people, and environments. It has often been based on religion, too. People killing people over faith. The hypocrisy of that has also been a life long head shaker for me. How can people, who say they believe in a god, kill in the name of god. Aren't all Gods in favor of love and life? Isn't that why the world over the biggest sin is to take the life of another. Violence is the biggest sin?! So how can war solve a religious conflict. How can war solve an economic conflict. How can war solve an injustice to a race, class or gender of people. Civil disobedience, sign me up. War, nope. Last families members in a war in my blood family were, I believe, in the Civil War. We are not cowards. We believe in the pen being mightier than the sword and we value life.
I have the privilege of being a white, middle class, American female. That affords me many of my above beliefs. If you change white to black, or middle class to working class, or American to Nigerian, then I might not sound so surefooted and rooted in this belief of mine. The belief that we all should treat each other like we'd want to be treated. Remember, the Golden Rule is universal to most religions, too. That we should share with those less fortunate. I believe that's incorporated into most Democratic and religious doctrines. Ours being a Capitalist, not Socialist, Democracy can lead to divisions in how and if we share with others. I believe in increasing taxes when it benefits the commonwealth of us all. Yup, raging liberal, even when I can barely afford it.
I imagine a world that is so altruistic, inclusive, and compassionate that I'd be called a fool or a dreamer. Yet I know that we all need to help each other and the planet if we're going to survive as a race; the human race/ the brotherhood of man. Too many kids go hungry, so many that even on a half day at school we must provide a meal, as it may be the only meal our students get that day. Many of these same kids are the ones who are going to join the military, voluntarily, to get three squares a day, an education and some travel. Yes the poor go to war. Except for the officers who have a leg up from the start. That is how it's been and will be unless wars stop.
I imagine a world where everyone has access to technology, knowledge, travel, food, clean water, and medicine. Where you're not judged by you religion, race, gender, who you love, how you look or how much money you do or do not have. Now that sounds foolish, some say. But it is the dream and desire of many, but only a privileged few get to live it.
I hope some day you'll join me and the world can live together as one.....
Of course he, John Lennon, was assassinated. Just like Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr. and let's just say it, Jesus. All civil disobedient, love preaching, let's share and share alike, treat each other as we want to be treated, let us all have the same rights granted to us.........let us all dream.
So tonight my plea is this; Imagine a world where we live as one, because I know the power of suggestion is strong and positivity is contagious!
Sweet dreams, my friends who are dreamers, Sweet dreams!
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