Yoko Ono Deserves A Lot of Credit. Seriously.

[David Zephyr]

Last year's brilliant documentary regarding Richard Nixon's fixation on John Lennon, "The U.S. vs. John Lennon" left me with not only profound sadness once again over the loss of such a great artist, but also with the glaring ugliness of just how unfair the vile hatred generated to the great love of his life, Yoko Ono, has been and, sadly, continues still. This woman who John considered his equal and his partner is the one who pushed him toward bold political activism and, yet she is still scorned by too many, especially those of us on the Left. And to that I say, shame on us all.

Yoko has lovingly protected John's memory with every fiber in her body and soul. In this day and age where gossip and innuendo are fast currency, Yoko has been a fierce guardian of John's legacy and the first to always stick up for him when needed. No wonder John loved her. He knew where he his vulnerable soul was finally safe.

I was fortunate to have seen the Beatles when I was eleven and, like so many millions, was simply captivated by their music, their magic and their artistic courage. When the Beatles finally broke up, I was crestfallen like everyone else. Blaming Yoko became the easy excuse that simple minds gravitated to instead of understanding how difficult it must have been for those four young men to stay together all those years.

Indeed, John Lennon once quipped --- with his ever abundant humor --- in an interview that he was baffled by everyone asking him why did the Beatles break up, when instead he suggested that they ask 'how did the Rolling Stones manage to ever stay together'. John stuck by Yoko and Yoko stuck by John. She still does today.

The fact that she was Asian and a woman and outspoken about controversial issues that made people squirm (and rightly so) certainly fanned the fires against her with many folks. But, where is the love and respect that I feel she deserves from us on the Left?

From the War in Vietnam to the War in Iraq, Yoko has consistently spoken out. And it never ended there either. Yoko has been a dependable voice for racial equality, feminism, animal rights and the environment.

And goddammit, she is getting old. Do me a favor. Next time someone disses this brave woman, do the right thing an individual and stick up for her. Your soul will feel better I assure you.

So here's wishing great peace to Yoko...the peace that she strove for for all these many decades. And I wish her love, too. As much as I may miss John, I can never imagine how crushing the pain must be that she lives with everyday.

Here's to Yoko Ono! And here's hoping that someday she gets the respect and credit she deserves.

Imagine.

[MoseyWalker]

1. I agree completely

Thanks for the post.

k and r

[kirby]

2. It's the singing stupid

I dont think she is considered a 'joke' for her activist acheivements or her looking out for her husbands legacy.

The 'joke' comes from her attempts to sing! Especially when coupled with such an influential musician as John. I was just listening to Double Fantasy yesterday so its fresh.

Just my opinion, of course.

[Warpy]

13. It was also the fact that people blamed her for being

a homewrecker and then a band wrecker. Descriptions of her art didn't appeal to a lot of folks since conceptual art was on the far fringes at that time. What they miss is that John Lennon did some of his best work after he'd left the band and while he was with Yoko Ono.

Dislike for her is just a bad habit a lot of people picked up a long time ago, even though it made and makes little sense.

[Cleita]

19. Yes, it's kind of like the irrational hatred freepers have of

Hillary Clinton. Some women seem to be magnets for this kind of hatred, while others, who are truly hateful like Laura Bush and her mother-in-law seem to be made of teflon and deflect any criticism or hatred aimed at them.

[Matariki]

27. Are you kidding? She's great. She was avant garde where Lennon was merely pop.

[Teaser]

3. eh. not me.

She's an artist of questionable talent, and has been a driving force in the malignant policies of the Lennon estate toward Julian Lennon.
But I guess she's never murdered anyone, so I can file her away under people I don't like that I don't have to think about much.

[truedelphi]

5. I've read that she made it impossible for Julian to continue getting

Recording contracts - despite his obvious talent.

Is that stuff true? I'd be interested in what you have to say.

[MoseyWalker]

7. just

:rofl:

SHE IS ALL POWERFUL! BEWARE!

[Teaser]

9. I've heard that she applied pressure

in that area, but what is indisputable is that she spent years attempting to cut Julian out of his share in his father's monetary assets in an attempt to secure the bulk of it for Sean.

Eventually, in the late 90s, there was a settlement between Julian and the estate.
Relations are still icy between Julian and Ono, as one would expect considering the effect she has had on his (and his mother's) life.

