John Lennon’s Second Thoughts

FrontPage Magazine ^ | July 1, 2011 | David Swindle

[HorowitzianConservative]

For more than 40 years Beatles member John Lennon towered above all others as the Left’s most powerful artistic icon. His anthem “Imagine” dreamed of a unified world that transcended the divides of nation-states and religious strife. It was an inspiration to generations of utopians. Now a new documentary reveals a startling fact: in his final years before his murder, the songwriter abandoned his famous progressive faith, enjoyed arguing with radicals, and supported Ronald Reagan.

The Toronto Sun reported Tuesday night on one of the interviews from a new documentary called “Beatles Stories.” Director Seth Swirsky spent five years collecting anecdotes from those who knew members of the band. One of the people Swirsky talked with was Fred Seaman who worked as Lennon’s personal assistant in 1979 and 1980.

According to Seaman,

John, basically, made it very clear that if he were an American he would vote for Reagan because he was really sour on (Democrat) Jimmy Carter.

“He’d met Reagan back, I think, in the 70s at some sporting event… Reagan was the guy who had ordered the National Guard, I believe, to go after the young (peace) demonstrators in Berkeley, so I think that John maybe forgot about that… He did express support for Reagan, which shocked me.

“I also saw John embark in some really brutal arguments with my uncle, who’s an old-time communist… He enjoyed really provoking my uncle… Maybe he was being provocative… but it was pretty obvious to me he had moved away from his earlier radicalism.

“He was a very different person back in 1979 and 80 than he’d been when he wrote Imagine. By 1979 he looked back on that guy and was embarrassed by that guy’s naivete.”

How will the Left respond to these revelations?

[HorowitzianConservative]

"Imagine" has done a lot of damage and been one of the most powerful of the Left's propaganda tools. I hope conservatives will recognize that and realize what an opportunity this is to deal a blow to the Left and take away one of their most powerful symbols.

[NavyCanDo]

1979 was about the same time I was having my conversion from being a young Democrat perfectly at ease with the Hippy generation around me, to being a staunch Reagan God & Country conservative. John was always the “deep thinker” of the four, so I’m not too shocked about this revelation. Now if it was Paul, now that would be a real shocker.

[He Rides A White Horse]

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[Lumper20]

And who cares what any artist thinks?

[2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten]

While I agree with the thrust that it’s not surprising that John had wised up in his “old age” - the caveat here is that John always enjoyed stirring the pot - how much of this is heartfelt belief and how much of this is love of a good argument might be a bit difficult to tease out since it happened “all those years ago”.

[submarinerswife]

When Lennon was killed, I was in 7th grade. The song “Imagine” was played every 15 minutes on the radio.

Two friends, one who I had been close friends with since 1st grade, were killed by a car while riding their bikes. I was devastated and still think about him. His name is Chad Chollette.

His Father and Mother played “Imagine” at his funeral because Chad loved the song. But we were too young to know what the song meant.

I guess I have a strange connection to that song. I could never listen to it and not think of Chad.

[HorowitzianConservative]

That’s strange. Sorry: http://frontpagemag.com/2011/07/01/john-lennon%E2%80%99s-second-thoughts/

[donhunt]

See what happens when one comes off the dope for a while.

[Maelstorm]

One of the things that come from demographic analysis is that people grow up. Too often in our politics when people talk about something being demographically inevidible they forget that one simple fact of reality. Now it is true we have far more adults with minds of spoiled children but thankfully most do still grow up.

[Borges]

Art has a big effect on what people think. Always has.

[ZirconEncrustedTweezers]

The libtards can console themselves with the fact that Paul is still one of theirs.

[JaguarXKE]

Well strap me to the side of a pig and roll me in the mud! I’m a huge Beatles fan, and even have a John Lennon signature Rickenbacker! However, I’ve always felt most of them were flaming idiots ideologically. This revalation about John is interesting to say the least. It would have been interesting to see how he would have reacted to the current occupant of the White House.

[truthguy]

The bottom line is that John Lennon was not all that bright and certainly was not very well educated.

He did have artistic talent as he was a very clever lyricist and wrote some excellent tunes. This cannot be denied and I love a lot of the tunes he came up with.

But I've learned over the years that this means next to nothing when it comes to understanding the issues of the day. In this regard, he was no better at understanding these complex issues than the average plummer or hair stylist (no disrespect meant to those jobs).

My anger is directed at those in the press who put the microphone in his face and tried to use him for their own political reasons. In the mid 1950s when Elvis came onto the scene, nobody cared about his political leanings (if he had any) except to know he was a patroit in that he didn't complain about being drafted. But withing 10 years there was this change in American society. All of a sudden, those in the media began to think it was important that the political views of celebrities should be made public and that it was significant. This is a disturbing trend that hasn't stopped since this time. We have seen Buffoons elected to the governorship of California and the senate from Minnesota simply based on this trend. It's a very negative thing.

[WhistlingPastTheGraveyard]

"Imagine" has done a lot of damage and been one of the most powerful of the Left's propaganda tools.

One reason it's been so effective is because it's so brilliant in its simplicity. Any child can learn the entire song on piano in about five minutes.

[Batrachian]

"Imagine" is a truly nauseating piece of work. Nothing matters except John Lennon's socialist Utopia, no doubt achieved at the point of a gun, as all socialism is (except possibly in Sweden).

I have my doubts about the validity of this news, and it means nothing, anyway. Norma McCorvey changed her mind, too. So what? The damage is done.

I think someone is looking for their 15 minutes of fame, nothing more.

[NY.SS-Bar9]

“If you’re not a liberal at twenty you have no heart, if you’re not a conservative at forty you have no brain.”

[SamuraiScot]

In the mid 1950s when Elvis came onto the scene, nobody cared about his political leanings (if he had any)

All I remember is that in 1967 or '68, he was a George Wallace man. Maybe that caused a fuss in the music business, and some press agent or manager had him record the sentimental, implicitly liberal "In the Ghetto" as damage control. Just my hypothesis.

[struggle]

Someone needs to make a “JOHN LENNON WAS A REPUBLICAN” bumper sticker. That should turn some heads. Or make them explode.

[az_gila]

One UK blog had a commment that it was just an assistant cashing in on Lennon’s name, it was just driven by dollars and it wasn’t true.

However they forgot to mention that Yoko has been the biggest “casher in” on his name...:^)

[robby]

I seem to remember a letter John wrote to David Marsh of Rolling Stone magazine. It was in response to Marsh criticizing Lennon for not recording anything new. This must have been late 70’s or so. Lennon let him have it good. Tried google search for it, but can’t find it. Anyone remember this?