I caught a viral clip of a Dropkick Murphys show on Instagram that turned heads for all the right reasons. Ken Casey, the band’s lead singer, spotted a MAGA supporter in the crowd and crafted a moment beyond music. He didn’t incite ridicule. He sparked a conversation.
Here’s what happened: Casey points out the MAGA shirt and bets the fan that it wasn’t made in America. True enough, it was from Nicaragua. The fan swapped it for a Dropkick Murphys tee—a simple yet powerful exchange.
But Casey went further, challenging the crowd and, by extension, all of us. “Where are all the punk bands speaking up?” It was a reminder that punk has always been more than noise. It’s a call to action.
This moment wasn’t just about trading a shirt. It was a masterclass in engagement. Albert Camus once wrote, “There is no fate that cannot be surmounted by scorn.” In that light, Casey used scorn to challenge and teach, turning a potentially divisive moment into a collective reflection.
We can choose meaningful actions instead of engaging in toxic political bickering or following biased narratives. Say “I love you” before “I disagree.” If your workplace doesn’t reflect your values, find one that does. Reflect, pray, volunteer—be active on your terms.
Or, take a page from the Dropkick Murphys’ book and use humor and humanity to make your point.
They could have turned their concert into a scene. Instead, they showed us a better way. The people swept up in movements like MAGA? They’re our neighbors, our family. You can impart a lesson without alienating anyone.
Henry Rollins, the godfather of punk rock, puts it best: “When Trump became president, I just did eight shows at Largo in L.A., and a lot of people were kind of [crying], and I said, ‘Look, when they start pushing against LGBT rights, or women’s reproductive health rights or freedoms, we’ll neutralize. We’ll be doing benefits: Planned Parenthood, ACLU, Southern Poverty Law Center, any LGBT activist group, we can get involved and start kind of neutralizing this and slowing it down. This is not a time to be dismayed, this is punk rock time. This is what Joe Strummer trained you for. It is now time to go. You’re a good person. That means more now than ever. ‘Cause, as a voter, you throw your penny and you throw it in the sea, that’s all a vote is, it’s like nothing, you don’t even hear it fall. But you can be thunderous in your own life, and being cool to the eight people around you? It rubs off. Goodness is viral.’”
The Dropkick Murphys gave us a perfect example of handling opposition with grace. More of this, please! Let’s use our moments of disagreement as opportunities to connect and inspire change. Like Rollins says, it’s time to be thunderous in our actions and viral in our goodness.