Additionally, John basically ignored his original family for years, only shaping up near the end of his life. It's always been assumed that Ono encouraged this neglect, but no one can know that, I suppose, but a man long dead and Ono herself.

[NYCGirl]

24. I remember Julian going on the Tonight Show and telling Leno he had to go to auctions

and buy back his father's possessions. Leno told Julian that his father gave him the most important thing, "the talent."

[MoseyWalker]

6. just askin'

how has she been malignant toward Julian? I have read some things in papers equivalent to the Enquirer, but really have nothing to point to as proof that she ever did anything against Julian's ability to inherit or even become part of the extended family.

[truedelphi]

10. What I remember reading and I think it was in Spin

magazine (A Rolling Stone type rag - see ***)) that Yoko was able to intimidate Geffen into not getting any of the "new" stuff that she could release from the vaults holding John Lennon material, Beatle material, etc.unless Julian was kept out of the picture.

And Julian had like the number one album of the year back in the day (1983? '84? maybe it was '85)

Supposedly she set it up so that anyone who took on Julian would not get any cooperation.

Now the part of this that doesn't make sense is that at that time there were enough players in the recording industry that you would think one of them would say "I'll stick by the kid because he is golden" and not care about what was in the vaults. But maybe she just bought out the players (It's not like John dying left her penniless or anything)

I had a friend who was a reporter in the nineteen seventies - he interviewed almost all the big music people. ANd he said that NO ONE compared to Yoko in terms of her graciousness and kindness.

So I feel bad about believing the Julian rumors unless I hear more.

***and of course I have mucho respect for RS due to its being the first to cover the messiness of Iraq and also the voting issue and election fraud stuff

[kskiska]

25. Julian has said

that just about everything he possesses that once belonged to his father he had to buy at auction. He got next to nothing from his father's estate. He was even sidelined at the funeral as per Ono's plans.

[truedelphi]

33. Yeah, see, I find that truly disturbing.

I wanna like Yoko - I really do, but then there is this ego-streak in her that is more than just a bit disturbing.

[Cha]

47. If this all is true about Yoko's

treatment of Julian Lennon then there are two sides to Yoko..the creative, brilliant, and loving of John side and the green eyed monster side towards John's first family. If true it could have been so diffent. She could have welcomed Julian and helped him instead of repelling him.

[stellanoir]

4. gotta luv Yoko

She wowed me by saying so aptly right after 9/11 "We pray for peace but envision war" in the RS.

I've been trying to fix that ever since, largely due to her inspiration. Wows.

[Bjornsdotter]

8. As long as she promises

...never to sing again, I'm good with everything else.

Cheers

[no_hypocrisy]

11. Yoko Ono gave John Lennon the courage and motivation to develop

himself as the artist as he wanted to be.

First, through their discussions, John discovered he didn't want or need to be part of a commercial vehicle such as the Beatles in order to play his music. The money and fame were nice in the beginning, but he had gleaned enough in order to become independent from the group. He wanted to do new things without the compromise necessary in order to make albums. And of course, Yoko gets the blame for "breaking up the Beatles", which is a totally misogenist viewpoint and ignoring what John alone wanted.

Second, Yoko was in fact a very competent and astute financial advisor and investor. She was able to look after John's aggregate profits and royalties and freed him from having to worry about either losing the money to a third party who might imprudently invest (and lose) the money (or embezzle it) or having to split his time between his music and babysitting his money. He totally trusted her and was able to devote his time 24/7 to raising their son, Sean, from birth (1975) until 1980 when John returned to the studio. For the first time in his life, John had peace and love and gave up his fear of abandonment (fostered since childhood when both his parents left his life).

I know it's been more or less said that Yoko's had "bad PR" since Day One. True. But consider, she never held a press conference, never went on Larry King, never took out a full page ad in the New York Times to demand that she be vindicated. She has absorbed all the criticism, knowing what the truth was all the while.

[philly_bob]

12. Caution against fully endorsing Yoko.

Do some research on her background. She's from the old artistocratic ruling class of Japan, went to school with the emperor, parents were old banking family.

I mean, not that that makes her wrong on peace issues. Today she seems to be in a good place and her words (if not her music) are worth listening to.

But her ruling family background is one more thing we have to forget, besides her disruptive effect on the Beatles and her unlistenable musical and artistic modernism.

I wouldn't go out of my way to criticize her, but I'd caution against sticking up for her on everything she's done in her complex past.

[rman]

31. What would happen if i do fully endorse Yoko?

Why should i be "careful"?

