Sweetheart Like You

I drove to work today listening to Bob Dylan's 1983 release, "Infidels." Lyrics in the song "Sweetheart Like You" struck me, "Patriotism is the last refuge to which a scoundrel clings, steal a little and they throw you in jail, steal a lot and they make you king." Our present leadership seems to embody these lines, and I am transported back two weeks ago to Terminal One in O'Hare where I was stranded for eight hours awaiting a flight to China. I picked up a bottle of water, a Cubs jersey for a change of clothes (can't do Chisox) and the New Yorker (the 7/10 & 17 issue). I read Sy Hersh's "Last Stand" about the the military's policy on Iran. Hersh proves again that he knows more about our military than our current assemblage of Nixoneers who believe that we can actually win a Vietnam. Lawrence Wright's article about the Cole investigation is enough to make one consider living abroad for the rest of one's life. As a business case study, and a good one at that, you learn that abysmal and non-existent communication in the highest levels of government results not only in lost revenue but also in lost lives--3,000 of them on September 11th. Sure, we heard that communication was poor--but what actually happened is far worse and does not bode well for the future. Topping off an excellent issue, David Remnick's "Murrowesque" response to the administration's attacks on the media is also worth a read. The eloquence of William Safire speaking through Spiro Agnew is definitely missing from the present day. Suffice to say we live in interesting and passionate times. The current administration inspires us as artists to create powerful work in response. Take music for example. Springsteen's interpretations of our folk heritage on "We Shall Overcome" (The Seeger Sessions) through songs like "John Henry" and "Old Dan Tucker" uncover in my mind, what is the true American spirit. The "transformative power of song" brought solace to those working in the trenches of our history--on railroads, in mines, and in the fighting of wars. The true essence of our history resides in these songs, not in metallic decals on bumpers.