[78-L] OFF TOPIC: Buster's Comments

[Ryan Barna]

FYI, Kurt's already addressed this issue in VRA 47 (if you've read it):

"Most of you recognized it [the cover of VRA 46, highlighting Dan W.
Quinn's Edison concert cylinder of "When a Coon Sits in the Presidential
Chair" (#6951)] as precisely what it was - an amazing artifact from a
century ago which happened to have particular relevance today. Some bidders
were predictably offended and a few accused me of being a racist (only for
or five people asked to be removed from my mailing list this time; either
I'm losing my touch or I've already scared away most of the PC fanatics). I
haven't the space to address every comment, but I'll make a few
observations. ~ I don't give a whit what color you are; it has nothing to
do with your integrity, character, intelligence or suitability to run for
office. ~ I think our current President is the worst we've had in a long,
long time. ~ The VRA 46 cover lot was a fabulously rare record with a
catchy tune, and we still find ourselves humming it around the shop. I was
sorry to part with it, but (greedy capitalist pig that I am) I realized
that it would never sell for more than it would bring today. ~ If our
President was Alan Keyes, Condi Rice or J.C. Watts, I still would have put
it on the front cover. And none of those reasonable, intelligent,
level-headed Americans would have been in any way offended. ~ Because some
black people were interested in owning this record, does that make them
racist as well? ~ The record now resides in Magnificent Montague's
collection of Historical Black America, and he's even more thrilled than I
am. ~ No rednecks complained about Lot 292, "When Ruben Comes to Town,"
which was also pictured on the cover. Wonder why they weren't upset that I
would highlight a record that pokes fun at southern hayseeds? It was not my
intention to offend anyone, with the probable exception of those
über-politically
correct hypocrites who delight in championing the rights of some while
denying them to others. The First Amendment applies to all US Citizens, not
just the chosen few. ~ So lighten up, for crying out loud!"