Posted on 08/04/2004 8:35:03 PM PDT by Archangelsk
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.
Didn't Plato in his "Republic" disapprove of Springsteenoidal artists and recommend driving them out? He might have had a point.
Did Bruce have to pay to place this political ad in the Ny Slimes? Or did he get free advertising for his concerts?
Supposedly Springsteen was on Nightline tonight. I wonder when the 'swift boat veterans' will have a Nightline episode dedicated to them.
I've always enjoyed the music, but I wasn't blind to the message. As long as he remained aloof from individual political battles, I could just write off the philosophy as an honest take on the world by an artist who was pushing an outlook on life, but not a specific agenda. That started to change with "Fourtynine Shots" and now has completely changed.
Good musician. Wrong headed politics. Since he has cast his lot this way, I won't be spending another penny on his music, end of story.
On sign of lack of originality of thought is this trite little screed - it echoes the same, tired cliches we've yawned to for years now - unnecessary war, cutting social services, tax breaks for the richest - good God, Brucie, all you had to do was intone "damage the environment" or "no blood for oil" and I'd have had a Bingo.
Let's see, 1984 was 20 years ago........
Yeah, Bruce is real important, I'm glad we heard from him. Now I'm just itching to know the opinions of the lads from FogHat, the geopolitical wisdom of Peter Frampton, and a World Overview from Leo Sayer.
'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.'
and that is why I am going to go rampaging thru the cd and tape collections of all persons in this household and do some assiduous purging of the above-named 'artists'. Then I am going to smash the cases and super glue them to the big W sign on the front lawn.
As long as you wrote about the glorious revolution or painted the strong arms of a working comrade or sang ballads of the collective farmer feeding his nation, everything was fine.
Do these people ever look around and think?
Why? So you can take a slow ride feeling like you do as you dance the night away? Gawd, I'm old. :-)
I'm watching Nightline now. Bruce just said the concerts are being organized by...you guessed it: MoveOn.org!
Uh, unless you really enjoy the idea of hearing your teenagers say, "I hate you, Dad," followed by the requisite slamming of their respective bedroom doors (and you following up with the also requisite, "my house, my rules"), I suggest you rethink that option.
At this point, I think I'll just illegally download his music. As a socialist, Bruce shouldn't mind whatsoever. ;-)
Do any teenagers actually listen to these bands?
Unlikely. I'm 40, and some of the guys in this group of lefties are closer in age to my parents.
Ted Koppel just nailed Bruce. Bruce initially said the concerts were to support Kerry (positive). At the end of the interview, Bruce admitted that the goal was to "beat Bush." There is NO enthusiasm for John Kerry, not even among the Hollywood elites and the far-Left freaks.
REM, yep. Dave Matthews, yep. Pearl (pronounced Purrrrrllll) Jam, yep.
Shut up Bruce from one Jersey guy to the other You and your music suck!
You call his music good? Whats good about it? I live in New Jersey and people try to ram that local boy crap down my throat what is good about his music?
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