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One of the many reasons I'm a fan

In response to requests for the text of Bruce’s remarks before he performed "The Ghost of Tom Joad" last night, here is a rough transcript:

I never believed that people come to my shows, or rock shows to be told anything.

But I do believe that they come to be reminded of things. To be reminded of who they are, at their most joyous, at their deepest, when life feels full. It's a good place to get in touch with your heart and your spirit, to be amongst the crowd. And to be reminded of who we are and who we can be collectively. Music does those things pretty well sometimes, particularly these days when some reminding of who we are and who we can be isn't such a bad thing.

That weekend of the March for our Lives, we saw those young people in Washington, and citizens all around the world, remind us of what faith in America and real faith in American democracy looks and feels like. It was just encouraging to see all those people out on the street and all that righteous passion in the service of something good. And to see that passion was alive and well and still there at the center of the beating heart of our country.

It was a good day, and a necessary day because we are seeing things right now on our American borders that are so shockingly and disgracefully inhumane and un-American that it is simply enraging. And we have heard people in high position in the American government blaspheme in the name of God and country that it is a moral thing to assault the children amongst us. May God save our souls.

There's the beautiful quote by Dr. King that says the arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice. Now, there have been many, many days of recent when you could certainly have an argument over that. But I've lived long enough to see that in action and to put some faith in it. But I've also lived long enough to know that arc doesn't bend on its own. It needs all of us leaning on it, nudging it in the right direction day after day. You gotta keep, keep leaning.

I think it's important to believe in those words, and to carry yourself, and to act accordingly. It's the only way that we keep faith and keep our sanity.

I've played this show 146 nights with basically the same setlist, but tonight calls for something different...

- Bruce Springsteen

It's difficult to take a guy seriously when he speaks politically, when he ignores some terrible policies by politicians he adores (and befriends)....(and there have been many).  It's a fine line he tries to walk, as a voter, citizen, and artist.  He's on stage selling his art, and well, it rings hollow when he could have, and should have, spoken out against our horrible immigration policy (and implementation thereof) during any other presidential administration for the past 30 years.  As a citizen, I love that he speaks out against things he believes in.  As an artist, his art falters when he ignores so much during some years.  I'm not comparing Obama to Trump.  I'm making this comment based on 30 years of seeing him stand up with his art against some policies, and then let his art ignore other policies.  That he is Obama's friend only underscores the situation.  But he doesn't care...his audience is large enough that he can basically pull a Seinfeld..."I'm old, and I'm coming back." (referring to how old people back up out of a driveway without looking).  He can do what he wants without any recourse to his bank account.  Strange how he awaited until he was a gazillionaire before he really got political on stage.  Or maybe not.

The red continues to get redder.  The blue, bluer.  And those of us in the middle just continue to scratch at our heads, wondering when people will stop letting our media give them their opinions. 

Julius posted:

It's difficult to take a guy seriously when he speaks politically, when he ignores some terrible policies by politicians he adores (and befriends)....(and there have been many).  It's a fine line he tries to walk, as a voter, citizen, and artist.  He's on stage selling his art, and well, it rings hollow when he could have, and should have, spoken out against our horrible immigration policy (and implementation thereof) during any other presidential administration for the past 30 years.  As a citizen, I love that he speaks out against things he believes in.  As an artist, his art falters when he ignores so much during some years.  I'm not comparing Obama to Trump.  I'm making this comment based on 30 years of seeing him stand up with his art against some policies, and then let his art ignore other policies.  That he is Obama's friend only underscores the situation.  But he doesn't care...his audience is large enough that he can basically pull a Seinfeld..."I'm old, and I'm coming back." (referring to how old people back up out of a driveway without looking).  He can do what he wants without any recourse to his bank account.  Strange how he awaited until he was a gazillionaire before he really got political on stage.  Or maybe not.

The red continues to get redder.  The blue, bluer.  And those of us in the middle just continue to scratch at our heads, wondering when people will stop letting our media give them their opinions. 

I do find it strange that you always criticize the man for making a political statement rather than commenting on the issue itself. You suggest that the fact Bruce has supported politicians who may or may not have supported so called ‘terrible’ policies (although that is a matter of interpretation) somehow invalidates his argument. It seems those of you who claim to hold the middle ground would rather find fault with those public figures who make a political stand on an issue rather that address the issue itself. Surely, the issue is about the inhumane policy and not about Bruce himself.  As to your view that his political views were only expressed publicly once he became wealthy is patently not true.  Maybe you need to go away and find an artist who has the political views of an amoeba.

 

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