Ho apprezzato, come molti, la presa di posizione di Bruce Springsteen contro le politiche di Donald Trump in Minnesota, in totale sintonia col suo pensiero, preoccupato almeno quanto lui dalla deriva autoritaria in corso negli Stati Uniti. La mia condivisione di un suo recente concerto a Red Bank ha spinto il mio amico Laurence Kenyon, convinto e elettore di Trump, a commentare così:
Alberto. He’s the most over privileged white man in history. I know. I knew him. He can’t stop criticizing and disparaging the country that gave him that privilege. And yes. I’m from New Jersey. And yes I loved his music. But sadly he’s become a joke.
Ho lavorato molto sulla risposta, cercando di esprimere il mio pensiero senza essere conflittuale, restando rispettoso dell’opinione di un’altra persona a cui sono affezionato. Mi sembra che il risultato sia valido, quindi lo salvo qui:
Actually, my friend Laurence, I see it differently. While his country provided a vast and extraordinary stage, Springsteen’s fame and wealth weren’t simply ‘granted’ to him—they were forged by his immense talent and his genius. The country offered the setting, but his success was entirely generated by his artistic quality, a success that is truly global and resonates far beyond American borders.
That being said, why shouldn’t he be allowed to use his status to express a clear political stance? This is a right that must be guaranteed to every prominent person, regardless of their wealth and fame. Why shouldn’t Springsteen (or De Niro, Cuban, Eilish, etcetera) voice his disagreement with Trump when other prominent figures, such as Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos—far wealthier, more privileged and more powerful—use theirs status to support him?
Moreover, if you’ll allow me, I must point out a fundamental flaw in your reasoning: equating a critique of the leadership with a critique of the Nation itself. This is, in fact, a recurring habit in Donald Trump’s rhetoric, where any opposition to his administration is framed as an attack on the country. We should be careful here, as this confusion is historically a hallmark of totalitarian regimes (our dictator Mussolini did the same). On the contrary, a fierce and uncompromising critique of leadership is a true act of love for one’s country; it is the vital spark of the democracy that America has championed for so many years.
I know we have different perspectives on this, but I hope you can understand where I’m coming from. I truly believe that protecting this distinction is what keeps a democracy healthy and free.
Il thread è sul mio wall Facebook.