I commented above already, but I want to add something, David. I have found your writing on this site to be some of the best and most entertaining prose put forth in my time on the site. This article was also well-written, and I will look forward to your future contributions as well.

I think, though, that you must admit (by virtue of the comments above) that your assumption of a general consensus around you that "...(Yeah), we're no happier than you are..." was misplaced, at best.

We've been through a challenging time in our nation over the last 12 months. It's a tumultuous time of change and hope and fear and uncertainty. Now, we come together and celebrate something we all have in common which is the wonderful music of our favorite band. It should be left alone in that sense.

Phish, if they were making any statement at all with their opener, was saying that "we love our country and we love all of you, regardless of anything", and I seriously doubt were taking political sides. To suggest that they were is beyond the level of presumptuous, and a great offense to many of us who don't think as you do on the issue and also love the band just as much.

In short, if you are going to presume to speak for the band on such a sensitive and explosive topic, you'd better have a quote or at least a documented source, or put the comment into the recycle bin.

I say this because the last thing we want in this forum is more of what we have all had to endure over the last year. It's been painful enough. Please leave it alone and let us ring in the New Year with joy and alongside the community we want to celebrate it with.

Thank you.