Posted on 10/21/2003 3:53:40 PM PDT by veronica
John Mellencamp has lashed out at President George W. Bush and America's foreign policy. In an open letter he co-wrote with his wife Elaine, Mellencamp blasts the powers that be for demonizing as "anti-American and unpatriotic" anyone who questions the policies of the U.S. government and the war in Iraq. Mellencamp uses words and phrases like "systematically lied to," "the political 'hijacking' of Iraq," "this misadventure," and "the globe's leading bully.
Arrogant and thoughtless" to describe the current situation, before writing, "Now, each day, as the dust settles and the truth slowly surfaces, more and more people come to the inevitable conclusion of what a debacle this whole war was."
Mellencamp adds, "The word 'Democracy' means literally 'by the people.' This is the basis of our government and society. It is what this country was founded upon and what makes us American. It is not just our 'right' but also our duty to speak out and voice our thoughts and opinions. How, then, was it possible that, in the land of freedom, those who opposed the common opinion were called...'un-American?' Resentfully, we wonder...This nation was founded to enable freedom and diversity of opinion, and many lives have been lost to secure that liberty. Paradoxically, some still resist the open mindedness that is the very foundation of this country."
Mellencamp also questions the negative reception of "To Washington," which is on his latest album, Trouble No More. He writes, "The song 'To Washington' was met with criticism and was labeled an anti-war song. That was not at all the case or intention--it was merely a report of the political climate." He adds that as his family travels the country, they speak with people everywhere to find out how they're feeling, which greatly influenced the song: "The lyrics of 'To Washington' are not just a personal opinion, but also the view from a very wide horizon."
Mellencamp told LAUNCH that "To Washington" wasn't a direct indictment, just a reflection of what he saw going on in America. "This song was written long before we went to war, and everything in that song you could probably have read in any newspaper or magazine, like Newsweek or Time, at the particular time that I was writing that song," Mellencamp said. "I didn't make any of that stuff up--it was all in the newspapers, which is the tradition of a lot of folk songs."
Mellencamp ends the letter by suggesting that people should learn a lesson from the recent election in California: "The Governor of California was removed from office based on finance troubles. And yet George W. Bush has lied to us, failed to keep our own borders secure, entered a war under false pretense, endangered lives, and created financial chaos. How is it that he hasn't been recalled?...The fight for freedom in this country has been long, painful, and ongoing. It is time to take back our country. Take it back from political agendas, corporate greed, and overall manipulation. It is time to take action here in our land, in our own schools, neighborhoods, farms, and businesses. We have been lied to and terrorized by our own government, and it is time to take action. Now is the time to come together."
Here is the full text of "An Open Letter From John & Elaine Mellencamp":
"As the echo of the war drums fades away and the angry masses calling for blood slowly disperse, we as a nation must now confront the truth. We face the unpleasant reality of an uncertain future, compromised safety, a failing economy, and the question of how a society of otherwise reasonable citizens was systematically lied to and manipulated into backing the political 'hijacking' of Iraq.
"Before a single bomb was ever dropped, some of us, formerly called the 'anti-American and unpatriotic,' have questioned or opposed this war. Now, each day, as the dust settles and the truth slowly surfaces, more and more people come to the inevitable conclusion of what a debacle this whole war was.
"Thirty-nine-thousand bombs later, no weapons of mass destruction uncovered, no dangerous dictators captured, no connection to September 11th. What have we gained but relentless media coverage of a fallen statue and some stolen oil fields--the spoils of this misadventure. Not to mention lucrative corporate payoffs and an enormous price tag of over $80 Billion...some tax cut.
"But what have we lost? We have lost the lives of over 300 Americans. Approximately two U.S. troop deaths each day, 193 deaths since the war was declared over. In total, an estimated 20,000 people have died, thus far, in this conflict.
"In addition to the lives given for this effort, our nation has suffered the loss of respect within the world community, particularly the United Nations. We have managed to squander any goodwill we once had to now succeed in solidifying our image as the globe's leading bully. Arrogant and thoughtless.
"The word Democracy means literally 'by the people.' This is the basis of our government and society. It is what this country was founded upon and what makes us American. It is not just our 'right' but also our duty to speak out and voice our thoughts and opinions. How, then, was it possible that, in the land of freedom, those who opposed the common opinion were called...'un-American?' Resentfully, we wonder.
The song 'To Washington' was met with criticism and was labeled an anti-war song. That was not at all the case or intention--it was merely a report of the political climate, in the age-old tradition of the troubadour spreading the news through song and story. Professionally, we, the Mellencamps, have the opportunity to travel extensively, and we take full advantage of that by talking to, listening to, and experiencing the diversity our vast country has to offer. The lyrics of 'To Washington' are not just a personal opinion, but also the view from a very wide horizon.
Who is to say what is or isn't 'patriotic?' Do the flags that wave from every minivan really offer any support? Where is the support for the thousands of servicemen and women who return to the states to see their benefits cut, their health problems ignored, their jobs gone, and their families living in poverty? How are they repaid for their efforts, for risking or losing their lives? So far, dismally.
"This nation was founded to enable freedom and diversity of opinion, and many lives have been lost to secure that liberty. Paradoxically, some still resist the open mindedness that is the very foundation of this country.
"The Governor of California was removed from office based on finance troubles. And yet George W. Bush has lied to us, failed to keep our own borders secure, entered a war under false pretense, endangered lives, and created financial chaos. How is it that he hasn't been recalled? Perhaps this time we could even have a real election...but that wouldn't fit the Bush administration's 'take what you want and fire people later' policy. Take an election; take an oil field; take advantage of your own people--a game of political Three-Card Monte.
