You know, Busbiter, I suspect that the number of people in the States who knowingly contribute money to the IRA (and any of the many spin-offs) is smaller than the number of people who scream about it. We could ask the guys in the Orange Lodges in California and New York about contributing to the IRA, but I really don't think they know. I've seen the almost evidence about how this group or that group funnels money to NORAID, however, no one I know in those organizations do so. Imagine, some of the so-called cultural groups might just really be that.

I'm no fan of Mr. Sands OR Mr. Adair, nor does my band play more than a few selected Irish rebel tunes - about the same number of Scottish Jacobite songs and Orange songs. If there is something of significance - eg., Grace, and there is an audience that can appreciate, we may well do that too. It is not a political act for us to play such music, but it is usually a political decision to NOT play the rest of the stuff.

If you don't like the decision made by some people, fine, say so. Quit whingeing about it when the moderators/administrators make a decision and run with it. Also, lose the demonizing that is so frequent in certain diatribes. What we don't need is a series of "Oh YEAH? Well, what about THIS!" rants. There are plenty of horrific examples on both sides of the Irish Question (how's THAT for an out-of-date phrase) that show BOTH sides to be baby/child murderers.

There ARE differences. Sad to say, and there will always exceptions to what we as individuals like in music. Unless of course, the Taliban gets its way and all music from outside of religous services will be banned from around the world.