One mans terrorist is another mans freedom fighter. So it goes and will continue as long as there is percieved injustice.
But to get away from that issue, hows about the fact that hardly any sea shanties can be sung as they were intended, without the singer being too concious of being seen as racist, sexist, or downright rude? I have, and will always sing about *niggers* and not accept substitute words, but gauging my audience, I might give an explanation beforehand, or even afterwards, just to set the context. Same goes for sexist or political verses when they crop up. The ruder verses are left for discriminating folks in extreme cases, the milder ones for when children are not present.
It's a case of audience awareness, once again.