If anti-war populist lefty John Mellencamp can cheerfully record a song with gung ho Bible belt Republican Travis Tritt, then there may be hope for us all.
The song is called "What Say You" from Tritt's new My Honky Tonk History album, and the key is that while both crusty singers aren't shy about expressing their political views, they are also willing to listen and to respect views with which they disagree. And that is what is desperately missing from the fierce partisan antipathy that has ratcheted up gradually since 9/11, was intensified by the war in Iraq, and now is reaching fever pitch with the presidential campaign in high gear.
Check out a clip of "What Say You" here. It's a good chunky country-rocker, sounding more Mellencamp than Tritt, with some rare wisdom:
- I BELIEVE THAT THERE'S A RIGHT AND I BELIEVE THERE'S A WRONG
THAT NORTH AND SOUTH AND BLACK AND WHITE CAN SOMEHOW GET ALONG
WHAT SAY YOU?
I BELIEVE THAT THERE'S A BASIC GOOD IN THE HEART OF EVERY MAN
AND I'M NOT GOING TO CRITICIZE WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND
WHAT SAY YOU?
I KNOW I'M NOT ALWAYS RIGHT, I DON'T THINK I'M BETTER THAN YOU
I DON'T HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS, BUT I'LL SHARE MY POINT OF VIEW
WHAT SAY YOU?
"Why can't we put all this partisan politics aside and just do something positive
together?" Tritt said before describing Mellencamp's participation as a perfect fit. "I love his music and have admired his integrity for years.
"The pairing of the two of us describes what the song is talking about. Two people from different sides of the political spectrum, and yet able to have a dialogue. It worked on so many levels. He loved the song and felt exactly the same way."
Tritt will discuss the song tonight on The O'Reilly Factor with Bill O'Reilly on Fox News, and he is also joining comedian Bill Cosby's efforts to raise funds
for an Atlanta-based performing arts center to be named for Ray Charles. Tritt will perform along with James Ingram, Michael McDonald, Stevie Wonder, Gerald Levert and Angie Stone at a Cosby-hosted event scheduled for Sept. 29 at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles.
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