Since my posting came just before your birthday this past week and all those good wishes from your fans, my comments were buried a bit on this message board. I figured it was a good idea to repost, in the hope of prompting some response from yourself, and mayby folks out there in general, to see if "the other side of the coin" has any merit from your collective perspective. The Other Side of the Coin is: It's interesting to me that you've framed your entire experience (related to the Atlanta Bread Company gig around one person's voice "against" your performance and choice of songs) behind the veil of "free speech", rather than making an effort to imagine how others might feel about those songs. Beyond your fan base, the people you've so often referenced in your narratives around this situation, you haven't once that I've read taken responsibility or allowed for the possibility that some of the songs you perform might be hurtful. You say you're not a racist; I certainly don't know, as I've never met you. I do know that often one's best intentions go awry. It would be refreshing to see someone in your situation not defend their actions, but rather take the higher road and attempt to see another person's perspective. As I said, whether you're a racist or not, I can't speak to. It does seem to me that a few of the songs you perform might be considered hurtful, if not racially divisive. And I can offer you this perspective based on the the idea that each and every person deserves honor and respect. Racially divisive attitudes and actions kill love, divide community, destroy democracy. Think about that the next time your words and actions present yourself as a champion for free speech and break into another rendition of "Pizza for Pesos". We'd all be better off if you did. OH, and Happy Birthday.
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