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wwyd? inappropriate forced religion and patriotism

Poll Results: forced patriotism and religion wwyd?

Poll expired: Dec 26, 2007 This is a multiple choice poll
  • 19% (48)
    I'd skip the program
  • 2% (6)
    I'd go and wear and ipod or earplugs
  • 9% (24)
    I would protest the reference to God
  • 9% (23)
    I would protest the forced patriotism
  • 11% (27)
    I wouldn't have a problem with any of it
  • 30% (73)
    I would be offended by both and complain to the school board
  • 9% (23)
    As long as it isn't the Christmas Shoes or Grandma/Reindeer song, meh
  • 7% (17)
    Other
241 Total Votes  
post #1 of 67
12/6/07 at 8:47pm
Thread Starter 
Sigh

My dcs just informed me that yet again, their holiday program at school will be featuring God bless the USA.

This really annoys the cr@p out of me. There is supposed to be a separation of church and state first of all, and secondly they are doing the song to show support for our troops who are fighting a war I don't support! I support a person's right to decide for themselves to join, I just don't support the reason we are there, yk? I think it's offensive that they just assume it's ok to put parents in the position of being the oddball who protests if they don't want their children to sing about God or how he blesses our country. :

If you love our country, great, and if you love God, great, but I think it's lousy that they just assume everyone is going to be delighted to participate in this. Of course, it could just be that the song is lousy and that annoys me more. DId I mention that they have performed this song on at least 4 other occasions in the year that we have been here?

Would it be equally offensive if they sang God Bless America?

Is there any way to approach this other than to grit my teeth and say nothing?

Somebody help me gain some perspective on this.

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post #2 of 67
12/6/07 at 8:56pm
If these issues meant a lot to me, and I was truly offended by the song, then I'd take it up with the school- let them know that the song offends me and why, and that I don't want my DC participating unless they take the song out of the program.
post #3 of 67
12/6/07 at 8:59pm
I'd totally protest this and pitch a fit. And I'm married to someone in the military. It's ridiculous to use kids to peddle that crap in a public school.
post #4 of 67
12/6/07 at 9:02pm
Thread Starter 
What if one of your dcs has already been the target of bullying and you don't want to make them stand out any more? I'm thinking I may not want to fight this battle, but do you think I'm nuts for finding this whole thing to be offensive? Dsd is getting along better and I kind of hate to go stir things up, but the whole thing really pisses me off. :

At least the repetitive Jingle Bell Rock dance in Mean Girls was funny, yk? I guess I should be thankful they chose a song that most of them can sing
post #5 of 67
12/6/07 at 9:06pm
I would have similar feelings about the song, however I wouldn't make a huge stink about it. I would judge whether to attend on how much my kids cared about it, I would not force them to sit out something they had been looking forward to and were very excited about. I might also write a letter or speak to the principal depending on what my relationship with the administration is.

For example, at my child's current school (private Montessori) I would have no problem going directly to the Director and expressing my concerns, because I'm very involved and know her and I know she'd take them seriously. If I thought I might come off badly speaking directly I might write a letter because I can choose my words more carefully that way.
post #6 of 67
12/6/07 at 9:06pm
I would object on all counts.

That is supposedly the reason the white men immigrated and stole the land now called the united states... to escape the oppression of the church in England.
post #7 of 67
12/6/07 at 9:08pm
Are they singing songs from other religions?
post #8 of 67
12/6/07 at 9:09pm
Can you make an appointment to talk to the principle about this, and not involve your kids? I know it's hard to feel like you could be a reason they get teased at school. But if you go in calmly and express your concerns no reason the other kids should even know about it, right? Even if it is after the show, maybe your talk will make a difference for future shows.

I am very against this war. I would take my kids to anti war protests. But I might not make a big deal out of that at school. The "God" thing though I would.
post #9 of 67
12/6/07 at 9:10pm
Yep. That would annoy me. And I would even add one other thing about it that bugs me and that is w/ the implication that God should bless *just* the USA, and not other countries.

I realize that is not what they are saying, but I have been to events such as you described, and I definitely felt that. And, not that it really matters, but I am Christian and gung ho about separation of church and state.

