Lennon’s Response to the Syrian Civil War

This essay discusses the Syrian Civil War against the backdrop of John Lennon's song 'Imagine'. It analyzes the ethical, emotional, and logical responses of the song to the war and establishes the need for humanity, peace, and fraternity.

Running head: LENNON’S RESPONSE TO THE SYRIAN CIVIL WAR
Lennon’s response to the Syrian Civil War
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1LENNON’S RESPONSE TO THE SYRIAN CIVIL WAR
Background
As it has been worldwide that the rule which has violence, coercion and injustice as its
basis is likely to be jeopardized by the threat of rebellion and popular uprising. It is embedded in
human nature to search for freedom and independence as that is directly linked to the emotional
and physical well-being of human beings. When situations surface on the forefront which
endangers those conditions desired by human beings for leading a free life, backlashes are likely
to erupt that shall shake the foundations of the rule that has overstepped its sphere of authority. A
similar situation has been plaguing the lives of the citizens of Syria ever since 2011 when the
country had erupted into a violent civil war causing bloodshed immensely, thereby bringing the
country to the point of disintegration (Sharara, Sima and Kanj). The situations prevailing in Syria
have caused the country to be divided on political and military lines in to several factions who
have entered into alliances with each other and have formed two blocs. On one side there is the
forces of the dictatorial President of the country, Bashar Al Assad, and on the other side are the
forces that are rallying against Assad. Bashar Al Assad had no intention to inherit the right to
rule over Syria from his father. However, when he was goaded into the affair against his will, he
emerged as more dictatorial and controlling than what his father had been during his lifetime.
This goes as far as the historical; background of the issue to be dealt with is concerned (De Juan,
Alexander, and Bank). In this essay the Syrian Civil War shall be discussed against the backdrop
of the emotion evoking song ‘Imagine’ by John Lennon and make an attempt to establish the
similarities in the emotions and expressions that find an opportunity to vent itself out in both e
song and the tragic episode of the civil war that has been destroying lives in the country ever
since 2011. The discussion shall be following the format of Pathos, Logos and Ethos to convey
the rhetorical analysis in a coherent way.

2LENNON’S RESPONSE TO THE SYRIAN CIVIL WAR
About the chosen song
The song which has been chosen for the analysis in this particular regard is ‘Imagine’ by
the singer, John Lennon, who used to be a part of the band, Beatles, which delivered
revolutionary messages through their musical compositions. The very essence of this particular
song which has been chosen for the purpose of analysis reverberates of a society where there
shall be no violence and humanity shall dwell in peace and prosperity. The lyrics rhetorically
convey the futility of war and that violence is not the solution. Love and peace shall be solving
all the problems that is plaguing the human life in this age. The song is thoroughly antithetical to
the hierarchical system of life and the world order, by means of appealing to the human intellect
to put an end to the prejudices and narrow mindedness. In the subsequent sections the ethical,
logical and the emotional response of the song to the situation of war and hostility in Syria shall
be discussed in detail. The discussion shall be relating the three aspects mentioned with the
situations that is prevailing in the country by choosing the appropriate stanzas from the song
accordingly.
Ethos: Ethical response of the Song to the Syrian Civil War
There is no denying of the fact that wars are but a violent repercussion to the
unfulfillment of the selfish desires and vested interest. One faction of the belligerent party seeks
to safeguard the selfish interest even if that means jeopardizing the life, liberty and property of
an end number of people. While the other faction fights back relentlessly to safeguard the
personal interest against the encroachment of all forms of unjustified forces even at the cost of
risking their lives (Corstange, and York). War is essentially a symbolism of the moral corruption
that has infested the human body and mind, which prevents them from realizing that they are
supposed to be helping out their fellow human beings who are in distress and not call for more

