Hi, Art & Leo: Thanks for your assessments of the predominantly anti-racist tenor of the folk scene in both the States and Britain. It's reassuring to hear.

Santa:

I apologize if I wrongly interpreted your post as supporting Befuddled. I thought you were referring to him when you mentioned

"anyone daring to speak out against the invisible folk party line".

After all, he (and his supporter Gurney) are the only people whose throats I've 'jumped down' lately.

For those who think I've over-reacted, let me point out that Befuddled's post followed mine very soon in the thread. I was therefore concerned that he was equating MY celebration of St. George's Day with his own racist agenda, and I did not want to see the holiday and its accompanying folk traditions hijacked in that way.

The post was particularly alarming in light of the historical information I was reading about Gardiner's influence on the folk revival in the 1930s, and my own experience of white supremacists attempting to infiltrate my on-line Robin Hood club.

That is why I ASKED the British Mudcatters if this was an issue in the current folk movement. I am glad to hear that the overwhelming consensus is that these types of views are not tolerated in the folk scene.

I will, however, continue to speak out against racism where I see it, here at Mudcat, or the world in general.

Silence won't defeat idiots like Befuddled. But a good kick in the pants (metaphorically speaking) will at least give him the message that he's unwanted here.

Hester