[MonkeyFunk]

36. so?

Her family was rich - so what?

You know whose family is even richer? Julia-Louis Dreyfus - but she still worked her way to the top. Sigourney Weaver, Stockard Channing, Jane Fonda... all from rich families. So what?

[Little Wing]

14. She's a wolf in a bag's clothing

[walldude]

15. Yoko got a bad rap because the Beatles broke up and

she got the blame. The Beatles really changed everything. They were the catalyst, and not just for music. Never mind the great pop songs, never mind the advances they made in recording technology, the level of social change they instigated was beyond anything that came before. The Beatles instigated the kind of social change that previously could only be brought about by a war or by civil disobedience, and they did it through music. It was understandable at the time that people were pissed off, it's just too bad that they took it out on poor Yoko. Oh and as far as her "music" is concerned, it wasn't really music, it was performance art. I personally didn't like it, but millions liked the Backstreet Boys and I didn't like them either.

[carly denise pt deux]

16. She married John, and I never got the chance to...

my only reason for sour grapes....otherwise, she is o.k....
Carly

[Canuckistanian]

17. She was a prominent artist in her own right before she met John

Sure, you can't deny that being married to a Beatle enhanced her career. And the singing stuff didn't help her image.

But she had her own pursuits.

And like Diego Rivera and Freda Kahlo, Lotte Lenya and Kurt Weill, they were souls united, but in different directions.

I remember going to a Yoko Ono art exhibit in Toronto. She was good.

Not anywhere was John's name mentioned.

[KittyWampus]

18. Yoko took care of her little sister after the bombs were dropped and there was nothing

IIRC.

That kind of shit has to really change you. She channeled it into really eye opening and life-affirming art.

[InvisibleTouch]

20. Good post.

I've never had any animosity toward her, never could really understand it.

[wicket]

23. Amen

K & R

:kick:

[Annces]

21. She is a very cerebral artist - ground breaker

[MrMickeysMom]

22. I want to comment about US -v- John Lennon

After seeking the movie this fall, I felt similarly. I appreciated re-experiencing "those times" and seeing the footage now over again- mostly since I was too immature to appreciate the meaning of the 60's anti-war movement, (even though I was born in 53). This movie rang true in ways I think everyone from the 60's needs to RE-experience OVER and OVER. Me? I under-estimated and misunderstood Yoko Ono then. But, it's not too late now. Thank you for this reminder.

Damn it, it's not how funny Yoko Ono's voice was- Okay, we all know it was weird, and so easy to be called strange. So, that's avant guard. At least I though it was! Seeing Lennon and Ono's persona in this movie TODAY, it finally sunk in. I wished I could have known then what I know now. I wish I could have understood "War is Over (if you want it" when first released as I do now.

I wished I didn't care more about getting stoned then to so much music and not listening or experiencing its meaning. I wished I wasn't so bummed over Lennon's split from McCartney as to see their actions in reflection. I did a pretty good imitation of Yoko and didn't understand the concept of "performance art" - something everyone seems to understand now as part of political activism.

I already know how important Yoko Ono felt about US -v- JL, or we wouldn't have been able to experience most of the footage to re-examine our little understood past.

Peace. brothers and sisters... :hippie::hippie::hippie::hippie::hippie::hippie::hippie::hippie::hippie:

[intheflow]

51. Good post, MMM.

I was also too young to appreciate Lennon and his impact. Hell, I didn't even like most of Lennon's music until I was well into my 20's--that would have been in the early '90's. When I finally "got it," I was amazed at how rich his music was. Then I started studying his politics, and was even more impressed. I don't agree with everything he'sever said or done, but I don't agree with everything anyone says. The thing I think I like best about Lennon is that everyone wanted to make him a God and all he ever aspired to was being human. He never apologized publicly for not living up to how others thought he should live his life, he just tried very to hard to live. his. life. And that inspires me as much as his politics and music.

[Avalon Sparks]

26. Agree 100%

You are absolutely correct. Thank you for posting.

I always liked Yoko.

[MoseyWalker]

28. Kick for

well, that old stale belief that many turn their noses up to and don't understand the significance of, these days...........

peace

[intheflow]

29. Kicking for synchronicity.

I'm listening to my iPod on shuffle. 380 songs, three John Lennon tunes. The Ballad of John and Yoko was playing when stumbled upon this post.

