Is Anybody Alive Out There? - (the title is borrowed from a popular phrase that Bruce Springsteen yells out during a concert."
It is probably appropriate from the outset to let you know that I spent a large portion of my childhood growing up in Central New Jersey.
Anyone between the ages of 40 to 60 years old that grew up in NJ, has some weird connection to the Jersey Shore, (not the TV show, but the beach) – and by some extension, Bruce Springsteen.
Bruce Springsteen is a true, gritty, rock n’ roll performer. Bruce grew up about 15 miles from my hometown, in Freehold NJ. Freehold represented for me, a place where I could bet on horses at 15 years old, (they have a raceway that runs trotters) – and place where you could stop off on the way home from Belmar – and the endless row of used car dealers on Rt 9.
It was blue-collar, before I knew what the term “blue collar” meant.
And, that is what Bruce represented. A guy from NJ who worked hard, a guy from NJ who battled and fought, and out hustled his “lot in life.”
Bruce was the little guy from Freehold NJ. If he could belt out, “Hungry Heart” – with true spirit and energy of every working man, then you knew he understood, and comprehended, what the average working man, as well as a young man (like me) coming into his own ----stood for.
Bruce was one of us. Bruce got it.
In the summer of 1985 I was standing with a few friends (Kenny Smith and Andrew Potash) on the floor of Veterans Stadium in Philly, yelling along to the lyrics of “Hungry Heart”. I don’t think we sat for a moment. We were on our feet, chanting along with, “The Boss”…… he has 60,000 in the palm of his hand. It was the "Born in the USA" tour, and Bruce was tops.
Bruce was the kid from NJ – standing in front of us, pouring his energy and soul out through his art. I connected with him.
“If that scrawny kid from Freehold, NJ could make it – then, we can too.”
FAST FORWARD 28 YEARS.
Bruce is over 60. I’m 43.
I grow up. Bruce grows up.
We live and we learn. Sometimes, we know too much about things, people, and their beliefs than we should.
I could look the other way when musician and performers espouse their political leanings, or support of something I disagree with.
It typically does not bother me if someone supports something I don’t.
It comes with the territory. It comes with the turf.
But, one time when it rubbed me the wrong way, I could not look the other way.
That day was today. January 6, 2012.
To tell you this story I have to go back a few years.
On Feb 5, 1999 a tragedy happened in NYC – from the desk of the NY Times:
" An unarmed West African immigrant with no criminal record was killed early yesterday by four New York City police officers who fired 41 shots at him in the doorway of his Bronx apartment building, the police said.
It was unclear yesterday why the police officers had opened fire on the man at 12:44 A.M. in the vestibule of his building at 1157 Wheeler Avenue in the Soundview section. The man, Amadou Diallo, 22, who came to America more than two years ago from Guinea and worked as a street peddler in Manhattan, died at the scene, the police said.
The Bronx District Attorney's office is investigating the shooting, whose details were still murky last night because there were apparently no civilian witnesses and none of the police officers involved had given statements to investigators. But Inspector Michael Collins, a police spokesman, said that investigators who went to the scene of the shooting did not find a weapon on or near Mr. Diallo."
It was a HUGE Story in NYC, and nationwide. An unarmed, black man shot 41 times?
The more the story emerged, the more that came out -- it became clear that the officers thought they were in danger, and the shots fired (although massive) were because they heard riccochets and sounds of firing back from the vestibule where Diallo was.
They (officers) were tragically mistaken. It was a tragic mistake of epic proportion. These were GREAT cops, put in a bad position - and forced to make a split second decision that cost a man his life.
Bruce Springsteen saw it differently. He wrote a song called, "41 Shots." I was at the concert at MSG in 2000, when people stood up and turned their back on him when he sang this tragic tune.
Is it a gun, is it a knife
Is it a wallet, this is your life
It ain't no secret
(It ain't no secret)
It ain't no secret
(It ain't no secret)
No secret my friend
You can get killed just for living in
Your American skin - 41 shots
41 shots
41 shots
41 shots
41 shots
41 shots
41 shots
41 shots....
Bruce tells a story like no other. I actually really enjoy THIS song. I love the medley, the harmony -- but, the message always bothered me. I knew what Bruce was going for, but did he really believe that you "get killed for being a Black American, living in NYC?" Did he see this as a tragic accident, or more a standard way of life for blacks living in NYC?
I stood at MSG, looking at Bruce differently. And in some way, artists are suppose to bring out a wealth and onslaught of emotions in each of us. That is why we get attached to them, and connect ourselves to their creative energy.
