Most of what I blog about pertains to the music industry, and how I interact with it. Over the last few days, with the election at the forefront of everything, I started to realize that where I interact with most things has virtuallly nothing in common with most of America.
Years ago, on a cross-country roadtrip, I pulled off in places like Oklahoma City, and I felt like a complete foreigner. What I am, where I’m from, and how I think were so unbelievablly foreign to my surroundings that it was truly frightening.
Now, as I get ready to head off to vote, I’m reminded that as much as I want change to come to America, and for our thoughts and ideas to be at the forefront of the worldwide consciousess, I can’t help but think of the folks I saw on that cross-country trek.
These weren’t industry people, and they weren’t checking their email on their iPhones and Blackberrys. They could care less about what was happening in places like Iraq or Afghanistan; their problems, in fact their whole lives, were centered around where they were. They were the small town Americans, the Joe the Plumbers/Six-Pack, that we keep hearing about. They supported their country, and their President, and never questioned it. They sent their sons and daughters to Iraq because their leader told them to. They were Americans, it’s what they do.
Folks on the East and West coasts were like prodigal children to them. Someday they’d return home to understand what real life, and real problems, and honest work were all about. When they did, all would be forgiven. They believed that they were REAL Americans, and what mattered was protecting their own way of life – insulated, proud, and honest. And, ultimately, there’s not too much wrong with that. These people were able to raise families, support themselves, and instill a sense of pride that is virtually unmatched by their counterparts on the coasts.
Unfortunately for us, and with limited sub-conscious deliberation by them, there were bigger issues that rose from bigger cities and bigger places with much bigger consequences. This is precisely where the disconnect happens.
This past weekend, I went to see the only impersonator licensed by the estate of Liberace. What amazed me, and created this entire train of thought, was that the folks in the audience (mostly older, retired, etc.) never cared that Liberace was the single gayest man alive. Were he in their families, he’d have likely been shunned. But to them he was a novelty, nothing to be taken seriously. All those folks that he played to were willing to ignore the obvious, and see what they wanted to.
In this election especially, we need to see things for what they really are. In reality, we’re loathed internationally. In reality, LIberace wasn’t the greatest piano player. And in more reality, hard working people have been betrayed and let down by a President and a party who were unable to live up to their promise. They saw a great show, but the details were lacking. Much like Liberace’s piano playing, it was all a really glossy veneer covering a lot of nothing. Entertaining, but unfulfilling.
One of the candidates in this election has impressed me with his ability to sense not only the gravitas and substance of the situation. He is able to actually inspire thousands, if not millions of people to voice their concern and rise above their own personal needs. And while he enhances our image to the rest of the world, he’s also known for getting directly involved and solving problems. Had Liberace been able to look beyond adding distracting, crowd-pleasing empty flourishes, he might’ve been taken seriously as an artist. But like our current President, he was merely a performer. Entertaining to watch, but never breaking any real musicial/political ground.
I’m voting, not surprisingly, for Barack Obama today. Not simply because he’s a Democrat, but because I tried to find something in John McCain that just isn’t there. Like Liberace, he’s entertaining, but his songs have no real integrity of their own. They’re all spectacle and no substance.
