Imagine what John Lennon would say today?

Tonight I jogged by Strawberry Fields in Central Park. Flowers adorned the mosaic tribute to John Lennon that says IMAGINE – rose petals circled it and other flowers formed a peace sign inside the circle. He died in 1981. IMAGINE. Twenty-five years ago he was killed by one man with a gun yet his spirit and dreams continue to be valued for all these years. I wonder how he’d feel today if he saw the turmoil in the world. And now the music industry is fighting a different kind of war. IMAGINE.

When I was a kid I taped music and friends and I swapped. Everyone did it. Nobody sued my parents. None of us had a clue about copyright law and it was okay. Now the music industry is on the warpath. The RIAA doesn’t understand that sharing files is triggered by passion for music. That’s why I made tapes. I wasn’t trying to profit from the music or hurt anyone. I still bought plenty of music, as did my friends. And we shared. Fans support the artists in many ways. I did.

IMAGINE what Lennon would think of this. His spirit lives on in memorials because he had a passionate soul. I can’t believe that he’d condone what’s going on today. There should be controls on piracy and things that completely stiff the artist and songwriter. But suing individuals ain’t gonna do it! I looked at the freshly laid out flowers on the ground in the park and for a few minutes lost myself in the words of the great John Lennon – IMAGINE all the people living life in peace. Those wonderful words gave me hope while his loving fans keep his memory alive!