||| FROM MINOR LILE for SALISH CURRENT |||
(Originally published in the Salish Current on April 7, 2025)
Perhaps you’ve noticed that there’s a lot happening out there lately. The wild swirl of commotion and destabilization that has arisen since the Trump Administration took office just over two months ago has left many of us off-balance, deeply dismayed at the course of events, and wrestling with the question of how to respond in some meaningful way.
A few days ago, a song by Bob Dylan came up in my music stream while I was out for a walk. For those who aren’t familiar with it, Gotta Serve Somebody was written by Dylan in 1979, at the beginning of what has come to be known as his gospel phase. The song won a Grammy award that year for best rock vocal performance.
As I listened, the song’s message somehow seemed more relevant than at any other time since it was released over 45 years ago. “You may be an ambassador to England or France”, or ‘the head of some big TV network’, an ‘owner of banks’, or a ‘construction worker workin’ on a home’. Whatever your circumstances, according to Dylan, the fact of the matter is that eventually ‘you’re gonna have to serve somebody … yes you are, you’re gonna have to serve somebody.”
Dylan makes clear that this requirement applies to all of us, regardless of our position in life. “Might like to wear cotton, might like to wear silk, might like to drink whiskey, might like to drink milk, might like to eat caviar, you might like to eat bread, may be sleeping on the floor, sleepin’ in a king-size bed, but you’re gonna have to serve somebody”.
And now, acutely, we find ourselves in a time when many individuals and major institutions – members of Congress, Governors, tech titans, law firms, universities, and others are choosing to submit to the whims and demands of President Donald Trump. Given the stakes, and the momentum of events, it’s my belief that sooner rather than later each of us is going to be forced to choose, if we haven’t chosen already, which side we are going to serve in a great contest for the future of America.
On one side, an administration that is premised on loyalty to the President rather than the Constitution is in place and a plan is being energetically implemented. On the other, while there are pockets of resistance here and there, the overall response of those who are opposed to what’s happening has been dismayingly feeble and incoherent. For the moment, at least, there seems to be a lack of leaders and ideas that have the resonance to build and sustain an equally forceful counter movement.
Now, back to the question implicitly raised by Dylan: who will we choose to serve? Will we bow to the side of Trump and where his administration is attempting to take our country and the world? Or will we – both individually and collectively – find within ourselves the strength and courage that will be needed to stand in opposition to this direct challenge to our democratic institutions and ideals?
The changes that are underway are being felt in tangible ways throughout the country. We are not exempt. Many local organizations and individuals have already been directly affected by the actions of the administration. Here in this far corner of the country, we are also confronted by the challenge of our time. The question of who or what each of us will choose to serve in the days to come is right here at our doorstep.
Minor Lile is a freelance writer who resides on Orcas Island, where he serves on the boards of the Orcas Island Community Foundation and OPAL Community Land Trust.
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I couldn’t disagree more. If you try to force the wide spectrum of the world into either/or, black/white, them/us, Republicans/Democrats, “pick a side”, kind of categories, you of necessity limit the possibilities available to you. Thus you get lines like, “You’re gonna have to serve somebody.” taken literally instead of metaphorically, which is how I interpret Dylan’s lyrics.
I am not FOR any of those false dichotomies. Life is far more complex (and interesting) than that. I am not choosing anybody’s SIDE, because none of them are on MY side.
Political parties and politicians that are willing to adjust their values in order to win elections are only interested in preserving and enhancing their own power and privilege; they do not care what they have to say as long as they “win”. A REAL political party would be one that stands FOR something, not just against things. Bernie Sanders is one of the few politicians I have any respect for at all. I don’t agree with him all the time, of course, but he at least HAS principles and he is not afraid to champion them. The current occupant has zero principles whatsoever and is purely transactional. Short term self interest is his only guide. Congratulations America, you finally have a president that reflects the true venality and stupidity of corporate industrial capitalism. Happy now?
Politics is inherently divisive. We all make political choices… we choose sides. Remember the psychology Bush the lesser used when stating, “You’re either with us or your against us?” “Give me a break,” I thought to myself… “I’m definitely not with you.”
I opine that the intent behind the author’s comments are more in tune with “which side of history are you on?” No more, no less.
I would go with what Corey Booker said in his long speech in the Senate….it is not a choice between left and right but a choice between right and wrong. These people that are now running, or should I say ruining, our federal government are on the wrong side of this choice and ultimately that will be proven to be so in spades. In the meantime we all need to show the courage of our convictions and stay true to our moral compass. And stand up for what is right in all of this, privately and publicly. And as Dylan said, I just wanna say Good Luck…..