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Subscribe to RSSUpdated at 6:19 p.m. ET: A New York City principal has pulled the plug on kindergartners’ hopes to sing Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA” at their graduation ceremony because of lyrics deemed inappropriate, a school official says.
New York Department of Education spokesperson Jessica Scaperotti refuted an earlier report by the New York Post that suggested Greta Hawkins, principal of P.S. 90 Edna Cohen School, decided to swap Justin Bieber’s “Baby” for Greenwood’s patriotic ballad.
“The story is not being reported correctly,” Scaperotti told msnbc.com. “The song is not banned from the school and has been sung at the school before, it is just the lyrics were not age-appropriate for a kindergarten moving-up ceremony. And reports that Justin Bieber’s ‘Baby’ was going to sung instead are not correct, either.”
Greenwood didn't take lightly to the snub.
"Personally, denying the children of PS 90 to sing 'God Bless the USA,' offends me as a Christian. My song is about hope, faith, spirit and pride. How could that be wrong on any level?'" Greenwood said in a statement.
The New York Post reported Hawkins swapped Bieber’s hit after declaring “God Bless the USA” off-limits.
Scaperotti confirmed the two songs had been scratched off a selection of songs slated for a June 20 ceremony at the Brooklyn public school. Other titles include “You Got a Friend in Me,” and “World is a Rainbow.”
New York City education officials backed Hawkins’ decision on Monday, saying the principal had the final word on song selection for its commencement.
View NBCNewYork.com's story on No 'God Bless America' at graduation
“It’s important to reinforce that they start out the morning every day of the school year with the Pledge of Allegiance and ‘America the Beautiful,’ and that, to me, is what this country is about, and they celebrate that, and that’s how we should start our day," New York City Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott said, the Post reported. “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.”
Greenwood’s song begins, "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."
The song became popular during the Gulf War in the 1990s, and then again after the Sept. 11 terror attacks.
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Leave a Comment:
Some group probably demanded equal rights by having the kids also chant:
"Allahu Akbar America!"
If she would have wanted to say that and then was censored there would have been a big hoopla raised about it by the Muslim community...imagine that?
No--what I think some group wanted was, "O-BAH-MAH! YES! WE! CAN! O-BAH-MAH! HOPE!-AND-CHANGE! O-BAH-MAH! HE'S-OUR-MAN!
Think about it--is not hearing 'GOD BLESS THE USA!" something that'd make 0-BAH-MAH! scream in agony?!
I think so!
I think it's ridiculous to ban any patriotic song, especially if no one finds it offensive. However Greenwood's tune is annoying. I cringe whenever I hear this cheesey, overplayed, over commercialized, redneck propaganda. There are much better and more appropriate traditional patriotic songs that could be performed instead, such as "America the Beautiful" or "Stars and Stripes Forever" or the "Star Spangled Banner."
Agreed! I hate "god bless America" too. There are so many good patriotic songs out there.
Diasagree.
What's so "cheesey" & "redneck propaganda" about saying that you love your country, that you're proud of being an American--"where at least I know I'm free; and I won't forget the men who died, who gave that right to me....stand up next to you & defend her still today...I love this land, God bless the USA!"
Sounds QUITE patriotic to me, esp. realizing that there's MILLIONS in the world who'd give any-/everything they have to come here & become an AMERICAN!
Is there somewhere else you'd rather live, where life is better? If so, what's keeping you here?
That flippin' principal was wrong as 2 left shoes to scuttle the singing of that song! If you don't like it, don't listen to OR sing it!
Simple as that.
Good. No reason to teach mythology to the kids.
If you live in our country, the USA and you dont want to celebrate it. Maybe it is time to find another country to live in.
This is our country, not the muslims, not the hindu, not the chinese nor hispanic, japenese or any other ethnic groups. If you live in this country and you are a legal citizen, then you are an American regardless if you were born a Japenese, Chinese, Mexican or what ever. If you want to be "An American" citizen, then celebrate it as an American Citiizen. Otherwise, you should leave our country and leave it to those of us who do believe in it, love it and want to celebrate it.
If "God Bless the USA" was "offensive to other cultures" then ATB, SASF or the SSB wouldn't make the grade either. Patriotism has been shunned. It's a sad day for America that one persons own religious beliefs can take away the patriatoc pride of those 5 classes. If you don't like it here LEAVE. I'll even buy you a one way ticket to outside the country as long as you trade me your passport for it...
Only problem with that is that you need your passport in order to leave....
As an American, I am offended. Why doesn't anyone think of how episodes like this offend Americans?? If people want to live her so badly, understand that this is America, you chose to come here, let us be who we are just like you get to be who you are. This principal is wrong. Just plain wrong! I am so tired of PC BS!
