Give Peace a Second Chance

"Imagine all the people, living life in peace." -- John Lennon

For many years, the peace movement was so deeply embedded in American culture that it virtually dominated an entire decade. But in a generation admittedly obsessed with Paulie Walnuts, Google and Blackberrys, we've completely become out of touch with the bigger picture. Believe it or not, there was a time when John Lennon was the source for current events; now it's Anderson Cooper. Have musicians completely given up on peace? Has the peace movement become unfashionable? Okay, so I'm not out in the picket lines either, but I kinda miss the good 'ole "peace song." Think back to the 1960's and 1970's when songs about peace and love were, well, cool. Marvin Gaye was asking what's going on, George Harrison wanted peace on earth, The Youngbloods were telling us to smile on our brother, Cat Stevens was riding the peace train and Bob Marley was preaching one love. Sure, there was Vietnam, the Civil Rights movement and the Cold War, but are we much better off today (Iraq, Afghanistan, terrorism, Darfur, etc.)? We're arguably worse off -- and sadly, no one really seems to care. No one wears peace signs anymore (unless your name is Wavy Gravy), tye-dyes are for summer camp and over-the-hill hippies, and attending protests cuts into our TiVo time.

Although on the one hand, I agree that picturing Fall Out Boy singing a song about peace, love and understanding would be a trainwreck, it's a shame that some of the younger singer-songwriters, few that they are, don't re-embrace the peace movement. I could totally see Noel Gallagher or Ryan Adams pulling it off masterfully. I suppose we're smart enough to realize that a utopian world of rainbows and daisies just ain't gonna happen. But at least singing about it has a somewhat therapeutic effect. So, pick up your acoustic guitar, put on your rose-tinted spectacles and join around the camp fire. Let's make the summer of '07 the new summer of love.