It has now been 30 years since the assassination of a man of peace. And still the memories of that day stick in my mind as if it were only yesterday.

And still peace is only a lofty and unattained goal. War and the suffering that results from war is rampant. Nations spend fortunes on machines of destruction. And brave men and women of many nations are fighting and dying for from their homes.

I don’t often re-post something I have written previously, but I liked this when I wrote it last year. And I don’t think I could put it any better today.

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I remember with great clarity what I was doing when I heard about Lennon’s death. In my parent’s kitchen, making coffee and listening to CFTR radio, I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Who would kill this man of peace?

Although I was too young to have really “experienced” the ’60′s I felt a certain kinship to John Lennon and his hope of peace for all… a hope that I carry to this day and proudly have emblazoned on my chest.

Grade 12 American History was my first class at Parry Sound High School that morning and the mood was downright moribund.  Most of us felt that something tragic and sad had just occurred and the vibes in the room reflected that. But we carried on with our day and our lives. We were young, invincible and hopeful.

Yes, we were hopeful that Lennon’s life and death might touch someone or some people who would have the power to reject violence and embrace peace wherever possible. Yet the Cold War was raging. Military analysts were predicting USSR would intervene in Poland soon. Led Zeppelin was breaking up. Yeah, we were 18, optimistic, and in hindsight, oh-so naïve.

Twenty-nine years later we are still a world gripped by war and violence and all of the suffering that the young and old must endure because of it.  Perhaps it is the human condition to reject peace and embrace violence. Perhaps we really have yet to evolve to a stage where it is the other way around.

Peace, Mr. Lennon. The world still misses you.

Trashy,
Ottawa, Ontario

I remember with great clarity what I was doing when I heard about Lennon’s death. In my parent’s kitchen, making coffee and listening to CFTR radio, I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Who would kill this man of peace?

Although I was too young to have really “experienced” the ’60′s I felt a certain kinship to John Lennon and his hope of peace for all… a hope that I carry to this day and proudly have emblazoned on my chest.

Grade 12 American History was my first class at Parry Sound High School that morning and the mood was downright moribund.  Most of us felt that something tragic and sad had just occurred and the vibes in the room reflected that. But we carried on with our day and our lives. We were young, invincible and hopeful.

Yes, we were hopeful that Lennon’s life and death might touch someone or some people who would have the power to reject violence and embrace peace wherever possible. Yet the Cold War was raging. Military analysts were predicting USSR would intervene in Poland soon. Led Zeppelin was breaking up. Yeah, we were 18, optimistic, and in hindsight, oh-so naïve.

Twenty-nine years later we are still a world gripped by war and violence and all of the suffering that the young and old must endure because of it.  Perhaps it is the human condition to reject peace and embrace violence. Perhaps we really have yet to evolve to a stage where it is the other way around.

Peace, Mr. Lennon. The world still misses you.

Trashy,
Ottawa, Ontario

Check it out:

Motown legend Berry Gordy said: “He was awesome, the King of Pop was not big enough. I think he is simply the greatest entertainer that ever lived.

I heard this along with the other hero-worship claptrap and thought “huh”?

Greatest entertainer?

No fuckin’ way.

I remember a party back in ’82 or so (some of my readers may recall) when a certain chick brought Thriller to the scene. We were on an island somewhere outside of Peterborough, ON and we were all die hard rockers…

The MJ tape ended up in the bonfire while Zep II roared its mighty roar.

So in the interest of the public service, here are 50 entertainers I consider “greater” than the child molester.

1. George Carlin
2. The Clash
3. Led Zeppelin
4. Robin Williams
5. Jon Stewart
6. The Beatles
7. Bruce Springsteen
8. Madonna
9. My son Owen
10. Bart Simpson
11. The Police
12. The Canadian police forces who like using Tasers
13. RCMP (see above)
14. Frank Sinatra
15. Alex Ovechkin
16. Supertramp
17. Pink Floyd
18. Thierry Henry
19. David Bowie
20. My daughter Addy
21. My teenmonster T
22. The Eagles
23. Stephen Harper – in robot mode
24. Janis Joplin
25. Jim Morrison
26. Jimi Hendrix
27. Bob Marley
28. Queen
29. Kim il Jong
30. Kermit the Frog
31. Kaka
32. Vlad Putin
33. My 4th year Pol Sci Theory prof
34. Pierre Trudeau
35. Sir Richard Branson
36. Sir Paul McCartney
37. John Lennon
38. Lenin
39. The cast of Coronation Street
40. Che
41. Ronaldo
42. Johnny Ramone
43. Sid Vicious
44. Leonardo da Vinci
45. Anna Kournikova
46. Meagan Fox
47. Mike Tyson
48. The guy who asks for change at the corner of Holland and Scott
49. Peter Gzowski
50. Isaac Asimov

I could do another 100 or so, but am getting tired.

You get the point though, right?

Trashy,
Ottawa, Ontario

Short note:
Twenty-five years ago, I woke up on a normal weekday to ready myself for another day in the life of some anonymous head banger 17 year old in grade 12.
CFTR AM radio – one of the few stations we picked up in Parry Sound in the mid-70′s, gave me the news that day – and oh boy.
First class was American history. The teacher was a total tool but we didn’t care that day.
Even though my generation was a wee bit young to remember the Beatles to any measurable extent – we did know about Wings and we knew about Lennon… they we were a part of our lives.
And Lennon was a man of peace above else.
And we could use a few more like him these days.
Peace, friends.

Trashy,
Ottawa, Ontario