I would complain to the school board for sure.
post #10 of 67
12/6/07 at 9:10pm
And don't vote for Romney if you don't want it happening daily!:

Plus "God Bless the USA" was a craptastic song, written to surf a patriotic pahse and then hauled out to make some spare change after 9/11. Honestly, I would have a heck of a lot less of a problem with traditional patriotic songs ( I remember singing all of them for a 4th grade performance...DH is still impressed that I can sing the theme song for all of the military branches..and we're not service people)
post #11 of 67
12/6/07 at 9:11pm
It wouldn't bother me. It wouldn't be my choice of songs if I were planning the holiday show, but it's not something I would get too worked up about.

If it were my DD's show, I wouldn't skip the show or take an iPod, because regardless of the material, DD has worked really hard and has practiced a lot for her show, and she is so excited about it. It would devastate her to know that I was skipping out on it. If I felt that the material were questionable, I might take the opportunity to have a one on one chat with her about it, but I doubt I'd take it any further than that. In the long run, I don't think that God Bless the USA is going to cause any damage to her.
post #12 of 67
12/6/07 at 9:11pm
I voted that I don't have a problem with it - but that's me. If you really are bothered by it, I think you should mention something to the Principal of the school - he/she may really be unaware that it offends some people, especially if no one has brought it to their attention.

My husband is in the military too and they sing that song a lot in the schools around here - but I'm sure they might reconsider if someone really had legitimate problems with it - I've seen grown men cry around here when that song comes on because it does invoke a strong sense of patriotism I think. I do know a mom who feels the same way you do (her husband is military as well) and she doesn't send her daughter to those programs because of it - she even writes a note for her to go to the library during rehearsal time/music class.
post #13 of 67
12/6/07 at 9:12pm
I'd throw a fit... but I'm a teacher so it'd have been thrown during the choosing of the theme.

Seriously... BLARGH!

Oh, just read the thing about your Dsd... that kind of complicates things. Perhaps going to the principal, stating both your objections and your reasons for not wishing to make your objections known to a wider audience would be a good compromise? Seems like any principal worth his/her salt would, bare minimum, be respectful of your desire to keep your dsd out of this.
post #14 of 67
12/6/07 at 9:13pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by BlueStateMama View Post

Plus "God Bless the USA" was a craptastic song, written to surf a patriotic pahse and then hauled out to make some spare change after 9/11.
You rock!
post #15 of 67
12/6/07 at 9:14pm
lol @ the option of "as long as it isn't Christmas Shoes"

I loooathe that song so much that I was going to do a lyric by lyric critical analysis of it in TAO as its own thread...but then thought that might be kind of weird... I mean, my toes CURL when that song comes on (and not in good way either). In the most horrible, horrible way.

I feel similarly about the song "God Bless The USA". It gives me goosebumps (again, in the horrible, horrific way, not a good way).

Nevermind religion in schools (which is a serious topic) I would protest that song solely based on the fact that it is so incredibly cheesy, offensive (to music in general for starters) and embarrassment-inducing that I feel I have to scrub it off me in a hot shower every time I hear it.

That goes for Christmas Shoes too.
post #16 of 67
12/6/07 at 9:15pm
I agree that that song is about as Craptastic as it gets. Did Toby Keith sing it originally?
post #17 of 67
12/6/07 at 9:15pm
I would be furious too, and I would protest AND take it up with the school board. Are there any other parents who agree with you that you can join together with? Even if it is just you, I would talk to the school board, program director, and principle.
post #18 of 67
12/6/07 at 9:15pm
Do I need to look Christmas Shoes up on the web, or am I better off not knowing?
post #19 of 67
12/6/07 at 9:18pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by artgoddess View Post
Do I need to look Christmas Shoes up on the web, or am I better off not knowing?
That's it, when dd is in bed tonight I am going to do a lyric by lyric critical analysis of it in TAO.


I have to bring God into it a second when I say that song is GOD AWFUL.

Just wrong. It is just sick and wrong and so poorly written and AH I could go on... I am sorry for hijacking, but it is similar to God Bless The USA in SUCKINESS.
post #20 of 67
12/6/07 at 9:24pm
I'm a firm believer in letting the school know when they are screwing up. I also let them know when they are doing things well.

I wouldn't start with the school board. I'd start with the teacher and principal. But a fit I would most definitely pitch.
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