"It is difficult to preserve your own folk traditions if you don't even believe you have folk traditions."

I'm not sure how you are drawing that conclusion. Did either Jim or myself say that we do not believe we have folk traditions? That is far from what I said, and re-reading Jim's note I don't think he was saying that either.

My comments are directed at several cultures here in the U.S. where music and dance were NOT an integral part of their daily lives. Fortunately there were other religions and cultures at work HERE that did have a more encompassing view.