Bossing Trump

It is very necessary to give abstract policy enforcement a human, tangible, and sensitive nuance, beyond the efforts of the dispensation of the day to shroud the same in some form of patriotic necessity, a "correcting history" agenda with fearmongering. Just as Bob Dylan's The Times They Are a-Changin'helped define the 1960s cultural landscape, Springsteen's Streets of Minneapolis personifies the necessary voices of minorities and marginalized communities, and galvanises publicaction

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The First Amendment in the U.S. Constitution's Bill of Rights (ratified in 1791) is the bedrock for protecting its citizen's freedom of expression and belief. Encompassing religion/faith, speech, press, assembly, to the right to petition against a perceived wrong-it affords invaluable protection to dissent, disagreement, and even offend the dispensation of the day without fearing retaliation. This allows democracy to thrive by allowing open debate, positing minority viewpoints, and disallowing authoritarian control of ideas. It is a long American tradition in its proud experiment in democracy.

Since time immemorial, artists (especially musicians) have often invoked the First Amendment to use their artistic expression, music, and lyrics, as a powerful political tool. Their creativity communicates contrarian/suppressed ideas and emotions.

Their output transcends conventional political platforms to become more mainstream and can play a significant role in bringing about social transformation and enlightenment by becoming rallying cries, flashpoints, or even social anthems.

Typically, a government cannot directly ban or arrest an artist, deny space to air their creativity, or even insist that the same be more “patriotic" or "neutral." That sort of athin-skinned reaction is only for "strongmen" who are inherently insecure, illiberal, and authoritarian (peddling intolerance as some sort of a "patriotic" duty).

This political maturity has allowed artists like Neil Young, Lady Gaga, John Legend, Eminem, Rage against the machine et al, to posit a voice of alternate consciousness and civic duty, to the chagrin of the Donald Trump administration.

Increasingly, the small-spirited Trump is doing everything in his power to diminish the sacred spirit of the First Amendment with indirect means of intimidation and coercive allusions.