The US vs John Lennon - David Belair
I am always interested in any history related to the Nixon years, and this documentary didn't disappoint. I thought that Lennon's fight was admirable, however somewhat unattainable. Mostly due to the paranoid regime of Nixon and J. Edgar Hoover that would go to what ever lengths needed for them to keep control of the country. Nixon and Hoover seemed to be so worried about anyone in America that was a perceived threat to their power, that I don't think anyone at that time had a great chance of making a difference. I don't think the fact that NIxon won the 1972 election has anything to do with Lennon's ability to change things, I just think he was in a card game with a marked deck. In those times, I don't think he had much of a chance.
I don't know that I believe that music has the ability to save lives, or make significant changes, at least not on a grand scale. IT can make a difference in individual lives, and can get a group of people together to try and make a difference and fight for a cause, but in any country, even a democratic one as seen in the US, there are still powerfull people running things, and their agenda is going to be followed through, at least until the next elections. People have the ability to make change, and music may be one cog in the process, but I don't think that music is ever the sole mechanism for change. The 1960's saw a huge counter-culture movement with its youth. Musicians such as Dylon and Lennon were part of this movement, but really it was the youth rebelling against authority. Granted, it was on a much grander scale, but none-the-less it still seemed to be the youth of America struggling to find their way.
Lennon, and the other leftist radicals, were dissenting against the war in Vietnam. Being a dissentor just means that they were non-comformists, it has nothing to do with their loyalty to the United States. The great thing about America is that people are allowed to have their opinions. They can disagree, or agree with the US government and still be loyal citizens. The '50s and '60s had government leaders who were very paranoid. Whether it was McCarthy, Hoover, Nixon, or others, the leaders of that time seemed to have it in for anyone who didn't fit their belief of what a true American was. They were narrow-minded, power hungry politicians who were overcome with communist paranoia. Those that disagreed with American politics were labeled as traitors or communists, even if it was not truthful. Unfortunately, as is commonly stated, history repeats itself. We saw it in recent years with the Dixie Chicks, and others, who spoke out against the war in Iraq and the Bush administration. The Dixie Chicks weren't disloyal, and neither was Lennon. They were just in disagreement with the politics of the day.
I must say I didn't really get the point of the staying in bed for peace. I don't get what it proved, or was meant to prove. This doesn't mean Lennon didn't do his part, or that other got it and it was a successful move on their part. Others in the the movie seemed to think it was a big deal, I guess I just didn't get it. I did however get the movie, and enjoyed it thoroughly. Although I don't totally agree with Lennon's politics, I do enjoy his music, and find the whole Nixon era very fascinating. Good show.