"The fight for freedom in this country has been long, painful, and ongoing. It is time to take back our country. Take it back from political agendas, corporate greed, and overall manipulation. It is time to take action here in our land, in our own schools, neighborhoods, farms, and businesses. We have been lied to and terrorized by our own government, and it is time to take action. Now is the time to come together."
I don't recall him talkin' smack against Clinton when the Butcher of the Balkans was mass-murdering thousands of innocent Serbs and ethnic Albanians in Kosovo when America was much less-provoked than we were by Iraq. That mealy-mouthed politics ain't anti-establishment as much as simply being a gutless, brainless Lib'ral, IMHO. Indanny would be a much better place without him and his ilk!!
FReegards...MUD
Is this for real? He made his career ripping off Bruce Springsteen. "F*ck Facism" is what was carved on WOODY GUTHRIE'S guitar! If it's on Mellencamp's he ripped that idea off from someone else, too.
From the first time I heard that song, I thought, Those pink houses you ridicule are the dreams of the families who built them and who live in them!
I always think when I hear that song, what an arrogant punk lefty, looking down his nose at the ordinary people who buy his freaking records and live in "ordinary" houses.
Saw it with me own eyes, I did. Sat in row 2, front and center with a fan club member in Hershey, PA...saw the big lettered scratch. Couldn't miss it. There's probably a pic online, somewhere.
Just an ignorant dupe. Commies always keep lots of those kind around.
FReegards...MUD
As Babs father told her, 'you're too ugly for ice cream', I'm telling you, 'you're too stupid for print!'
Hey John, I never even liked your music, much less your political opinions. Buh-bye.
You have a different definition of free thinking, of thinking in general, and certainly of pretention.
This piece he wrote reveals a RIGID, unwavering, unswerving parrotting of the precise same words and concepts as every Democrat who has publicly spoken out against the war. His thinking as revealed in this piece is the diametric OPPOSITE of "free." He is in a straightjacket of politically correct thinking.
And "pretention"----this screed, along with his music and his demeanor, is preening, strutting, self-absorbed pretention if I ever heard and saw it.
Oops, sorry, my baddest! I guess we could say Johnny Cougar was the Billy Ray Cyrus of the 1980s, yes?!
He has made a career of being derivative. As he ripped off this guitar carving, "R-O-C-K In The USA" was a transparent ripoff to cash in on the preceeding hit "Born In The USA." "Pink Houses" borrowed the sneering theme from a folk song, "Little Boxes", popularized by fellow-traveller Pete Seeger---the song also ridicules the hopes and dreams of the people who buy a house and go to work everyday.
Oh---but the guy is unpretentious, it's said..? A guy who has changed his name FIVE TIMES is unpretentious??
No. Just a useful idiot. Stalin had lots of them over here.
The useful idiots are still being cranked out.
Has given a great deal to Indiana University and Jackson county where he is orginally from.
Yes, that's a typical liberal trick "I'm compassionate because I throw lots of money at things." How about getting his hands dirty? Has he spent time in soup kitchens? Working at Special Olympics events? Any actual work other than throwing money or performance?
I have to tell you, someone throwing money at something...especially a university...is NOT compassion. In fact, I'd venture to say it was self-serving and self-gratification...Throw money at a university and they name a building, park, library or something after you. He probably was more interested in seeing his name perpetuated in eternity than actually helping. I'm sure the money he gave is but a drop in the bucket to what he could give.
He along with Kris and WIllie he started farm aid..... to save the family farms.
If he REALLY was interested in saving the family farms, he'd be dedicating his time to go to congress and testify that there are ways to increase the farmers' earning potential. Again, throwing money at family farmers without giving them a way to make a living for themselves in the future is like throwing watered down gasoline on a fire.
Scarecrow was dedicated to his grandfater, a farmer.
Great. I have lots of poetry I wrote dedicated to my deceased parents. Remind me, did he give ALL of the proceeds from that song to Farm Aide?? Oh, wait, he didn't, did he?
He's always been outspoken. Was disliked by his teachers for not liking authority and basically was a "free" thinker and quite disrespectful. Knew how to get attention, by drawing attention to himself.
Another free-speaking (read speak before thinking) anti-authority (read meadow skipping hippie) attention whore. Just what this country needs.
He's over fifty.
Which qualifies him for AARP. And means that soon, even though he made millions, he'll be expecting the rest of us to take care of him. Or perhaps he'll start the AARP aide tour?
He's been married three times is a grandfather himself
I thought you were trying to gain points for him. The grandfather thing is braggable, although you didn't state what kind of grandfather he is. But, ummm, married three times simply means he does not take commitment or loyalty seriously or have any values or morals. Unless both of his previous wives died...but I believe he cheated on them and then divorced them.
Can be seen at the local restaurant and groceries and is quite unpretentious.
Umm, he's human...he has to go to the store and stuff too. That doesn't make him special because he still grocery shops. So do athletes and movie stars.
OTOH he still knows how to get attention....still doesn't like authority and basically is still quite disrespectful.
Great...a hippie all growed up that still is an attention whore. He needs to learn to THINK before he speaks.
Actually he'd fit in well with some on this thread who dislike government control.
Doubtful...you see he doesn't want anyone tell him what he can and can't do, but he still wants all the programs for the poor, etc. and all the wealthy (except him) to pay for it. And he's still naive enough to believe that you can talk (or sing in his case) your way out of everything and go skipping happily through meadows and no one will hurt you if you don't hurt them.
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