Happy 70th

 

 Lennon attached new meaning to the word "imagine". Too bad the social movements circa 1970 were not aimed towards climate change, as that was the point that we could have made a difference. This idea was extrapolated many times through MTV, We Are the World, and Live Aid. We have used our imaginations to envision the future, but have had a hard time making the transition from ideas as slogans ("Imagine" or "Change") into tangible outcomes.

In the video, Lennon refers to social change like the selling of soap on television. In many ways, we still use mass media to instill the idea of change but have not found a good way to put ideas into action. He had the right idea that people need to be faced with a Hobson's Choice to really make changes.

At 70 I'm sure Lennon would have been out in front on 10-10-10, not celebrating his birthday, but getting people to adapt to the effects of climate change, resource scarcity, and environmental degradation.