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Warning: I don't know how to do cuts and this is long. If anyone wants to post how to do cuts--and make it foolproof, because on the subject I'm a fool--I'll try to put this under a cut.
This self-indulgent meditation is brought to you by an Obamagirl. The first time I heard Bruce Springsteen on the radio, back in 1974, it “stood me still.” It was a story song and as I listened to the lyrics, I became entranced by the soulfulness of the music and the aching vocal. I sat down on my friend’s bedspread, absorbed, listening. I remember tearing up a bit as Spanish Johnny went back out on the street. I thought to myself, “This is the best song I’ve ever heard in my life.” And then I was caught up in a whirlwind of guitars and sax solos and complete joyousness: Rosalita. “This is the second best song I’ve ever heard in my life,” I thought. The rest, as they say, is history. I’ve been seeing Bruce and the E Street Band in concert for 33 years, sacrificing a number of things in order to make as many shows as possible, and never regretting any of those sacrifices. Hearing “Incident…” was an epiphany. I knew I was experiencing something special, something that moved me in a way nothing had moved me before. When my husband and I watched Barack Obama declare his presidential candidacy on C-SPAN last February, the same thing happened. Although I’ve been an avid observer of national politics for years, on that wintry 2007 day I wasn’t sure which candidate I supported. But as he spoke, I mentally segued from John Edwards (Poverty! Two Americas! Race!) to Hillary Clinton (Kids! Health care! SO smart and knowledgeable! And the most influential FOB ever!) to Obama (Electrifying speech at the convention! Inspirational speaker!). I also observed the diverse crowd’s enthusiasm—and it was then that I realized that Obama had the potential to bring America together on the subject of race in a way other candidate could. To me, our racial divide is one of America’s greatest sins. But listening to Obama, I became convinced that he had the potential to be an extraordinary agent for transformation. I didn’t know that much about him, but I knew I was with him on this journey. Naturally, I then did my research and, just as I’d immersed myself in Bruce’s music, I immersed myself in information about Obama, reading interviews and articles with my usual compulsive-obsessive nature. I loved that he had been a community activist. I loved that he had gone back to school and become a lawyer in order to be more influential in changing our world. There was no doubt that to me, like Bruce, he was the real deal. And so I called lots of states and talked to lots of people and worked at Obama HQ. And I posted a lot in a Springsteen-related political forum and soon heard how much of an Obamagirl I was. At first I was quite affronted, as I thought I had expressed myself logically and factually, proving that I was just supporting a terrific candidate and there was no point in debating it, as I was so clearly correct. I found it hard to understand how others didn’t hear what I heard/see what I saw. It seemed so clear to me.
But I can’t help smiling at my own blindness (“All my life I’ve been a prisoner of my own blindness”), because I remember the first time I saw Bruce in concert. I was in Syracuse, New York taking a pre-law class and bought a ticket to see Bruce in Geneva, NY, which was about an hour or so away. I had no idea how I’d get there, but I was determined to take a bus or do whatever I had to do in order to see this man whose music I listened to more or less non-stop. When I found out there was no bus, I thought about hitchhiking. Fortunately, one of the Resident Advisors overheard me and said he’d drive me if I could find another person to go with me. This was in 1975 BEFORE Born to Run came out. So I asked everyone in the program I knew to go with me. Every time I asked, the response was, “Who?” “You’ll hear about him one day,” I said confidently…and started asking people in the program I didn’t know. One girl, Katy, agreed to go…her older brother had seen Bruce and said it was the best show he had seen in his life. Over the many years I’ve been a Springsteen fan(atic), people have remarked about my obsession in wonder/horror. Recently some friends attempted a Bruce intervention when I announced I was going to Boston for my 7th show on the Magic tour. Finally, they came around to understanding when I explained about Danny: “They’re sort of like family for you.” I’ve never understood how they can’t understand. It seems not everyone is as passionate about things as I am. And it’s not like I’m passionate about everything…just everything I care about. I guess that’s a lot of things, now that I think about it. Anyway, one thing I do is look at patterns and try and make sense of them on a macrocosmic scale. And I am struck by the similarities between Bruce Springsteen and Barack Obama. Some are superficial, some are not. This came to me when Barack gave his victory speech at the Xcel Center. Bruce had just been there a few months before. Both men are fantastic with crowds—both are inspiring and make us want to cheer. And check this out—like Bruce, Barack even plays to the back. Both men also give us a sense of something larger than ourselves. Both are unifiers. Most saliently, after a Bruce Springsteen show…and a Barack Obama speech…I want to do and be better as a citizen of this country and this world. I get a glimpse of my own