Posted on 08/05/2004 10:13:10 AM PDT by Borges
New York Times August 5, 2004 OP-ED CONTRIBUTOR
Chords for Change By BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
nation's artists and musicians have a particular place in its social and political life. Over the years I've tried to think long and hard about what it means to be American: about the distinctive identity and position we have in the world, and how that position is best carried. I've tried to write songs that speak to our pride and criticize our failures.
These questions are at the heart of this election: who we are, what we stand for, why we fight. Personally, for the last 25 years I have always stayed one step away from partisan politics. Instead, I have been partisan about a set of ideals: economic justice, civil rights, a humane foreign policy, freedom and a decent life for all of our citizens. This year, however, for many of us the stakes have risen too high to sit this election out.
Through my work, I've always tried to ask hard questions. Why is it that the wealthiest nation in the world finds it so hard to keep its promise and faith with its weakest citizens? Why do we continue to find it so difficult to see beyond the veil of race? How do we conduct ourselves during difficult times without killing the things we hold dear? Why does the fulfillment of our promise as a people always seem to be just within grasp yet forever out of reach?
I don't think John Kerry and John Edwards have all the answers. I do believe they are sincerely interested in asking the right questions and working their way toward honest solutions. They understand that we need an administration that places a priority on fairness, curiosity, openness, humility, concern for all America's citizens, courage and faith.
People have different notions of these values, and they live them out in different ways. I've tried to sing about some of them in my songs. But I have my own ideas about what they mean, too. That is why I plan to join with many fellow artists, including the Dave Matthews Band, Pearl Jam, R.E.M., the Dixie Chicks, Jurassic 5, James Taylor and Jackson Browne, in touring the country this October. We will be performing under the umbrella of a new group called Vote for Change. Our goal is to change the direction of the government and change the current administration come November.
Like many others, in the aftermath of 9/11, I felt the country's unity. I don't remember anything quite like it. I supported the decision to enter Afghanistan and I hoped that the seriousness of the times would bring forth strength, humility and wisdom in our leaders. Instead, we dived headlong into an unnecessary war in Iraq, offering up the lives of our young men and women under circumstances that are now discredited. We ran record deficits, while simultaneously cutting and squeezing services like afterschool programs. We granted tax cuts to the richest 1 percent (corporate bigwigs, well-to-do guitar players), increasing the division of wealth that threatens to destroy our social contract with one another and render mute the promise of "one nation indivisible."
It is through the truthful exercising of the best of human qualities - respect for others, honesty about ourselves, faith in our ideals - that we come to life in God's eyes. It is how our soul, as a nation and as individuals, is revealed. Our American government has strayed too far from American values. It is time to move forward. The country we carry in our hearts is waiting.
Bruce Springsteen is a writer and performer.
What an attraction towards entertainers and music tells me is that a person's brain is off and they are "thinking" (if you want to call it that) entirely in terms of emotions.
BOTTOM LINE OF THIS LETTER: I got mine, the government should help everyone else. No way I am going to get personally involved with the serf and peasants with my own time and treasure. Afghanistan is good, Iraq is bad (except of course, 500,00 dead in mass graves, the gassing of the Kurds, terrorist training bases, etc.).
Gosh, reading that you might think Brucie was a Peace Corp vollunteer or something equally noble.
Bruce, you are a massively wealthy, seperated from reality, rock and rolling bad boy. These things disqualify your opinion as to being worth hearing.
What does it say about your newspaper when some has-been rock star with a room temperature IQ can rent out your op/ed page to jam his politics down the nation's throat?
"nation's artists and musicians have a particular place in its social and political life. Over the years I've tried to think long and hard about what it means to be American: about the distinctive identity and position we have in the world, and how that position is best carried. I've tried to write songs that speak to our pride and criticize our failures. "
I wonder what you are going to charge for concert tickets or am to assume it is free and people can donate at the event?
"nation's artists and musicians have a particular place in its social and political life. Over the years I've tried to think long and hard about what it means to be American: about the distinctive identity and position we have in the world, and how that position is best carried. I've tried to write songs that speak to our pride and criticize our failures. "
I wonder what you are going to charge for concert tickets or am to assume it is free and people can donate at the event?
If anyone is interested, I've got a real collector's item: Bruce Springsteen's Live 1975-85 box set -- the original LPs, without a single scratch on them (in fact, they've never been played in nearly 20 years).
I'm hoping someone out there has a dipsh!t family member (preferably a distant cousin -- perhaps a public school psychiatrist or administrator -- who has already been disowned by the family) who is willing to pay me a fortune for this marvelous collector's item.
All proceeds from this sale will be used to help finance Swift Boat Veterans for Truth ads.
Uh, no -- I mean, all proceeds will be donated to Greenpeace. Yeah, that's it.
I am with you. I have never liked that yankee jerk and now I know why....He is a moron!
EBAY!
I got a tax cut...does that mean i am in the wealthiest 1% of wage earners? geez, maybe i should go buy something....LOL
The Capt.
Question for Bruce Springsteen:
Since you have been affiliated with Amnesty International, the human rights organization, do you give any credit to President Bush for freeing 50 million people from tyrannical regimes in Iraq and Afghanistan?
He seems to have freed, give or take 50 million, more people than you have with your guitar.
Some of us weren't born to run. And if you're the boss, I quit.
Yup until a 100 years ago, they were usually kicked out of town after the hootchie cootchie girl danced.
Bob Dylan is and always has been 'the new Dylan'.
Here's a 'That Old Man Still Has A Few Good Tunes Left in Him' BUMP.
"That is why I plan to join with many fellow artists, including the Dave Matthews Band, Pearl Jam, R.E.M., the Dixie Chicks, Jurassic 5, James Taylor and Jackson Browne, in touring the country this October."
Vote with your dollars, banish them to the boycott list!
nice work.
If this op-ed piece had been posted back then, I'm sure the phrase "The Boss is a pompous @sshole who grew up too close to a refinery" would show up in the lyrics of their next #1 hit.
This sort of blatant partisanship on the part of entertainment used to bother me but I have gradually been able to detach myself from their political leanings and enjoy their work on artistic merits alone. Face it, with few exceptions liberals make better music and films than do conservatives.
Ultimately, I believe very few people (an insignificant number actually) will cast their votes in accordance with what their favortite entertainment star thinks. I may purchase a Telecaster cause that's what Springsteen plays and I like his music but that doesn't mean I'll vote for Kerry.
Just a D-Day was unnecessary. Just as Iwo-Jima was unnecessary. Just as..etc etc.
You're on crack Bruce..again.
Hey- guys and gals- we are the public- our money supports
these overpaid, over-sexed, Kerry nitwits.....Let's all do
our part to put them in the toilet and flush it....No
ticket buying- no DvD buying- not for anyone or any group
that is pulling this "Moorebullcrap".....Jake
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