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"Leonard Cohen's music is subtle, nuanced and always in search of the deepest truth--even if it's a truth we don't want to see. Trump and the GOP are precisely not Leonard Cohen." (Photo: Adrian Thomson/Flickr/cc)
Keep Your Filthy Hands Off of Leonard Cohen
"Trump and his posse of sycophants and enablers think that everything belongs to them."
Aug 29, 2020
After Trump's (predictably) revolting speech on Thursday night, the RNC DJ played Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah." Twice. Without permission (of course).
This is far from the worst thing that these cynical, mendacious fuckers have done. But it's enraging nonetheless.
Leonard Cohen died on November 7, 2016, the day before election day. I spent much of the next month listening to Mr. Cohen's music which has, over the years, meant a lot to me.
Leonard Cohen's death was, for me and, I suspect, many others, a terrible echo of Trump's election. A second way that the world had taken a turn for the worse. Leonard Cohen's music is full of despair and possibility, and a hint of (perhaps irrational) hope. It was perfect for that awful moment. Leonard Cohen's music is subtle, nuanced and always in search of the deepest truth - even if it's a truth we don't want to see.
Trump and the GOP are precisely not Leonard Cohen.
Four years ago, I wrote: "Leonard Cohen was cryptic and poetic. Dark and uplifting at once. For an inflexible, self-righteous, left-wing Catholic white boy (me!), his fearless writing about spirituality, mortality, sex, obsession, and darkness was perfectly challenging, unsettling, and transformative. It changed my life. For a few years, in my 20s, I was completely mesmerized by his great album, 'Songs of Leonard Cohen.'"
Again, this is so far from the most revolting thing Trump and his lying band of misogynist racists have done. But my feeling is this: Did you have to put your filthy hands on this too?
Trump and his posse of sycophants and enablers think that everything belongs to them.
It's clear that no one bothered to read or listen to the lyrics to "Hallelujah" - the centrality of the "baffled king," e.g. None of them take the time to read anything.
"Well, maybe there's a God above
But all I've ever learned from love
Was how to shoot somebody who outdrew ya.
And it's not a cry that you hear at night
It's not somebody who's seen the light
It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah."
Broken as fuck.
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. US voters have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. If you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
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Tim Koechlin
Tim Koechlin holds a PhD in economics. He is the Director of the International Studies Program at Vassar College, where he has an appointment in International Studies and Urban Studies. Professor Koechlin has taught and written about a variety of subjects including economic, political and racial inequality; globalization; macroeconomic policy, and urban political economy.
After Trump's (predictably) revolting speech on Thursday night, the RNC DJ played Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah." Twice. Without permission (of course).
This is far from the worst thing that these cynical, mendacious fuckers have done. But it's enraging nonetheless.
Leonard Cohen died on November 7, 2016, the day before election day. I spent much of the next month listening to Mr. Cohen's music which has, over the years, meant a lot to me.
Leonard Cohen's death was, for me and, I suspect, many others, a terrible echo of Trump's election. A second way that the world had taken a turn for the worse. Leonard Cohen's music is full of despair and possibility, and a hint of (perhaps irrational) hope. It was perfect for that awful moment. Leonard Cohen's music is subtle, nuanced and always in search of the deepest truth - even if it's a truth we don't want to see.
Trump and the GOP are precisely not Leonard Cohen.
Four years ago, I wrote: "Leonard Cohen was cryptic and poetic. Dark and uplifting at once. For an inflexible, self-righteous, left-wing Catholic white boy (me!), his fearless writing about spirituality, mortality, sex, obsession, and darkness was perfectly challenging, unsettling, and transformative. It changed my life. For a few years, in my 20s, I was completely mesmerized by his great album, 'Songs of Leonard Cohen.'"
Again, this is so far from the most revolting thing Trump and his lying band of misogynist racists have done. But my feeling is this: Did you have to put your filthy hands on this too?
Trump and his posse of sycophants and enablers think that everything belongs to them.
It's clear that no one bothered to read or listen to the lyrics to "Hallelujah" - the centrality of the "baffled king," e.g. None of them take the time to read anything.
"Well, maybe there's a God above
But all I've ever learned from love
Was how to shoot somebody who outdrew ya.
And it's not a cry that you hear at night
It's not somebody who's seen the light
It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah."
Broken as fuck.
Tim Koechlin
Tim Koechlin holds a PhD in economics. He is the Director of the International Studies Program at Vassar College, where he has an appointment in International Studies and Urban Studies. Professor Koechlin has taught and written about a variety of subjects including economic, political and racial inequality; globalization; macroeconomic policy, and urban political economy.
After Trump's (predictably) revolting speech on Thursday night, the RNC DJ played Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah." Twice. Without permission (of course).
This is far from the worst thing that these cynical, mendacious fuckers have done. But it's enraging nonetheless.
Leonard Cohen died on November 7, 2016, the day before election day. I spent much of the next month listening to Mr. Cohen's music which has, over the years, meant a lot to me.
Leonard Cohen's death was, for me and, I suspect, many others, a terrible echo of Trump's election. A second way that the world had taken a turn for the worse. Leonard Cohen's music is full of despair and possibility, and a hint of (perhaps irrational) hope. It was perfect for that awful moment. Leonard Cohen's music is subtle, nuanced and always in search of the deepest truth - even if it's a truth we don't want to see.
Trump and the GOP are precisely not Leonard Cohen.
Four years ago, I wrote: "Leonard Cohen was cryptic and poetic. Dark and uplifting at once. For an inflexible, self-righteous, left-wing Catholic white boy (me!), his fearless writing about spirituality, mortality, sex, obsession, and darkness was perfectly challenging, unsettling, and transformative. It changed my life. For a few years, in my 20s, I was completely mesmerized by his great album, 'Songs of Leonard Cohen.'"
Again, this is so far from the most revolting thing Trump and his lying band of misogynist racists have done. But my feeling is this: Did you have to put your filthy hands on this too?
Trump and his posse of sycophants and enablers think that everything belongs to them.
It's clear that no one bothered to read or listen to the lyrics to "Hallelujah" - the centrality of the "baffled king," e.g. None of them take the time to read anything.
"Well, maybe there's a God above
But all I've ever learned from love
Was how to shoot somebody who outdrew ya.
And it's not a cry that you hear at night
It's not somebody who's seen the light
It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah."
Broken as fuck.
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