Words from "THE BOSS"

Chords for Change

By BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN

New York Times

Published: August 5, 2004

A 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.

I did a like post titled "At some point, you can't sit still".

One of the artists (Mellencamp?), when asked if he was concerned about his image by doing this concert, replied "No. I'm concerned about our country"

Touche!

"The Country we carry in our hearts is waiting."

Bruce should've been hired as a speechwriter for the democratic convention. That single sentence is the most charismatic, stirring sentiment I can think of since JFK's "Ask not..." line.

La Trix

RE: Words from "THE BOSS"

The idea of musicians like The Boss putting their influence behind ousting Shrubya scares the Bush camp, their attack machine will clearly be in action soon. Maybe stories of 'fringe' sex, drugs and hippies will surface. They can have Rush Limbaugh lead the chorus!

RE: Words from "THE BOSS"

>The idea of musicians like The Boss putting their influence

>behind ousting Shrubya scares the Bush camp, their attack

>machine will clearly be in action soon.

Oh, yeah - how new - entertainment celebrities supporting Democrats and opposing Republicans. Gosh, what an earth-shattering development.

I'm sure the GOP is petrified of this. They've only been able to take over the White House, both houses of Congress, the Supreme Court and most state houses with almost every single entertainment "star" openly hating them. So this must really petrify them.

RE: Words from "THE BOSS"

>One of the artists (Mellencamp?) . . .

LOL!!!! "artists!" - good one! Is Lee Greenwood an "artist"? Is Charleton Heston? Bruce Willis? Or only liberal enteratiners qualify for this pretensious term?

, when asked if he was

>concerned about his image by doing this concert, replied "No.

>I'm concerned about our country"

Oh, that is so profound. You are right. He IS an artist. Only an artist's eye could see this obscure yet core truth, and express it so eloquently and powerfully.

What do Jack and Diane think about this?

>"The Country we carry in our hearts is waiting."

>

>Bruce should've been hired as a speechwriter for the

>democratic convention. That single sentence is the most

>charismatic, stirring sentiment I can think of since JFK's

>"Ask not..." line.

Oh, I think this is very unfair to a huge number of great Democratic orators, who have, over the years, utter profound insights at least as compelling, and in most cases more so, than this admittedly moving one from Bruce. The ones that are at least as brilliant include (but are not limited to):

"People who need people are the luckiest people . . . in the world."

-B. Streisand, liberal political philosopher and diva-heronie to trite fags, circa 1968.

"My mother taught me to view trees as the Catehdrals of Nature. THE CATHEDRALS OF NATURE."

-J. Kerry, 2004 Democrat Party National Conevention Acceptance speech.

"There are white niggers, too."

- Former KKK member and current Democratic Sen. R. Byrd (D-WV), 2000.

"She said she wanted to go for a swim."

- Sen. T. Kennedy (D-MA), reminiscing about M.J. Kopechne's last night on the planet

"I have a zit on my ass that I need to pop, but I'm too fat to reach it."

- Liberal artist M. Moore, most days.

So you see, Trixie, as brilliant and powerful as Bruce's observation is, there is a whole litany of (at least) equally insightful observations uttered by leading Democrats over the years. I think it's wrong of you to overlook them by claiming that Bruce's statement - as unique and eye-opening as it is - is the most moving Democratic statement since John Kennedy's cliche.

>

>La Trix

And in the interest of equal time, here's some GOP gems:

``Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we,'' Bush said. ``They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we.'' -Pretendident Bush

"I want to say this about my state: When Strom Thurmond ran for president, we voted for him. We're proud of it. And if the rest of the country had followed our lead, we wouldn't have had all these problems over all these years, either," _Senator Trent Lott, endorsing the racism of Strom Thurmond at Thurmond's 100th birthday party

I was guilty of merely running a stop sign - Bill Janklow, R-SD, in his appeal arguement over his manslaughter conviction

"Go Fuck yourself!" Vice President Cheney to Senator Patrick Leahy

RE: Words from "THE BOSS"

>>One of the artists (Mellencamp?) . . .

