Bruce Springsteen: America's moral authority deeply damaged

Bruce Springsteen says that the current state of America will not be remembered fondly by future generations. Springsteen is one of the many people interviewed in the latest issue of Rolling Stone, the last of three special issues commemorating the magazine's 40th anniversary.

When asked how he thought the current post-9/11 era in America will be remembered 40 years from now, Springsteen said, "Many parts of it will be remembered with the same degree of shame as the Japanese internment camps are remembered -- illegal wire tapping, rendition, the abuse of prisoners, cutting back our civil rights, no habeas corpus. I don't think most people thought they'd ever see the country move far enough right to see those things happen here. And I don't believe that those are things that strengthen us. The moral authority to stand up and say, 'We are Americans,' is invaluable. It's been deeply damaged, and it's going to take quite a while to repair that damage, if we can."

Springsteen went on to say: "All I want to do is to be one of those guys that says, "When that stuff was going down, I threw my hat in the ring and tried to stand on what I felt was the right side of history.' What else can a poor boy do, except play in a rock and roll band."

Also interviewed in the current issue of Rolling Stone are Al Gore, Bill Clinton, Cornel West, Bono, Eddie Vedder, Bill Maher, Jane Goodall, Bill Gates, and many others.

Springsteen has added an additional show to his itinerary, and the first for 2008. Springsteen will return to Saint Paul, Minnesota on March 16th to perform at the Xcel Energy Center. So far, the Saint Paul show is the only announced concert for the new year.

Bruce Springsteen performs tomorrow night at New York City's Town Hall at the "Stand Up For Heroes" Bob Woodruff Family Fund Benefit.

On Friday (November 9th) Springsteen will again perform solo at the Joe Torre "Safe At Home" Foundation's fifth annual gala at New York City's Chelsea Piers.

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band perform on Sunday night (November 11th) in Washington, DC at the Verizon Center.