While reading this thread, I found that I had to agree with most of what was said here. I listen to many different kinds of music and it is very very rare that I hear a protest song if ever. I don't think that they've gone the way of the dodo, I think that they're still there but are being ignored by "big biz" in favor of (gag!) boy bands and "my wife left me again." Granted I mostly enjoy those kinds of songs but I does lull people into a kind of fantasy world.

However the thing that really got my goat while reading this thread was Lanfranc's comments on students and how they are more worried about their grades and material success and don't give space to "Folk" music. EXCUSE ME? First of all that's stereotypical and rude and second of all, IT'S WRONG! I'm a third year college student who IS interested in issues other than my grades and if you haven't noticed by my membership here, is also "giving space to folk music"! Now granted there are a lot of students who don't do anything about the issues that need facing (especially in the university) because they figure that they don't have the time. What's the point in trying to fix the system if you're going to be out of it in four to six years? Granted at Cal Poly Pomona, where I go to school, the highest voter turnout in years was 40% and that was when they were going to raise our fees. Granted most people will walk right past a protester and not even hear a word he said. But on the other hand, we have an underground newpaper to make up for the official paper that is under the president's thumb. We have several ethnic and issue related groups that stage protests and meetings all the time. We have had students face the student government (which is also under the president's thumb), the school administration, and the president himself. Again we aren't prefect (who is?) but at least a fair number of us try. Personnally, I am involved in several of the protests that go on each year and I make sure that I vote. Now I'm not perfect either but at least I do try. Plus about this "folk" thing, I enjoy listening to, singing, and playing folk music and not just "the comfortable innvocation of a rural idyll that never existed or sanitised diddy-eyed Celtic tunes" but rebel songs and protest songs.

Normally I don't like to go off on rants like this but I felt that your worldview needed re-adjusting. Please know who you are talking about before you go stereotyping the whole group.

Thank you.

Rebecca <><