Various Topics on Bruce Springsteen

.... ..

"Jack Harris" <jharrisILIKEGOLF@quantumsystems.comwrote in message
news:bhjn95$bpu1$1@ID-120893.news.uni-berlin.de... What is it, really? I think it's been a fun discussion to participate in and
(lately, for me) to watch. Some think the song is an attack on Muslim
extremism and a celebration of (let's say) humanism--if not a celebration of
Christianity. These people think the point of moving from Israel to Virginia
is to draw a contrast between two different approaches to life and death. I
suppose that's plausible, though it doesn't work for me at all. Some think
it's an expression of sympathy for Palestinian suicide bombers for their
righteous struggle against Israel and US imperialism. These people seem to
think the point of including Palestinian and Virginian is to suggest a
parallel--both of the dead are victims of US/Israel friendship/imperialism
(and if Springsteen didn't want us to sympathize with the Palestinian, he
could have made her a 9/11 hijacker). That's plausible too, and more
interesting, but it still seems to cut out the most interesting part of the
song, which, it seems to me, has nothing to do with politics. Some people
(me, that is, and maybe only me) still think the key lines of the song are
the "empty as paradise" lines. While other songs on the album allude to some
kind of paradise, this one seems to condemn a certain idea of it, and I
think the idea it condemns isn't specifically Christian or Muslim. Lots of
different views.

<pedantic mode on

Hemingway had this idea of writing that has come to be called the "iceberg
theory." He said that what's great about an iceberg, what gives it it's
strength and dignity, is the part you can't see, that 90% of it (or whatever
it is) that's submerged. Good writing, according to EH, should be the same
way. What makes it great is not what's written but what's left out, the part
that's submerged. This is, for sure, a ridiculous theory of great writing
(though it has its moments), and I'd say that it's not applicable to 99% of
Springsteen songs. But I think it is applicable to this one, because this
song is unusually hard to pin down.

<Done with pedantic mode

ezb

..ll..

Well, yeah, I'm amazed by some of the conclusions that are drawn
(considering the lines are so damn obtuse). It's almost as though the song
is some sort of Rorschach Test.

"Evan Z" <no@mail.comwrote in message
news:cId%a.65$ev.203646@twister.nyc.rr.com... than and of Virginia I the some whatever part of

..sican..

i caint see all the ADO about what bruce politics are.
the few patriotic songs that he has wrote, turned out
to be anti patriotism(born in the usa). now if born in
the usa is a patrotic song then 41 shots if pro cop
and paradise is pro israel.
of course you could argue that bruce is bein patriotic
by bein anti patriotic. and that hes bein pro cop by
bein anti cop and pro israel by bein pro palestinian.
and, that ridin a kangaroo in central park will get
you elected king of abyssinia.

"billyi" <billyinnes@NOSPAMprodigy.netwrote in message
newsQe%a.1652$ml4.55505094@newssvr15.news.prodig y.com... song really celebration death. think to friendship/imperialism he people are of "iceberg same writing this

..wbyl..

rom: "musicaner" musicaner@hotmail.com you acscend to that crown if you let bruce's HAIRDRESSER
define what is and what is not patriotic.

-jim

..uete..

"Jack Harris" <jharrisILIKEGOLF@quantumsystems.comwrote in
message news:bhk5r4$e4as$1@ID-120893.news.uni-berlin.de... point? Ambiguity is precisely the point. Then again, maybe it's
not.

bt

.... ..

"Jack Harris" <jharrisILIKEGOLF@quantumsystems.comwrote in message
news:bhle45$j79f$1@ID-120893.news.uni-berlin.de... <snip
if That's Well, one reason for doubting what a writer says about his intention is that
he might lie for whatever reason. Another is that he might be blind to
something that's in the song or book. Intention is a big mess.

Now you know you left yourself open for I did.
I wonder if it's true that they'll be adding shows at Shea Stadium now;
according to RMAS it's a done deal.

ezb

..ll..

"Bluetele" <BlueteleOBVIOUSSPAMBLOCK@rcn.comwrote in message
news:bhkme8$13p$1@bob.news.rcn.net... In some ways I understand what you're saying...however, maybe I don't.

..rmudge..

"Evan Z" <no@mail.comwrote:
that "A book, a true book, is the writer's confessional. For whether he would
have it so or not, he is betrayed by his characters into presenting,
publically, his innermost feelings." Nelson Algren

Hmm, is a song similar to a book? Do the charaters in Paradise betray Bruce
by presenting, publically, his innermost feelings? And exactly what are
those innermost feelings? I'm sure everyone's MWV.

"Into a world of letters where the fading Faulkner and that overgrown Lil
Abner Thomas Wolfe cast shorter shadows everyday, Algren comes on like a
corvette or a big destroyer. Truman Capote fans, grab your hats - if you
have any - and go. This is a man writing and you should not read him if you
can't take a punch. Mr. Alfren can move around and hit you with boths
hands, and he will kill you if you are not awfully careful. Mr. Algren, boy
you are good!" Ernest Hemingway


Just a small reminder....

disisdis@attbi.com
Grapefruit, it's a fruit! It's an ashtray!

.... ..rr..

"Evan Z" <no@mail.comwrote in message
news:%kr%a.3176$ev.690198@twister.nyc.rr.com... teller." that show? Wouldn't surprise me. If I wanted to be sure I was going to see the last
show of the tour I'd make sure there weren't any more stadiums in the area
left to play before I bought tickets.


JH

..sican..

as for the ETHICAL DILEMMA, on the other board
i would give the generator to bruce, for the sum
of one BILLION DOLLARS. i wont really do it
for the money, but to see the look in his face when
he commences to do the 'poor people of paris'
speech that nite.
"Jack Harris" <jharrisILIKEGOLF@quantumsystems.comwrote in message
news:bhmcep$1088h$1@ID-120893.news.uni-berlin.de...