Bagism in the Modern Age - Democratic Underground

H2O Man

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Tue May-29-07 06:20 AM
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Bagism in the Modern Age

"NAÏVE: When it comes to pointless propaganda, who can beat honeymooners John Lennon and Yoko Ono? They have started a week’s sleep-in against war and violence. Which seems a pretty naïve protest …."

John and Yoko included a 20-page booklet, titled "The Press," in their Wedding Album. Some of the articles included in it, like the one quoted above, do not include the name of the author or the newspaper.

Others do, such as Herbert Williams’ "These phoney stunts that call for no sacrifice." He wrote, "You can dismiss the seven day love-in by John Lennon and Yoko Ono as just a silly publicity stunt if you like, but I believe you’d be mistaken. I think they really mean it when they say this is a ‘demonstration for peace.’ But that makes it all the more contemptible. ….

"The contrast between the cosiness of the Lennon-Ono lie-in and the agony of Vietnam and Biafra is such that to claim one has any bearing on the other is a piece of colossal insensitivity. … It’s become quite fashionable to attract publicity by doing something which is bizarre, but not too discomforting. …. A token fast involves such minimal suffering that the world rightly takes little notice. People are too busy to bother about students’ stunts. The same phoney atmosphere permeates the demonstrations against American policy in Vietnam which occur from time to time."

Another article ("Yoko, Lennon Love-In ‘Disgusting’ ") notes that, "Being rich doesn’t mean everything. Pictures of John Lennon and Yoko Ono having a ‘love lie-in’ was one of the most disgusting sights I have seen. If wealth does this to people then I do not want it." The article goes on to say that the Lennon-Ono protest was offensive to the person’s deeply-held Christian beliefs. "It has been said that power corrupts. I pray to God this doesn’t happen to me. … There will always be freaks and exhibitionists who hog the television cameras while the Mr. Averages are ignored."

The articles and cartoons reflect the vicious attitude towards Yoko that was sadly common at that time. Part of that was because she was female, of course. And much of it had to do with her being an Asian-American. At a time when Uncle Sam was fighting in the jungles of southeast Asia, it offended some people to see her in bed with the former "mop-top" member of the Fab Four.

It was one thing to have that cheeky Lennon ask the people in the good seats to "rattle their jewelry." But under the influence of that dragon-lady Yoko, he started to meet with suspicious characters, and support offensive causes. There were people who hated them, and were extremely concerned about their peace campaign. There is a film "The U.S. vs John Lennon" that details this conflict.

At the time, John used to say that he and Yoko were willing to be the world’s clowns, if that’s what it took to make a commercial for peace. It has been shown since then that the attacks really did hurt them. I suppose that pain played a role in John and Yoko’s decision to take a step back from the public eye in 1975. (I also remember that all the attacks on Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., when he spoke out against the war, hurt him.)

Without exception, every time I have noted that I see similarities between the John & Yoko peace campaign and Cindy Sheehan’s campaign, at least one person will respond, "Well, she’s no John Lennon." And that’s true. Cindy isn’t John, and she isn’t Martin. But what is important is that she heard them, and she understood their message. They both asked people to do their best to advocate for peace. They both recognized that even the most sincere people may make mistakes – as they had -- and they made clear that it was important to not let the fear of making a mistake keep one from trying.

John Lennon and Martin Luther King are gone now. It’s no use waiting for them, or someone the critics might agree is just like them, comes back to earth to lead the next anti-war campaign. It’s time for the Mr. And Ms. Averages to do it for themselves. And when the critics attack Mr. And Ms. Average, like they attacked John and Martin, it means the peace campaign is on track.

Thank you Cindy Sheehan.