John Lennon: A musical genius and nightmare for an American President
Today was John Lennon's 70th birthday. The founder of the popular British band "Beatles," Lennon was considered by many as a musical genius whose work (lyrics, songs and music) is among the most loved in music history. He sold more albums and concerts than most of his contemporary musicians. In 2008, "Rolling Stone" ranked him among the top five greatest singers of all time.
Lennon was criticized by some of his fans for using mild drugs and excessive alcohol, infidelity to his first wife, and his large mansion. Yet he is admired by peace and human rights activists around the world for his dogged opposition to the Vietnam war, and for using his fame, fortune and creative/artistic means to promote human rights and peace. Besides his opposition to the Vietnam war, it is said that Lennon supported the Irish and American Blacks resistance causes.
Lennon's "Give Peace a Chance" (video below) was sung by a quarter of a million anti-Vietnam-War demonstrators in Washington, DC on 15 October, 1969, the second Vietnam Moratorium Day.
Lennon moved to New York City in 1971, where he continued to voice criticism of the Vietnam War. Pro-war politicians like Richard Nixon, the U.S. President, were wary of Lennon's appeal to his fans to oppose war-mongering politicians. Nixon even unsuccessfully tried to deport Lennon by revoking his U.S. residency (green card). FBI also tried to black mail or indict Lennon, and later admitted it had 281 pages of files on Lennon. Historian Jon Wiener published the results of his 14-year campaign to uncover FBI files, in "Gimme Some Truth: The John Lennon FBI Files."
John Lennon was assassinated in New York on December 8, 1980. Today would have been his 70 th birthday. The following are among Lennon's most popular hits:
