
By: James G. Milles
Conservatives got their panties into a bunch because Bruce Springsteen played CCR’s “Fortunate Son,” at a concert for veterans. The song famously mocks leaders and members of the privileged classes who expect other people to fight their wars for them in the name of patriotism. Amanda Marcotte has a better definition of patriotism:
Washington Post gathered up a couple of tweets by people complaining about the song being played at “patriotic” events. Again, it’s interesting how the concept of being a “patriot” is tied up in the idea that we should just want some wars, because yea wars! But I would like to offer another definition of a patriot: Someone who believes that her country has value because the people in it have value. Which means that you defend the right of soldiers to live and argue strenuously against going to war unless it is truly necessary. Which is what Springsteen was doing.