>

>LOL!!!! "artists!" - good one!

artist: One, such as an actor or singer, who works in the performing arts. (The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition)

RE: Words from "THE BOSS"

>I'm sure the GOP is petrified

They should be. :7

>"People who need people are the luckiest people . . . in the

>world."

>

>-B. Streisand, liberal political philosopher and diva-heronie

>to trite fags, circa 1968.

Actually, the song is from 1963 and it was composed by Jule Styne so those are not her words. But she did have this to say recently, before singing a special version of that song at a Kerry fundraiser:

THIS IS A DEFINING MOMENT IN OUR COUNTRY'S HISTORY. THERE ARE TWO PATHS. THEY ARE NOT DEFINED BY RIGHT OR LEFT, BUT BY RIGHT OR WRONG.

THE WRONG PATH IS A NARROW ONE. NOT THE WAY OF IDEAS, BUT OF IDEOLOGIES, WITH MINDS THAT ARE CLOSED TO ANYTHING THAT DOESN'T FIT WITHIN THEIR NARROW BELIEF SYSTEM, A PATH PAVED WITH DECEPTION AND SECRECY. THIS IS THE WAY TAKEN BY THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.

THE OTHER PATH IS WIDER, MORE OPEN. IT ALLOWS FOR INTELLECTUAL CURIOSITY, DISCOURSE, DISSENT AND DEBATE. ALL ESSENTIAL TO DEMOCRACY. THIS IS THE PATH CHOSEN BY JOHN KERRY.

GEORGE BUSH AND JOHN KERRY WERE BOTH CHILDREN OF PRIVILEGE - WITH THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES, FACING THE SAME CHOICES. BUT THEY MADE VERY DIFFERENT ONES. BUSH NEVER STRAYED FROM THE NARROW PATH. WHEN CHALLENGED, HE'S NEVER BEEN HELD ACCOUNTABLE. WORSE, HE'S NEVER HELD HIMSELF ACCOUNTABLE. HE'S VIEWED HIS PRIVILEGED UPBRINGING AS A WAY TO EASE HIS PATH IN LIFE. WITH THE WORLD AT HIS FEET, HE CHOSE NOT TO LOOK AT IT.

AND NOW, THE WORLD IS LOOKING TO US TO MAKE A CHANGE... TO MAKE A CHOICE.

JOHN KERRY MADE A CHOICE WHEN HE CHOSE TO FIGHT IN A WAR AND THEN SPEAK ABOUT THE ATROCITIES OF THAT WAR. NOT ONLY DID HE FIGHT FOR HIS COUNTRY ON THE BATTLEFIELD, BUT IN THE HALLS OF CONGRESS - WHEN AS A VETERAN, HE CHOSE TO TESTIFY ABOUT THE WAR HE DIDN'T AGREE WITH. THEN, RATHER THAN GOING BACK TO HIS PRIVILEGED WORLD, HE CHOSE TO PICK UP ARMS IN A DIFFERENT WAY: AS A LAW MAKER ENFORCING THE IDEALS OF THE COUNTRY THAT HE FOUGHT FOR. THAT'S HOW ONE'S CHARACTER IS DEFINED.

RE: Words from "THE BOSS"

>JOHN KERRY MADE A CHOICE WHEN HE CHOSE TO FIGHT IN A WAR AND

>THEN SPEAK ABOUT THE ATROCITIES OF THAT WAR. NOT ONLY DID HE

>FIGHT FOR HIS COUNTRY ON THE BATTLEFIELD, BUT IN THE HALLS OF

>CONGRESS - WHEN AS A VETERAN, HE CHOSE TO TESTIFY ABOUT THE

>WAR HE DIDN'T AGREE WITH. THEN, RATHER THAN GOING BACK TO HIS

>PRIVILEGED WORLD, HE CHOSE TO PICK UP ARMS IN A DIFFERENT WAY:

>AS A LAW MAKER ENFORCING THE IDEALS OF THE COUNTRY THAT HE

>FOUGHT FOR. THAT'S HOW ONE'S CHARACTER IS DEFINED.

