You can hardly blame Jack for changing his name to be a folk singer in the 50's. Tony Curtis did it to be an actor; Kirk (!) Douglas did it to be an actor. He loved the music.

I am critical of people who commit parenthood, especially when there are hints of leeching off some woman in the process, and then not demonstrating love and caring. If my generation has a lot of whiners who haven't learned how to move on, there is good reason. His daughter is probably doing just what her shrink suggested: confornting her Dad dwith the things she really wants to know. I work with so many kids who are scarred in unimaginable ways by callous inept parents, and these are parents who are AROUND.

I remain critical of Guthrie for the same thing, though I admire his work. Note that family closeness seems very important to Arlo. (Of course, then, he knew his father was ILL.)