General Discussion

ShazzieB

(21,622 posts)

54. Apples and oranges.

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 09:53 PM

Sep 12

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 Sep 12 OP

I agree. SheltieLover Sep 12 #1

It wasn't used much after the UHC murder. bucolic_frolic Sep 12 #2

I think that's because the CEO of an insurance company isn't technically a political figure. ShazzieB Sep 12 #38

Agreed. bucolic_frolic Sep 12 #40

True -- but he was overtly political in a way that a business executive usually is not. ShazzieB Sep 12 #49

True, but I don't remember Republicans using that term dgauss Sep 12 #52

Me, neither! ShazzieB Sep 12 #57

Chaps my butt, too. Kennedy was assasinated, Ghandi was assasinated. Kirk was murdered. marble falls Sep 12 #3

Pretty much meets definition. Silent Type Sep 12 #4

Agreed Prairie Gates Sep 12 #7

assassinate: GreenWave Sep 12 #31

In what way was Kirk not prominent? ShazzieB Sep 12 #50

Agree. It doesnt fit here. BannonsLiver Sep 12 #5

The word is misused a lot. valleyrogue Sep 12 #6

Not political official. Melon Sep 12 #11

So then MLK was not assassinated? The Revolution Sep 12 #30

Apples and oranges. ShazzieB Sep 12 #54

How about "offed" to counterbalance the deification of this community college dropout? GreenWave Sep 12 #32

John Lennon was far more "prominent" than was Charlie Kirk, of spooky3 Sep 12 #53

The term applies and it sure seems like it was professionally done. themaguffin Sep 12 #8

Definition Melon Sep 12 #9

You left out "a prominent person" GreenWave Sep 12 #33

I would say he was a prominent person. And he was killed for political reasons. forthemiddle Sep 12 #37

Obviously fits the definition if you include that. Melon Sep 12 #43

This was just a gun murder. Plain and simple. Scrivener7 Sep 12 #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 Sep 12 #12

I heard tell the couch is breaking up with him! GreenWave Sep 12 #34

He may have to turn to a love seat! Judi Lynn Sep 12 #47

This case Greg_In_SF Sep 12 #13

Read 'em and weep 'em GreenWave Sep 12 #35

From the OED (they did invent the language, after all) EYESORE 9001 Sep 12 #14

Assassination : 'The murder by sudden or secret attack of a prominent political leader' speak easy Sep 12 #18

Them's fightin' words EYESORE 9001 Sep 12 #19

Mendacious? Not you, the OP. speak easy Sep 12 #21

Sorry. I'm a bit on edge today EYESORE 9001 Sep 12 #23

We are all a bit on edge today/ speak easy Sep 12 #24

Firs? GreenWave Sep 12 #36

Assassination is the willful killing, by a sudden or secret attack, of a person--especially if prominent or important. Celerity Sep 12 #15

Yes, John Lennon was assassinated. Sneederbunk Sep 12 #16

I would agree with that. Celerity Sep 12 #17

I respectfully disagree. ShazzieB Sep 12 #56

It was a school shooting Johonny Sep 12 #20

Your not alone. It elevates his ordinary murder to being more important than it really is. QueerDuck Sep 12 #22

Kirk was collateral damage on Trump's Fifth Avenue America. RedWhiteBlueIsRacist Sep 12 #25

I'd call it "taking out the trash". But I know we're still in the performative outrage stage of the incident. Aristus Sep 12 #26

My favourite line from "Grace Quigley", "But Ma, that would be murder!" "No, it is niyad Sep 12 #45

The other deaths were the price of freedom. dgauss Sep 12 #55

School shooting. Not assassination. Unless all murdered children are also. cbabe Sep 12 #27

I hate that it is accurate SSJVegeta Sep 12 #28

Technically it's accurate - an assassination usually refers to the targeted killing Ocelot II Sep 12 #29

But the word as used is emotionally, deliberately, loaded to produce niyad Sep 12 #44

That is also true. Ocelot II Sep 12 #46

Equally, the description of him as "conservative". I know the terms are thoroughly blurred, but... JHB Sep 12 #39

The problem with using the word now is we still don't know what the motive was. Wiz Imp Sep 12 #41

Absolutely agree!!! niyad Sep 12 #42

Too many people here on DU using it, and hence buying into the RW narrative. Crunchy Frog Sep 12 #48

When a public figure is shot from.a rooftop during Klarkashton Sep 12 #51

i prefer the term "mercy killing". ret5hd Sep 12 #58