I happen to think that John Kerry's military service is quite commendable and George Bush's efforts to avoid it are not -- just as I thought that Bob Dole and Poppy George Bush's heroic military service were commendable and Bill Clinton's efforts to avoid it were not. How come you and Barbra weren't singing the virtues of military service and condemning thos who didn't serve in 1992 and 1996 when a draft dodger ran twice against two military heroes? Doesn't this abrupt and newfound apprecation for military service - and its highly selective application - reveal its complete lack of authenticity?

And if it's true, as your heroine and guiding light claims, that it's a sign of a virtuous character for a rich person to enter "public service," doesn't this mean that George Bush is virtuous? He's very rich, but rather than staying in the private sector, he ran for Congress, served as Governor of Texas, and has served as President for 4 years and wants to serve for 4 more. Isn't that, according to the Barbra you follow, highly reflective of strong character?

Finally, John Edwards never served in the military. He's quite rich, and only entered "public service" a mere 4 years ago. What does that say about his character? By constrast, while John Edwards was making many millions of dollars off the miseries of crippled children, Dick Cheney served his country in "public service" almost his entire adult life.

RE: Words from "THE BOSS"

Does the fact that Kerry wounded himself once, and possibly twice, regarding his purple hearts color his entire four month stint in Viet Nam. I think not. He be a wary brave man. Not girlie at all.

Later.

RE: Words

"Dick Cheney served his country in "public service" almost his entire adult life."

Ahh, the joy of the public trough!

RE: Words from "THE BOSS"

>How come you and Barbra weren't singing

I think she only duets with people who can carry a tune. :-(

>Isn't that, according to the Barbra you

>follow

I don't "follow" Barbra Streisand, Doug; you are the one who regularly brings her up here, talks about her, makes reference to her or attempts to quote her. The only time I mention her name or post a quote of hers is in response to you. Miss Barbra Streisand is your obsession more than anyone else's here.

RE: Words from "THE BOSS"

I just found another great quote from a Democrat - maybe my favorite one ever:

Here is Theresa (pronounced Ter-AYZ-ah) Heinz Kerry, on terrorism, at yesteday's Kerry rally:

"You cannot solve problems by throwing stones, and you cannot solve problems by telling lies, and you cannot solve problems by wishing ill to other people," she said. "The only way you solve problems is by holding hands and talking about it, and that's what we want to do in this campaign."

LOL!!!!!!!!! We shouldn't throw stones at, or wish ill on, Osama bin Laden and Al Qaeda. The only thing we can do that will work is to hold hands with them and talk about our problems.

As one commentator I read remarked: "It's Marie Antoinette in the age of Oprah." For pure entertainment value, you can't beat Theresa.

Although I must say that her husband in his admittedly well-performed acceptance speech - with the bit about how his mother taught him to view trees as the "CATHEDRALS OF NATURE" - and the little riff "directed to President Bush" about how we "need to be optimists; let's not attack, let's discuss issues in a positive way," followed and preceded by all sorts of attacks on Bush - and the sad little spectacle of having to soothe the second billionheiress whom he wed by prostrating himself and oozing with a painful grin: "and what can I say about Ter-Ayyzzzzz-ah?" - certainly tried!

RE: Words from "THE BOSS"

hmmmm,well if you want some interesting "quotes"here are som from the freeper attack dog Rove is unleashing against John Kerry

Corsi on Islam: "a worthless, dangerous Satanic religion"

• Corsi on Catholicism: "Boy buggering in both Islam and Catholicism is okay with the Pope as long as it isn't reported by the liberal press"

• Corsi on Muslims: "RAGHEADS are Boy-Bumpers as clearly as they are Women-Haters -- it all goes together"

• Corsi on "John F*ing Commie Kerry": "After he married TerRAHsa, didn't John Kerry begin practicing Judiasm? He also has paternal grandparents that were Jewish. What religion is John Kerry?"

• Corsi on Senator "FAT HOG" Clinton: "Anybody ask why HELLary couldn't keep BJ Bill satisfied? Not lesbo or anything, is she?"

