- I watched the John Kerry For President concert on Sundance
Monday night, while listening to it on WBAI radio. It was shown live from
the MCI Center in D.C. It was a great concert. I loved seeing John Fogarty
play with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. Dave Matthews, John
Mellenkamp, Bonnie Raitt, the Dixie Chicks with James Taylor, REM, what
a great show it was. And as much as I loved it all, I was saddened by its
message, because I think its dead wrong. I wish I could just talk about
the music, but this program was designed to make me vote for John Kerry.
I mean how great was it to see Bruce Springsteen start the night playing
an acoustic 12-string version of the National Anthem?
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- But it couldn't deter me from seeing that John Kerry
is pro-war, and therefore I can,t support him for president. I know the
performers are anti-war. They are opposed to the policies of the Bush Administration.
They are doing what they think is right, but they are wrong, and deep in
their hearts they know they are kidding themselves. They are wishing and
hoping that John Kerry can be reached, that once in office he might be
convinced to be the compassionate liberal.
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- But history teaches us that, when it comes to the presidency,
whether it be liberal or conservative, there is very little room for compassion
when the United States has decided that it is time for war.
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- Five hours of great music and passion could not cloud
the issue for me. I'm afraid that Bruce and his friends are truly kidding
themselves.
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- When it mattered most, John Kerry voted in favor of this
war. When it mattered most John Kerry voted in favor of the Patriot Act.
When it mattered most John Kerry voted in favor of NAFTA and GATT. And
when it matters most now John Kerry promises that he will be out of Iraq
in four years, that he will win the war, hunt down the terrorists and kill
them. And when it matters most now John Kerry turns out to be one of the
candidates of the War Party, because when it matters most John Kerry is
no different than his blood brother, George W. Bush.
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- It,s the war. The issue is the war and the occupation.
It is being done in our name. George W. Bush started it and John F. Kerry
wants to win it. We can be assured of one thing that whoever "wins,
the war will continue. And for the war to continue there has to be a draft
and both Kerry and Bush continue to lie to you about it.
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- I feel sad for my friends who are going to vote for John
Kerry. My friends are opposed to war, they are committed to justice, and
they feel that their only choice is to vote for John Kerry. But the reality
is, if you are for peace, that is no choice at all.
-
- It tell my friends that I'm going to vote for myself
on November 2nd as the ultimate protest vote. They tell me that I'm wasting
my vote. I say to them that George W. Bush has appointed 11 of his Skull
and Bones blood brothers to his administration. I wonder how many John
Kerry will appoint to his?
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- The most compelling and poignant moment of this supposed
"Vote For Change" concert was when Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam
launched into his version of Dylan's "Masters of War." It sounded
as if Bob Dylan had written the song last week:
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- " Come you masters of war
- You that build all the guns
- You that build the death planes
- You that build the big bombs
- You that hide behind walls
- You that hide behind desks
- I just want you to know
- I can see through your masks
-
- You that never done nothin'
- But build to destroy
- You play with my world
- Like it's your little toy
- You put a gun in my hand
- And you hide from my eyes
- And you turn and run farther
- When the fast bullets fly
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- Like Judas of old
- You lie and deceive
- A world war can be won
- You want me to believe
- But I see through your eyes
- And I see through your brain
- Like I see through the water
- That runs down my drain. . ."
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- Copyright © 1963; renewed 1991 Special Rider Music
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- You can reach Chuck Zlatkin at ChuckZlatkin@hotmail.com
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- www.rightiswrong.com
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- Copyright 2004 Chuck Zlatkin
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- Chuck Zlatkin
- P.O Box 821
- JAF Station
- New York, NY 10116-0821
- 212-726-1385
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