Rocker Bruce Springsteen has been writing and selling songs for more than two decades, several of which are recognized as classics of the genre. In the process, the Boss has become rich, famous and — not to put too fine a point on it — politically naïve.
That naivety was on vivid display Sunday when the fawning Scott Pelley of “60 Minutes” gave Springsteen a broadcast platform to preen his knee-jerk assertions about the bungled war in Iraq, political oppression by Bush, evil Republicans who steal elections, the suppression of civil liberties and other Looney Left horrors about modern American life. Rock ’n’ roll is supposed to be about independent thinking and rebellion against the establishment, yet there was the aging star lecturing in the spotlight like a liberal Massachusetts congressman.
If you really want to know what is going on, Bruce, go talk to Ayaan Hirsi Ali and Fleming Rose. They can tell you all about what real oppression is like because they live in daily fear that their next breath could be their last. They constantly fear that waiting for them around the next corner is the bomb, bullet or blade of an Islamo-fascist killer. Preachers of Jihadic hatred incite followers to murder “infidels” like Ali and Rose, and anybody else who won’t bow down to Allah.
Ali is a Somalian-born former member of the Dutch Parliament who has lived with death threats and round-the-clock security since the 2004 murder of filmmaker Theo Van Gogh in broad daylight by an Islamo-fascist assassin. Van Gogh’s crime was directing Ali’s film “Submission,” which is sharply critical of the cruel oppression of women by Muslim regimes.
Fleming Rose became the focus of countless deadly demonstrations after some of his satiric cartoons about Muhammad appeared in the Danish press. The chief Danish mullah seized on Rose’s work and embellished it with fake cartoons designed to further inflame the millions of Muslim fanatics who believe it is their sworn duty to kill any infidel who dares to criticize Muhammad.
Danish authorities have since uncovered at least one serious plot by a cell of would-be suicide bombers who were actively planning to blow up Rose at the first opportunity.
The creative work and expression of artists like Springsteen would be quickly and brutally suppressed in any country controlled by the likes of Osama bin Laden, the Wahhabist fanatics of Saudi Arabia or the Iranian mullahs. Springsteen should walk a mile in the shoes of Ali or Rose to learn how genuine oppression feels. Maybe then he could even write a song about it.