Here is the link.

http://mediamatters.org/items/200408060010

Unlike some posters here I back up my quotes with sources.

RE: Words

"Unlike some posters here I back up my quotes with sources"

That really spoils it! Next you'll be saying that you are fair and balanced!

RE: Words from "THE BOSS"

Oooo, me again! Me again! My turn!!!

Dougie, as ever, your wit is as sharp as a bludgeon. The very crudeness of your list of "Democratic Quotes", not to mention the fact that it was a total non-sequitor, reminds me, as do many of your posts, of a threatened, wounded badger that's been cornered... hissing and snarling and making bad smells from it's posterior.

But I am game to try again. Here, I am interested in what you might make of these three memorable quotes from the Reagan era:

"You've seen one redwood, you've seen'em all."

-Ronald Reagan, on his fight against expanding Redwoods Nat'l Park by 8%.

"I don't know how many future generations we can count on before the Lord returns."

-James Watt, Secretary of the interior under Reagan, on bidding out 100,000's of acres of public lands to lumber & mining concerns. Watt was also quoted (and this was the one that got him removed from office) complaining that he could not set up a review panel without finding "A woman, a black, a Jew and some person in a wheelchair."

Trix

RE: Words from "THE BOSS"

>Here is Theresa (pronounced Ter-AYZ-ah) Heinz Kerry, on

>terrorism, at yesteday's Kerry rally:

>

>"You cannot solve problems by throwing stones, and you cannot

>solve problems by telling lies, and you cannot solve problems

>by wishing ill to other people," she said. "The only way

>you solve problems is by holding hands and talking about it,

>and that's what we want to do in this campaign."

Here is Doug (pronounced DOG ?), lifting a quote from a New York Times story that makes no mention of terrorism, and saying that it was the topic. It should be obvious, at least to those who live in the high-IQ states, that she was talking about political campaign tactics and not the abandoned war in Afghanistan.

Incidentally, it's spelled Teresa. If you need help with pronunciation, ask Jeb Bush's wife, the Mexican smuggler Columba.

RE: Words from "THE BOSS"

>Here is Doug (pronounced DOG ?)

There we are, 'Doggie'!

Shrub 'artists'.

Well what kind of artists could Bush assemble for support??

From todays Wall Street Journal:

Gatlin Brothers

Oak Ridge Boys

Lee Greenwood

Mark Wills

They only left out the Ricky Martin, the "Puerto Rican Poofter" (as my conservative Republican friends refer to him as).

RE: Words from "THE BOSS"

>LOL!!!! "artists!" - good one! Is Lee Greenwood an

>"artist"?

Who?

>Is Charleton Heston? Bruce Willis?

Sure they are. Are they spending their time traveling around the country trying to gin up support for Bush? The last I heard of Heston, he was in rehab. I hope he got better. I mean, would you want as your next-door neighbor a guy who has a huge arsenal of guns in his home and has a problem with pills and alcohol?

As for Willis, I wouldn't think someone with his history of sexual escapades would be comfortable around a born-again Christian like Bush. I heard that when he and Demi were still married both of them used to bring their lovers to the family home for Thanksgiving dinner along with their kids.

>Oh, that is so profound. You are right. He IS an artist. Only

>an artist's eye could see this obscure yet core truth, and

>express it so eloquently and powerfully.

>

>What do Jack and Diane think about this?

You remind me of Bill O'Reilly. While watching The Factor for a few minutes this summer I heard him criticize Angelina Jolie for her work with refugees on behalf of the UN. His complaint seemed to be that she was not communicating clearly to other people how they could help with the refugee problem. I felt like saying, "Bill, this woman is a multimillionaire who could spend the rest of her life sitting around her mansion in England doing nothing, but instead she goes to some of the nastiest places on earth to call attention to the problems of poor refugees, and you are criticizing her for that? What the FUCK is the matter with you, are you fucking crazy?"

I could say the same about Mellencamp. He's rich, he doesn't need anything or anyone. Why does he spend his time giving concerts for Farm Aid and helping out with other causes, because he's tired of getting laid by beautiful women and drinking champagne?