Posted on 02/12/2006 12:49:09 PM PST by TradicalRC
Olympic ideals still relevant in cynical modern world
Alan Kellogg,
The Edmonton Journal
Published: Sunday, February 12, 2006
It's interesting that John Lennon's Imagine has become a sort of Hallmark card at certain international events. It's a sweet and familiar melody, sure, and the sincerity is unmistakable. Boomers still call the shots in most locales. But its lyrics remain deeply radical decades after its conception.
On Friday, at the opening of the Turin Games, Peter Gabriel sang it affectingly, with Yoko Ono watching in the wings: "Imagine there's no countries, it isn't hard to do." We're also meant to imagine no religion, no hell below us, no possessions, nothing to kill or die for.
These things are not only difficult to imagine this year, they are all but impossible to fathom. It's fair to posit most humans and their leaders don't even agree with the sentiment.
Some of us are more cynical than others about the "Olympic movement" (mea culpa). But there is no sense in slagging the Games for the state of the world, the myriad ways in which we behave badly.
...
Of course, national pride and politics internal and external enter the picture, too. As CBC commentator Brian Williams observed Friday, it's a disgrace that the Israeli competitors murdered in the Munich Games have never been memorialized at subsequent events. But patriotism, personal achievement and peaceful politics take their rightful -- even noble -- place at any truly inclusive international competition.
(Excerpt) Read more at canada.com ...
Well I don't, and I don't think I'm the only one.
I laughed, but have whole heartedly agreed with him.
"Nothing to kill or die for...."
Guess that leaves out Christ.
Karen... back yet?
Imagine is a great example of people not listening to the lyrics of songs. I am one of the few who do, and so of course to me it was clear that is is nothing but a song in praise of Communism for a long time.
Better they should sing "Tax man" or even "Rocky Racoon".
I recall Buckley mentioning the song several years back and relaying a few of the lyrics but could not go on because it was a family column and he didn't want the kiddies to read it. I'll see if I can find a direct quote.
I never like this song and found it offensive companies were taking out ads with it after 9/11. "Imagine there's no Heaven"
It's fair to posit most humans and their leaders don't even agree with the sentiment... As CBC commentator Brian Williams observed Friday, it's a disgrace that the Israeli competitors murdered in the Munich Games have never been memorialized at subsequent events.Those two sentences are related.
Imagine Peter Gabriel becoming one of the 9/11 attack deniers, and working to undermine the US Government as well as Western Civilization as a whole:
http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=70716461&blogID=114332111&MyToken=7d346814-181b-4cac-a402-93ddfc145d1e
Tell a friend or 10 .....
BTW - his last good album was the one with Intruder - most since has been baneful psychobabble and New Age sh**
Thanks for the ping!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.