Tommy Sands, the very fine "political" folk singer from Northern Ireland said that music has the power to bring folks together. That is why, in history England outlawed songs and tunes in both Ireland and Scotland, outlawed bag pipes, hymns, .... all because they had, and have the power to unite folks. Tommy said that music can "lift" us above our political beliefs. Many of his songs, (see the thread on There were Roses) echoed his feelings. None, I believe, says it better than his song, When the Music Starts to Play. If you watched the Graceland concert from South Africa, you saw blacks dancing together. Several years ago, when rock musicians went to Russia to perform with Russian musicians... Tears were shed as they were boarding the plane to return to the U.S. For my money, we should be singing songs that unite rather than songs that stress our differences. I feel, like Tommy Sands, that music may be the last hope for unification. It's a universal language and indeed it has charms "to sooth the savage breast." That's my input. I have to call my daughter in Denton. good night.