Come on up for the Rising

[bronxiteforever]

I wondered why our party chose Bruce Springsteen's song about a fireman's last moments in the World Trade Center as the party's anthem for the presidential election.

"Can't see nothin' in front of me
Can't see nothin' coming up behind
I make my way through this darkness
I can't feel nothing but this chain that binds me
Lost track of how far I've gone
How far I've gone, how high I've climbed
On my back's a sixty pound stone
On my shoulder a half mile line"

But then I realized that it is a perfect choice. The incredibly dark moment in the song turns into defiant hope, a rising.

It is hard to remember 9/11, seen now through the prism of water boarding, the war and prisons that I never thought Americans would run. But the song calls us back to the time before flag pins. Where a fireman full of life climbed up the stairs into hell fire to save another person and to fight a fire he knew he couldn't fight. The American People helped each other in the Pentagon, the Towers and in the planes. Nobody asked questions about each other's patriotism in the fires.

"Left the house this morning
Bells ringing filled the air
Wearin' the cross of my calling
On wheels of fire I come rollin' down here"

We didn't need massive surveillance and the patriot act powers that ripped our constitution but we doubted ourselves in fear and sold the country short. To a greater extent we never gave the dead of 9/11 their rightful memorial of carrying on their dream of being a free country that struggles to be good and fair and just.

"Spirits above and behind me
Faces gone, black eyes burnin' bright
May their precious blood forever bind me
Lord as I stand before your fiery light"

So while the other party robot calls in fear to American households and casts doubts on the patriotism of all those who stand in the their way to, we will fight for the best in our country. While they preach war, we preach diplomacy. While they try to steal people's votes, we will fight for the right to vote. While they try to divide a country,we will show compassion and concern for all citizens,including the poor, so that all Americans can live a free life. And we will fight so all of us can live in a country free from fear.

So pardon my defiant optimism when I know there is much wrong with the direction of our country and the GOP campaign, but I can't help it. Our party picked the right song.

Come on Up for the Rising.

"May I feel your arms around me
May I feel your blood mix with mine
A dream of life comes to me
Like a catfish dancin' on the end of the line
Come on up for the rising
Come on up, lay your hands in mine
Come on up for the rising
Come on up for the rising tonight"

[Hailtothechimp]

1. All that and a tasty guitar solo, too.

Any Bruce song would be great, but the Rising is an especially inspired choice.

Have you seen the video of the Springsteen/Billy Joel show from last night on YouTube? Born to Run just killed (but it always does)

[bronxiteforever]

2. No I haven't seen it but will now-Thanks for the tip!-Bruce is the Boss