John Lennon's "Imagine" is already a parody of itself lol. Where did I hear that it's "virtually the Communist Manifesto"... no, it wasn't American Thinker... it was John Lennon himself!
No religion! No possessions! No fun, either!
<1960-80s mode>
No hate, no forcing anyone or retaliating against anyone. There's that, too.
I don't defend "Imagine."
It has always struck me as a Quaalude of a song, one that could only have come from someone with serious anger management issues, which Lennon had, reportedly, but I like the generosity with which it was offered -- and the Peace Light up in Reykjavik is generous, too.
People cheer for something when it's lit (in between Lennon's birthday and the day he was shot). And many of them become a little more generous in turn.
That's all to the good. But they need to believe in something outside and bigger than themselves before they can really see other people and have some peace, and that's where it all falls down in this irreligious world society.
Communism, capitalism (in the form of concentrating capital in the hands of a few), fascism (small "f" and still around today), totalitarianism, SD&RR: none of it can help a single person, all alone in this big impersonal world, find peace.
Yet people do find it, the real thing, because it's there and they want to find it and work hard in various ways for it. All this requires self-control, which is also at a premium in this high-impact-advertising society.
The biggest proof of the power of peace is what happens to some leadership types who advocate for it. Lennon wasn't shot after "Revolution" came out. Malcolm X wasn't shot until he'd taken a more moderate stance. Saying (paraphrase) "we must love them" apparently did nothing for MLK, Jr.'s longevity, either.
Peace.
Such a scary word to say in public and mean it. But why?
‐---------------
"He abused me, he struck me, he overpowered me, he robbed me." Those who harbor such thoughts do not still their hatred.
"He abused me, he struck me, he overpowered me, he robbed me." Those who do not harbor such thoughts still their hatred.
Hatred is never appeased by hatred in this world. By non-hatred alone is hatred appeased. This is a law eternal.
-- from the Dhammapada
</1960s-80s mode>