Years went by. The song stayed with me. I had my daughters listen to it, and told them the story about Amadou Diallo. They asked many questions -- and like their Father (me) they too fell in love with Bruce Springsteen and his lyrics, one song after the other.
Bruce spanned generations. He made the leap, which is so hard for an artist to do. He appealed to 10 year old girls, who asked over and over, "can you play, Girls in Their Summer Clothes"?
Fast forward to late 2011, early 2012.
Another situation -- a cop was shot, who walked into the basement of a home:
"Officer Peter Figoski, a 22-year veteran of the NYPD and a father of four, was shot and killed early Monday morning after interrupting a home invasion in the Cypress Hills section of Brooklyn.
One suspect, Lamont Pride, 27, has been arrested and another is being sought, both for what Mayor Bloomberg called a "horrible, depraved, criminal attack."
Around 2:15 AM, Figoski and his partner, Glenn Estrada, arrived at 25 Pine Street on a "quiet block of two- and three-story row houses near the Queens border," according to The New York Times.
The owner of the building had called 911 after he heard two burglars pounding on the basement apartment door where a 25-year-old tenant lives, and then entering."
He leaves behind 4 daughters who were pictured in the NY Post today:
I am proud to say that generous New Yorkers have donated over $2 million dollars to the fund to help his 4 daughters get through college, and start a life. Money will not replace their Dad. I supported this fund as well.
Where is Bruce?
Where is the outrage? A police officer who did not DID NOT FIRE HIS WEAPON, at a Black Man in a dark basement. Officer Peter Figoski was shot in the face, and never returned fire - even though his weapon was drawn.
Was Officer Figoski fearful that by discharging his weapon against a black man, he would be put under intense scrutiny -- EVEN IF -- he was forced to make a split second decision of:
Is it a gun, is it a knife
Is it a wallet, this is your life
It seems that Bruce cuts one way. His way to push creativity seems to be at the expense of police officers who truly place themselves in harms way, every single day to protect us.
I havent heard anything about Bruce Springsteens donation to the fund set up to help Officer Figorski's Children.
Bruce is VERY charitable, and this is NOT a statement about his generosity. It is however, a comment on how he uses his art -- and where he decides to wield his creative energy......
28 years ago, I was a young man, admiring a hard working guy from my "neck of the woods" who made it, and made it big.
28 years later I'm much more aware. I'm awake to people, and their motivation.
In this tragic case of death, one thing is clear.
Amadou Diallo was a terrible accidental death.
Officer Peter Figoski death was a cold blooded murder, by a life long criminal who shot a cop in the face.
Both happened in split seconds -- and the ending to both stories is horrific.
In the light of day, Bruce Springsteen failed the test, of only speaking and energizing the accidental death, and NOT the heroic life of a police officer.
Today, I lost a little of my youth. And, when we lose our boyhood heroes to "stinging events" like this, it hurts and takes away a bit of our childhood innocence.
Bye Bruce.
Sadly, you're one of the many that have misinterpreted 41 Shots.
The point is for it to be ambiguous about whose side the singer is on. The song is about the decades and generations of American history that informs an interaction like the one in the Amadou Diallo case and the one in the Figoski case, which is almost exactly the same set-up.
You would be naive to suggest that minorities don't get treated differently by many officers (not all officers or even most), just as you would be naive to think that it isn't good policing for an officer to expect the worst when going into a confrontation with a minority (given the high crime rate in minorities areas -- a condition of poverty by the way, not race).
That is the heart of 41 Shots and the genius of Springsteen's art: where do we place our trust, when are our motivations pure, and how do we get to a place across that river where we are all just Americans without labels?
As for Springsteen's specific donation to Officer Figoski, well, how do you know he didn't donate? Springsteen is notoriously quiet about these things.
Also, 4,500 people died as a result of occupational injuries in 2010. If you're calling out Springsteen, I'm calling out you: what are you doing for their families?
Posted by: David Billotti | January 06, 2012 at 01:32 PM
David - thanks for the comment.
I agree wholeheartedly with all of your points, ranging from treatment of minorities to Bruce's generosity.
One place I struggle with is Bruce's "public" stance on these issues. Thats my point. Regardless of his private place -- his art and energy can be better placed in defense of police officers, soldiers, and law enforcement......
thats it,
thanks
Posted by: Andy Monfried | January 09, 2012 at 02:06 PM