You are so right, David Zephyr. I have been searching for tireless role models to sustain me in my work in social justice. I will add Yoko to my list of sheroes.
:thumbsup:

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

39. Technically, "Ballad of John and Yoko" is a Beatles song. -nt

[intheflow]

40. Sure, if you want to get nitpicky.

But do you really think Paul, George, or Ringo had much input into the song's creation? George and Ringo didn't even play on the recording. the Ballad of John and Yoko was pure Lennon, just as "Hey Jude" was pure McCartney from the same era.

[David Zephyr]

42. Thank you for channeling my thread.

;-)

[rman]

30. "U.S. vs. John Lennon" - Trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTfyVYqYL90

[saracat]

32. And Cynthia and Julian deserved the absolutely reprehensible way they were treated by

John and Yoko? Sorry.I lost all respect for John and never had any for Yoko after what John did to his family! Yoko is a very self centered calculating monstor.You might do some research into the kind of person Yoko really is before you convey the mantle of saithood on her.

[truedelphi]

34. Some of us are with you - Read comments 5, 7, 9, 24, 6, 10 & 25

Above

[intheflow]

41. And I'm sure you've never done anything

to hurt anyone in your family. People are complex, they are both good and bad, and sitting in judgement of them when you don't know them personally borders on fundamentalism. I can honor Yoko's work as an activist without regard to her sex life. Just as I can honor Bill Clinton as a Democratic leader without regard to his sex life.

[saracat]

43. Bill Clinton NEVER disavowed his wife and child!

Bill never stripped Hillary of everything and abandoned Chelsea. Bill never lied about Hillary and tried to frame her.He never threatened Hillary with taking Chelsea away from her if she didn't agree to his demands.Bill was never found guilty of what he was trying to accuse his wife of.
People are complex.John and Yoko were vicious! John realised it at the end of his life and was trying to make amends but Yoko had the last word when he died. John was a great musician.I honor Yoko as nothing.She was the Anna Nicole of her day and worse.

[intheflow]

45. Vicious is holding a grudge for 40 years against a woman you never met .

Buh-bye, saracat!

[saracat]

49. How do you know I've never met her? In fact I have. I used to live across the

street from the Dakota. Buh Bye to you.

[MonkeyFunk]

35. I love Yoko

and can't understand the hatred. She's a classy lady who has endured more abuse than anybody I can think of, and she's always responded with gentility and grace.

[saracat]

44. Classy lady? She was a heroin addict who deliberately(admittedly) stole another woman's husband and

made sure to disinheirit his child! The one who responded with gentility and grace was Cynthia ,who got NOTHING from John except heartbreak! Did you know that Yoko deliberately planned a ceasearian pregnancy with Sean so he would be born on John's birthday because she believed he would inheirit John's soul and his talent? Ha Ha! Classy lady.I guess that didn't work.Julian got all the talent and Sean is tone deaf! Perhaps that is why she tried to prevent the release of Sean's albumn, saying it was actually Johns work!

[MamaBear]

37. Thanks for this.

I'm not a big fan of some of her music, but I do admire her.

For anybody who thinks she was responsible for the break-up, just take a look at the Let It Be film. They had been working together in very close quarters for a long time, they wanted to go their own ways artistically, and they just flat weren't getting along any more.

I have a hard time understanding why people who claim to "love" them would insist that they continue in a situation that was no longer satisfying, or even fun anymore.

Yoko was not to blame. Nobody was to blame. We have all the great music they left us: we get to listen to it, if we have some skill with an instrument we get to play it, and we all get to repurchase it every time the recording industry changes the format.

[sniffa]

38. yeah, but fuck john's other kid

he can piss off.

[Cha]

46. Someone at work recommended

"The US VS John Lennon" to me and I have it ordered from netflix. I didn't yet know that it was Yoko's project. Now I'll see it with even more backstory. :)

People just love to have something to diss without looking at the whole picture.

Diss bush.

[Disturbed]

48. I recently saw the film.

Yeah, Yoko is complex. She is a person that has many facets, positive and negative. Some chose to focus on either spectrum. I have mixed emotions about her. I thought she was real sexy at that time but couldn't stand her screeching. What struck me about most about the story is how viscious the Nixon Admin. were. I guess they were worried about John's influence upon America regarding their criminal actions.

[femrap]

50. Thanks for writing this tribute....

I, too, got to see The Beatles...twice. Once in Toronto and once in Cincinnati. It was fabulous.