oh, go for it then

日本中心に観点を持っているとこういう話は皮膚感覚が無いのでしょうが、私の場合は正にこの時代にこの場所で育ったので。ナショナル・フロント（通称NF）は私にとって、文章上の出来事ではなく、体感した現実です。通学電車の中、バス停、今で言うコンビニにて、道ばたにて。「黄色くて、目が線」の小学生にとっては怖いものでした。でも、こういう軋轢から生まれたものが沢山あるのも事実。自分の感覚もここにて刺激されました。自分の2 Tone好きは偶然ではありません。

実感湧かないでしょうが、映像から垣間みてください。まずは音楽と切り離してみてください。それが毎日学校へ通う小学生、または青年の日常だと想像してください。因に、これは英語がろくに話せない頃に体験しています。そりゃあ英語話せるように頑張るでしょう。

何故ああいう音楽が生まれたか。より理解できると思います。様式やシステムだけを取り入れるのではなく、その背景を理解（想像）すると、よりヒューマニティーへの深みが生まれるのでは。

The day I realised music could change the world

Billy Bragg Monday October 8, 2007 The Guardian

Back in the late 70s, I was working in an office, a place of casual racism and homophobia. I never spoke out against it because I felt I was in a minority and didn't want the grief. On the streets, the National Front were marching through immigrant neighbourhoods, stirring up trouble and trying to divide communities.

I may well have carried on turning a blind eye were it not for the Clash. When their name was added to the bill of the first Rock Against Racism carnival in April 1978, I knew I had to be there. When I arrived at the rally, in east London, I was amazed to see 100,000 young people just like me - one for every vote the National Front had won in the council elections the year before.

I came away with a strong sense that this was where my generation was going to make its stand. Just as youth in the 50s had marched against the bomb and the longhairs of the 60s had opposed the Vietnam war, we were going to define ourselves in opposition to discrimination in all its forms.

Rock Against Racism was a watershed in the development of multiculturalism in this country and from its celebratory concerts sprang Two Tone, Red Wedge and the world music scene. We fought the narrow-mindedness of the National Front by widening our cultural horizons.

Now, new bands are lining up with Love Music, Hate Racism to take on the resurgent BNP. That heady mix of pop and politics will inspire another generation of songwriters to take on the issues of the day while their detractors carp as they carped of old. But does music make any difference?

Well, it was the music of the Clash that got me to the Rock Against Racism carnival. However, it wasn't the songs they played that day, or the speeches that were made from the stage that changed my world. It was being in that audience. I went to work the next day determined to speak up against the racists, confident in the knowledge that I was not alone.

· Billy Bragg will be named the Classic Songwriter at today's Q Awards.