I've always liked folk music. I also am a political conservative-to-moderate, and a lot of the songs sung around the time of the Vietnam War were self-righteous and smug about the war. In particular, I've disliked Peter, Paul, and Mary for those reasons. They got a little bent when the grunts in Vietnam called the AC-47 gunships "Puff the Magic Dragon" - which is a backhanded honor from the Vietnam soldier. At least they were listening to PP&M. Soldiers will pick up tunes and sing them no matter what side they come from. Witness the popularity of "Lili Marlene" in WW2. Furthermore, both French legionnaire and fedayeen were singing "Ya Mustafa" in the Algerian War. Vietnam was a civil war as much as a foreign war, and among the losing side, there is still as sense of anger and resentment. One could say Lee Greenwood's "I'm Proud to be an American" is the equivalent of "I'm a Good Old Rebel." Come to think of it, the losers usually have better tunes than the winners in a war, especially a civil war. Often, the winner may take land, forbid the showing of the defeated side's emblems, and indoctrinate the kids in schools - but you can't stop people from whisting a tune.

Sincerely, Greg nyekulturniy@hotmail.com