Skip to content
Project 2025
Search

Latest Stories

Top Stories
Just the Facts: Canadian Tariffs

Just the Facts: Canadian Tariffs

Project 2025: How the White House plans to gain control over U.S. elections

Project 2025: How the White House plans to gain control over U.S. elections

Redistricting

Redistricting

Tracy Chapman and Luke Combs on stage

Luke Combs, politics and healing our nation's divide

Springsteen and the definition of patriotism

Springsteen and the definition of patriotismplay icon
Bruce Springsteen - Born in the U.S.A. (Official Video)
www.youtube.com
The Fulcrum
By The FulcrumSep 20, 2021
The Fulcrum
The Fulcrum staff.
See More Writings by author

In 1984 Bruce Springsteen wrote "Born in the USA." The song is widely portrayed as being patriotic yet many say it is not. Whether or not you think the song is patriotic, it raises perhaps a more important question.

What is patriotism? Is praising your country patriotic? Is calling out our flaws with the goal of improving our nation patriotic? The feeling of attachment engendered by patriotism can be a force to unite us or divide us.

Springsteen, who recently performed at the 9/11 memorial on the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks, wrote "Born in the USA" because he was anguished and disheartened about what the Vietnam veterans encountered when they returned home after serving our country, yet he was not in favor of the war.

Revisit "Born in the USA." Email us at pop-culture@fulcrum.us and tell us what you think … about the song … about patriotism, about civic virtue, or about music as an expression of the times we live in.

Latest news

Finding Common Ground in America's Religious Realignment
Bridging & Common Ground

Finding Common Ground in America's Religious Realignment

In Swing-State Pennsylvania, a Latino-Majority City Looks Back at the 2024 Election
Election 2024

In Swing-State Pennsylvania, a Latino-Majority City Looks Back at the 2024 Election

Read More

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood screenshot
Sony Pictures Entertainment

Movies that show us at our weaving best

The Aspen Institute’s Weave: The Social Fabric Project tackles the problem of broken trust that has left Americans divided, lonely and in social gridlock. Weave connects and invests in grassroots leaders stepping up to weave a new, inclusive social fabric where they live. This is part of an ongoing series telling the stories of community weavers from across the country.

With the weather getting colder across the northern hemisphere and some holiday time with family and friends coming up, you might want to kick back with a movie. We’ve got you. Here are some movies that will give you hope, leave you smiling and maybe inspire you to get out and rebuild social trust in your community in 2025.

Keep ReadingShow less
The role of theater in fostering constructive political dialogue
Tom McGrath/TCMcGPhotography

The role of theater in fostering constructive political dialogue

While it may seem like our country is more politically divided than ever, political division has been a recurring theme throughout American history.

The Revolutionary War, the Civil War, the struggle for civil rights, the protests surrounding the Vietnam War and similar events highlight how deeply divided opinions can become. Each of these periods had its own complex set of issues and emotions, and they shaped the nation in significant ways.

Keep ReadingShow less
Megan Thee Stallion in front of an audience waving "Kamala" signs

Singer Megan Thee Stallion performs at a Kamala Harris rally in Atlanta on July 30.

Julia Beverly/Getty Images

Do Charli XCX’s and Kid Rock’s endorsements make a difference? 19% of young people admit they might.

Longoria is an associate professor of political science at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.

British pop star Charli XCX sent many young people’s group text chats and social media feeds wild when she endorsed Kamala Harris by playing off a term she coined in a song, and posted on X, that “kamala IS brat.”

While this endorsement, which happened in July 2024, likely means very little to most adults who don’t follow the singer’s music, it is considered high praise among young people. Harris’ campaign astutely embraced Charli XCX’s support – temporarily changing the background of its X profile to the same shade of lime green that Charlie XCX favors.

Keep ReadingShow less
Ariana Grande

Ariana Grande

Sarah Morris/WireImage/Getty Images

Ariana Grande for Harris. Kanye West for Trump. Does it matter?

Nevins is co-publisher of The Fulcrum and co-founder and board chairman of the Bridge Alliance Education Fund.

It didn’t take long after Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential race and Kamala Harris became the odds-on favorite to be the Democratic Party's nominee for the celebrity endorsements to follow. Within a few days, Ariana Grande, Cardi B and John Legend all publicly announced their support for Harris.

Of course, not all celebrities are Democrats and Donald Trump has his share of celebrity support as well — people like Ye (Kanye West), Jason Aldean and Kid Rock, who endorsed Trump in the past and are likely to endorse him once again.

Keep ReadingShow less
© Copyright 2025