When Patriotic Songs Become Offensive We Need To Pay Attention

This is the YouTube video of the Lee Greenwood song “God Bless The USA.”

 

Why am I posting it? Because a school not too many miles from where I live has banned its message. Today’s Washington Post is reporting that students at Stall Brook Elementary in Bellingham, Massachusetts, were taught the song with the words “we love the USA.” Some parents objected to the change of lyrics and the school has cancelled plans for the children to sing songs at an upcoming school presentation.

Songs such as “God Bless America” and “America the Beautiful” have been sung in American schools since the fifties and sixties (and probably before that, but I wasn’t around before that!). The message in those songs is no different than the message in the Lee Greenwood song. Have we forgotten who we are?

UPDATE:

The Washington Post is reporting tonight (Thursday night) that the school has changed its mind and the students will be able to sing the song with the correct words.

The article reports:

After parents protested, the school said students wouldn’t sing anything during the April 12 assembly. But Superintendent Edward Fleury said Thursday that students could sing “God Bless the USA” with its original chorus.

Fleury says the school believes the word “God” is acceptable in patriotic songs and no disrespect was intended.

I’m glad God is acceptable in patriotic songs since He is mentioned so frequently in the founding documents of America. Thank you to all the parents who cared enough to get involved. We need more of you.  

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