Land of the Free?

I have tried to stay away from anything political, but this is really bothering me.

I am talking about how far political correctness has gone in this country.  In particular, I am upset about our children not being allowed to show patriotism, as recently shown in the story about PS90 in Brooklyn, New York.

The principal, Greta Hawkins, decided that Lee Greenwood's song, "God Bless the USA" was inappropriate for the kindergarten class to sing during their moving up ceremony.  Never mind that it has been sung in the past.  They are also not allowed to wave American flags.

At first the stated reason was that she did not want to upset the other cultures who would be attending the ceremony.  Wait... what?  Last I looked at the map, Brooklyn was still part of the United States of America.  I don't know about anyone else, but if I moved to England or Mexico or Japan, and as a result, my children were enrolled in school there, and at a ceremony they sang a patriotic song, I would feel privileged to be allowed to partake.

I certainly would never be insulted because while in another country that country showed it's patriotism.

However, after the media firestorm over her comment about insulting other cultures, she changed her tune.  Apparently, "God Bless the USA" is not age appropriate.  Let's look....

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.

 
Apparently, it's that dreaded first verse - 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.

That is inappropriate for five to six year olds?  Okay, let's say for the sake of argument, we give that to her.  They could have changed the words to the first verse.

So, what song did she want them to sing?  Well, the perfectly age appropriate "Baby" by Justin Bieber.  Let's take a look at these "appropriate" lyrics:

You know you love me, I know you care
Just shout whenever, and I'll be there
You are my love, you are my heart
And we will never, ever, ever be apart

Are we an item? Girl, quit playin'
"We're just friends," what are you sayin'?
Said "there's another," and looked right in my eyes
My first love broke my heart for the first time

And I was like baby, baby, baby, oh
Like baby, baby, baby, no
Like baby, baby, baby, oh
I thought you'd always be mine, mine

Baby, baby, baby, oh
Like baby, baby, baby, no
Like baby, baby, baby, oh
I thought you'd always be mine, mine

For you, I would have done whatever
And I just can't believe we're here together
And I wanna play it cool, but I'm losin' you
I'll buy you anything, I'll buy you any ring

And I'm in pieces, baby fix meAnd just shake me 'til you wake me from this bad dream
I'm goin' down, down, down, down
And I just can't believe my first love won't be around

And I'm like baby, baby, baby, oh
Like baby, baby, baby, no
Like baby, baby, baby, oh
I thought you'd always be mine, mine

Baby, baby, baby, oh
Like baby, baby, baby, no
Like baby, baby, baby, oh
I thought you'd always be mine, mine

When I was 13, I had my first love
There was nobody that compared to my baby
And nobody came between us who could ever come above
She had me going crazy, oh I was starstruck
She woke me up daily, don't need no Starbucks

She made my heart pound
I skip a beat when I see her in the street
And at school on the playground
But I really wanna see her on a weekend
She know she got me dazin' 'cause she was so amazin'
And now my heart is breakin' but I just keep on sayin'
Baby, baby, baby, oh
Like baby, baby, baby, no
Like baby, baby, baby, oh
I thought you'd always be mine, mine

Baby, baby, baby, oh
Like baby, baby, baby, no
Like baby, baby, baby, oh
I thought you'd always be mine, mine

I'm all gone
(Yeah, yeah, yeah)
(Yeah, yeah, yeah)
Now I'm all gone
(Yeah, yeah, yeah)
(Yeah, yeah, yeah)
Now I'm all gone
(Yeah, yeah, yeah)
(Yeah, yeah, yeah)
Now I'm all gone, gone, gone, gone
I'm gone 

I guess it is much better to insult Americans by not signing a patriotic song.  Let's face it, why should we sing a patriotic song that might hurt the sensitivities of immigrants who chose to come here, when we can sing a song that will insult only those with morals?

Once again, after it hit the media, she changed her mind about Baby, and now that is not going to be sung.  But she still will not allow a patriotic song.


In the past, Ms. Hawkins tried to stop the children from reciting the pledge of allegiance and from singing America the Beautiful.  I think she should pack her bags and leave.  There is a ferry leaving in five minutes for Cuba.

This woman, who was not arguing the religious aspect of God Bless the USA, at least not at first, is a Jehovah Witness, which is her right to chose her own religion.  However, she is a principal of an elementary school in the UNITED STATES, and she won't even stand for the pledge of allegiance.  I get that she claims it is part of her religion not to salute a flag, but what message is she sending to young children if she won't even stand?  We are not asking her to pledge, simply to stand.  It's a matter of respect.  So, if she is free to exercise her religious freedom, why aren't these families free to show their patriotism?

Our young men and women go off to war to defend our right to be idiots and to insult other people with our stupid opinions.  It breaks my heart when I think of all of the brave young people at Walter Reed and other military hospitals fighting to put their lives together.  It is because of them that she has the freedom to do stupid things like this and impose her simple minded beliefs on innocent children.

But should we let her?  This is a free country, after all, so where is the right of those children and families to sing a song they had practiced and liked and anticipated?

To add insult to injury, New York Schools Chancellor, Dennis Walcott and New York City Mayor, Michael Bloomberg are standing by this idiocy.

Just a few similar incidents I was able to find:

In May 2010, a student in California got in trouble for drawing an American flag during a middle school art class.  It was deemed offensive.

In April 2012, two students were punished in Texas for wearing a "Homes for our Troops" shirt.

In 2005, a student was called to the office and accused of wearing gang colors.  The colors?  Red, white and blue.  Her uncle was serving in Iraq, and she wore the necklace to support him.

In May 2010, students in the San Fran area were chastised for wearing red, white and blue on May 5th.  Last I checked, this was America, not Mexico.  We should be allowed to wear whatever colors we want on whatever day.

In May 2011, in Massachusetts, an 11 year old drew a picture of an American flag and was not allowed to hang it in the classroom because it would have offended one other student.

In November 2010, a California boy was forced to remove an American flag from his bike. 

It breaks my heart that we have been reduced to a country that has to hide who it is so as not to offend others who come to our country voluntarily.  I submit that everyone should wear an American flag on every Monday of every week [because Friday is taken for Red Shirt Friday (Remember Everyone Deployed)].  If not a t-shirt, then a flag pin.  It is time to stand up and show those liberal bureaucrats that WE ARE PROUD TO BE AMERICAN!!!!

Articles about Greta Hawkins:

www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/God-Bless-the-USA-Banned-School-Justin-Bieber-Coney-Island-158454725.html

www.nypost.com/p/news/local/justin_time_is_up_p2yL2tHwywz5Dq8yXfIdmI

communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/middle-class-guy/2012/jun/11/nyc-school-system-supports-un-americanism/

After all these comments, why is she permitted to remain?
teachervoice.com/principal-reviews/Brooklyn/P-S-90-Edna-Cohen-School/10-47416/