Everyday I see this country of ours deteriorating more and more. People killing each other. Politicians lying to us, Wall street bankers lying , cheating, scamming and trying to change the laws so the rich get richer off the backs of the middle class. I used to be proud of my country and would get tingles at the sound of our national anthem, not anymore. We are a laughing stock in the world. We are deteriorating more everyday and I am sad for our future generations. I was proud to hear "We are the Greatest Country in the world" that is no longer true and the world is turning against us
A very simple solution to all this: FIRE ANYONE WHO WILL NOT STAND UP FOR "WHAT" OUR TROOPS HAVE DIED FOR ALL THROUGH THE PAST..The weak-Kneed "Educators' of this day DO NOT EARN their "KEEP".
They're GOVERNMENT workers, don't forget, along with the anti-American, Uncle Karl-loving/worshipping HACK Occupying the White House....
a very simple solution: fire any/all the "weak-kneed" educators that will not acknoledge what our troops have fought and died for in the past.
to think that someone as shown in this article does not stand up for what has been the very basis this country was founded upon, then i believe that deportation is in order, we do not need any "home grown" radicals in our midst.
I am an atheist, veteran and patriot.
I am offended that an American would deem a patriotic song (annoying as that song might be) as being inappropriate, because it would offend some cultures. What about OUR culture?
When I heard Kate Smith sing God Bless America in personbefore the 6th game in the Philadlphia-Boston Stanley Cup I had goose bumps. It still make me misty eyed when I try to tell that story. And it had nothing to do with the word God! God damn this principal and the bosses she answers to! And I sayy that knowing that some idiot will claim I am praying!
If I were not totally against the public sector teachers before, I am now! Private sector schools do such a better job at half the salary and virtually no benefits, but this is what we get from the over-paid public school employees that have us ranked soo low academically! We need 50 Govenor Walkers now - or at least by November.
This is what you get from New York City !!! The land of the "Major Democratic Society" Mayor BoomBahh and All of his inept Culture!!! Bring back the draft and teach patriotism!!! No military record then no public office for you!!! People like these cheapen the price we the military have paid!!!
Seriously? She couldn't find a better song for kids to sing than "Baby" by Justin Bieber? There are tons of kids' songs with wholesome messages, rhymes, and other meaningful, educational songs rather than that offensive Bieber song about materialism and getting someone to love someone else based on gifts. Hell, she should have had a "song competition" for kids to create their own lyrics and melody and choose the best one for the class to perform. This would engage their creative side as well as finding a song that has a better message than "Baby".
There is nothing inappropriate about the song. But, then you have to look at, is it appropriate for children at this age to sing this. I feel the principal was correct in her selection based on what the story is telling me. People don't always have to start trouble because they disagree.
i can only hope that iam still alive when the turkeys and knuckleheads start to bellyache about what happened to america. i hope that iam still alive so i can say you did it to yourselves. you would not listen or appreciate what others had done and even died for you and the simple word freedom which meant so much, now means nothing.
What in the world is going on?!! GRADUATION ceremony, for kindergarten?!!
Do thay remember 9/11 and all the good AMERICAN'S that lost thare live's that Teacher and Principal look good teaching in the MIDLE EAST
Some commenters are confusing "God Bless the USA" with "God Bless America." I have included the lyrics for both songs below:
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.
God Bless America
Words and music by Irving Berlin
© Copyright 1938, 1939 by Irving Berlin
© Copyright Renewed 1965, 1966 by Irving Berlin
© Copyright Assigned to the Trustees of the God Bless America Fund
International Copyright Secured. All Rights Reserved.
Used by Permission
"While the storm clouds gather far across the sea,
Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free,
Let us all be grateful for a land so fair,
As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer. "
God Bless America,
Land that I love.
Stand beside her, and guide her
Thru the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans, white with foam
God bless America, My home sweet home.
And "Baby" by Justin Bieber is hardly appropriate for kindergarteners.
What is wrong with people in this country everything is deal now. I would like for you guys to go back centuries and see what is wrong, I want you to take my right to vote, my right of being a black woman, but please spare me of all this nonsense. When this country was base on religion, respect, love, integrity, respect elders/parents and one and other we were better off, now people are killing each other, can't get along or accept one and other what is going on? A bunch of disrespectful music, with no moral, no values of family respect
I don't understand why a principal would think this song would offend any other cultures, but I can see why it wouldn't be the best song for a kindergarten graduation. It doesn't really fit the occasion,and it would sound a little silly for 5 year olds to be singing about "just having their wife and kids". The song is more appropriate for them to sing on memorial day. What I don't understand is why this is even a news item. It's a kindergarten graduation! Looks like you just want to put a provocative headline up to get people to read - and I guess it worked. Still, seems kind of silly to me.
FIRE THE PRINCIPAL!!! it is IDIOTS like this that shouldn't even BE CALLED AMERICAN!! For obviously it would offend SOMEONE! and Mr. Principal - trying to PLEASE EVERYONE, YOU LOOSE YOURSELF!