Now, this is one of the strangest things I have heard in a long time. While I am skeptical about all things supernatural, it strikes me as imprudent to dismiss alleged out-of-this-world occurrences out of hand. Sure, there are lots of kooks and gullible souls - and charlatans too - but more is happening in the cosmos than humankind will ever completely understand.
The Evening Standard's This Is London reports that psychics claim John Lennon, the activist and musician assassinated in 1980, sent the world a message from...well, from wherever he is right now. The message reportedly was broadcast via a worldwide pay-per-view seance produced by UK firm Starcast Productions and shown on US television last night. And what did the former Beatle have to say?
"Peace...the message is peace."
The 90-minute show, which cost $9.95 (£5.60) to watch, was broadcast on American TV last night.
The makers of "The Spirit of John Lennon" said a voice recorded at the La Fortuna restaurant in New York, which the star used to frequent, appeared to be that of the murdered musician, speaking via the paranormal "Electronic Voice Phenomenon."
British psychic Joe Power, who was conducting the seance, said: "I have no doubt in my mind that we were able to make contact with the spirit of John Lennon."
Many are unimpressed. According to TIL, many Beatles and Lennon fans are outraged by what they see as a disrespectful stunt. Elliot Mintz, a friend of Lennon's widow Yoko Ono, called the televised seance "tacky" and "exploitative."
And yes, the critics could be bloody well right. The adjective "greedy" might be correctly applied in this case too. In fact, that was the first word of my initial reaction to the news. The noun the adjective modified was "bastards."
But imagine: Wouldn't it be just like a restless Lennon to urge still-living peaceniks onward even from beyond our mortal coil? And shouldn't those of us struggling to rid the world of war welcome pro-peace messages, whatever their source? Especially if said source is a respected one. Even if said source happens to be, well, on the wrong side of the grass.
I recommend we take Lennon's reputed advice and push for peace - just in case. Cheap media stunt or not, the message is a necessary one. And if what the psychics claim is true, it means that the job of activism doesn't end at death. If even the dearly departed are waving the banner for peace, we living do-gooders have no excuse to be idle.
Article comments
1 - Justene
It's a fine message and I could see Lennon making contact from the beyond. But I'd like to think that he'd reach out to someone like Yoko rather than a PPV special.
2 - NR Davis
Yes, that is definitely more easily imagined.
3 - Eric Olsen
very nice take on this Nat, just the right tone - thanks!
4 - Eric Olsen
"All we are sayyyying
Is give greed a chance"
5 - NR Davis
ROFLMAO!!!! I can't believe that didn't occur to me.
6 - Matthew T. Sussman
Wow. "Peace." Creative, and so unlike him.
I mean if it was something out of the blue like "Invest in soybeans" or "Avoid Montana if possible" then we might forker some coin to see what he's saying from Lennonland.
Peace. Psssh.
7 - NR Davis
Hey, how much did it cost you to hear his message? Bupkis. If he allegedly had said something surprising, we would have heard about it anyway, and without the $10 investment.
8 - Mark Saleski
i have half a tune sandwich with an image of Yoko Ono on it.
9 - Matthew T. Sussman
NRD -- Actually we would have heard it for free if you played Tool's new album backwards.
Saleski -- even with the typo, that was pretty good. Would have been gold otherwise.
10 - Eric Olsen
maybe the voice was the guy who played Lennon in the Beatles cartoons - anyone seen him around lately?
11 - DJRadiohead
Or one of the actors who is no longer playing him on that Broadway show that laid such a turd.
12 - NR Davis
A tune sandwich is musically delicious.
Eric, did anyone ever see that guy? Surely he doesn't look like Lennon. Now that would be supernatural...
13 - Casey Lunkley
Jesus. I wonder how much a personal reading with Lennon himself would cost!
Ah. Who cares. I was never much of a Beatles fan anyway.