I’ve gotten a lot of flack for taking a critical look at the Rally to Restore Sanity last weekend. Most of the commenters argued that the rally was important because it served as a much-needed call for civility and a critique of the mainstream media for its fear-mongering and sensationalism.
I couldn’t agree more. While I wasn’t able to watch the whole rally, the excerpts that I heard of Jon Stewart’s closing speech were very poignant.
My problem was that I thought the way Stewart framed the rally on his show was insulting to traditional activism. By arguing that real Americans don’t protest because they have “shit to do,” I felt Stewart implied that demonstrators are often on the street because they don’t have anything better to do. For most of the activists that I know, that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Perhaps in response to others who made similar critiques, Stewart explicitly said during his closing remarks that his intention was not to ridicule “people of faith or people of activism.”
Nevertheless, his inclusion of Kid Rock in the lineup showed not only his poor taste in music, but his disregard for the power of everyday folks to effect change and make the world a better place.
Preforming “Care” off his new CD, Kid Rock sang to the crowd of more than 200,000:
“I can’t stop the war, shelter homeless, feed the poor… I can’t change the world and make things fair. The least that I can do is care.”
When I heard that refrain, I was shocked. What an incredibly disempowering message to give anyone, let alone an enormous throng at a rally. We can stop the wars if we work together, and I’m good friends with people who shelter the homeless and feed the poor every day. These things are desperately needed and completely doable, and there is absolutely no justification for telling anyone otherwise. Simply “caring” is not enough.
I’m glad you decided to mention this in particular. I had many of the same thoughts originally, although a friend helped taper my discontent somewhat. He said that the inclusion of Kid Rock might help the Rally appeal more to folks who otherwise wouldn’t have taken it at all seriously… which may be true. And also, there are definitely a lot worse things Kid Rock could have been singing about – just listen to pretty much any other song of his. So I’m of course happy for people to be singing about how the least they can do is care instead of, for example, how much they’re a pimp, or “a cow-boy, baby…”
But perhaps it’s because of my year at The Catholic Worker – if I ever hear someone saying how they can’t shelter the homeless or feed the poor, I’m kind of just like, “Umm… yes, you actually can definitely do that.” All it really takes is watching one person sleep inside one night, or one genuinely hungry individual enjoying a bowl of soup and a cup of coffee to know that ol’ Kid’s got rocks in his head. Now, as far as stopping the war… a laudable goal, Mr. Rock: we’re working on it!
I’m not surprised by Kid Rocks apathy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHzSBEVbXtM
Someone who makes a music video for the Army National Guard that juxtaposes a military occupation where armored Humvees will stop on a dime to avoid running over an Iraqi (even sillier having the U.S. soldier climb out nonchalantly and kick the ball back with a smile), house raids are bloodless, and explosions from Apache helicopters are as cool as NASCAR drivers colliding into each other is not going to be someone you’d look to for direct action. But neither is John Stewart. They’re both entertainers who simplify real issues.
Thanks for pointing this out, Michael. Really important, and revealing. So he is perfectly capable of recruiting soldiers for the military, but not of doing anything to end the war. Perhaps the secret to Kid Rock’s complaint is that he’s being paid too much to keep the war going that he personally is not about to try and stop it. Straight from the mouth of the MIC.
Great point Michael. I wasn’t aware that he had partnered with the military, which makes his appearance at the rally and his lyrics that much more despicable.
“not only his poor taste in music,”
If I were drinking milk, I would have shot it out of my nose.
That song is up there with the other f-tard songs:
Billy Joel’s hands off policy in “We didn’t start the fire” pure idiocy that suggests Americans are not responsible for the pain their gov’t metes out.
&
Jesus Jones’s “Right Here, Right Now” that suggests all is right with the world because the US & UK won the cold war.
I guess this is a forum for criticism; but it is easy to demonize an entertainer that does not comply with your taste in music. However, Kid Rock travels and entertains the troops, he regularly supports many charitable organizations and specifically has save several small businesses in Michigan – hit by the recent financial crisis. Maybe his message is that people tend to become desensitized by all of the sensationalistic journalism, name calling and blame placing between political parties. Concern over apathy is a real concern – as it makes people lose faith in their leaders – regardless of political party. I think the rally was directed at exactly that. You may not like the guy, and he may have some songs that are directed solely at entertaining; but his message resonates with folks who are themselves barely making ends meet – have lost jobs, houses, and faith – and need to be reminded that their opinion still matters. Maybe if there was more friendship, support and cooperation out there – instead of finger-pointing, these rallies wouldn’t be necessary.
Thank you Lyn KH for bringing unbiased and level headed objectivity back to this discussion. It’s easier to appear intelligent by pointing out the negative aspects of something, and any “f-tard” can sit at home and play devils advocate, but it takes a truely miserable and anarchistic person to use mass media, forum thread or otherwise, to try to tear down any attempt to heal or soothe our nation, no matter how flawed or imperfect (gasp) it may have been. Bravo Jon, Kid and all involved. And I agree with and appreciate you Lyn.