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User Name Thread Name Subject Posted
GUEST,Steve Baughman Folklore: Amazing Grace. Should We Be Singing it?? (230* d) RE: Folklore: Amazing Grace. Should We Be Singing it?? 03 Jan 08


"But Steve, where does it stop?"

Yes, Don, that's the tough question. Do we get to where we assume an affirmative duty to investigate the political origins of music before we enjoy it? I'd say no. The KKK uses one of my favorite hymns regularly (Old Rugged Cross). It will not stop me from enjoying the song. It might, however, give me pause about starting the song at a multi-racial song circle in Alabama. Point is, more awareness is good.

But you're right. Where does it stop? I'd invoke my favorite philosopher here, Richard Rorty, who noted that by the absence of absolute rules we are forever condemned to "muddling through." And we muddle through better when we have more awareness than when we have less. Not being naive about the origins of Amazing Grace is better than being naive about them.

You probably find my answer (Rorty's)as unsatisfactory, as I do. But I think it's all we've got.




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