behave when surrounded by thoughtful, polite people, but how petty you would become if marooned somewhere with a group of self-gratifying, devious individuals.

    Human society is founded on agreement. Paper money has power only as long as everyone agrees on its value. Laws are relevant only as long as a significant percentage of people agree to observe them. Each of us has a set of values we find valid, but if the group surrounding us is playing by a different set of rules, we’ll find it extremely difficult to resist conforming.

    What we agree on shapes society. Once enough of us agree that character is more important than skin color, racism will tend to vanish. Once enough of us agree that it is absurd to pay a woman and a man different wages for performing the same job, gender bias will tend to wither away. Once enough of us agree that cigarette

smoke is harmful, the acceptabilityof smoking will tend to diminish.

    Now, what if a significant number of us were to agree that—starting next Monday—we would treat everyone we encountered with respect, compassion, and love?

    John Lennon realized, then propounded, that since as humans we have the ability to change our own habits and convictions, the only barrier to our living in a better world is agreement that we are committed to it. He implied the concept in “All You Need Is Love,” “Instant Karma (We All Shine On),” and “Happy Xmas (War Is Over).” However, he crystallized his point of view in his masterpiece, “Imagine.” In simple but resonating lyrics, he sketched the framework of a harmonious world he and other dreamers had in mind, concluding with an invitation to the listener to join them.