Posted on 08/04/2004 7:31:59 PM PDT by Pikamax
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.
Good theory. More proof that we'll only love what we understand, and liberals don't understand capitalism!
I would call Springsteen a preening idiot, but he isn't. He's just dumb. The fawning media gives him and the rest of the 'beautiful people' waaayyyy to much coverage on their opinions about issues that are simply beyond their grasp. I generally don't bother to read the political opinions of empty headed celebrity dopes unless it's posted here. I get appropiate commentary that way ;)
I guess even Bruce's tin ear can tell that "Vote for Kerry" doesn't sound good.
I used to like Bruce okay, many moons ago, when he played tunes with a beat, but I personally think he hasn't written a good song since he fired the E Street Band (and yes, I've heard all this albums at least once, but I haven't bought one since "The River.") His downward trajectory into tuneless, whiny, pompous preaching exactly tracks his rising belief in the value of his own opinions about AIDS, foreign policy, police brutality and a host of other issues he knows nothing whatsoever about. Not surprising he's now reached the very nadir of boring music and stupid liberal politics: hanging out with Dave Matthews.
Yes you got that right, buddy. The entertainment industry is so stratified it barely avoids looking like an oligarchy, a mafia. Performers like David Bowie are famous for paying their session musicians a pathetic salary, with the implication being that those lowlifes should be grateful to smell the flattus eminating from the great one's bowels. The caste system present in Liberal Hollywood makes Apartheid look like the Bill of Rights.
In a similar industry with mega-million-dollar salaries; the sports industry, many of the same issues are there; the mistreatment of underlings, the monetary caste system. But, one thing is noticeably absent: Sports figures do not commly mistake themselves for political analysts. Sports figures generally approach things from a business perspective, they play for a decade or so, take the money, buy a car dealership, and enjoy the good life.
Why can't Liberal Hollywood just shut up and entertain us?
"mr. springsteen? Shut the hell up! ...until you can offer - well - anything to the legacy of mankind."
Atos
Hey bruce... you should be careful about offering your unsolicited opinions. It would spare you the embarrassment of learning what little value they actually have.
Atos
Atos
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