Danny Quinney
It has been a crazy busy week. I have soooooooo much I want to write about. I’m tempted to write about Fast and Furious (it’s complicated, but I think I’ll understand it better if I write it out), I want to write about Mayor Bloomberg doubling down on his stupid idea to ban soft drinks. He is now including popcorn in the ban (OH, and just so you know, Los Angeles, and Cambridge, MA are also considering similar bans.) What really got me going today was an email a friend of mine sent me last week. It annoys me so much I, almost, wish I didn’t read it.
On June 11, Todd Starnes wrote an article titled, “NYC Educators Back Ban on Patriotic Song.” The article describes an incident where, Greta Hawkins, the principal of the Edna Cohen School in Coney Island, instructed teachers to remove the song from the upcoming program, a kindergarten graduation ceremony. Staffers at the school told the New York Post that Hawkins was afraid the song might “offend other cultures.”
What song was it she found so offensive? “God Bless the USA”
Here are the lyrics to the song:
God Bless The USA
by Lee Greenwood
If tomorrow all the things were gone,
I’d worked for all my life.
And I had to start again,
with just my children and my wife.
I’d thank my lucky stars,
to be livin here today.
Cause the flag still stands for freedom,
and they can’t take that away.
And I’m proud to be an American,
where at least I know I’m free.
And I wont forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.
And I gladly stand up,
next to you and defend her still today.
Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA.
From the lakes of Minnesota,
to the hills of Tennessee.
Across the plains of Texas,
From sea to shining sea.
From Detroit down to Houston,
and New York to L.A.
Well there’s pride in every American heart,
and its time we stand and say.
That I’m proud to be an American,
where at least I know I’m free.
And I wont forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.
And I gladly stand up,
next to you and defend her still today.
Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA.
And I’m proud to be and American,
where at least I know I’m free.
And I wont forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.
And I gladly stand up,
next to you and defend her still today.
Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA
I KNOW!!! How offensive are those lyrics? Whoever wrote them must be a monster!
Normally, I souport publik edekasion but this is just beyond ridiculous. Instead of this patriotic song, “God Bless the USA” students performed “Baby,” a Justin Bieber song about teenage romance. Ahhhhhh isn’t that just super cute?
Rep. Michael Grimm (R-NY) issued a statement condemning the principal’s actions.
“I have just one question for this principal – who exactly are we offending? The only thing offensive about any of this is the anti-American message being ingrained in our youth. We all should be proud to be American and we should never ever apologize for it.” He added, “It’s time we stop letting our political correctness destroy our values and American traditions, and start embracing the exceptional people and cultures that make our country great.”
The New York City Board of Education defended the principal’s decision. In a statement to the Post, Dennis Walcott, the chancellor of NYC schools, defended Hawkins by saying, “It’s her judgment to make that decision. You have to really wonder about some of the lyrics in the song, so I have to rely on the principal’s judgment along that line.”
You have to “wonder” about the lyrics? Wonder about what? Now, I’m not the most highly educated man. Sincerely, I’m one of the stupidest people I know, but I have brainwashed myself into believing it is a thousand times better to have common sense without education than to have education without common sense.
Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, said Hawkins has been unfairly attacked for banning the song.
Unfairly attacked? Guess what Mr. Unfairly attacked? The Pity Train has just derailed at the intersection of Suck It Up & Move On, and crashed into Get Over Yourself, before coming to a complete stop at Pull Your Head Out. If you have any complaints forward em to 1-800-waa-aaah. Guess what sunshine! Life doesn’t revolve around you.
Lee Greenwood, who wrote the popular patriotic anthem, told television station WNYW that he was troubled by the principal’s actions.
“I take exception that she said the lyrics are not age appropriate,” he said. “If my lyrics aren’t appropriate, then what is?”
No kidding.
Just for fun let’s take this “ohmigosh we might offend someone” mentality and fast forward a few years. If an American song is dangerous because it is offensive how long until other patriotic things “offend” other cultures? Will the American flag offend? Remember last year five high school students were sent home for wearing an American flag on their T-shirts on Cinco de Mayo. What about the Pledge of Allegiance? How long until that becomes offensive? It does, after all, have the words “America” “Flag” and “God” (which is being challenged constantly). When did it become wrong to be proud to be an American? Why is it wrong to teach patriotism to children and to establish a sense of pride for their country?
Personally, I don’t care if someone’s patriotism offends anyone. I think we should be able to be as ridiculously patriotic as we want to. This is America. You can’t show up here and expect us to not be Americans and proud of our country. Can you imagine going to France and being offended everyone is speaking French? That’s probably not a great example. They are, after all, the French. How about visiting the Middle East and being offended when everyone faces Mecca and prays? Could that be offensive to anyone? Would they care? No. And they shouldn’t. That’s their culture. It’s what they do. It’s part of the gig.
For over 200 years men and women have fought and died to protect our right to be as patriotic, or not patriotic, as we want to be. So we could fly our flags, sing our songs, eat our hot dogs on the 4th of July, then stand with one hand to our heart and pledge our allegiance to one freaking awesome flag and one amazingly wonderful country. Or not, if that is what we choose.
(Whew….) I don’t know about you, but I feel better. Oh, and if I have ever offended you with my opinion, you should hear the ones I keep to myself.