Why is Poxy-Loxy regurgitating my quotes and pretending I am quoting him? It's not yet midday on Boxing Day . . .
In a thread about the Jewish influence on folk music he objected to a song called "Hava Hangover" (I don't actually remember it but might dig out the Priscilla Queen Of The Desert vid later if I've nothing better to do). Bit pathetic really, somewhat on the lines of madlizziecornish starting this thread to enable her to say at some point that the dubious, dismal dirge called Roots is the epitome of English culture, then for someone to tell her 'no, it's a pop song' thus facilitating her flouncing off to MySpace to announce that she'll never post on Mudcat again. Again.

Maybe Poxy-Loxy might do us a favour and piss off to enjoy a bottle of Valium with her?

Jewish musicians that I know are investigating their roots according to the provenance of their ancestors (Sephardic, Ashkenazi, Ladino . . . that sort of thing). Granted, this is a relatively recent phenomenon and a turnabout from "assimilation at any cost" in an effort to become more English than the English. Some (for example Lucie Skeaping) have an interest and expertise in both their own and indigenous musics). I am course, referring to music rooted in a tradition, not to mainstream pop produced by musicians who happen to be Jewish. Leave Helen Shapiro out of it.

But to put it in perspective, these are but a tiny minority among Jews, and an infinitesmal proportion of the wider English population at large who, sadly, still do not give a toss about their own cultural roots, but might regard those of others a bit quaint, in a touristy sort of way. If their grasp of "English culture" doesn't extend beyond trashy Carry On films and being football bores, it's their loss.

And Sid James still isn't English . . .

Oh, and my history? I must, of course have been bluffing when I churned out all those anti-racist pieces in the Morning Star / Searchlight / The Leveller and so on. And I fixed it with the RUC to lock me up in Derry so I wouldn't have to write about their partisan attack on civil rights (and so on). And when I sat on the press bench through interminable public order prosecutions, I really wanted the fascists to get off. And when I revealed racist police practices when reporting on the Carib Club raid or the Islington 18, the black communities told me to stop.

Have another Valium, Poxy-Loxy.