3LENNON’S RESPONSE TO THE SYRIAN CIVIL WAR
trouble and pain for them. President Assad, instead of safeguarding his own people and arriving
at negotiations with them to find out solutions if he could put an end to the crisis situation, had
instead used chemical weapons against his own people to dissuade them from fighting any
further against him (Carpenter). He had even have sought the support of foreign allies, Russia
and Iran to help himself out in the war. Russia and Iran are not at all unaware of the fact that
Assad is a tyrant and that he should not be helped out with the logistical help in the war as they
shall be killing the innocent people who were just demanding for more civil rights and freedom.
The autocratic rule of Assad had gone to such an extent that the freedom of expression of the
people were seriously put under a looming threat of immediate imprisonment on charges of
sedition and making attempts to stir up conflicts and chaos in the country (Jenkins). Poverty,
unemployment and corruption had escalated to newer heights like never before and the
administration was up to no good in settling the issues of the people. These were not something
which was oblivious to Iran and Russia yet they supported Assad because they had to expand
their arena of power in the Middle East to counter the growing influence of the west (Erlich).
The western countries who had intervened in the crisis against Assad and his allies, were
motivated by selfish interests as well rather than out of any humanitarian concern. Syria is an oil
rich country and gaining strategic influence over the region shall be beneficial to the ones trying
to establish their foothold therein.
“Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man

4LENNON’S RESPONSE TO THE SYRIAN CIVIL WAR
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...”
The fourth stanza is very much appropriate for mentioning about in this particular
respect. The stanza weaves an image of a utopian society where there is no greed, no lust for
possession and there prevails just brotherhood of man and every shares the benefits and glories
of it. The Syrian crisis is quite apt a justification to assert for more ethics in international politics
and less of emphasis on the selfish interest, as that has always proven itself to be harmful for the
people. Humanity seeks to unite people, and politics divides people rather.
Pathos: Emotional response of the Song to the Syrian Civil War
“Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace...”
The second stanza paints a borderless society where there shall be no countries
demarcated as distinct from each other, no people living any more to either kill or to die for a
particular cause, no religion to use ideology as a device to divide people from one another. There
in that world shall dwell only peace and prosperity. This imagery emanating from the depths of
heartfelt emotions must be taken with utmost seriousness. At the rate the fighting and destruction
is going on in the country, one day no one shall be left any more to kill or to die for safeguarding

5LENNON’S RESPONSE TO THE SYRIAN CIVIL WAR
the homeland. The world today indeed in need of more unity and peace or else someday human
race might come to an end killing and fighting with each other (Hokakyem).
Logos: Logical response of the Song to the Syrian Civil War
“You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one”
The last stanza of the song talks of a being a dreamer and also of the fact that there shall
be many others who would be sharing the same vision of one world that shall not be divided by
either religion or politics. This is the very essence of the logical response to the civil war that is
plaguing Syria. Politics and vested interest of the few has caused the interests and basic
necessities of a whole lot of innocent ones to be sacrificed without any fault of their own. The
innocent civilians have no concern in either war or any diplomatic dealings (Bhardwaj). They are
interested in just peace and in the fulfillment of the basic necessities of life. Politics on the other
hand has high ambitions and targets and liabilities which propels people to pursue it through
paths that are illegal and unjust. On looking at the instance of the so-called humanitarian
intervention of the western countries in the affairs of Syria, it can be found out that instead of
diminishing the extent of influence of the enemies to the people, the innocent civilians are being
killed on a daily basis, their houses and their establishments getting destroyed rampantly
(McHugo). Even then, it is of no avail as the problems of the people are not being solved. The
war is continuing and the people are dying. The only solution in this aspect is humanity and less
of politics.

6LENNON’S RESPONSE TO THE SYRIAN CIVIL WAR
Conclusion
Thus in the concluding section it can be deduced that war and bloodshed are not the
appropriate means to mitigate the crisis situations. Humanity, peace and fraternity is the answer.

7LENNON’S RESPONSE TO THE SYRIAN CIVIL WAR
References
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Corstange, Daniel, and Erin A. York. "Sectarian framing in the syrian civil war." American
Journal of Political Science 62.2 (2018): 441-455.
De Juan, Alexander, and André Bank. "The Ba ‘athist blackout? Selective goods provision and
political violence in the Syrian civil war." Journal of Peace Research 52.1 (2015): 91-
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Erlich, Reese. Inside Syria. Prometheus Books, 2014.
Hokayem, Emile. "Iran, the Gulf States and the Syrian civil war." Survival 56.6 (2014): 59-86.
Jenkins, Brian Michael. "The Dynamics of Syria's Civil War." (2014).
McHugo, John. Syria: From the Great War to civil war. Saqi Books, 2014.
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