It has been said that imitation is the highest form of compliment, I would amend that to stealing is the highest form of compliment. Does it really make any difference who does the stealing, or should I say borrowing? I think everybody "borrowed" from everybody else, and that's how jazz came about. I believe that Jelly Roll Morton, as well as Nick LaRocca make very good points about French, and Spanish influences being underrated in the history of jazz. There would not be jazz if there weren't European Opera Houses. One thing is built upon another. To say that one group is solely responsible is not accurate, and probably would be racist. Musical idealogy exceeds race, and is universal in its conception. That is to say it deals with the human condition.