The animated music video of Flobots’ “Handlebars” aides in conveying the repercussions of congenital greed and corruption that are intertwined into the songs lyrics. The song and video focus on the freedom and ability to do and create. Such creations are the representation of moral ideals of the creator— of the diplomatic tier from which they originate. This intense nationalism is seen in many historical, American documents, such as Patrick Henry’s “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death,” Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence, and J. F. K. ’s “Inaugural Address.” The band goes further to display how a country that once fought for their freedom can fall victim to the very injustices it once fought to protect against. As Flobots’ “Handlebars” exemplifies, the very power and leadership of the political-economic figures allowed for the birth of such a beautiful nation, but that power can also be the tool of autocracy. Should such power be abused it is then in the hands of the represented people to correct the wrong doings that offset the course of their society.
The Birth of a Nation is no easy feat, but it stands as a symbol of hope to the American people. The use of lyrical and visual imagery such as the dove and the two men at the beginning of the video displays a world free from the treacheries of corruption. The man that represents the lower classes of society says that “[he] can tie a knot in a cherry stem, [He] can tell you about Leif Erickson, [He] knows all the words to “de Colores,” and [He’s] proud to be an American,” all of which are such simple statements, but the last phrase in the verse stands for so much more. It is because of the fact that the people of America stand for Liberty that they have the freedom to enjoy such pleasures of life. America is, as Emma Lazarus states, “The New Colossus,” a sign of hope for anyone who has the courage to pursue a new beginning. In the United States of America every single person has an opportunity to succeed, but an imbalance of success will also bring a division in the classes.
The increasing gap between the lower classes and the wealthy leaders brings to the nation a refinement of power and intellect, but also pulls from the labors of capitalism advancements in the economy and well being for the community. Flobots, using a business man to convey their message, states that the financially educated “movers, shakers and producers” can “make new antibiotics… make computers survive aquatic conditions… lead a nation with a microphone,” they ”understand the future.” These classes that are exposed to higher levels of education are the portal to a more technologically, medically, and peacefully sound world, but this will only become reality should greed and avarice not stand as a vice between the creator and their original purpose of contributing to the success of their civilization. In Order for success those few elite men and women capable of advising a nation must “Ask not what [their] country can do for [them], but what [they] can do for [their] country” just as John F. Kenney asked of the American people in 1961; because the success of a nation must not solely rest on the shoulders of our elected leaders, but in the hands of every man, woman, and child that share the responsibility of a nation.
Should the political-economic elite of society be reduced to corruption and greed then the nation will fall at the hands of the tyranny that they once fought to protect against. This tyranny is fueled by the glimmer of gold and riches, the idea of exponential wealth, a monopoly over basic necessities for human life, and the ease of execution of such plans by the nations leaders. The few charismatic figures of leadership that the nation elects out of trust become the faces of dictatorship. The figures such as the business man that were once “noble” and “pure” now devastate and crush the low classes of the population as seen in the video when the raven captures the dove of peace. It is also seen when the wrecking ball of the corporate world destroys the wall baring the emblem of the dove in order to construct for its own monetary gain. Those who could have “hand[ed] out a million vaccinations” now “let them all die in exasperation.” Political leaders come to a point of complete power where they “can make anybody go to prison, just because [they] don’t like them.” “Handlebars” shows that this leader who was once a friend of the population subject to their word, fighting their battles, and stimulating their economy, now fights a battle solely against them. Just because he “can hit a target through a telescope,” just because he “can guide a missile by satellite”, just because he “can end the world in a holocaust,” he feels that the people are subject to his word. This national figure seen in the video now hides behind his army in fear because he has enraged his people.
Jefferson states in his Declaration of Independence that “Whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive… it is the Right [and Duty] of the People to alter or to abolish it. And to institute new Government.” The man representative of such people in the video begins to rally his fellow comrades. They stand up to their oppressive leader. Just as Patrick Henry demanded, “Give me Liberty or Give me Death” the people that stand behind this advocate of justice rise to armies of trained soldiers mirroring their ancestors that stood against Britain, the greatest super power of their time period. This clash of the masses against the elites that stand against them reveals the urgency and sincerity of the situation. When innocent people lay down their lives for a cause there is no one that can ignore what those lives stood for. In the video even the faces of the police who carried out the businessman’s fascist commands showed an expression of shock and disbelief of what the society has come to. The breaking point of the video is when the advocate of peace is shot down by a firing squad of troops right in front of the political leader. His death represents the ultimate defeat of righteousness.
Reverting back to the beginning of the film, Flobots’ shows how it all started. The two men are riding down a hill on bicycles with no hands. They were free, they were happy, they were united, and they shared a brotherhood that was once thought to be unbreakable. Lord Acton once said “Power Corrupts, Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely.” Where as the less entrepreneurial of the two came to become a figure of the masses, the Businessman who was exposed to multiple opportunities for power ultimately becomes a dictator leading to the death of the other—his friend. The progression of the nation from such a pure entity to the corrupt corporate machine seen at the end of the film was inevitable; to see how it all started only magnifies the shock and awe displayed by the death of a man who represents such justice and friendship. When the leaders that brought about the construction of a nation free from tyranny render the purpose of their creation useless, the general population will then rise in insurrection to relinquish the power from such disgraceful wrongdoers. The video of Flobots’ song, “Handlebars,” shows such a cycle in terms of the American public. The video represents what Jefferson conveyed in his Declaration of Independence. Before Jefferson’s document, it was asserted that God wanted the King on the throne, and that the King was literally chosen by God. Jefferson blows this idea away. “Handlebars” sends the message that this ideal seen in the Revolution is still very real. Should the leaders of today fail to fulfill the duties that have been presented to them then friends and enemies alike shall band together in the name of goodness and peace to fight for the ability to “tie a knot in a cherry stem,” to “[make] a comic book,” and even to “make money off a magazine.” The masses will stand as one for the freedom of choice.