Politics vs. Musician by Jeff Tow-Arnett
The Beatles brought rock music to the United States in the mid 1960's. Their long hair and music was a revolution in American music. In addition one of the four Beatles would become a concern for the Ameican politics of the time during the Vietnam War. John Lennon said little about U.S. politics until after he left the Beatles, but his music clearly complimented the anti-war movement of the 1960's. His song "Give Peace a Chance" was music to the ears of the anti-war movement and distressful to the Nixon administration.
Music has always had a role in times of war. In WWII, music had a patriotic theme with songs like, "Yankee Doodle Dandee." The patriotic music was made to boost the morale of the public and the troops. Americans like Bing Crosby were part of the government plan to help support the war.
In the 1960's the Vietnam war became long and many soldiers died. It was not a popular war and the music of Lennon only complimented the peace movement of the Hippie generation. Plus, I think Lennon not being an American and having the obvious influence on the young people was very distressful to politicians of the time. He was as influential as Bing Crosby, but in an opposite way. While Lennon's music gave hope to some it hindered the government's ability to control popular thinking. The government tried to deport John Lennon where Crosby was seen as a patriot.
I wonder, if John Lennon were alive today, how would he see the war against terrorism? Would he or his songs have an influence on the terrorists to help "Give Peace a Chance?"