John Lennon’s tragic death in New York City, has brought on a wave of Beatles nostalgia. For so many of our generation, growing up in the 1960s and 1970s, Lennon was a hero, not just for his music but for his fearless activism against the Vietnam War.
Is there a celebrity activist today who matches Lennon’s impact and appeal? The closest counterpart to Lennon now is U2’s Bono, another transcendent musical talent championing another cause: the battle against global poverty. But there is a fundamental difference between Lennon’s activism and Bono’s, and it underscores the sad evolution of celebrity activism in recent years.
“I don’t believe in wishful thinking. You know, ‘Imagine,’ that John Lennon song, it’s my least favorite of his songs. And he’s the man for me, but it’s like I don’t believe that imagining is enough.”- Bono 2002
Is Bono our John Lennon ?