I sure do understand what Bob Haworth is saying when he describes the behind-the-back politics that was going down without him ever knowing it was happening---and how, after it's finally over, the great feeling of freedom that comes from being free to do what you want to do instrumentally or vocally without the compromises that inevitably one must make in a group dynamic.

Along those same lines, I was quite shocked when I realized the machinations going on when I was a host of the national NPR live concert show called the Flea Market. As a solo singer on the road, I was not use to the realities of dealing with probably a corporate situation sort of like that one. Up to that moment I had figured that NPR was better than that. Up to that time, the mid 1980s, as I've said, I'd been on my own and in charge of everything about my life within our folk music revival. I did my gigs, one by one, and went on from there. During and after those experiences, the hurt of being secretly schemed against by people I'd thought of as friends was palpable---but it faded--eventually. Then I gladly went back to being my own boss. And that has made all the difference.

And I must mention this: One thing thing I am not willing to let pass here is the sad ease with which some deride "purists and folk Nazis and traditionalists and collectors (and as someone here said) "pseudo-elitists who are out of touch with much"---! I have ignored these wrong diatribes whenever I can lately. I do suspect I will continue to strive do that as much as I possibly can. BUT, for what it's worth, I must say that you are denigrating and demeaning what many feel is the serious and important work done by so very many wonderful academicians and musicians and singers. If the fact that I, personally, am hurt by your doing these things means that I can and should count myself as one of those individuals----I must take this opportunity to say how proud I am to be on you enemies list.

Art Thieme