For John...

It is now officially October 9th, 2010. It is also 70 years since the world received a very special man. John Lennon, born to the poverty and terror of a war-torn England, emerged from the dirty shipyards of Liverpool to the national stage as a musician, activist, and the voice of a generation of peace-loving youngsters. He went further than any of his former Beatles bandmates were willing to go in the social, political, and artistic arenas. Sitting somewhere between a rockstar and a guru, he asked for peace and understanding while receiving little himself. Few appreciated his rocker-cum-philosopher position, and he made many enemies among the conservative and prudent. When the world told him to keep quiet, he responded with an emphatic "No," and followed up with an enthusiastic "Up yours!" He was never afraid of a joke, even when it cut straight through the boundaries of prudence, and his comment about the Beatles being more popular than Jesus will live on for its presumption and the inkling of fear that it may have been true. So here's to you, John. We dream right along with you, of a world where people are not shackled by objects or insane ideologies, and where brotherhood and peace may reign. Hail John Lennon!