Imagine

I wanted my first post to be about something that is important to me and that should be shared. Since today is the 26th anniversary of the shooting of John Lennon, I figured that it would be a good place to start. Every year when I am reminded of this event my first response is to listen to "Happy Christmas" since the day falls during the holidays.

In 1969 and 1970 John and Yoko took their message of peace around the world purchasing billboard space where they could post their simple message, "WAR IS OVER! if you want it Happy Christmas from John and Yoko" These messages were not meant to promote the song as it came out after. The idea behind the campaign was that if everyone in the world just stopped and thought about peace, that peace could be attained.

Last year I made a few of these signs and hung one on my classroom door. I also gave one to another teacher, who lived through this era and she kinda frowned when she saw it. When I asked her later why she had reacted this way she said, "At that time in her life she thought there were going to be real changes and the world would be a better place, but it has actually gotten worse."

A very merry Christmas

And a happy New Year

Let's hope it's a good one

Without any fear

And so this is Christmas

For weak and for strong

For rich and the poor ones

The world is so wrong

And so happy Christmas

For black and for white

For yellow and red ones

Let's stop all the fight

Just wanted to say thank you to Jerry Lazanis for making me listen to John Lennon on a number of road trips, "hey play that crucify song."

Other images at http://www.strawberrywalrus.com/warisover.html