Enough already
So, John Lennon was shot 25 years ago tonight. Who cares? All of these aging baby boomers are treating it like Easter. Looking at the live feed from the vigil tonight in New York, I just see a lot of bald spots and grey ponytails. Enough with the 1960s. That was a long time ago, and there's very little positive to show for it. Stop being mired in the too-near-to-be-interesting past.
A TV news producer who was injured in a motorcycle accident 25 years ago tonight and treated just outside Lennon's hospital room was interviewed on TV today. He said, "I felt part of my youth was ripped out of me and was lying on the hospital bed and was bleeding to death."
It's just sad that your own youth could be defined in the commercial enterprise of a pop singer. Pop idol worship of any kind is pathetic. But there's something about John Lennon/Beatles worship that's seems especially repulsive to me. I can't explain it, except that it's just a natural revulsion with me.
Anyway, the producer then called his people, who the passed it up the chain -- and eventually Howard Cosell on "Monday Night Football" announced Lennon's death over ABC. The reporter in the story referred to the announcement as "something that changed the course of history."
What?
Enough already.
12/12 UPDATE: After getting some feedback on this, I want to clarify that there's a difference between being a big fan and idol-worship. Being a fan is much different from believing all world history that preceeded him was simply leading up to the manifestation of John Lennon in human form.
8:03 PM