On Dec. 8, 1980, Mark David Chapman deprived the world of the life of one of the greatest, most influential musical talents of our time, John Lennon.
Lennon had just completed a photo shoot with Annie Leibovits for Rolling Stone magazine and what would be his last interview for a San Francisco radio show. Right after leaving his New York City apartment for the studio to mix the song “Walking on Thin Ice” with his wife, Yoko Ono, Lennon suffered four fatal gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead on arrival at Roosevelt Hospital. News of Lennon’s death sent shock waves around the globe, and the world went into mourning for this man who influenced and touched so many lives.
Here we are, 35 years later, and many still cite John Lennon as their inspiration, not just in the music industry, but also those who follow his philosophy and way of life. Lennon was a very outspoken pacifist, protesting the Vietnam War in the late 1960s and early ’70s, and this was reflected heavily in his music.
“You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one. I hope someday you will join us and the world will be as one.” – “Imagine,” by John Lennon
Today, the world is much the same as it was during Lennon’s lifetime. There is still war, poverty and inequality. It’s very rare that you can turn on the news without seeing something about terrorist attacks, both foreign and domestic, or civil unrest. The world is still a very scary place. With all the terrible things that happen from day to day, can we actually give peace a chance?
With all the hate in the world, is it possible to show true compassion for the rest of humanity? Can we look beyond our differences to come together as one people? It should not have to take tragedy to unify the world.
