Tougher Than the Rest
It was hard not to think of the line from Badlands as Trump lashed out at Bruce Springsteen: Poor man wanna be rich. Rich man wanna be king. The king ain’t satisfied ‘til he rules everything. “This dried out ‘prune’ of a rocker (his skin is all atrophied!) ought to KEEP HIS MOUTH SHUT until he gets back into the Country …Then we’ll all see how it goes for him!” The president attacked and threatened Bruce Springsteen for comments the musician (and national treasure) made about America’s dangerous trends. During the first Trump administration, these undignified and ridiculous rants were laughable, but not dangerous. During this version of Trumpism, we’ve seen so-called enemies being targeted by Trump. Springsteen obviously knew he’d be targeted by the president. He also knows that a lot of his fanbase comes from red states. But he spoke the truth anyway. Other artists need to speak out as well (especially younger ones). Actors, artists, and musicians need to stop carrying on as if everything is normal. There’s strength in numbers. Don’t leave it to a 75 year-old rocker to be the only one willing to prove it all night. Trump also followed up on his claim that Springsteen is “not a talented guy” to randomly lash out again at Taylor Swift. “Has anyone noticed that, since I said ‘I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT,’ she’s no longer ‘HOT?'” Springsteen’s not talented. Taylor Swift isn’t popular. Next thing you’re gonna tell me is Trump isn’t corrupt.
+ From yesterday’s edition: “The last check on power after the checks and balances have failed, are the people. You and me.” In the Bruce Springsteen song Jungleland, the narrator laments that, “the poets down here don’t write nothing at all, they just stand back and let it all be.” Springsteen is one poet not following that model. “In my home, the America I love, the America I’ve written about that has been a beacon of hope and liberty for 250 years, is currently in the hands of a corrupt, incompetent, and treasonous administration. Tonight, we ask all who believe in democracy and the best of our American experience to rise with us. Raise your voices against authoritarianism and let freedom ring.” Bruce Springsteen is one artist not ignoring America’s struggle.
