There's interesting lines to draw between "what offends ppl", "what damages ppl's safety" and "what allows freedom of expression". "Freedom of expression" does not extend to hate speech, or to publishing the names and addresses of abortion clinic workers so they can be attacked. Equally, "what offends ppl" doesn't cover the banning of gangsta rap, and "what damages ppl's safety" doesn't cover banning papers which disagree with the government's views.

This must differ with the mores of the society, so it will change with location and time. The best example I can think of is Agatha Christie's book "And then there were none". It was originally released in England as "Ten little niggers", and in England before Windrush there were so few blacks that this wasn't seen as a big deal. In the US, the name would have been a major problem, so it was renamed "And then there were none" for the US market. A stage adaptation and the later films (the last in 1989!) were all called "Ten little Indians"! I believe the book is currently sold as "And then there were none" to prevent any future problems with the title.

"Causing offence" may also include songs inciting violence against another group. "Come out you Black and Tans" would be a very good example of this. Folk musicians may defend this as a legitimate example of the music of the times; however, viewed impartially it must be regarded in the same vein as songs celebrating the bombing of Brighton, English soldiers killing Hindus in the various Indian uprisings, or Afghan songs of praise on September 11th. Such songs can only be regarded impartially as "music of the times" when the times are over, no-one can remember them, and no-one is directly affected by their aftermath. I doubt whether even songs about Oliver Cromwell would go down too well in Ireland, regardless of it being over 300 years since his death.

Basically, if you know there's no-one present of a group who can reasonably take offence at a song, then you can probably get away with it; if not, proceed with caution, and you still may cause offence. Note though that I only say "reasonably" - being offended at a song about a smith with a "skin as black as coal", for instance, is taking the phrase out of context and is therefore unreasonable.

Graham.