Yoko Ono, wife of the late John Lennon, did more than just "imagine" after the Dallas Police Department shooting. She gave.
Downtown Dallas was shaken by the atrocities on the night of July 7, 2016. The city was fragmented by fear and heartbroken after death, division and chaos. Ono took the tragedy as an opportunity to revive her husband’s enduring dream: imagining peace.
On a banner, in big bold letters, are the words “Imagine Peace Forever” and on the opposite side, “Imagina La Paz Para Siempre.” The black and white banner was part of one of Ono’s art installations in 2001. Back then, the piece only read, “Imagine Peace”. Now Ono has added “Forever”, symbolizing the eternal hunger and need for peace after both triumph and tragedy. The piece will be on display outside of the Dallas Museum of Art until August 22.
So what does this mean for Dallasites? Many still wonder what Ono’s contribution reveals about Dallas and the world. It doesn’t solve any problems. Just like John Lennon’s song "Imagine" didn’t cure any diseases or prevent more wars from occurring, Ono’s piece does not act as a band-aid to hide our battle scars. However, the piece acts as a conversation starter, a momentary relief in the tense world we live in.
No matter one’s race, religion, or sexuality, the piece asks humanity as a whole to do one thing humans can do naturally: imagine. She urges us to stop, look at the tragedies around us that so clearly are lacking peace and to imagine a world with infinite peace. This is impossible. Yoko Ono, a peace activist, even knows this. But it inspires for all people to work towards that dream of feeling completely in harmony with those around and the nature of the world. When looking at Ono’s piece, one might softly hum John Lennon’s song. As he probably wished, people are still thinking of what it would be like to live in a world without thinking of shootings before cities such as Orlando, Dallas, Nice, and the long list of places that accompany them. Ono’s piece isn’t about anxiously gripping onto peace and forcing it down every person’s throat. It’s about beginning with a simple word and endlessly working to achieve peace everywhere. Forever.
Ono’s piece is on display at the Dallas Museum of Art and will continue to be there until August 22.
