Growing up in New Jersey, there was one non-negotiable thing: being a fan of Bruce Springsteen. From the time I could walk, I had listened to probably every song on his discography. It was the way my father and I had bonded; he would cover the stereo in the car on the way to basketball practice and say, “Who sings this?” Usually, I didn’t know, but if it was the familiar growl of Springsteen’s voice, I could immediately shout out the answer. Other than bagel shops, being loud, and a love of coffee, Springsteen is what holds New Jersey together.
My favorite song, of course, was “Born in the USA.” The album cover is distinctly Americana, Bruce wearing distressed jeans, a baseball hat sticking out of his pocket, behind an American flag. It’s one of the most iconic album covers of all time. The song evokes many of the same emotions as the album cover: hard work, grit, and the promise of the American dream. It’s often played as a July 4th anthem, a reminder of the tough, unbreakable spirit of America.
That was the America I was sold as a child, the America the song sold to me, and the America I bought, no questions asked.
It wasn’t until I got to college that I understood the full story behind the song. In my freshman year, I decided to take History 269: The American War in Vietnam, taught by Christian Appy. As a political science major with a minor in history, it seemed interesting enough. I had very little knowledge of the Vietnam War; my only real exposure to the military was my grandparents having served in the Navy in the Korean War.
During that class, however, my illusion of “Born in the USA” was shattered when my professor played the original demo in class. The slow haunting music replaced the familiar beat I had heard since childhood. With the background music slowed, I was able to really listen to the words of the song.
At that moment, I realized what my professor had been trying to teach us all along. “Born in the USA” is in fact, not an anthem celebrating America, but a protest song criticizing the United States policy in Vietnam. From that moment on, I hung onto every word my professor said, eager to learn what else I had gotten wrong. That was one of the most incredible courses I have taken during my college career, and I encourage all UMass students to enroll in it. Daniel Elsberg’s son was even brought in as a guest speaker.
With the new biopic about Springsteen being released this fall, it is essential to remember not only his iconic music but also his courage to speak out about politics, even when it risks his popularity and audience.
This Spring, Springsteen called out President Trump and his administration on stage at a show. While many claimed his discussion of politics came out of nowhere, if you ever stopped to really listen to his lyrics, he’s been talking about politics for his entire career. Springsteen’s iconic anthem, while over 40 years old, still serves as a reminder to speak out loud and stand up for what you know is right, even if no one else is.
There are lots of reasons I appreciate college; I’ve met my lifelong friends, gained independence, and developed skills that I will take into the professional world. No lesson, however, is as valuable as the one I learned in that history class: not only to slow down but also to question the things you have always accepted as fact, because you may just be wrong. It’s okay to be wrong. That’s what higher learning should be: to gain an understanding of the world.
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