Frank, it is a theme I have been spouting for some time here. I believe that every so often, in the course of history, there comes a time for the bards, singers, social activist folkie songwriters,.... whatever you want to call us ....... to step forward. It doesn't happen often, but we are at the beginning of such a period now. During the mid 60's was the last time I remember. Your recounting of the HUAC days is so critical because it gives us the fodder we need to write the songs that can cause folks to leave the lockstep "traditional values" group think that is such a pervasive evil. The HUAC times show us, within our memory, that we must be so vigilant if we are to continue on a progressive path. The election of Obama, while being a sign for extreme hope, won't be much more than an interesting bit of history if we don't use the opportunity presented by the minds that have flashed open to progressive ideas. Folks need to rest assured that the McCarthyites are alive and well and plotting as we speak to hamstring this young man, and to re-establish themselves. We have the leader we need, but he needs the help of those of us with gifts, those of us who can use our twin talents of music and message to awaken that which is great in our country. I believe the American melting pot has produced a people with a great capacity to do the right thing, but who are easily swayed by cliche driven "American Dream" rhetoric that has little to do with the real dreams of those that live on the American continent. Those spin meisters will be working overtime, and it is up to us to counter them using our gifts, and the marvelous resource of wisdom we have from folks like you, Jean, Pete, Art, Mark, Utah, and the whole host of wonderful progressive performers who survived that time. We only have a short window to get in, and your writing of that time demonstrates that.

So stay the path, sir. I need you, and so do any number of us that believe that failing to recognize what happened in the past dooms us to repeat it. Could there be any more graphic proof than the Bush Presidency.

And thanks for your emotion.

All the best,

Mick