Susan, I agree. Our guest seems to jump from one subject to another. Back to music. I disagree with Guest on the use of songs like O Susanna. I believe we should play them. These are the songs that helped form our modern musical experience. But more importantly, they can unite rather than divide.

I once sat in St. Louis and played with a friend to the Mississippi river. As we played , we heard a man in the background sing the words to our tune ( Old Uncle Ned). He was an elderly black gent about 65 years old. He sat down and asked why his grandchildren did not hear that music anymore. I told him that people felt that this music was racist. After he laughed for a bit, he said that this was the music of his grandmother and formed a part of his childhood. He said that racism is in the heart of the man, not in his music. He also stated that yes we may need to update some offensive words, but not loose the music. IT WAS TOO IMPORTANT TO HIM.

I agree with him. To loose this music is to loose a part of us as a people. Without the minstrel music of the mid 19th century you could not have had men like Joplin or Handy who would move that music forward to a new form of music in early jazz. I feel that it is more racist to say, "I won't play this because you are black and I might offend you" I prefer to say:" I mean no disrespect, but this music is part of our history, do you mind if I play it". Nine times out of ten I am allowed to play. The tenth time I respectfully shut up and sit down. Respect is the key here. If you respect your audience, and they knowit, you can play this music without much if any offence. If you patronize your audience, forget it, you already lost your audience.