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I am writing to caution you on your choice of campaign song. While "Born in the U.S.A." appears to be patriotic and upbeat on the surface and especially in the chorus, the actual content of the song may put off many of your potential voters. Nearly constant reference to the the Vietnam War and the emptiness/weirdness of life after returning (for example, "they put a rifle in my hand" and "they're still there, he's all gone") make Mr. Springsteen's discontent with that conflict quite clear. Therefore, the actual content of the song is not patriotic or right-leaning. I am also concerned that you may receive backlash from Mr. Springsteen himself, as he is not exactly known for his conservative views! I hope that this note will cause you to pause and reconsider your choice. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Respectfully,
Matthew
Extra Credit
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q65KZIqay4E
http://www.scoutsongs.com/lyrics/proudtobeamerican.html
Matthew,
ReplyDeleteGood work! You make very good points on both some of the pros and cons of the original song - I am glad you pointed out the potential double meaning in the song in context of immigration (the issue the candidate is best known for). I'm happy to see that you did provide a new song, but it would be nice to mention a little bit why - especially if you're recommending it to the candidate. It was nice to see you taking a practical approach to critiquing the song by looking at logistical issues such as Mr. Springsteen's allowing the song being used. Great work!
-Mr. Chang