“God Bless the USA” is offensive but Justin Bieber’s “Baby” is okay for kindergarteners
Tuesday, June 12th, 2012According to a story in the New York Post, a Coney Island principal, Greta Hawkins, ordered that Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA” be pulled from the program because “we don’t want to offend other cultures.” The youngsters had been practicing for months in preparation for their “moving up” ceremony, and the song had been sung by students in prior years.
Principal Greta Hawkins
Parents and students, many of them from the “other cultures” Hawkins purports to be worried about, were upset by her decision, but the New York Department of Education closed ranks and supported the principal’s absurd decision, saying, “The lyrics are not age-appropriate.”
What is “age appropriate” for kindergarteners, other than a medley of Sesame Street songs? Justin Bieber’s “Baby,” which students will be expected sing at the ceremony.
Maybe I’m missing something, but I can’t figure out how a moving, patriotic song that is embraced by millions of people who moved here from “other cultures” is less appropriate than one by a pop culture icon about his girlfriend. One has to wonder just how many of the kids in that kindergarten are already hooking up with each other that Hawkins and the DOE think Bieber’s song is more appropriate.
Here are the lyrics to both. Please, you tell me which you think is more appropriate for youngsters to sing, in school or out.
Baby
By Justin Bieber, Christopher Bria Bridges, Christina Milian, Terius Youngdell Nash, Christopher A. Stewart
Featuring: Ludacris
Justin Bieber
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 me. And 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
Wow! Pretty deep and moving, eh? Can you believe it only took five people to write that song? Amazing!
Now compare that to this.
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.
Lee Greenwood
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.
Yes, I see it now. Something like being proud of where you live and being free is so much more confusingly complex than understanding all the emotions and feelings that come into play when you break up with your first love.
You see that, too, right?
[Sarcasm off]
Am I just too old to understand the issues Principal Hawkins and the NY DOE see?
Or is this just another example of liberal idiocy and bias in a public school system?
June 12th, 2012
This is absolutely a case of liberal lunacy coupled with a elementary school principal with an agenda. Also in the NY Post article, are complaints listed against Ms. Hawkins by her own staff for being both a tyrant and a bully (oddly, the teacher’s union hasn’t investigated these complaints). Ms. Hawkins, additionally, is on record as having told her fellow teachers that , “I’m black. The other principals were white and Jewish. More of us are coming.” That statement just doesn’t sound very multi-cultural to me. It sounds like someone with a big chip on her shoulder and a desire to put others down to make up for her own shortcomings. Its ironic that the biggest defenders of ‘God Bless the USA’ are recent immigrants. They seem to love their new country MORE than a woman who was born here. Maybe they know more about freedom than she does?
June 12th, 2012
Ms. Hawkins is just too, too cute and politically correct to be real. This is why I no longer teach in public school! Too many ‘chiefs controlling the so-called instruction processes.
June 12th, 2012
The principal and DOE are an insult to every member of this country and especially to my family going all the way back to the Mayflower. My family has served this country since the King Philip Indian War (pre Revolution) right up to the current conflict. And know this; they did not steal this land from the American Natives, they were awarded 3,000 acres of tribal land for playing a major role in assisting 3 tribes in capturing a renegade who was murdering tribal members and settlers alike. If people from other countries move here it is for a reason; one I am sure they are proud of. If not, we have no laws forcing them to stay here; they can leave whenever they want to. Other cultures are proud of their country and heritage and have no problem expressing it; we should be able to do the same. Some people will always choose to be offended; there is no making them happy and we shouldn’t try. This principal is doing everything she can to teach the next generation to be automatons that stand for nothing. This needs to be fought on every level across the country. If not, the only thing wrong with George Orwell’s movie “1984″ is the year.
June 12th, 2012
Almost any song not by Bieber would be more appropriate. How about nothing by pop-icons? What would be wrong with America the Beautiful, This land is you land, this land is my land, Battle hymn of the republic? etc. I know they are patriotic and therefore wrong.
June 12th, 2012
The people that are at the program are from all walks of life and they CHOSE to be here. They chose to come to America. They chose to live in America so they can be Free!
If the other song had lyrics that could have been interpreted as being said from a loving parent to their child it would have been fine, but the lyrics of the “Baby” song are self-centered and selfish.
Wrong choice by that principal.
June 12th, 2012
An update on this, Mayor Bloomburg said this morning that Bieber’s song Baby will not be used either. No word on what song they are going to use now.
I really wish that people who have an education would actually act educated and not be so intolerant. These days you can only be intolerant of obese people and Christians…
June 12th, 2012
This is a class of kindergarteners. Graduation? Programs, diplomas, matriculation or joining the class of 1st graders seems a little over the top. When administrators can demand and receive compliance with rules and regulations not popular with the masses it only takes so much before there could be trouble. I can see it now, a class of kindergarteners forming an action committee to overthrow a principal while she is stating “I’m black. The other principals were white and Jewish. More of us are coming.” What are we becoming? We have met the enemy and he is US. I need to know, “Are we insane?” Maybe a “Class Action” law suit is in order! I know, “Can’t we all just get along?” might work…… My tongue should never be in my cheek!
June 12th, 2012
This is all too typical of public schools these days. Expressing love of country is anathema to the DOE. It if was about multiculturalism, then why didn’t this principal and DOE support a multicultural song? Inappropriate is having 5 year old children sing about first loves and break ups. Can we please go back to allowing children to be children and teaching them to respect their country instead of teaching them to trash it? I’m all for change for the better, but this is not for the better. My philosophy? If you don’t like the USA, leave!
June 12th, 2012
I love this land, but when people continue to make decisions like this, I honestly begin to wonder why God blesses us. Many Americans today have no desire whatsoever to obey Him. Why should He bless us? :(
June 12th, 2012
Leonard,
I am glad to see another Walt Kelly fan in the blogosphere…’We has met the enemy and he Is us’!
June 13th, 2012
My 12 year old grand daughter doesn’t even like Justin Bieber, why does a grown woman!!!!!!!!!!!? We were stationed in Germany when the Gulf War started. I was cranking up the radio every time Proud to be an American came on. I still do. Perhaps these people who don’t want to offend other cultures in OUR country should at least visit another country. Maybe then they will realize why the U.S.of A is so special.
June 13th, 2012
Come on people, things like this happen less than the other way around. We are Heathen and when my 9 yo had to sing songs for the Christmas ceremony that were Christian in nature, I asked about adding other songs from other cultures and was told nope, these are the songs and he was told he had to participate or fail music class.
The U.S.A. is a great country and it is due to both the history of standing up to tyranny, but also the tolerance it used to have for others. I have never understood the whining of the Christians that claim to be persecuted, etc. when there are churches on pretty much every block, you had God added to the money and the pledge post founding fathers, and every politician uses the phrase God bless America. How is this persecution of your religion exactly?
June 13th, 2012
Devin,
While I agree intolerance goes both ways as regards religious beliefs or the lack thereof, this issue was not about God but about a patriotic song that was pulled because it was inappropriate for young children and it being replaced with a pop star’s laments over losing his first crush, something every five-year-old can evidently relate to, according to the principal who imposed the decision.
As noted in Glenn’s post above, the school system wisely pulled the pop song as well.
June 14th, 2012
It just reeks of political correctness, which is usually bad. I believe they should find out why these people are not wanting this song sang. Maybe it’s the same reasons the President uses in his books.