In 1966, in what was, arguably, the peak of the cultural phenomenon known as "Beatlemania", Lennon got vilified for comments that he made regarding the relative popularity of the group at that time.
What he said was "we're more popular than Jesus, now."
The backlash was, even in the dark ages before social media, predictably, swift and packed chock full of retribution-y goodness.
Radio stations banning their music, concerts canceled or jeopardized, protests, marches, demonstrations, public record burnings, you know, the usual knee jerk, zany zealots convinced of their own moral superiority stuff.
Forget that Lennon was, in the context in which he was speaking, correct. Zany zealots convinced of their own moral superiority never let an annoying thing like context get the way of an opportunity to protest, march, demonstrate and burn things.
As our 60's old fart friend Ed Sullivan might say, "for you youngsters out there, who might be interested in reading the whole story, just do the Google....and now......here's Topohhhh Geegeeeeeo!"
You'll need to Google the Geeg, too.
Not too long after, but certainly long enough (the man may have been a sinner, even a scourge to the supercilious, but he was a thousand miles from being near stupid), he was quoted in yet another interview, or another, about his overall opinion of the Christ.
"...Jesus was alright," Lennon offered, "...but his disciples were thick and ordinary....it's them twisting it that ruins it for me...".
Donald Trump's campaign on Friday postponed a rally in Chicago amid fights between supporters and demonstrators, protests in the streets and concerns that the environment at the event was no longer safe.
The
announcement, which came amid large protests both inside and outside
the event at the University of Illinois at Chicago, follows heightened
concerns about violence in general at the GOP front-runner's rallies.
Illinois holds its Republican primary on Tuesday.
Hundreds
of demonstrators packed into an arena, breaking out into protest even
before Trump had shown up. At least five sections in the arena were
filled with protesters.
"Mr. Trump just
arrived in Chicago, and after meeting with law enforcement, has
determined that for the safety of all of the tens of thousands of people
that have gathered in and around the arena,
tonight's rally will be
postponed to another date," the Trump campaign said in a statement.
"Thank you very much for your attendance and please go in peace."
Several
fistfights between Trump supporters and protesters could be seen after
the announcement, as a large contingent of Chicago police officers moved
in to restore order.
Supporters of
Trump still inside chanted "We want Trump" after the event was canceled.
Protesters, meanwhile, shouted "We shut s*** down" and "We stumped
Trump." Others chanted "Bernie" as supporters whipped out Bernie Sanders
campaign signs.
Some protesters were being detained and forcefully carried out.
Soon after the event was postponed, scores
of protesters -- a racial mixture of whites and blacks, Hispanics and
Asians -- spilled out into the streets near the university, which is
located in the city's downtown.
Dozens
of protesters gathered outside a parking garage adjacent to the arena,
where police set up a human barricade to allow supporters to go to their
cars and leave. More than a dozen police officers on horseback were
there.
"Let's go, let's go," one Chicago police officer told Trump supporters in a truck. "Go home."
One
supporter, who didn't give his name as he drove out, said the situation
was dangerous and that he felt unsafe as protesters shouted at his car.
At one point, a man on the third floor of the garage leaned over the edge and shouted at protesters, "I don't support Trump."
A protester responded, "You f***ing neo-Nazi prick, come down here."
At this writing, the noted catalyst candidate himself has managed to tippytoe tap dance on that invisible line between denouncing and indifference, but it doesn't require a pre-school graduation certificate to be able to see that if it's not fair to blame him for this bubbling over of the cauldron, it's certainly not unfair to say that he is, and has been, the primary shit stirrer.
After the protests in the arena ended,
Trump did a series of media interviews, including one in which he said he had no regrets about his rhetoric, attributing the root
cause of the violence to economic issues such as unemployment among
African-American youths.
"We have a
very divided country," Trump said. "A lot of people are upset because
they haven't had a salary increase for 12 years."
Oh, okay, well, that explains it.
Those of us who have experienced the sophistication and erudition of your basic white supremacist have always been fascinated with their ability to expound on the frustrations of salary disparity and divisiveness it generates as they kick the living shit out of someone.
Trump
also blamed the media for what he saw as an over-inflation of the
evening's problems. And he said most incidents involving protesters are
tame and in control, saying that he has been "very mild" with those who
disrupt his events and that his events are gatherings of "great love"
that are interrupted by unruly, violent people.
Trump, however, did say he hoped "my tone is not that of causing violence."
In fairness, we wouldn't be able to lay a glove on the Donald in the ring of blame for all these brouhahas, because he has been very mild with "those who disrupt his events". He doesn't have to kick the shit of them.
He has people to do that for him.
And the events being "gatherings of great love"?
Well, hell, yeah.
All you have to do is watch ten minutes of any Trump rally and, immediately, you start thinking....
Billy Graham Crusade,
Woodstock.
Nuremberg.
And, as far as his tone not causing violence?
Ah, now you see, that right there, that little seemingly innocuous stringing together of a few words, that's yet another groundbreaking example of the skill this guy possesses when it comes to selling it.
You'll notice that he didn't say that he "hopes his words are not causing violence."
He specifically said "tone".
And that's genius, Jerry....genius.
Because Donald has another historically useful skill.
How to light a fuse without ever touching a match or flicking a Bic.
It's done like this.
What I'm about to say to you, I'm going to say to you in a calm, light, friendly, even, daresay, peace and love tone of voice.
Fuck you.
And your whole fucking family.
You fucking bunch of morons.
What? Protests and arguments and even violence have broken out?
Gosh. Again?
Well surely it can't be my tone causing that.
Oh. The words?
Well, the words are an entirely different kettle of pot to stir.
But the disciples don't have a clue there.
They're thick and ordinary.
Just ask John Lennon.
Who must be havin' a right laugh about now.
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