General Discussion

ShazzieB

(21,570 posts)

54. Apples and oranges.

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 09:53 PM

23 hrs ago

Mark David Chapman's motivation for killing John Lennon was an outgrowth of his personal mental illness and had nothing to do with politics. Lennon was known for expressing some strong political views at times, but he did not lead an actual movement the way King did, and he was not killed for political reasons.

I say this as a person who was and is both a strong supporter of King and the civil rights movement and a longtime fan of Lennon as a Beatle and as a solo artist, and who has great respect for both men and what each of them stood for. King was assassinated. Lennon was murdered by a confused, mentally disturbed man.

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I really hate the use of the term 'assassination' in regards to the Kirk murder... [View all] Wounded Bear Yesterday OP

I agree. SheltieLover Yesterday #1

It wasn't used much after the UHC murder. bucolic_frolic Yesterday #2

I think that's because the CEO of an insurance company isn't technically a political figure. ShazzieB Yesterday #38

Agreed. bucolic_frolic Yesterday #40

True -- but he was overtly political in a way that a business executive usually is not. ShazzieB 23 hrs ago #49

True, but I don't remember Republicans using that term dgauss 23 hrs ago #52

Me, neither! ShazzieB 22 hrs ago #57

Chaps my butt, too. Kennedy was assasinated, Ghandi was assasinated. Kirk was murdered. marble falls Yesterday #3

Pretty much meets definition. Silent Type Yesterday #4

Agreed Prairie Gates Yesterday #7

assassinate: GreenWave Yesterday #31

In what way was Kirk not prominent? ShazzieB 23 hrs ago #50

Agree. It doesnt fit here. BannonsLiver Yesterday #5

The word is misused a lot. valleyrogue Yesterday #6

Not political official. Melon Yesterday #11

So then MLK was not assassinated? The Revolution Yesterday #30

Apples and oranges. ShazzieB 23 hrs ago #54

How about "offed" to counterbalance the deification of this community college dropout? GreenWave Yesterday #32

John Lennon was far more "prominent" than was Charlie Kirk, of spooky3 23 hrs ago #53

The term applies and it sure seems like it was professionally done. themaguffin Yesterday #8

Definition Melon Yesterday #9

You left out "a prominent person" GreenWave Yesterday #33

I would say he was a prominent person. And he was killed for political reasons. forthemiddle Yesterday #37

Obviously fits the definition if you include that. Melon Yesterday #43

This was just a gun murder. Plain and simple. Scrivener7 Yesterday #10

To consider using that term is downright odd, isn't it? As alarming as it was hearing Trump claiming he's a "star" Judi Lynn Yesterday #12

I heard tell the couch is breaking up with him! GreenWave Yesterday #34

He may have to turn to a love seat! Judi Lynn Yesterday #47

This case Greg_In_SF Yesterday #13

Read 'em and weep 'em GreenWave Yesterday #35

From the OED (they did invent the language, after all) EYESORE 9001 Yesterday #14

Assassination : 'The murder by sudden or secret attack of a prominent political leader' speak easy Yesterday #18

Them's fightin' words EYESORE 9001 Yesterday #19

Mendacious? Not you, the OP. speak easy Yesterday #21

Sorry. I'm a bit on edge today EYESORE 9001 Yesterday #23

We are all a bit on edge today/ speak easy Yesterday #24

Firs? GreenWave Yesterday #36

Assassination is the willful killing, by a sudden or secret attack, of a person--especially if prominent or important. Celerity Yesterday #15

Yes, John Lennon was assassinated. Sneederbunk Yesterday #16

I would agree with that. Celerity Yesterday #17

I respectfully disagree. ShazzieB 22 hrs ago #56

It was a school shooting Johonny Yesterday #20

Your not alone. It elevates his ordinary murder to being more important than it really is. QueerDuck Yesterday #22

Kirk was collateral damage on Trump's Fifth Avenue America. RedWhiteBlueIsRacist Yesterday #25

I'd call it "taking out the trash". But I know we're still in the performative outrage stage of the incident. Aristus Yesterday #26

My favourite line from "Grace Quigley", "But Ma, that would be murder!" "No, it is niyad Yesterday #45

The other deaths were the price of freedom. dgauss 23 hrs ago #55

School shooting. Not assassination. Unless all murdered children are also. cbabe Yesterday #27

I hate that it is accurate SSJVegeta Yesterday #28

Technically it's accurate - an assassination usually refers to the targeted killing Ocelot II Yesterday #29

But the word as used is emotionally, deliberately, loaded to produce niyad Yesterday #44

That is also true. Ocelot II Yesterday #46

Equally, the description of him as "conservative". I know the terms are thoroughly blurred, but... JHB Yesterday #39

The problem with using the word now is we still don't know what the motive was. Wiz Imp Yesterday #41

Absolutely agree!!! niyad Yesterday #42

Too many people here on DU using it, and hence buying into the RW narrative. Crunchy Frog Yesterday #48

When a public figure is shot from.a rooftop during Klarkashton 23 hrs ago #51

i prefer the term "mercy killing". ret5hd 22 hrs ago #58