possibilities when I see both of them. Both men are eloquent on the plight of the most disenfranchised, yet neither bristles with anger nor tries to eliminate differing voices. They are inclusive, not exclusive. Perhaps this is because neither grew up as fortunate sons, though now their lifestyles could definitely be considered “elitist.” I’m sure both men know what arugula is. BUT they haven’t forgotten those less fortunate, and continue to do what they can to improve the lots of those who have never tasted arugula. At his concerts, Bruce always has someone collecting for a foodbank or a homeless charity and Barack Obama, since before entering politics, continually strives to better the lives of others. Each man expresses similar messages: No one wins unless everyone wins; the country we carry in our hearts is waiting; we are the ones we’ve been waiting for; if you're walking down the right path and you're willing to keep walking, eventually you'll make progress. The common denominators: they’re all inclusive, inspiring, and empowering. And the ride ain’t free, either. Obama often talks about the sacrifices we’ll have to make in order to create change and Bruce, in his “Living in the Future” rap talks about the importance of ending this political regime, reminding us: “It’s up to you…” I think it says something that these men share a mutual admiration. Springsteen endorsed Obama by saying, “He speaks to the America I've envisioned in my music for the past 35 years, a generous nation with a citizenry willing to tackle nuanced and complex problems, a country that's interested in its collective destiny and in the potential of its gathered spirit. A place where ‘...nobody crowds you, and nobody goes it alone.’” Obama, when asked which famous person he’d most like to meet, answered: “Bruce Springsteen.” No doubt Obama loved the concept of the Vote for Change tour—it was Bruce’s attempt at community activism and energizing the young electorate. Obama has done both those things rather well himself. But the biggest quality both men seem to share in abundance is empathy. Empathy is defined by the unabridged Random House dictionary as “the intellectual identification with or vicarious experiencing of the feelings, thoughts, or attitudes of another.” The second definition is particularly apt when discussing Bruce Springsteen: “the imaginative ascribing to an object, a natural object or work of art, feelings or attitudes present in oneself: By means of empathy, a great painting becomes a mirror of the self.” In the case of both Bruce Springsteen and Barack Obama, I’ve been accused of rose-colored glasses/blindness/deification. What can I say in response? That I’m proud to recognize greatness before others? Is that egotistical … or natural? On the subject of Bruce, I am confident that I’ve never seen a better live musician, one who never sells himself out and gives everything to his audience. Artistic integrity and an extraordinary work ethic are the watchwords of his faith. I think we see in Barack Obama a similar political integrity and work ethic. Is Barack a politician—of course he is, just as Bruce doesn’t perform for free. They would not be where they are if either was any different. Would I prefer Obama, on some issues, to have some different policies? Sure. I would also give up the entire Devils and Dust album (but some of the D&D shows were memories I’d never relinquish). Both Barack and Bruce are more moderate than some would like and more liberal than others would like. But to me, they’re like Baby Bear’s gruel: just right. I am beginning, finally, to understand why some people accused me of being overly partial (or fanatical) on the subject of Obama…and why I was so offended by it. When I recognize someone extraordinary, I am shocked that others don’t see it, too. It seems so self-evident—to me, I hasten to add—that only willful blindness would obscure it. I don’t give my affections lightly, but when I do, I don’t do so lightly. I do it with all the passion and energy in my being. (Ask anyone who has seen me at a Bruce show.) I used to sign my letters “Yours in Bruce” and I can allude to Obama being a lightworker (thank you Mark Morford). That’s my sense of humor (mostly). Years ago, a co-worker expressed surprise that I wasn’t going to see Cher…after all, I went to so many concerts. I was insulted by her comment until I realized she didn’t know better—she ignorantly confused my metric as stardom, instead of quality and resonance. I was not confused and am not confused now. I recognize greatness when I encounter it. There are two things for which I am now fired up. One is the American leg of the E Street Band tour. I can’t stop thinking about it/planning for it…obsessing over it. The other is, of course, November…and a Barack Obama presidency. I am willing to call people I don’t know in all 50 states and encourage them to vote for Barack. I am willing to work hard for his election, just as I am willing to do whatever it takes to get tickets for every MSG show. (The good news: hitchhiking won’t be necessary.) I’m gonna keep (Ba)rocking in the free world. And I’m looking forward to getting my country back. So call me an Obamagirl if you want. I’ve been called a Brucemaniac enough times. My mom just called me to say Barack was speaking on CNN. She’s now almost 80 years old, and after hearing him speak, she’s an Obamagirl, too. I have to go now. The country we carry in our hearts is waiting. | 
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