A Prayer for My Country

“Nobody crowds you,

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Nobody goes it alone.”

— Bruce Springsteen, Long Walk Home

As the sun began its descent, we approached the place of worship on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn, New York. The sight was striking: the building's grass-covered roof stood out against the landscape of steel, glass, and concrete. It offered a rare sense of calm amid the daily chaos of the nation's largest city.

Over the past few days, I had been on the brink of being overwhelmed by the crush of humanity as I drove through the city's streets and negotiated its crowded sidewalks. While the crowd in the courtyard of the Barclays Center was energetic and eager to get inside, they did so with a calm that mirrored the building they were entering. Several of our fellow congregants noticed my wife's motorized scooter and paused to give her room to maneuver.

While I searched for dinner, my wife quickly struck up a conversation with the person seated next to us. While this was our first Bruce Springsteen show, he had been to 78 others. Two days later, he would be at the show at Madison Square Garden.

“This is a prayer for my country…”

— Springsteen

If Ghost's shows can be compared to worship services, they would follow in the tradition of the Catholic Church. The atmosphere is majestic, driven by digital projections, high-tech lighting rigs, and pyro. The central character, Tobias Forge, often assumes the identity of a fictional pope.

The spiritual personality assumed by Bruce Springsteen is cut from a different cloth. He comes off more like a street preacher testifying from the stage. His powerful backing vocalists and the energy of the performance add a gospel‑church intensity. Can I get an amen?

As the lights dimmed, the crowd promptly erupted in a chorus of "Bruce!" as Springsteen stepped to the front of the stage, bathed in the glow of a simple spotlight. Dressed in a dress shirt, tie, and vest, he was ready to preach.

“Regardless of its faults, (America) is a great country with a great people.”

— Springsteen

The singer began his first sermon by expressing his concern and support for our service members in harm's way. Contrary to the claims made by Donald Trump and his supporters, Bruce Springsteen is not a communist who hates America, but an artist expressing a deep love for his country, especially the promise of equality that lies at its foundation.

Springsteen’s version of patriotism is not blind, and he made it clear that he opposes Trump's military actions in Iran. To emphasize this point, he ended the address by counting the E Street Band into a cover of the anti-war anthem “War."

This was immediately followed by “Born in the U.S.A.,” a song frequently misread by politicians since the Reagan era as a simple patriotic anthem. Springsteen's patriotism is more nuanced and demands confronting the country’s failures so America can move closer to becoming the “Land of Hope and Dreams” celebrated in his music.

“You know that flag flying over the courthouse,

means certain things are set in stone:

Who we are, what we’ll do, and what we won’t.”

— Springsteen, “Long Walk Home”

The protagonist in "Born in the U.S.A." proudly served his country, but has been deeply damaged by war. He reenters civilian life in a changed society where promises of economic security for those willing to work hard have been abandoned. Documenting the plight of the working class at the hands of the powerful institutions is a theme he has pursued throughout his career.

Ironically, both Trump and Springsteen have tapped into the despair left behind in waves of economic change. Despite belonging to the same elite class that benefited from decades of upward wealth transfer, Trump successfully tapped into their fears. Springsteen appeals to their hope.

This positivity was on display throughout the night as "The Boss" powered through more than three hours of music, interrupted only by his conversations with the crowd. In these moments, he spoke about the many challenges facing our country under the current administration, but consistently returned to the message that Americans are strong enough to endure them. He argued that by working together, the nation can still find its way back on course. It was the first time in a long while that flag-waving did not make me feel uncomfortable.

“C’mon, rise up.”

— Springsteen, “The Rising”

As with any good worship service, I was filled with inspiration as the stage lights faded and the house lights came on. The night was a reminder that we are not alone in a sea of negative headlines; there is still a community of people searching for a path that will lead to a more perfect union.

This sense of brotherhood was emphasized as the Springsteen fan sitting next to us stood up to leave. He made a point of saying “goodbye” and welcoming us to the club. I could tell he was proud to share the magic he had experienced across the 79 shows he had attended.

As I left the arena and stepped into the cool spring air, I reflected on the evening. Seeing Springsteen on his home turf checked off a bucket list item, and the night exceeded my expectations. As the crowd sang and danced along to "Born to Run" beneath full house lights, I felt the legendary sense of community. Our seat neighbor seemed to know that this would not be our last Springsteen show.

Carl Petersen is a former Green Party candidate for the LAUSD School Board and a longtime advocate for public education and special needs families. Now based in Washington State, he writes about politics, culture, and their intersections at TheDifrntDrmr.