Paris. Orlando. Dallas. Philando Castile. Alton Sterling. Murder. Terrorism. Division. Hate, so much hate.
What has our world come to? When did it become a place where we have to be cautious of large crowds for the fear that we are a target for attack? How did we allow ourselves to become a place where men, women and children have to remind us that "Black Lives Matter" because today, they are not treated as such? When did we lose our trust in law enforcement and government? Why do we allow ourselves to be a place where the gap between the rich and poor is ever widening? When did we become a place of people who despise those of different races and ethnicity? Why do people, all over the world, hate one another? Why do we focus so much on our differences and beliefs? When did being different become a reason to hate?
What if these differences didn't exist? Would we get along? Would there be peace?
John Lennon questioned this same thing in his song "Imagine" written in 1971, during the Vietnam War. This song is more relevant today than it was about 40 years ago. A true visionary, John Lennon understood the importance of peace, and through a very simple yet deeply powerful song, he leaves us wondering...what if?
"Imagine there's no heaven, it's easy if you try. No hell below us, above us only sky."
What if there was no heaven or hell? What if we only had this one life? How different would we treat one another when there was no need to act for the sake of our benefit when we die? What if we just lived for each day, every day? I wonder how different the world would be.
"Imagine there’s no countries, It isn’t hard to do. Nothing to kill or die for, and no religion, too. Imagine all the people, living life in peace."
How many wars were fought over territory and boundaries? Nations turned against one another for a bit more land. What if the world was one country? Would people still fight over boundaries? Would there be need for the separation anymore? With no religious differences, how much hate and spite would disappear? Nothing is wrong with religion by any means, but the tension and disorder that has been brought upon the world because of religious differences is unjustifiable. What would it be like living without religion, would it be more peaceful?
"Imagine no possessions, I wonder if you can. No need for greed or hunger, a brotherhood of man. Imagine all the people sharing all the world."
This one is hard. A world without the need for material things. A world without greed, the want for power or money. I don't know if any of us could imagine a world without this. Are we capable of thinking of a world without our smartphones? Imagine a world with no poverty, no gap between the rich and poor. What would the world be like without the need to overpower others? What if we could just share the world together in peace?
"You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one. I hope someday you’ll join us and the world will be as one."
How many of us would want to live in a world of peace? I know I would. Yes, everything John speaks about in this song is not practical, but his ideas are right to the point. We live in a world now that prides itself entirely too much on division, possessions, money and power. Imagine if everyone could just put aside their differences, would world peace be possible then? Or is it just a dream?
The world needs a change. World peace, however, requires contribution from everyone. Almost everyone would say then, that it is impossible, and maybe it is at this point in time. But I hope that one day that world peace can become a reality, the world living as one, but until then we should each do what we can to contribute to this dream.