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Invoking Lennon, Ono asks suffering souls to forgive »
Posted by: jeremytoday 1 year, 10 months agoYoko Ono, widow of slain Beatle John Lennon, issued a plea for forgiveness to the world's suffering people in a full page notice in Sunday's New York Times entitled "Forgive us."
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Comments: 162
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dtress1d
Nov. 26, 2006, 8:17 a.m.Is it not about time for Ono to get a life of her own instead of living off of John's death?
Interesting that the article specifically says to forgive, yet she says she "can not forgive" the person who killed John.
This would make sense if she said she was trying to forgive, but having a hard time of it, but it only says she CAN NOT forgive him!
Interesting that she wants others to do as she says, not as she does, & the media gives her this kind of attention!
I agree we have to forgive!
However, as far as Ono is concerned, forgiveness starts at home!
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artmonkygrl
Nov. 26, 2006, 12:22 p.m.Well all I have to tell you is that Ono does have a life of her own. Shes an amazing artist and is always working on her artwork.
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RisingSplendor
Nov. 26, 2006, 6:16 p.m.Paul wrote "Hay Jude"/Hay Jules, for John's son Juliann, because he was having a hard time relating to his new mother (so the story goes). I have always interpreted the song as Hay Jules don't let Yoko get you down, or get under your skin, but you have the power to make it better Jules (because she is in capable of doing so). For the simple fact that Paul was giving a child advice on how to deal with an adult says it all. Me, Mine, Now Now.
As for her not forgiving someone, what's new? She has never seemed to be a very sympathetic or empathetic sprit, and that is ok we all have deficits.
Being only 38 y/o makes me young when this all went down. But it does not exclude me from the facts of history and my ability to make sober observations.
Continued 1000 word limit.
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RisingSplendor
Nov. 26, 2006, 6:18 p.m.The Beatles are one of most culturally influential events to occur over the last thousand years, and possibly thousand to come. They changed the world, and it had absolutely nothing, I repeat NOTHING to do with Yoko. If one wants to do a time line of occurrences you will see that the peace movement and Beatles influence began it's decline when Yoko and John linked up on their deluded domination fantasy of world peace, and love in/heroin binge.
As for Flux, her work speaks for its self.
Is Yoko an "A" artist?
Is Peter Max an "A" artist?
Had she never became involved with John would anyone have cared if a tree fell in the forest, less hear it? Why would you anyone announce to the world, "I can not forgive someone" this stinks of "Everyone look at me, I am so pained".
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RisingSplendor
Nov. 26, 2006, 6:22 p.m.Especially when you take in to consideration that the man is schizophrenic, it is like jumping on the sofa and calling Brook Shields weak minded and in need of Scientology, instead of pills.
Despite Yoko's shortcomings John loved her and her alone. The man was one of the most brilliant minds the world will ever know, and that mind picked Yoko's sprit. Why? Only John will know the answer to that question, so if you respect John you should treat his widow with the same honor you would bestow upon him. Regardless if you like her or not she is and will always be Johns Queen.
I feel bad that she can not let go of her anger, because anger is the cause of all suffering in this world.
There is my mind's eye, with a mote dead center.
Detach from this world Yoko, and you will be free.
Sincerely,
Rising Splendor.
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Spadecaller
Nov. 26, 2006, 9:28 p.m.dtress1d
"...she didn't know if she could yet forgive Lennon's killer"
Do you actually have trouble interpreting that remark? Are you that bereft of human compassion to understand the word 'could' referrs to abiity or capability. It didn't say would. Are you that unforgiving of her inability to forgive, yet? What is wrong with you; do you have to put a spin on the most innoncent and saddest remarks too?
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SalvadortheInvestigator
Nov. 27, 2006, 8:46 p.m.Don't shoot the messenger. Yoko isn't the problem. Too many people in America love war and hate peace. That's the problem. The United States government needs to atone for its criminal deeds, as Yoko suggests. Forgiveness is needed, not only for Iraq and Afghanistan, but for the destruction of Lebanon as well.
With the ever-increasing price of gasoline, one wonders if it might eventually occur to our president to dump Israel and watch the price of gas quickly lower. Thank God Mr. Bush got his butt handed to him on a silver platter a few weeks ago in the mid-term elections. But we cannot relax our guard and put total trust in the Democrats. Many of them are just as wicked as Bush and his gang of Republican thugs. Now is the time to organize mass demonstrations against the Zionist war in Iraq.
Yeah, yeah, yeah!
Salvador Astucia
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seaflight
Nov. 26, 2006, 8:36 a.m.What does that old washed up ugly bitch have to open her mouth? She has nothing to offer anyone
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spkguy
Nov. 26, 2006, 1:28 p.m.seaflight, you've just shown the world redeeming qualities.
0 = none!
