Steve, I think your question was fair. Those that jumped on an incorrect date are certainly entitled to do so, but it speaks more about them than you.

I believe the answer, for me at least, lies in my intent in singing it, as well as what I believe to to be the emotion evoked in the mind of the listener. The evolving awareness of Newton's actions may change that, but for now this song seems to evoke the kinds of thoughts that the grandchild of the Abolitionist movement, that being today's Civil Rights movement, often uses the song. I would point to the David Roth & Anne Hills song, "Amazing Grace/That Kind of Grace" as an example of this. I am so moved by this songs ability to demonstrate that those with the least of reason to exhibit "Amazing Grace" are often the ones that teach us its true meaning. This is one of those songs, for me, where the author probably didn't have a clue as to what his song meant. It is somehow ironically appropriate that a slave trader would be the one that wrote the song that the grandchildren of slaves would adopt as an anthem. I guess if it's good enough for them, it's plenty good enough for me.

All the best,

Mick