Offbeat, as usual, it was only very recently that I rented a DVD of the film, The U.S. versus John Lennon. I found myself surprised by my own reaction to the film. Much of the footage of John and Yoko seemed all too familiar to me, so there was no big surprise there. That the FBI viewed John Lennon as some sort of national threat was just plain weird, but these days I guess it probably doesn’t have the same shock value that it would’ve had nearly eight years ago.
However, what made this film an absolutely mind gripping experience is the nuanced commentary on how Nixon’s Administration attempted, oftentimes succeeding, to manipulate the media, the anti-war movement and the youth vote in 1972. At some point in the film, I found myself wondering, “Hmmm, how old is Karl Rove anyway?”.
I’m not saying that I’m shocked by what Nixon orchestrated. But, was rather jolted by outrage as I watched what people who were of age during that turbulent era lived through. Why were they not more involved in the last presidential campaign or the anti-war movement? It was obvious from the film that although Nixon would plan to be out of the White House when mass protests were held, that the demonstrations were having the desired impact. Nixon was nervous. Only the youth were unaware of their power. Is this their legacy now? Are they apathetic or less ideological now because they never felt validated that they could effectively bring about change? If this is the case, perhaps it explains how the Bush administration happened (again).
Well, why didn’t the fear of “Nixonism” motivate more people to get involved in 2004, especially since we have been taught at least since our junior high history classes that history can repeat itself, right? And, history has indeed been repeating itself in a very eerie way since 2003. The footage of Nixon in The U.S. versus John Lennon was mesmerizing and it was actual proof. If I closed my eyes and just listened, it sounded very much like our current “decider”. One could have easily substituted the words “Iraq” for “Vietnam”.
As the film chronicled the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago, it occurred to me that 2008 would mark the 40th anniversary of that historic event when the Democratic Party opened the political process to all because of the mounting anti-war sentiment and the contentious politics that had overshadowed the convention. I thought about my more mature friends (you know, the ones who lived through that turbulent era) who are ideological, but just couldn’t find the time to get involved in the last presidential campaign. Some even used their children’s overscheduled lives as an excuse. I love children, even the bad ones, but soccer practice in the burbs is just simply not a valid excuse. You see, I think that getting involved in selecting our nation’s “decider” is a great way to teach your children how to become good citizens and it demonstrates an appreciation for the sacrifices our forefathers and mothers made on our behalf. It can also mean the difference in whether or not your child ever has to see military combat.
I know that Yoko Ono Lennon has dedicated much of her life to finding ways to pay a public tribute to her husband’s magnificent legacy, but I couldn’t help wondering if this film was a direct message to the American people, urging us not to forget our own collective past.
