Sir Elton's very Big Idea
So, Sir Elton John would ban religion. That was the headline grabber over the weekend. Why such a drastic step? "I think religion has always tried to turn hatred toward gay people," the composer of the immortal "That's What Friends Are For" was quoted by CNN as saying. According to the BBC, the creator of the unforgettable "Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word", said: "Organised religion lacked compassion and turned people into hateful lemmings." Read the full doctrinal statement here.
One of the problems with Sir Elton's approach is that he does not go into detail about how the ban would be enforced or who would do the enforcing. One can imagine, though, that it would be a very bloody affair and it might even create more hatred of gays than is currently directed their way. Has the author of the classic "Crocodile Rock" thought this through?
Another criticism that could be levelled at the writer of the sublime "Candle in The Wind" is that in calling for such a ban he seems to be ignorant of the fact that all civilizations are rooted in religion and myth. As a result, it is possible that the world he'd create would be one in which everyone would go around singing "Whatever Gets You Thru The Night" but could get no satisfaction. Indeed, one of the things that Sir Elton seems to have forgotten is that the existence of many sects prevents the domination of a single one, and interesting and all as a post-religious world might be, with everyone humming "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road", there are historical reminders that it might also be a very grim place in which gay people would be treated far more unkindly than they are today. After all, it was those who sought to banish religion in the 20th century — Lenin, Hitler, Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot, Castro — who littered the world with millions of corpses, many of them gay. The crimes of the condom-shy Pope John Paul II pale in comparison.
No, interesting and all as this idea may be, the fact is that Mohammed and Christ and Martin Luther and Buddah and Zoroaster and Brigham Young have greater reality in men's souls than "Rocket Man" (I Think It's Going To Be A Long, Long Time) does, or ever will have.
Reginald Kenneth Dwight is 59.
Comments
Newsflash: aging '70's rock star desperately trying to stay relevant. (Hey, religion-bashing worked for Madonna and Rosie O'Donnell, didn't it?) When's the last time Sir Reggie had a hit single, barring the remake of "Candle in the Wind" for Di's funeral?
BTW: Back in 2003, Harley-Davidson threw a huge bash here to celebrate its' 100th anniversary. Zillions of bikers converged on Milwaukee from all corners of the earth and it made for one great party. Nobody knew who Harley had booked for the final concert, but everyone you talked to had convinced themselves that it just had to be the Stones. Excitement was high, everyone was pumped to hear the opening chords of "Jumping Jack Flash" - and out walked Elton John instead. It was like expecting filet mignon and getting frozen fish sticks instead.
Half the crowd disappeared within 5 minutes. (They don't make bikers like they did 30 years ago, when they would have rioted.) Heads rolled at Harley. People still bring it up as an example of Most Boneheaded PR Move since the French hired Woody Allen to improve their image among Americans.
Posted by: Donna | November 14, 2006 11:06 PM