The self-contradictory term, “White lie”, comes to mind, as it implies an untruth of lesser intensity or impact. After all, what harm can a little fib cause? Well, maybe if it is an isolated misrepresentation of facts, then no harm, no foul, as they say. But, what if “White lies” come as a collection; as hundreds and hundreds of constant and continual barrages? Like a thousand “small cuts” against the truth? Can steelband history experience “death by a thousand cuts”, as in the Chinese torture method of Lingchi? I would argue that steelband history cannot survive this method of torture, and that no culture’s history could either.

GEORGE D. GODDARD, B.A.

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