Lorne M. spoke of Pete Seeger's blacklisting as if it were popular rejection of his political message--although McCarthy and HUAC and the corporate media managed to stir up enough anti-Russian hysteria to keep the people from demanding to hear Pete and other political singers, it was the record companies and the politically controlled concert halls and the networks and the by-then intimidated movie industry that denied the right of political artists to perform...it was not a matter of an inability to sell tickets and records that kept Seeger off television until the Smothers Brothers brought him on their show (which was cancelled by NBC not because of bad ratings--it was one of the most popular shows on television--but because of political pressure). Most people are like Faswilli: we like a good story. Great thread, Larry. Good to see so many of my friends deep in this discussion.

--seed

Now, if you're into controversy, check out "Dear Mr. Lincoln."