I haven't had any complaints about the small Obama barrier, until today, when I received this email from a banjo player with a mid-Western old-time group:
OBAMA!?
Please remove all [of our] music from your play list. We won't have our music perceived as supporting a web site that endorses a racist.
Of all the stupid shit, John. Politicizing a once friendly and all-inclusive web presence like SITG.
Farewell;
[name & band name withheld]
Not sure why this fellow considers Barack Obama to be "a racist," but as he requested, I have removed his band's music from my computer and current and future playlists. If anyone else whose music is played here wishes not to be associated with my website, please let me know and I will be happy to stop playing your music.
thanks,
John
7 comments :
I think its perfectly fine that you have made your political opinions visible. You have done it very subtle and without any form of preaching...Which is more than I can say about what goes on in other online forum (etc) for oldtime and bluegrass music.
I quite often see people commenting that one should never discuss politics or religion. Thats nonesense. The world would never evolve if we didnt discuss politics and religion...especially amoung ourselves as private citizens.
So if someone doesn't want their music played in a place that has a small Obama "sticker" in the corner...Then fine...Whatever. It's their loss of airplay on THE online radio for oldtime music in the world.
Your doing a great job John. Keep it up.
/Tobias
Big Hungry Joe (oldtime band)
Denmark
I couldn't agree more to what my band mate Tobias writes.
everything is politics, some way or another.
Now somebody might ask, what do a couple of danes do in a discussion about american politics?
The answer is, everything that happens in american politics, has an influence on danish politics. Especially when it comes to foreign politics. And after almost eight years with the global catastrophe George W. Bush, the best thing that could happen is to see Obama in the White House. It can only be better.
If it matters anything I'm right behind you John. Musically as well as politically.
Is Obama a racist? How foolish can you be?
Jesper
Big Hungry Joe (old time band)
Denmark
John,
You perform a great service for those of us who love this music. It is sad that Obama is seen as a racist by people who are racist themselves (I'll bet my fiddle)! Thank you for all that you do for us. I love your site!
Yeah, what they said; but, I wanna know - which band was it?? Come on, tell us. At least give initials or a song title so I can guess. ha.
Dear Friend, don't be discouraged by the shameful request made by the real bigots in this matter; Bob Dylan has a message for them in this "old time" folk song from 1963: Embrace Change! It's coming Tuesday Nov. 4th!
Come gather 'round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You'll be drenched to the bone.
If your time to you
Is worth savin'
Then you better start swimmin'
Or you'll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin'.
Come writers and critics
Who prophesize with your pen
And keep your eyes wide
The chance won't come again
And don't speak too soon
For the wheel's still in spin
And there's no tellin' who
That it's namin'.
For the loser now
Will be later to win
For the times they are a-changin'.
Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don't stand in the doorway
Don't block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
There's a battle outside
And it is ragin'.
It'll soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'.
Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And don't criticize
What you can't understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is
Rapidly agin'.
Please get out of the new one
If you can't lend your hand
For the times they are a-changin'.
The line it is drawn
The curse it is cast
The slow one now
Will later be fast
As the present now
Will later be past
The order is
Rapidly fadin'.
And the first one now
Will later be last
For the times they are a-changin'.
Copyright ©1963; renewed 1991 Special Rider Music
Just a year ago it was considered un American to bash the president. Now its okay. The far right is becoming embarrassing to this country.
Obama, attempting to clear the abject train-wreck of the last feral regime that looted us dry, of treasure and reputation. Hear them now lambaste him with false witness, even questioning his religion and birthright, only for their slimy return to power.
Teabagger-Daddy Dick Armey, the platinum-gilded DC lobbyist, deceives the clueless rabble up the wrong tree: WE ARE the government, and CAN control the greedy corporations that falsely claim "government is the problem."
We just have to clean out the bought hyenas, and elect those who value Democracy over corruption.
Listen to Bill Moyers on PBS.org
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