Hi Barry,

I am reminded of a story about a group of church people in Germany who were tasked with moving a grand piano from one room to another. They could not figure out how to do it.

Finally, as they stood around the piano, the pastor said to all, "wherever you are standing, lift." Each person lifted and they easily moved the piano to the next room.

I often think of that, and it spurs me to small actions, like writing a letter of making a phone call. Lift where you stand. That's what you're saying about your songs, and it's true and important.

When I was growing up, society drilled into us that it's not "polite" to talk about politics. It is important to stay away from controversial issues with friends and family, to keep the peace.

I think that this is the biggest piece of propaganda ever to be foisted on our society. If we don't talk about the important issues of our day, then who will?! We leave it to only a few to discuss? That seems to be a huge dumbing down of our population.

If something is political and controversial, it probably means that it is of great importance, in some way or another. Or, on another level, it means that our lives are being infringed upon by the government.

I don't care if you paint your walls blue or yellow or pink. It's not my business and it's not controversial.

However, if a law was passed, saying we all had to have pink walls...it would become political and controversial.

Since it would then become political, does that mean that we're not supposed to talk about the color of our pink walls, since it will upset the social apple cart?

As more and more laws are passed, aimed at controlling our lives, more and more topics become political, and thus taboo to talk about.

We are left with very dull matters to discuss in "polite company" at that point.

Talking about politics simply means talking about who we are and what we believe. How can we ever truly know a person, if we don't know their politics?

I have a family member who told me that she never divulges who she votes for, not even to her husband and children. I think-- what a horribly DULL woman she is! She can't even share herself with her own children?!

Anyway, I enjoyed your post and hearing your thoughts! Well said!

Lisa