Sunday, May 10, 2009
Making A Difference Introduction
I Chose John Lennon for this project solely because of my respect for him. I believe that he was an extremely intelligent person who just really wanted to make the world better. There are not many people in the world like him. He was very open to trying new things and I think that's what in the end, made him so successful. Another reason I chose him is because I am a die hard Beatles fan. They are probably one of the most popular/respected bands of all time. They are known to be the fathers of rock. It is said by some people that they molded what rock is today. John Lennon is a really inspirational person who just wanted to make peace.
Biographical Essay
John Winston Lennon is considered to be one of the most inspirational peace activists. His efforts to bring peace to the people of the world caught the attention of many. His was clever in the sense to use music as a way to get people to follow him. His success with the popular hit band The Beatles, gave him the power to attract all kinds of people. Peace was a main focus of Lennon and he was determined to do whatever he could to help raise awareness of it. His determination was a gateway for him to be original in everything he did. His creativity was a major role that started in his music, but evolved into something greater.
John Lennon was born on October 9th, 1940 in Liverpool, England. He lived with his aunt for most of his childhood. Lennon first picked up a guitar at age 17. He took lessons for about a year until he finished high school. He went to college at the Liverpool College of Art. Here, he gained interest in art. A year before he was about to finish college, he dropped out. He claimed that his main life interest was shifting more towards music. At this time he began to make music with Paul McCartney. After a couple months of writing music with Paul, they formed The Beatles. The Beatles is how John Lennon became recognized on a worldwide scale. The Beatles released a style of music that was new to what people were familiar with. They were one of the first bands to include the use of the keyboard. They quickly got their fame with they’re experimental, inspirational music. A big part of Lennon’s life was his drug habits. He was given his first drug when he was about to play a concert in Hamburg, Germany. A close friend of the band suggested they take Preludin so that they would be able to play the whole concert with energy. From that time on, Lennon began to use other dugs such as amphetamines, marijuana, and LSD. The drugs worked as an inspiration for not only music, but for peace.
John Lennon was always a supporter of world peace. Although he was involved with various peace events, most of his personal efforts for it came after breaking up with The Beatles. He was motivated to get involved with different peace gatherings. One of his first successful attempts to get noticed by people came on his honeymoon with his 2nd wife. They were staying a hotel called the Queen Elizabeth in Montreal. He and his wife did a recording in their hotel room called “Give Peace a Chance.” This song got really popular really quick. This song was sung by 250,000 Americans in 1969 on the Vietnam Moratorium Day. It was a protest against the United States involvement in the Vietnam War. After his success with the song, that’s when his wife and him took they’re peace activism to the next level. They moved to New York City in August of 1971. Lennon began to play at all kinds of peace and anti-war rallies. Another event that Lennon became involved in was a “Free John Sinclair” rally. John Sinclair was an anti-war activist who was arrested and sentenced 10 years for selling 2 joints to an undercover police officer. Many showed up for this rally behind Lennon and he released a song in respect of Sinclair. One of John Lennon’s last involvements with political statements was when he attended the Watergate hearings in Washington D.C. The incident at Watergate involved Nixon’s staff raiding of the DNC headquarters. In 1973, President Nixon attempted to have Lennon deported out of the country from a conviction of marijuana in 1968. But his deportation was overturned and he did not have to leave.
December 8th, 1980, John Lennon was shot 4 times in the back in his apartment in New York City. He was immediately rushed to an emergency room but was pronounced Dead on Arrival. The man who shot him (Mark David Chapman) had just received an autograph of Lennon earlier that day. He later admitted to stalking Lennon for the 2 months prior to the murder. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Coincidentally, hours before the murder, Lennon was doing an interview with a local radio station and was asked the question “How do you think you are going to die?” Lennon replied “I’ll probably get popped off by some loony.” Lennon did not have a funeral. He was cremated and his ashes are now kept by his wife.
John Lennon should be remembered as a hero. He was able to use his interests to affect the lives of other people. His music talent paved the way for many other musicians. His music alone could have made a huge difference in the world. It would be hard to imagine what music would be like today if The Beatles had not been a band. He also changed the world with his effort to increase world peace. Even though he is deceased his spirit still continues to live on. When he was alive he gave people hope, which to him was the first step in achieving his goal of world peace. John Lennon should be remembered in generations to come as being the one who was not afraid to try something new.
Work Cited
WORK CITED
INTERNET SOURCES:
"John Lennon." Wikipedia. May 8th, 2009. 11 May 2009 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Lennon#Writing_and_art.
"John Lennon:Biography." Answers.com. Apr 2004. 11 May 2009 http://www.answers.com/topic/john-lennon.
"John Lennon." Democracy Now!. Dec 8, 2005. 11 May 2009 http://www.democracynow.org/2005/12/8/john_lennon_1940_1980_history_professor.
BOOK SOURCES:
Jackson, John. We All Want to Change the World: The Life of John Lennon. Haus Books, 2006. Print.
Henke, James. Lennon Legend. Chronicle Books, 2003. Print.
Gruen, Bob. John Lennon: The
PICTURE URL’S (In order of appearance):
Picture 1: http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2005/10/25/John_Lennon_wideweb_430x336,0.jpg
Picture 2: http://www.photomusico.com/images/a1/the-beatles.jpg
Picture 3: http://www.democracycellproject.net/blog/archives/lennon1-1024.jpg
Picture 4: http://hollywoodpodcast.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2006/08/ep25-JOHN_LENNON_SHOT_DEAD.gifsingle.gif
Picture 5: http://www.owlnet.rice.edu/~reli393/Lennon/Images/010john_p.jpg
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