I am writing about two figures from days gone by: John Lennon and Richard Nixon. The first was vilified by the Right, and the second was vilified by the Left. In both cases the vilification was wrong.

The Right should be grateful to John Lennon. He wrote a song called Revolution, in which he took apart the arguments of left-wing radicals. He worked to direct their sentiment from trying to organize a revolution to working on themselves. He did the Right – and America – a service. So it is wrong that he be getting vilified.

The Left should be grateful to Richard Nixon as well. He opened the door to China. He replaced the conscript military with a professional military. He started the Environmental Protection Agency. He should be credited for these accomplishments and not solely be equated with Watergate.

Were both all good? By no means. Lennon had a terrible relationship with Paul McCartney, and Nixon made a lifetime cause of attacking the high-born. However both did things that people who vilified them should be grateful for.. Lennon contained the radicals on the Far Left, and Nixon implemented a lot of the liberal agenda.

It is important that this be remembered and that things be put into perspective for those who vilified either one.