First Published in The Sun, 4 October 2000
YOKO'S LETTER TO US PAROLE BOARD
"It was so cruel, so unjust. My husband didn't deserve to die."
Dear Sir
This is my reply to the petition of parole made by MDC from here on called 'The Subject'.
It is not easy for me to write this letter to you since it is still painful to think of what happened that night and verbalize my thoughts logically.
Forgive me if I fall short of your expectation of giving you a satisfactory opinion. But these are my sincere thoughts.
My husband John Lennon was a very special man. A man of humble origin, he brought light and hope to the whole world with his words and music.
He tried to be a good power for the world; and he was. He gave encouragement, inspiration and dreams to people regardless of race, creed and gender.
For me, he was the other half of the sky. We were in love with each other like the most vehement of lovers to the last moment. For our son Sean he was the world. That world shattered when 'the subject' pulled the trigger.
For Julian, it was losing his father twice. For the people of the world, it was as thought the light went out for a moment and darkness prevailed.
With his one act of violence in those few seconds, 'the subject' managed to change my whole life, devastate his sons, and bring sorrow and fear into the world.
At first, I had refused to acknowledge John's death. I announced that "There is no funeral for John."
But then, I started to hear that young girls were jumping off buildings to kill themselves. I realized then it was not a time for me to wallow in my own pain.
DARKNESS
I organized a world vigil with the prayer that, together, we would somehow get through. For the past twenty years, I have carried the torch John and I carried together to try and let the darkness go.
When people asked how I felt about the killer of my husband, I have always told them that I don't think of that day any more.
I wanted to look to the future, but not to remember that horrible moment. But the memory of that night has never left me for twenty years. It was so cruel. So unjust. My husband did not deserve this. He was in no way ready to die.
He was feeling good with the prospect of doing a concert tour after making the album that became his last.
He would have gladly changed his position with 'the subject', and live the life of protection that 'the subject' enjoys.
His family and the rest of the world rested because justice was finally done by the court. 'The subject' was imprisoned.
If he were to be released now, many would feel betrayed. Anger and fear would rise again. It would also give a 'go' signal to the others who would like to follow in the footsteps of 'the subject' to receive world attention.
Myself and John's two sons would not feel safe for the rest of our lives. People in positions of high visibility and outspokenness, such as John, would feel unsafe.
Finally, it would not be safe for 'the subject' himself. He will cease to have the security that the state provides for him now.
I understand he has been isolated from other prisoners because of the threat to him. Well, there are more people in the outside world strongly distressed about what he has done. They would feel it is unfair that 'the subject' is rewarded with a normal life while John lost his. Violence begat's violence.
If it is at all possible, I would like us to not create a situation which may bring further tragedy into the world. I am sincerely yours,
Yoko Ono Lennon