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Sandmn
Nov. 26, 2006, 8:37 a.m.I don't know to what level Ono influenced John or his music and philosophies. I know from reading, that she was instumental in breaking the beatles apart from one another, and had herself fused into our minds as being one with john, but I doubted it then, and I doubt it now. Her only redeeming quality is that she continues to make his name heard and notarized. John seemed a peaceful man until meeting her. His moods changed, his music changed. He did not appear to be enjoying life after meeting Ono, and became almost too political. To the peace he sang about, to his wonderful smile and wonderful music, thank you John.
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TednGilbertAZ
Nov. 26, 2006, 12:28 p.m.I will never forget that awful night seeing his assasination covered live on ABC News as they broke into regular programming which I believe was "Monday Night Football" at the time. I was on tour in Slayton, Minnesota, staying at a cheap motel with a crummy black and white tv, so all my memories of this tragedy at the age of 20 oddly are in black and white.
I was driving through 'downtown' about to hit a curve when the news broke on the local AM radio a former-Beatle had been shot. I was driving on sheet ice alone across town from where the girls (I was on tour with three women at the time) were staying and nearly lost complete control of our van from the shock of the breaking news. As a huge Beatle fan, I instantly thought of Paul for some reason, said a quick prayer, but upon returning to my room and turning on the tv, I saw a caption that read "Lenon critically shot" and my heart sank to its lowest point of the entire 1980 year... it was beyond awful.
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pleaseitmfa
Nov. 26, 2006, 8:59 a.m.I think it's a beautiful and poignant message.
I have to wonder how many people who are hating on Yoko have suffered to the degree of someone who has lost a loved one at the hands of another person.
Forgiveness is so hard. Anger makes it almost impossible, and whether we want to admit it or not, so does the ego.
I came away with her message being "if you are ready to forgive, then do so. If not, continue to work towards forgiveness".
Forgiveness is a process. It's not just the act of saying "I forgive you". It's the ability to let go and to free your heart and mind.
I hear you, Yoko.
And I believe she stated that she could not *yet* forgive Mark Chapman. To me, that implies that she wants to some day. I think that is admirable since a lot of people either just say they forgive and don't, or hold a grudge forever.
At any rate, good story.
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SalvadortheInvestigator
Nov. 27, 2006, 8:50 p.m.Before we get too hung up on asking Yoko to forgive Chapman, we should consider that the doorman at the Dakota was a highly suspicious character. Read the following article:
Jose Joaquin Sanjenis Perdomo, John Lennon's true assassin(?)
http://www.jfkmontreal.com/john_lennon/Usenet/Perd
Salvador Astucia
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mntnman444
Nov. 26, 2006, 11:31 a.m.Did you know that they took "too much" of that money to buy NYPD bullet proof vests just before John was killed?
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spkguy
Nov. 26, 2006, 1:42 p.m.Are morons like this, the root of all our problems? You one
cold hearted human being. You need some serious sensitivity training, wheres your sense of decency and compassion!
HERE HUSBAND,THE LOVE OF HER LIFE WAS SHOT DOWN IN COLD BLOOD!
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Manymeez
Nov. 26, 2006, 9:30 a.m.I agree. Anything and anyone that has a positive message of spreading peace and forgiveness needs more attention. The world is so full of hate and anger, and it has become the norm. People, in general hardly bat an eye at all the rage. But the minute someone promotes peace, it's immediately questioned, scrutinized and doubted as being genuine. Come on, peace is good!!!
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electra3
Nov. 26, 2006, 9:38 a.m.I think that most of us want the best outcome for humanity and that many people do what they can to reach out to those who have suffered and been hurt.
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audacious
Nov. 26, 2006, 9:51 a.m.There's nothing wrong with praying in public. She was John's woman, his love and, in many ways, his conscience. Most of the works that people celebrate were written after he met her. What would you really say to Yoko if John was standing next to her? She has a lot of courage and dignity.
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thoughtnaut
Nov. 26, 2006, 9:53 a.m.So how about December 8 as Forgiveness Day? Sounds like a nice idea to me.
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koranagirl
Nov. 26, 2006, 10:24 a.m.I don't think that there is without a doubt a concidence on the day of John Lennon's death. December 8th is the feast day of the Catholic Church for St. Mother Mary. Before that it was the feast day for Mother Goddess (but then Mother Goddess was kicked out of the church in a wide variety of ways). Forgiveness or Compassion day would be a great idea! By the way, Mother Goddess' name is Azna or Azina (that's what my indigo daugher calls her). Peace and love to all.
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im-sailingxaway
Nov. 26, 2006, 11:15 a.m.I didn't see this as a take at the U.S. forces at all. She loves America, and it is because of that she wants people to forgive. She understands now that she and Lennon were naeve to believe that they could spread peace throughout the world, but she does believe that if we can learn to forgive eachother, we can learn to love eachother.
War is inevitable, and I thank you for serving our country, that's something that I could never do. You're a courageous person, and America thanks you.
