L.A. 2

I’m still in L.A. What I’m really absorbed in now (as much as the Star Wars
book) is Ioannes Paulus II [Pope John Paul II]. There are so many magazines
with features about his memorial. I really liked him…We all knew that he was
sick for a really long time, but two days after he was called to Heaven it’s
still a shock.

My image of John Paul II is a man who personified the idea of “freedom
fighter.” He brought lots of revolutionary ideas to the tradition-bound
Catholic church, and was a breath of fresh air to an institution of such old
ideas. He was really a great person. He devoted himself to improving
relations between the Catholic Church and Jewish and Muslim people. He
supported democratization in Eastern Europe, starting with his home country
of Poland. When he had to he even criticized materialism and selfish actions
during the Gulf War and in Iraq. One thing I love is how he for the first
time recognized the accomplishments of Galileo Galilei, who was unjustly
punished during the middle ages by the tyrannical church. He admitted that
Galileo was right and the church was wrong…he was an amazing, innovative man.

I truly think that if such a loving and courageous man could reach out to
every country, and especially America, he could save the world. I wish that
musicians like myself could have that much focus.

Here (L.A.) there are many Christians, so of course there is a lot of
information about the Pope. I wonder how it is in Japan? I hope that people
spread the word about all of the courageous things that the Pope accomplished
during his lifetime.

I’m praying that “Freedom Fighter” Pope John Paul II moves on to the next
level full of peace and happiness.


Sugizo

Posted by SUGIZO : 12:50 PM