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Today's Poll: Should Mark David Chapman be released from prison on parole?

By Howard B. Owens
Julie A Pappalardo

NO....NO...and NO!

Why wasn't there a GREAT song written to untire the country after 9-11? Because HE (who we are not supposed to say or print his name) killed John Lennon. They recycled "Imagine", remember?

This was a crime against humanity, and I resent having my tax $ going to feed and house this guy.

PS I got to meet Julian in LA back in May of this year!!! He hugged and kissed me and chatted for a few seconds. His energy was amazing ::::swoon swoon swoon:::::

Aug 23, 2012, 8:36am Permalink
Kyle Couchman

Julie there were lots of great songs written after 9-11 you need to distinguish facts from opinions. here are a few

Anti-Flag

"911 for peace"

Mobilize

2001

Ryan Adams

"My Blue Manhattan"

Love Is Hell

2004

[1]

Lily Allen

"Him"

It's Not Me, It's You

2009

Tori Amos

"I Can't See New York"

Scarlet's Walk

2002

The song describes the experience of an airplane passenger on September 11, 2001, circling over New York City and unable to see the World Trade Center.[2]

Amps for Christ

"AFC Tower Song"

And One

"Seven"

Tanzomat

Lyrics include: "Grey smoke hit the ground; Seven came down without a sound; Rich man company; WTC mystery" (a reference to the September 11 attacks and the mystery third white plane which has caused some speculation)

Automatic Loveletter

"Dream With Me"

Autopilot Off

"The 12th Day"

Make a Sound

Emilie Autumn

"By The Sword"

n/a (single)

2001

Released as a charity single.[3][4]

Beastie Boys

"An Open Letter to NYC"

To the 5 Boroughs

[1]

Beyoncé

"I Was Here"

4

2011

[5]

Black 47

"Mychal"

The Black Eyed Peas

"Where Is The Love?"

Elephunk

2003

[6]

Bloc Party

"Hunting for Witches"

A Weekend in the City

[7]

Blue Man Group

"Exhibit 13"

The Complex

2003

Bon Jovi

"Undivided"

Bounce

Jon Bon Jovi & Richie Sambora

"America The Beautiful"

Box Car Racer

"Elevator"

Box Car Racer

Box Car Racer

"Watch The World"

Box Car Racer

Camel

"For Today"

A Nod and a Wink

2002

Mary Chapin Carpenter

"Grand Central Station"

Between Here and Gone

2003

The Charlie Daniels Band

"This Ain't No Rag, It's a Flag"

Live! (bonus track)

2001

Cher

"Song For The Lonely"

Living Proof

2001

Leonard Cohen

"On that Day"

Dear Heather

2006

[8]

The Cranberries

"New New York"

Stars: The Best of 1992–2002

2002

[9]

Sheryl Crow

"God Bless this Mess"

Detours

2008

Linked 9-11 with the Gulf War.[8]

Sheryl Crow

"Out of Our Heads"

Detours

2008

About the courage shown on 9-11; also criticizes Bush as giving a manipulative television address on that day.[10]

Sheryl Crow

"Safe and Sound"

C'mon, C'mon

2001

CunninLynguists

"Appreciation"

SouthernUnderground

2003

Curse

"Nichts Wird Mehr So Sein Wie Es War"

n/a, released as a free download

2001

dc Talk

"Let's Roll"

Bo Diddley

"We Ain't Scared of You" (a.k.a. "My Eagle Is Pissed")

Ani DiFranco

"Self Evident"

Disturbed

"Prayer"

Believe

2002

[11]

DJ Sammy

"Heaven" (9/11 Remix)

Dream Theater

"Sacrificed Sons"

Octavarium

2005

Starts with a Sample from 9/11 (Radio & Television)

Eagles

"Hole In The World"

The Very Best of Eagles (new track)

2003

Linda Eder

"If I Had My Way" & "If I Should Loose My Way"

The Empire Shall Fall

"Choir of Angels"

Awaken

Epica

"Façade of Reality"

The Phantom Agony

Melissa Etheridge

"Tuesday Morning"

Lucky

Evanescence

"My Last Breath"

Fallen

Everclear

"The New York Times"

Slow Motion Daydream

Lupe Fiasco

"Words I Never Said"

Lasers

2011

Five for Fighting

"Tuesday"

2009

Five for Fighting's "Superman," released in late 2000, also became an unofficial anthem for the first responders in the days following the attacks[12]

Fleetwood Mac

"Illume (9-11)"

Say You Will

2003

David Francey

"Grim Cathedral"

Skating Rink

2003

Sage Francis

"Makeshift Patriot"

n/a (single)

2001

A "knee-jerk reaction" to a visit to Ground Zero five days after 9/11[9]

Good Charlotte feat. Mest & Goldfinger

"The Innocent"

Gorillaz feat. D12 & Terry Hall

"911"

