Chords for Change (Springsteen's Op Ed piece in the NYT today)

The New York Times

[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.

[Imaverygooddriver]

Why is it that the wealthiest nation in the world finds it so hard to keep its promise and faith with its weakest citizens?

Liberals

Why do we continue to find it so difficult to see beyond the veil of race?

Liberals

How do we conduct ourselves during difficult times without killing the things we hold dear?

We don`t listen to liberals and we don`t vote for them.

Why does the fulfillment of our promise as a people always seem to be just within grasp yet forever out of reach?

Because liberals stand in the way because people like Bruce Springsteen keep instisting on them.

[Alberta's Child]

I think Bruce is mad because Iraqis aren't too interested in buying his CDs. Instead, the current Iraqi Billboard charts include local favorites as Born to Jihad, Greetings from Mosul, The Wild, the Radical, and the Qusay Street Shuffle, Darkness on the Edge of Tikrit (and in The Rest of Tikrit, Too), The Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, and The Ghost of Uday.

[Rutles4Ever]

I am a Democrat.

[Windsong]

One of these days, I need to track down the quote by P.J. "O'Rourke on the VH-1 "Behind the Music" 1968 episode where he remarks about the absurdity of looking to musicians for the wisdom to save the world. 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."

Ditto. Mozart was a brilliant and gifted composer whose music will live on eons after these old rockers have passed. But that is not to say his influence should have had any business in politics, for the man was a womanizing ba$tard, a scoundrel, and a snotty-nosed bigot.

[sevry]

Over the years I've tried to think long and hard about what it means to be American

I know - liberal America. Those are OUR planes now, said the guy.

Well, not anymore. And they're not going to be your planes come NOV, Bruce. Hillary seems to have spoken; never mind that your French candidate himself is a liar and a stiff, such a conceited creep that fellow officers actually got together and encouraged him to take the quick trip home. Just keep cranking out those power ballads. Sing about the woes of backing of loser like Kerry, and HIS America. Maybe they'll still cheer you at the concerts, and give you the 'high' so recently experienced by that 'lovable' and irrepressible Terry Kerry, who just wants more.

And WHO THE HELL . . is Bruce Springsteen to get column space in the NY Times, interviews with Ted Koppel, and so on? The sooner people tune out the 'free media', the leftwing 'mainstream', the better America will be.

[twhitak]

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.

Ahhh, how thoughtful of Bruce. He wants freedom for our citizens but apparently he doesn't give a rat's hind quarters about the quality of life for citizens of any other nation. Gah!

[grumple]

Bruce Springsteen is a writer and performer.

Bruce Sh$tstain is a foreign policy idiot, a partisan-hack, a washed up has-been singer, and is currently being used as a mouthpiece to say unpopular things by the Socialist, Communist, Democratic party simply so they don't have to say things they know will not get them re-elected in exchange for promoting the rest of his washed-up, has-been career.

[Rutles4Ever]

Is he stocking shelves at K-mart yet? My God, I can't remember the last time I heard a Springsteen song that was worth the three and half minutes of my life I wasted listening to it. Ditto Raitt, Mellencamp, R.E.M....

[BigLittle]

Agreed, also IMHO, admission revenues at (take your pick, Martin Sheen, Michael Moore, etc.) films should be considered soft money ads. Sponsorship on any of the network evening news shows, and the Today Show also should be included.

[beelzepug]

"I have never liked that yankee jerk and now I know why....He is a moron!"

I watched that fool last night on "Nightline"...can't even imagine why I ever liked him or his so-called music. I guess maybe I've matured and he hasn't.

[Fast1]

He can not sing now I can see thinking is not a strong point ether..

[Bigg Red]

Love your letter.

[Pondman88]

Hey Bruce--you suck and so do the other has beens.

[onedoug]

How often, collectively, have artists been right about the struggle of good and evil?

[Patriot32]

Wow...well put.

[NautiNurse]

In case anyone has missed this Springsteen Concert rider, it is worth a look into his picky needs while on tour. Right down to 120 towels (must be white, and no new unwashed towels), two large floor plants and two table plants each for himself, his wife, Clarence, et al. The list of foods is pretty funny.

Fresh fruit, yogurt assortment must include plain and vanilla (no lemon), Westbrae soy milk, Biochem whey powder, iced green tea, etc. for Bruce.

Meanwhile, his children must have tater tots, DiGiorno pizza, and chicken fingers.

[cubreporter]

The country we carry in our hearts is waiting.


The country YOU carry in your heart might be waiting bruce but...the country I carry in my heart IS being led by the brilliant team of Bush/Cheney and come Nov 2 our country will continue to be led by the brilliant team of Bush/Cheney.

[Old anti feminist]

Real talent left us in the 60's. It was replaced by rage, twisting and turning, girating pain filled expressions of nothingness. A sexual seduction took over. Words of songs meant nothing. It became action and noise. It worked. It suggested wild lust, and still does. The grinding, beat of "rock", Defies real talent and undermines the higher nature in all of us. It is meaningless and and part of the decay of our country.