Public school ditching patriotism to appease other cultures

Today we celebrate Flag Day, which some say originates from the day on June 14, 1889, when George Balch, a kindergarten teacher in New York, planned a celebration of the American flag for his students. It was made an official holiday by President Woodrow Wilson in 1916. It's a day set aside simply to show our patriotism by paying special homage to the Stars & Stripes that represent America.

How sad that present day, another school official in New York - this time a principal named Greta Hawkins - told kindergartners they could not sing Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA" at their moving-up ceremony for fear it might offend other cultures.

Assuming the cultures she's referring to reside here in America, why would a song about America offend anyone?  Could it be the song's mentioning of God that this woman finds offensive? If that's the case, then maybe she is confused in thinking that mentioning God is the same as government establishment of religion. Which, of course, it isn't. But rather than risk anything, this principal is pulling the plug on a patriotic song despite the fact the kids rehearsed it for months.

So what song did she approve to have sung in its place? Justin Bieber's "Baby".

Kyle Olson of Education Action Group points out what this says about the state of public education in America.

"They replace great patriotic songs like that with ridiculous songs by pop stars that add nothing to society or add nothing to our culture," he declares. "It is really unfortunate that this is the level that our government schools have sunk to."

According to school staffers, Hawkins has also tried to end the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance and the singing of "America the Beautiful" each morning.

Maybe she really does just have a beef with patriotism itself, but whether it's patriotism or opposition to mentioning God, how do her actions protect the kids from anything? Why should we change American customs to cater to those who might be easily offended? Instead, maybe we should just start telling the overly sensitive to buck up and accept that the sun does not revolve around them. Let them throw a temper tantrum if they must, but let's continue practicing the customs that we cherish in the U.S.A.

God Bless America and Happy Flag Day!

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