Springsteen has compiled a very good patriotic song. But in his lyrics he says
"I got in a little hometown jam
And so they put a rifle in my hands
Sent me off to Vietnam
To go and kill the yellow man"
He used the term "yellow man" which is an offensive term for East asians near china and japan, india not only people in veitnam. What harm do the east asians do to americans. I dint like this term. otherwise this song is truly great. What do you think?
2006-09-28 18:28:32 · 10 answers · asked by The False Prophet 2 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Music
Im also an American. But shouldnt we respect other country people instead of wars with them always!
2006-09-28 18:39:39 · update #1
You have to relate the song back to the time period in which it was released. Political correctness was never heard of then. Furthermore, this song expressed our nation's anger at our being involved in a war on the other side of the world. It also expressed our anger at the treatment our soldier's received when they returned home from the war.
It is unfortunate that the term "yellow man" is offensive to you. American Indians, at that time, were sometimes referred to as the "red man." Again, it's all ancient history and should be viewed as such. Great song, though!
2006-09-28 18:34:59 · answer #1 · answered by Kevin C 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We had wondered the same thing when he chose the song for his campaign theme. I really doubt that Reagan listened to the song before choosing it. Most likely, like many, he only heard the "born in the USA" part. Fact is, what Springsteen wrote was and is the reality of life for vets and others from that era, all over the country.
2016-03-18 02:36:05 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Where did you ever get the idea that " Born in The USA " is a patriotic song. It's anything but.
I would seriously suggest that you re-read the lyrics before you make such pronouncements.
BTW don't feel bad Ronald Reagan got it wrong also
2006-09-28 19:53:39 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Well, to start, the lyric is 'send me off to a foreign land' and the use of yellow man, besides rhyming, is not meant as derogatory against Asians, but rather to reflect the racism that the war in Vietnam created in American soldiers. The 'I' in the song is not Springsteen himself but a collective voice of veterans relating their experiences. The first person is used to connect them more intimately to the listener.
2006-09-28 18:34:14 · answer #4 · answered by Guelph 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The song is in the voice of an unsophisticated guy to whom "yellow man" would not seem in any way inappropriate. It's a question of context.
2006-09-28 18:36:00 · answer #5 · answered by michinoku2001 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Things were a lot different in those days, and those words properly reflect the atmosphere of America at that particular time in history.
Race riots were common, and neighborhoods were still segregated, whites, blacks, Chinese, etc.
If you don't like the song, don't listen to it, but don't criticize something you obviously know nothing about.
2006-09-28 18:37:23 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's a song with harsh undertones mostly toward the ruling class in America, so it contains harsh terms
2006-09-28 20:37:57 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Would it of still been the same song if he had sang...
" I got in a little hometown jam
And so they put a riffle in my hands
Sent me off to Vietnam
To go and kill the little the East Asians " ??
its just a song, im sure he didn't mean to offend any one.
2006-09-28 18:36:27 · answer #8 · answered by frankfort_girlie 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
It's a friggen song, fer God's sake. Quit being so hypersensitive...
2006-09-28 18:38:35 · answer #9 · answered by Sean T 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋
what did snoop mean when he said 'I got b+tches in the livinroom gettin it on, And they aint leavintill 6 in the mornin'?
2006-09-28 18:32:14 · answer #10 · answered by Claude 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