[scott says]

The writer of this article incorrectly tries to portray Dylan as an anti-war protester, this is untrue. Bob referred to the war protesters as " a bunch of dirtbag scum" or words to that effect. His early music, the folk stuff is only protesting for equality and social issues. Bob performed at the March on Washington and performed before MLK. A lot of his early songs strive for racial equality. The left-wing artists community told Bob that he spoke for them, called them the spokesman for their movement...Bob told them--I don't speak for anyone, if you can't speak for yourself then don't pin it on me-drop dead.
Alot of people think that Bob was some left-wing radical, no he is not.

[frankenMonkey]

You are correct, sir. And the times, they are a changin.

[ConservativeStLouisGuy]

The writer of this article incorrectly tries to portray Dylan as an anti-war protester, this is untrue. Bob referred to the war protesters as " a bunch of dirtbag scum" or words to that effect. His early music, the folk stuff is only protesting for equality and social issues. Bob performed at the March on Washington and performed before MLK. A lot of his early songs strive for racial equality.

I hadn't heard that angle....to be honest -- when I was a kid -- Dad and Mom let us listen to Peter, Paul & Mary records (with all their anti-war, anti-establishment stuff), but that didn't influence ME to become like them.

In the same way I kind of agree with the author that "Musicians reflect public opinion, they don't shape it", although there will always be "musicians" who have their own (leftist) point of view of things no matter if public opinion says (they will always take the side against what is public policy -- either to sell their records by catering to the youth...who largely tend to despise authority or because they are just out-in-left-field-leftists-who-haven't gotten a clue).