Hey Kat - How can an Englishman like me (See first message in thread!) stop fighting the French??? Out of the last 500 years we have been at war with them for 400!

The politcal correctness thing is still an issue - only a few weeks ago Carlise (north of England that is) council banned the local morris team from dancing in its council owned public places. Why - because they 'black up' their faces as part of the ritual. Never mind that was done traditionaly to preserve anonimity. The council decided it was offensive so therefore it must be!

The worse thing is that the real racists out there use this as an excuse to say that black or any other ethnic minority are ruining traditional british culture. I must point out it is not the ethnic groups themselves who make these rules but often misguided and overly sensitive officials.

Getting back to a folk music basis I have encountered a club which does not allow hunting songs. Much as I disaprove of hunting how can banning songs about it be justified? Do we also ban the shanties which stem from negro/slave work songs? Cock fighting songs? Songs about poverty and famine? Is this another manifestation of PC gone mad?

I don't know the answers - perhaps someone can enlighten me!