What is this urge to chastise great people by fixating on their worst traits. If the man beat his wife every single day he still brought more net good and beauty into this world than you, me, or nearly anyone else ever will.
I don't get this tendency to look the other way when talented people do horrible things. As if producing art makes his wife-beating alright. Regardless of what he produced, Lennon was a scumbag.
Nothing makes it alright, it was wrong and he admitted to it and expressed his regret. Everyone makes mistakes and I’m not going to flagellate a great man more than 40 years after his death for internet good boy points. People need a reality check.
This is the problem right here. The mistakes aren't the important part. Everyone uses this to try to explain away all the bad things they do, because "hey, everyone does it!". No, that's this shit answer and it leads to more and more shitty behaviour down the line.
Good people make amends, or they own up and make up for what they do. Mistakes are only half of the equation, taking responsibility and doing the moral thing is the second half. John didn't give a damn about that second half, just like he didn't give a damn about his son either. He was a terrible person. None of his quotes were anything new, he just had a stage from which to say them. We should put more deserving people on the mantle when we look for models of peace and understanding rather than the abuser and all around asshole known as John Lennon.
I'm not excusing the bad things he did. He admitted his mistakes and expressed remorse. What is the point in condemning this man. He did bad things?
I'm only saying that also brought unfathomable beauty into the world. That is true. His music was a gift to humanity.
If you decide you're going to be the ultimate arbiter of morality, and stand in judgement of greater men than yourself, why not consider the good as well as the bad? Because you only want to finger wag and feel superior.
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u/Smart_Puff 15d ago
What is this urge to chastise great people by fixating on their worst traits. If the man beat his wife every single day he still brought more net good and beauty into this world than you, me, or nearly anyone else ever will.