Well, John, I don't consider racism an "imagined wrong". A lot of this was already discussed on the Song Appropriateness thread. I am not a strict adherent to PC, either, but I do not think it serves ANY purpose to sing songs of a less enlightened age with such words as "pickinniny" and "darkies", both of which are in the Missouri Waltz.

I would find them offensive

, whether there were a son-in-law and grandbabies of colour in my family or not.

Did you read my whole posting? Did you go to the Lester S. Levy collection and read the words? Yes, it is historically accurate and can be sung in that context, but why? What purpose does it serve except to remind us of the horrible inhumanity slavery was and to remind people of colour that they were, and still are by some, consider less than human?

This is a beautiful tune. It is gorgeous on the fiddle; one can really play it sweetly and soaring; no need for the words to ever be uttered. Just because there are words doesn't mean we need to use them.

This is one case where I don't believe history bears repeating.

katlaughing & defending her "cubs"