Imagine

 

I don't know anyone who doesn't love John Lennon's song "Imagine".

Before I go on, let me say that I too find it beautiful, inspiring, ennobling, a truly remarkable and timeless creation.  I'm thoroughly enchanted by its haunting melody, totally respect and resonate with the intent, the pure sentiment, the message -- as I do Lennon's equally powerful "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)".

So what follows is not criticism of the song per se, but more of an attempt to build on it -- find within its deeper implications something productive and enlightening -- my shot at taking it to a new level of appreciation.

Let's be honest.  "Imagine" is an anarchist anthem.  It recommends us picturing a world which has . . .

No Heaven
No Hell
No countries
No religion
No possessions

Throw in 'no television' and 'no money' and we're grunting savages back in a cave.
He opens the song with . . .

Imagine there’s no heaven
It’s easy if you try

I have mixed feelings about 'Imagine there's no heaven'.  There are many among us who have trouble imagining there is a heaven, at least as some religions characterize it.
I'm not sure imagining heaven pro or con in a literal sense is the issue.

And looking at it more as a metaphor, I think we spend most of our waking lives thinking about some ideal state, some level of perfection where the challenges and hardships of our lives would go away.  We all dream of a utopia, a Nirvana, at least a better version of what we have.  I think it's wired into us and is what drives humankind to its most admirable achievements.  Why would we want to give that up?

Having said that, the next line is enigmatic. 'It's easy if you try'.

Try?

As if we weren't already trying? That's practically all we do. We live in fantasy worlds of our own creation or ones conveniently foisted on us from others usually with an agenda.  People constantly live in their imaginations, fancying better looks, sexier more attractive bodies, more interesting friends, finer possessions, better jobs, nicer homes, cooler cars. We are, it seems, already engaged in a nearly pathological level of "imagining", one which has dissipated our sense of self, submerged our individual identities, often caused a sense of alienation from others, and created unimaginable levels of uncertainty and insecurity. Sometimes when I listen to people talk or look objectively at what occupies a generous portion of their time -- television, movies, sporting events -- I wonder if they aren't completely divorced from the real world, even when they appear to be engaged.

If anything, we could be accused of trying too hard, imagining too much. You might more reasonably argue maybe we spend too much time imagining many of the wrong things.

So the question is:  Is what this song recommends an improvement?

Imagine there's no countries

Imagine no possessions

Nothing to kill or die for

No religion too

Okay . . . gone is heaven, hell, countries, religion, possessions.

What do we replace these with?  There has to be something.  We can't live in a void.

I recognize he's saying we should try to imagine ourselves in an alternative better world.  But there's a reason we don't imagine a world without countries and possessions. There's a reason we don't imagine a world where there's nothing to kill or die for.  I believe . . .

IT'S BECAUSE WE CAN'T!

I would defend with my life those I love and respect.  My wife.  My daughter.  My friends.

Yes, I would kill and die for them.

Is this bad?

People can't imagine a world without possessions.  I don't know if they seriously try or not. I do know it's not worth the effort.

It's not the possessions that are evil.  It's what the possessions do to us and those around us.  It's when the possessions "possess" us, when one person's ownership deprives others of basic survival or dignity that they become toxic.

Similarly with countries.  Humans by nature are both social and tribal.  We achieve a sense of communal worth and purpose by belonging to a people, a clan, an extended family, even a nation.  It gives us identify and comfort.  I don't think humans are capable of viewing themselves otherwise.

I believe that in and of itself is not bad.  It becomes threatening and destructive when it crushes our sensitivity to others who are not in our tribe, when it convinces us that "we" are somehow more special or more important than "them".  America's obsession with its exceptional role on the planet, rising above all other nations, is an example of national identification and healthy pride becoming a dangerous, sociopathic affliction.

It is not the lack of imagining or lack of imagination that plagues us.  It is attempting to imagine the wrong things, or things that go against our essential nature.

Plus, I would start small.  If successful, we can work our way up.

Here are just a few things to get us started:

Imagine everyone in the world having enough to eat.

Imagine everyone being free of illness and disease.

Imagine everyone having clothing and a decent place to live.

Imagine being kind to others, even those we don't understand.

Imagine treating everyone equally, with dignity and compassion.

Imagine being honest with ourselves and others.

Imagine cooperation instead of competition.

These are things not only we can imagine, but things that can actually be done.  

It’s easy if you try

Having said all of this  -- and I know I've probably trampled on some sacred ground -- I still think that "Imagine" is one of the most beautiful and important contributions a pop artist has ever made to the world.  Let's enjoy it for its purity of spirit and honesty.

[ This originated at the author's personal website . . . http://jdrachel.com ]


Imagine