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SalvadortheInvestigator
Nov. 28, 2006, 11:40 p.m."I didn't see this as a take at the U.S. forces at all."
Although I think Sniper91 is a subhuman pig, I have to agree with his interpretation of Yoko's ad which explains his paranoia. Let's not sugar-coat it. Yoko was definitely taking a well deserved shot at low-life military types like him and his idiot commander-in-chief.
We love you Yoko!
Salvador Astucia
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mntnman444
Nov. 26, 2006, 11:33 a.m.I served my country too,it's too bad theres hateful pigs like you in it.
John and Yoko served the world!
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liberalordie
Nov. 26, 2006, 8:42 p.m.You are another one of those people Kerry was talking about-the angry under-achiever in school-who joinged the military as last resort. Real warriors of the military know peace is the only answer after seeing the alternative.
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koranagirl
Nov. 26, 2006, 10:22 a.m.The message of Yoko Ono was sweet and pleasant. She knows that the world is full of pain and that people are hurting one another because they have forgotten how to love one another. I see a whole lot of ascerbic comments above, mean, hateful, nasty, or at the very least doubting another person's ability to still love and care for the world. Everyone has much pain in their life, but we all need to forgive, or work on forgiveness. Yoko has a whole lot to forgive with a cherished dead husband, and yet she says she is "working on it."
I just wonder what has happened to the heart of those above that they are so hard and so cold that you reject a message of peace and love, you reject the concept of compassion, sympathy, empathy, and faith.
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koranagirl
Nov. 26, 2006, 10:22 a.m.Yoko did a tremendous thing by doing what she did. The peacemakers are the true heros and heroines in the world, especially today when we need them so very much. Maybe you didn't like her music or what she stood for, but a message of peace and love is so universal that it distinctly transcends the paltry every day things we do on earth, including war, hate, violence and aggression.
Thank you sincerely, Yoko, and show us the way to peace and love.
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evolute50
Nov. 26, 2006, 10:24 a.m.Did the writer above really mean to write Ass Nine causes? Or was this some sort of cryptic message related to the story, as in Number 9 Dream or other of Lennon's purposely cryptic songs? Because if it was intentional, we certainly need some sort of clue as to what it might mean. But if it was unintentional, the word is asinine.
That said, one should consider that Lennon's life was dedicated to seeking clarity, both personally and publicly. Yoko has continued that pursuit. John and Yoko became the anti-Beatles along with anti-society, anti-war and anti-everything... that was not about clarity. For all their flaws, their artistry at cutting through society's unthinking commitments is to be admired. Hippy or not, it takes courage to go against the grain of society to the point of personal sacrifice. They could have just sat on their money and done nothing. But they spoke out. You don't have to kill other people or serve in the military to have courage.
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AJaye
Nov. 26, 2006, 10:28 a.m.Sniper...Right on !! those people beg for a living many never worked and don't intend to..They may soon get education about work..When King George comes to the rescue with our jobs.. BOO BUSH
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thaw
Nov. 26, 2006, 10:29 a.m.yoko may have expidited the beatles breakup, but i believe it was going to happen anyways. they all had evolving characteristics. other than that, i never had much use for yoko, but john saw something in her.
"life is what happens, while you're busy making other plans"
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WorkerSS
Nov. 26, 2006, 10:41 a.m.If anyone of us wrote that, pretty much no one would care, Yoko is well known and the message is good so just let it be.
I myself could care less about her personally but there are lots and lots and lots of people getting killed right now for very selfish and suspicious reasons.
To forgive the killer/murderer is a different subject I would think.
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slate
Nov. 26, 2006, 11 a.m.Suffering humans is a terrible fact since the beginning of time, we've all had our share of suffering. It's a good thing to help others the best you can, just saying you're sorry does little good but it makes some feel better about living an opulent lifestyle earned by another.
John found something in her, something I can't see but hey I wasn't him. Most rock groups lose their way once they go from rags to riches and fame; the Beatles weren't exempt from that.
We should help others as best we can, guilt about our own lives has little value to them, send money food and clothing.
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treva111
Nov. 26, 2006, 11:26 a.m.ANOTHER fine example of "Do as I say, not as I do".
I would like to forgive myself and all of you for reading this crap. I can forgive myself, but I haven't gotten as far with forgiving all of you. Oh well....
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mntnman444
Nov. 26, 2006, 12:46 p.m.Another example of a hipocritical hate monger
I'll forgive you on Dec 8,but only for that day.Or maybe on christmas when you're patting yourself on the back for being so christian.
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procyon
Nov. 26, 2006, 11:30 a.m.Her words are reasonable, her confession of her own inability to forgive John's killer is honest -- but I won't be asking people who ripped me off to forgive me, any time soon.
Should Hiroshima survivors ask America for forgiveness?
Yoko, it's a beautiful day in the city. Why don't you ride over to Ground Zero, and give us an answer to this.
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