Imagine by Britt Michaels

I like the Beatles. As a group, and individually, concerning their music. One of the songs that has always stuck in my craw though, is John Lennon's "Imagine". The words and thoughts are of a flighty teenager — not one of a real world adult.

It starts, 'Imagine there's no heaven.... or hell'. This is about the only sentiment in the song that I agree with. One of the nuns I had as a teacher — eighth grade, as I remember, told the class once, that throughout history, more people have been killed in the name of a God, than from human selfishness, feelings of self-importance and greed. I believe that statement started me on the road to becoming an agnostic. I gave up religion in the early '60s.

'Imagine there's no countries...Nothing to kill or die for.' Come on. Though many wars are over land, others are over revenge, religious conflicts, the glory of being a part of history, or maybe just for something to do. During Alexander the Great's time, with a total world population of less than 150 million, wars were very prevalent. They're a part of the human race we will never rid of.

'Imagine no possessions....all the people sharing the world..' Never happen. Even early man collected stuff. Weapons, if nothing else.

Some thoughts on ideas Lennon forgot to add.

'Imagine a world with no bleeding-heart liberals:

• No class warfare

• No "acclaimed-minority" preferential treatment

• You support only your family'

Was he advocating a one-world government?

© 2008 by James M. Britvich All Rights Reserved