Officials boot 'God' from patriotic song

WND ^ | December 7, 2003 | Unknown

[Kaslin]

Lee Greenwood's inspiring Gulf War anthem prompts questions about 'legality of lyrics'

''God Bless the U.S.A.,'' a patriotic anthem made popular by singer Lee Greenwood during the 1991 Gulf War, ignited a war of words between some parents and officials when it was learned an upcoming school performance would substitute the words ''I love'' for 'God bless.''

The show's directors decided to substitute ''I love the U.S.A.'' during rehearsals for the performance at Pacifica High School in Ventura County, California, when someone on the committee suggested the word ''God'' might be a ''problem.''

When angry parents found out about the change, some withdrew their children from the 'Cinemagic' program, while others wrote protesting e-mails to the school board and district leaders, reports the Ventura County Star.

''It's OK for you to say 'God,' '' parent Kaila Kaden told the paper. ''It's not a religious issue. It's a freedom of speech issue.''

The show's sponsor, the Pleasant Valley Education Foundation, provides support for bands, speech programs and choruses. Because it's not officially affiliated with the district, committee members decided to check with school officials to make sure the word ''God'' would not violate laws separating church and state.

The school board OK'd the original lyrics.

According to the paper, School Board President Ron Speakman said the situation was a misinterpretation of state law and district policy. While schools cannot advocate any certain religion, Speakman said laws do not forbid reference to God. ''It was a misguided attempt to be politically correct, and it has been rectified,'' Speakman said.

Committee chairwoman Peggy Smith said words have been changed before in the show's three-year history.

''We didn't want a lawsuit," Smith told the Star. "It could lead to the demise of Cinemagic and arts programs ... because of one word."

Sheila Myers was among the parents who wrote e-mails disagreeing with the words "I love the U.S.A."

She says she was moved to tears when she heard the children sing the song with "God" in the lyrics again.

''It just really moved me,'' she told the Star. ''It's one area in our lives not being tainted by political correctness.''

[King Prout]

''We didn't want a lawsuit," Smith told the Star. "It could lead to the demise of Cinemagic and arts programs ... because of one word."

to paraphrase a wise aphorism: All that is needed for the scum to triumph is for the sheep to remain gutless. Go on ahead, Smith, go on and pay the Danegeld, see if the Dane goes away.

[Bobby Chang]

When a songwriter finds out their classic song is altered illegally to alter the message, that will become a NASTY fight.

Earlier this year another Nashville-based songwriter was engaged in a dispute after one of her classic songs was butchered with altered lyrics without her permission by a Filipino artist.

Mr. Greenwood would sue because the secularists have altered his song without his permission.

[AppyPappy]

I had a boss one time who handed me a stack of job applications and told me to throw out the ones who looked black. He quickly defended himself saying "It's not that I'M prejudiced but someone above me might be". This whole "removing God" thing reminds me of that. They always say it is because some OTHER person might be offended.

[TheAngryClam]

Since Lee Greenwood wrote that song, he could likely prohibit its use under copyright, if he chose to.

Now, this is also less ridiculous than being upset about "In God We Trust" on money or the "One nation under God" in the Pledge, since both of those are officially sanctioned and traditional phrases, but Greenwood's song is now.

[TheAngryClam]

er, not, not now.

[Sir Gawain]

a patriotic anthem made popular by singer Lee Greenwood during the 1991 Gulf War

Wow, I didn't know the song was that recent. It just seems like it's always been here.

[ladyinred]

Why not just say Satan Bless the USA and be done with it! This is the way it is going.

[got_moab?]

Our "framers" would be none to happy with this!

[INSENSITIVE GUY]

I truly hope a horrible disease strikes all the people that are violating our country and its principles.

[ImaGraftedBranch]

Up is down and down is up. Why can't everyone see that this world is going full speed towards destruction?

[Kaslin]

What gets me is that now instead the wishes of the majority being held, the minority get everything they want

[SJSAMPLE]

I remember singing that song in Airborne School during the summer of 1986. I'd never heard it before, and not much until GWI in 1991.

[RobbyS]

Now you all know how fearful school people are and how that fear makes common sense decisions in the school so rare.

[King Prout]

The "Dane" have always numbered less than those they extort for tribute.

[King Prout]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1035782/posts

ask and ye might very well
receive what thou desirest, but
in living through the getting,
canst thou live with the smell?

[Sir Gawain]

I'm confused. When did the song first get released?

[tapatio]

I am glad to see that there are still some sane people willing to stand up and confront those who have taken political correctness to the extreme!

[SAJ]

God Bless The U.S.A. Words and Music by Lee Greenwood

© Copyright 1984 by MUSIC CORPORATION OF AMERICA, INC. & SONGS OF POLYGRAM INTERNATIONAL, INC.

All Rights Controlled and Administered by MUSIC CORPORATION OF AMERICA, INC.

[Looking4Truth]

''It was a misguided attempt to be politically correct,

Aren't they all?

Besides that, if I write a song with specific lyrics I'm not going to change them for ANYONE it would be my work and my work alone. Kerry 'em!