Bad Company (soundtrack)

[1]

Amy Grant

"I Don't Know Why"

Simple Things

Peter Hammill

"Ghosts of planes"

Thin Air

Jack Hardy

"Ground Zero"

Vigil

2002

Released on a benefit album organized by Suzanne Vega, entirely of original songs about 9/11.[13]

Juliana Hatfield

"Hole In The Sky"

About the gap in the Manhattan skyline left by the destruction of the Twin Towers.[9]

John Hiatt

"When New York Had Her Heart Broke"

Dirty Jeans and Mudslide Hymns

Iced Earth

"When The Eagle Cries"

The Glorious Burden

2004

Immortal Technique

"Bin Laden"

n/a (single)

2005

Attributes much of the blame for 9/11 to U.S. foreign policy.[8]

Immortal Technique

"The Cause of Death"

Revolutionary Vol. 2

2009

Alan Jackson

"Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)"

Drive

2002

[14]

Michael Jackson

"What More Can I Give"

n/a (never released)

2001

Performed at an October 2001 benefit concert. Originally intended as a benefit single, but it was never released commercially.[13]

Jackyl

"Open Invitation (I Hate You Bin Laden)"

[15]

James

"Hey Ma"

Hey Ma

2008

Addresses the price paid for revenge[9]

Jay-Z and Alicia Keys

"Empire State of Mind"

The Blueprint 3

2009

Lucy Kaplansky

"Land of the Living"

The Red Thread

2004

Toby Keith

"Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)"

Unleashed

[16]

Killswitch Engage

"Life to Lifeless"

Alive or Just Breathing

Living Colour

"Flying"

Collideøscope

2003

From the perspective of a man who gets the nerve to ask out a woman in the World Trade Center moments before the first plane hits, and the couple then jump from the burning building to their deaths.[17]

Mark Knopfler and Emmylou Harris

"If This Is Goodbye"

All the Roadrunning

2006

Inspired by Ian McEwan's piece in The Guardian[18].

Talib Kweli

"The Proud"

Quality

2002

A 9-11-oriented tribute.[10]

James LaBrie

"Smashed"

Elements of Persuasion

2005

Christine Lavin

"Firehouse"

Vigil

2002

Released on a benefit album organized by Suzanne Vega, entirely of original songs about 9/11.[13]

Demi Lovato

"Skyscraper"

Unbroken

2011

The Low Anthem

"Boeing 737"

Smart Flesh

2011

John Mayer

"Covered in Rain"

As/Is

2003

Paul McCartney

"Freedom"

Driving Rain

2001

[19]

Misia feat. Erykah Badu

"Akai Inochi" (Red Destiny)

Mars & Roses

2004

An anti-war song which speaks about how the events of 9/11 turned the "seemingly distant existence of war into the reality of now".[20]

Ministry

"Lieslieslies"

Rio Grande Blood

2006

[9]

Moby

"Harbour"

18

2002

[1]

My Chemical Romance

"Skylines and Turnstiles"

I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love

2002

No Use for a Name

"Insecurity Alert"

Petey Pablo

"Raise Up (USA Flag Remix)"

Paris

"What Would You Do?"

Sonic Jihad

2003

About 9-11 conspiracy theories.[8]

Tom Paxton

"The Bravest"

Renaud and Axelle Red

"Manhattan-Kaboul"

"Deals with the 11 September 2001 attacks in New York"[21]

Rush

"Peaceable Kingdom"

Vapor Trails

2002

Scarling.

"Alexander The Burn Victim"

Sweet Heart Dealer

2004

Slayer

"Jihad"

Christ Illusion

2006

[10]

Sleater-Kinney

"Far Away"

One Beat

2002

The song contrast's President George W. Bush's actions on September 11, when he was flown away to a secure location, with those of the emergency responders at the World Trade Center.[2]

Will Smith feat. Mary J. Blige

"Tell Me Why"

2005

[10]

Bruce Springsteen

"Countin' on a Miracle"

The Rising

2002

Bruce Springsteen

"Empty Sky"

The Rising

2002

Told from the point of view of a person longing for one last moment with their spouse who was killed in the attacks.

Bruce Springsteen

"Into the Fire"

The Rising

2002

Told from the point of view of a spouse of a firefighter.

Bruce Springsteen

"Lonesome Day"

The Rising

2002

Bruce Springsteen

"Mary's Place"

The Rising

2002

Told from the point of view of a widow who lost their spouse in the attacks. A friend has invited this person to a party at "Mary's Place" to help with moving on.

Bruce Springsteen

"Paradise"

The Rising

2002

Bruce Springsteen

"The Fuse"

The Rising

2002

A smoldering blend of lust and loss, fucking as a means to feel anything after tragedy.

