Sorry, here is the link, correctly this time, I hope:

AIROS

As to literature; of course not, John. But reading usually requires active participation on the part of the reader. Listening to music can be very passive physically, yet the words and tunes can sink into the subconscious without any effort on the part of the listener, therefore can carry a much greater impact of insidious proportions.

Twain wrote great literature which did expose racism; not perptuate its concepts. I do not consider Foster's songs to be on par with Twain's great works. Their focus was a narrow depiction of a class of people, while his was often a broad denounement of society.

As I said, there are so many good songs, why sing these ones, unless you wish to offend or hurt?

Some of this reminds me of the symphony orchestras and their intransigent love of "the classics". NOT that they are racist, just the reluctant to use new material. I once ran an ad for my brother's music with the line "Composers don't have to be dead to be good!"

It never hurts to try something new, esp. something GOOD! After all that's part of our evolutions isn't it? To expand our consciousness through uplifting activities, ever onward up the spiral of life?

Thank you Barry and MA.

katlaughing, still defending her "cubs"