Thursday, September 20, 2007

Déjà vu all over again

Last night we watched a documentary, "The US vs. John Lennon"; a review of that period from about 1967 to 1980 when Lennon was shot to death in front of the Dakota Hotel in Manhattan.

It focuses on John's involvement with the peace movement of the late 60s and early 70s, the degree to which that threatened the Nixon administration and the Nixon administration's response - culminating in an Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) case against John that dragged on, seemingly forever - and was eventually tossed out of court after years of appeals.

If you don't think there are any parallels between the Vietnam war and the present fiasco, watch the film.

If you do think there are parallels between the quagmire in the jungles of South East Asia and quagmire the deserts of the Middle East, watch the film.

The words are the same - only the place and place names have changed - and maybe the humidity.

It points out that we certainly don't learn much from history ... because history is certainly repeating itself, in many cases down to the details. If anything at all, what we have learned is how better to suppress descent.

Perhaps the only consolation comes from John's reaction upon finally receiving his "green card", symbolic of winning his deportation case (and reflecting on the paranoia of the Nixon administration that started the whole thing), "Time wounds all heels."

4 out of 5 stars in my book. Well worth the watch ... and worth recommending, in my book.

"All we are saying is Give Peace a Chance."

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