Bruce Springsteen's recent concert in Brooklyn was far more than a fabulous, joyous event; it was an inspiring resistance gathering. From the start, the Boss made clear that this concert would be part of the anti-Trump resistance, delivering a three-hour-long ode to democracy and a thunderous call for fans to fight against authoritarianism.
Springsteen began with patriotic words for service members overseas but quickly shifted to full-scale resistance mode. He declared, 'The E Street Band is here tonight in celebration and defense of the American ideals and values that have sustained our country for 250 years. We call upon the righteous power of art, of music, of rock'n'roll in these dangerous times.'
He continued, 'Our democracy, our constitution, our rule of law are being challenged right now as never before by a reckless, racist, incompetent, treasonous president and his ship of fools administration. So tonight we ask all of you to join with us in choosing hope over fear, democracy over authoritarianism, the rule of law over lawlessness, ethics over unbridled corruption, resistance over complacency, truth over lies, unity over division and peace over war.'
The concert featured powerful songs like 'War (What Is It Good For)' and 'Born in the USA,' along with Bob Dylan's 'Chimes of Freedom,' which Springsteen sang for refugees, rebels, outcasts, and underdogs. Tom Morello joined him for an amped-up version of 'The Ghost of Tom Joad,' criticizing a 'new world order' with families sleeping in cars.
Springsteen's energy was phenomenal, seeming more like 26 than 76. He directly slapped at Trump, saying, 'Honesty, honor, humility, character, truth, compassion, humanity, thoughtfulness, morality, true strength and decency – don't let anybody tell you that these things don't matter any more – they do. So many of our elected leaders have failed us that this American tragedy can only be stopped by the American people – by you. So join us and let's fight for the America that we love.'
He also jabbed at Trump's attempts to whitewash history, noting, 'Our museums are being told to whitewash American history of any unpleasant or inconvenient facts, like the full history of the brutality of slavery. You want to talk about snowflakes? We have a president who can't handle the truth.'
Springsteen's resistance is unflinching. At each concert, he delivers a broadside against the administration's corruption and destruction of America's reputation. He has written an anthem, 'The Streets of Minneapolis,' denouncing Trump's deployment of agents to intimidate the city. At song's end, he led chants of 'ICE out now!' and displayed photos of Renée Good and Alex Pretti.
At the No Kings rally in St Paul, Springsteen praised the people of Minneapolis and Minnesota, honoring Good and Pretti. He told of Good's last words: 'To the man who she was protesting against, the man who would take her life, she said: 'That's fine, dude, I'm not mad at you. I'm not mad.' God bless her.' He urged fans to 'find a way to take aggressive, peaceful action to defend our country's ideals' and to 'go out and get into some good trouble.'
Springsteen's concerts give hope. He uses his star power to fight the good fight, talking to people rather than at them. His decades-old fan base and man-of-the-people image make it easier for him to speak out. His hugely successful Land of Hope and Dreams tour may inspire other celebrities to do more.
The nation could use more like him. Long live the Boss.
