by Ray Keating
The Keating Files – February 8, 2021
It’s been a very long time since I called myself a Bruce Springsteen fan – not since college days. It didn’t take me long to leave behind his longing-for-or-stuck-in-yesterday lyrics disguised by a driving rock sound.
While I love history, and have a deep respect for the faith and traditions passed on to me by previous generations, angsty looking back and regrets aren’t terribly interesting or enlightening. For good measure, Springsteen hasn’t exactly hid his Democratic Party leanings over the years.
Now, having acknowledged all of this, I was impressed by the Jeep commercial that aired during the Super Bowl that featured Springsteen talking about regaining common ground in America. This wasn’t Democratic celebrity or angsty rocker Springsteen. Instead, it was fellow American Springsteen.
In this commercial, he speaks of Americans not being at our best when we submit to fear, and that the freedom we share is essential. It features him at a chapel in Kansas, “standing at the exact center of the lower forty-eight.” He continues, “It never closes. All are more than welcome to come meet here in the middle.” And he talks of freedom connecting Americans in the middle.
Although, I doubt this going to sell any more Jeep Wranglers, I still say kudos to Jeep and Springsteen for this statement.
Indeed, the few critical comments that I’ve seen – and I have not done a deep dive on this – seem to come from the Right, including some fellow conservatives. They seem to discard the message because it comes from a Democrat. Okay. Whatever. But just because one agrees with Springsteen in this video doesn’t mean that one agrees with him on everything else. Indeed, I don’t. We need to reaffirm our common ground and our love of freedom, and with that freedom, to discuss, debate and even argue … civilly … and celebrate the many things that we share as Americans.
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Ray Keating is a columnist, novelist, economist, podcaster and entrepreneur. His new book Vatican Shadows: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel is the 13th thriller/mystery in the Pastor Stephen Grant series. Get the paperback or Kindle edition at Amazon, or signed books at www.raykeatingonline.com.
The views expressed here are his own – after all, no one else should be held responsible for this stuff, right?
You also can order his book Behind Enemy Lines: Conservative Communiques from Left-Wing New York from Amazon or signed books at RayKeatingOnline.com. His other recent nonfiction book is Free Trade Rocks! 10 Points on International Trade Everyone Should Know.
One of the best ways to enjoy Ray Keating’s Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries is to join the Pastor Stephen Grant Fellowship! For the BEST VALUE, consider the Book of the Month Club. Check it all out at https://www.patreon.com/pastorstephengrantfellowship
Also, tune in to Ray Keating’s podcasts – the PRESS CLUB C Podcast and the Free Enterprise in Three Minutes Podcast
Check out Ray Keating’s Disney news and entertainment site at www.DisneyBizJournal.com.
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