Martin Gibson:   I cannot agree or disagree vis a vis Mudcat. I was merely talking about (mostly) American folk musicians having a humanistic view.   Yes, as said, there are those that only see black/white and not gray areas. Perhaps those are some of the people you refer to on Mudcat. I don't know. Again, I am only referring to musicians that I have had the honor of hearing their music and presenting it on the air. Granted, my opinion is also subjective.


On a personal note I have to say that I interviewed a young performer who is an American ex-patriot living in Israel for some 20 or so years now. Not on my music program---rather my interview program with people of political and artistic thought.

We both agreed that in the formative years of Israel the terrorism (patriotism---it being a subjective word) of Israel in the guise of Begin (Irgun) was negated and stopped by Ben Gurion (Pres. and Hagannah). That, sadly, is not what is happening now with the Palestinians.   Suicide bombers that kill innocents intentionally are not the same as targeted assasins (with collateral damage---we all know about that from our own nation).

Well, I guess we are now really off topic and should probably move this to the other part of the page for non-musical chat.

But--in short---musically I disagree. We --"folk" --present a balanced view--or at least those of us who chose artists to listen to. Politically I have to say there are a lot of issues here that cannot be decided with a simple "good"/"bad" scenario.   Our esteemed Pres. still has not figured that out either. But---when you think you are a sheriff what else can one expect.

Bill Hahn