A Crack in the Wall

The Republican Response last night was in no way a “response” to the State of the Union Address. Rather, it was a response to a generic straw-man State of the Union that was never delivered. In this speech, delivered in an alternate universe it seems, the President explained how America needs to become more like Europe by creating a massive entitlement society. He also declared it America’s destiny to have a weak military and a crumbling economy. Above all, the President used vitriolic language to attack the pillars of industry in our society, encouraging laziness and penalizing success.

The Republican response failed to rebut any of Obama’s substantive policy solutions to various problems and offered no concrete solutions of any kind. I don’t see how the Republicans can win with this approach- emphasize how miserable everyone is and blame it all on Obama’s policies. Are the American people stupid enough to buy this line?

It’s coming through a hole in the air,
from those nights in Tiananmen Square.
It’s coming from the feel
that this ain’t exactly real,
or it’s real, but it ain’t exactly there.
From the wars against disorder,
from the sirens night and day,
from the fires of the homeless,
from the ashes of the gay:
Democracy is coming to the U.S.A.
It’s coming through a crack in the wall;
on a visionary flood of alcohol;
from the staggering account
of the Sermon on the Mount
which I don’t pretend to understand at all.
It’s coming from the silence
on the dock of the bay,
from the brave, the bold, the battered
heart of Chevrolet:
Democracy is coming to the U.S.A.

It’s coming from the sorrow in the street,
the holy places where the races meet;
from the homicidal bitchin’
that goes down in every kitchen
to determine who will serve and who will eat.
From the wells of disappointment
where the women kneel to pray
for the grace of God in the desert here
and the desert far away:
Democracy is coming to the U.S.A.

Sail on, sail on
O mighty Ship of State!
To the Shores of Need
Past the Reefs of Greed
Through the Squalls of Hate
Sail on, sail on, sail on, sail on.

It’s coming to America first,
the cradle of the best and of the worst.
It’s here they got the range
and the machinery for change
and it’s here they got the spiritual thirst.
It’s here the family’s broken
and it’s here the lonely say
that the heart has got to open
in a fundamental way:
Democracy is coming to the U.S.A.

It’s coming from the women and the men.
O baby, we’ll be making love again.
We’ll be going down so deep
the river’s going to weep,
and the mountain’s going to shout Amen!
It’s coming like the tidal flood
beneath the lunar sway,
imperial, mysterious,
in amorous array:
Democracy is coming to the U.S.A.

Sail on, sail on …

I’m sentimental, if you know what I mean
I love the country but I can’t stand the scene.
And I’m neither left or right
I’m just staying home tonight,
getting lost in that hopeless little screen.
But I’m stubborn as those garbage bags
that Time cannot decay,
I’m junk but I’m still holding up
this little wild bouquet:
Democracy is coming to the U.S.A.

- L. Cohen

This blog will critically analyze current events from a historical perspective. With a background in politics and as a current graduate student of history, I hope to provide insights and provoke conversations regarding contemporary politics and culture. As a former college debater and debate coach, I enjoy a good argument and hope to spark some contentious discussions.

Howard Zinn once remarked that “If you don’t know history, it is as if you were born yesterday.” Unfortunately, too many Americans are preyed on by opportunistic politicians, advertisers, etc. who exploit their lack of historical perspective.  This blog is my own minor corrective to this atmosphere. I join other critical voices in this effort – other small cracks in a wall of deception, misinformation and shortsightedness.

If all of this seems a little dour…both the past and the present can be pretty hilarious as well…