Bruce Springsteen

"The Rising"

The Rising

2002

"A religious-tinged reflection on the events of the day that focuses on a firefighter at Ground Zero."[1][22]

Bruce Springsteen

"You're Missing"

The Rising

About how a family must continue to function after the Father is killed in the attacks.

The Stills

"Let's Roll"

Logic Will Break Your Heart

2003

Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros

"Ramshackle Day Parade"

Streetcore

2003

Taylor Swift

"Didn't They?"

Sworn Enemy

"Sworn Enemy"

Tactical Sekt

"American Me"

Syncope

2006

Tesla

"Heaven Nine Eleven"

Into the Now

Testament

"The Evil Has Landed"

The Formation of Damnation

2008

Thrice

"Broken Lungs"

The Alchemy Index Vols. III & IV

2008

Thriving Ivory

"Angels on the Moon"

Thriving Ivory

John Vanderslice

"Exodus Damage"

Pixel Revolt

2005

[9]

Suzanne Vega

"Anniversary"

2007

Velvet Revolver

"Messages"

Libertad (iTunes release)

2007

Scott Walker

"Jesse"

The Drift

2006

The Weepies

"Safe as Houses"

Wheatus

"Hometown"

TooSoonMonsoon

2005

Within Temptation

"Stand My Ground"

The Silent Force and also as additional tracks on some releases of the The Heart of Everything

2004

Darryl Worley

"Have You Forgotten?"

Have You Forgotten?

2003

The song is about the horror of the attacks, with lyrics including "Have you forgotten when those towers fell? / We had neighbors still inside going through a living hell."[2]

Wu-Tang Clan

"Rules"

Iron Flag

2001

[9]

Yellowcard

"Believe"

Ocean Avenue

2003

The song is about rescue workers, and integrates news reports.[10]

Neil Young

"Let's Roll"

Are You Passionate?

2001 - 2002 (album dates)

To say that 9-11 had no great songs is a slap in the face to these artists and more...I think almost ever gendre of music did a song to either speak to their emotions, vent their frustrations, or convey their sympathies for 9-11. To say that there were no great songs is the worst kind of generalization. As for Mark David Chapman, I think it should depend on his psyche evals and what Yoko Sean and Julian have to say at his hearing. The rest is again moot.

Aug 23, 2012, 10:15am Permalink
Julie A Pappalardo

I didn't say NO great songs came out of that... I said no one wrote THE song which would unite the country and help us all heal...

RE Yoko: she has contacted the parole board EVERY time this guy has come up and asked them to deny. I am sure Sean and Julian feel the same way. When I spoke with Julian :::::swoon swoon swoon:::, I didn't mention his Dad.

From the HufPost: "Ono, 79, had said two years ago that she was trying to be "practical" in asking that her husband's killer remain behind bars. She said Chapman might be a danger to her, other family members and perhaps even himself."

Aug 23, 2012, 12:01pm Permalink
Ed Gentner

9/11 has nothing to do with Chapman, he committed murder with malice, planned out lying in wait killed another human being, he belongs behind bars until that day the medical examiner declares him dead and not a day sooner.

Aug 23, 2012, 12:44pm Permalink
John Roach

Ed,
I agree with you that he should stay in jail. Life means just that. But in NY, if he had killed anyone else, he'd have been released on Parole by now.

Aug 23, 2012, 2:58pm Permalink
Howard B. Owens

I don't have a problem with parole being denied because he killed John Lennon and not just anybody else. (of course, I also believe life should be life for all murders, but we're addressing matters under the current system). He killed somebody who meant something special to millions of people. And an important distinction is he targeted a public figure for assassination. This wasn't just a random act of violence, but because of who somebody was. These things should matter.

Aug 23, 2012, 3:51pm Permalink
Justin Burger

He took away the chance for a future Beatles reunion, whether it would have been great or cheesy, it was not Chapman's place to decide. You kill one of the Beatles, you go to prison and stay there...FOREVER.

Aug 23, 2012, 4:00pm Permalink
Gary Spencer

I agree that life in prison should be life in prison and I don't think Mark David Chapman should be released, ever. However, I disagree that his punishment should be any different because of who it was that he murdered. John Lennon was a member of a rock band, he wasn't much more than that. I understand that people idolised him and he supposedly meant something special to millions of people but simply put he was just another man, not much more special than Howard or I.

Aug 23, 2012, 5:52pm Permalink
Doug Yeomans

No, Mark David Chapman should not ever be released from prison. As Howard clarified, he didn't just commit murder, he selected a public figure, someone that millions of people identified with. Once someone is mentally ill enough to do that, I don't believe they should ever be trusted again.

He's just fine where he is and letting him out wouldn't serve any purpose. He'd be alienated because the world is NOTHING like it was when he was incarcerated. It would be stressful and maybe stress for someone with a defective brain like his shouldn't be let loose amongst the rest of us mentally unstable people.

All kidding aside..."NO!"

Aug 23, 2012, 7:49pm Permalink

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