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"Silent Night" Reinstated in Mustang Christmas Program
ChannelOklahoma ^ | 12/09/04 | ChannelOklahoma

Posted on 12/09/2004 10:38:26 PM PST by Kryptonite

School District Critics Plan Nativity Scene, 'Silent Night' Performances

MUSTANG, Okla. -- Lakehoma Elementary School's annual Christmas performance was to include a rendition of "Silent Night" on Thursday evening after Mustang school officials reached a compromised in a dispute over Christian religious elements in the program.

The decision came after a number of Mustang residents complained and others announced plans to stage a silent protest Thursday night during the evening performance. Superintendent Karl Springer had originally banned a staged nativity scene and the singing of "Silent Night" because of First Amendment concerns.

However, during an early performance of the program on Thursday, parents and grandparents who attended the program said they were surprised to hear "Silent Night" in its entirety.

Mustang resident Gerald Lett said he thought it was ridiculous to ban the song in the first place.

"I think it's asinine," Lett said. "It's another case of taking our rights away to serve somebody's minority rights."

Community members said they were deeply concerned by the school district's decision to ban the Christian elements of the school's holiday program, which also discusses cultural and religious traditions such as Kwanzaa and Chanukah.

But the school district concluded Thursday morning that the song and the nativity scene were separate elements. The school district's attorney said that previous Supreme Court decisions have allowed Christmas songs in schools, which made it acceptable to reinstate the song.

Community member Diana Merrill said she was pleased to hear the song during Thursday's special performance.

"I'm glad they had it in," Merrill said. "I mean, that's part of Christmas, and that's where it belongs -- in a Christmas play."

Despite the inclusion of the song, some concerned parents and other community members still planned to stage a nativity scene on private property across from the Mustang High School auditorium, where the evening production was scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday.

Protest organizers also told Eyewitness News 5 that a group sponsored by the Mustang United Methodist Church plans to sing "Silent Night" across from the school.

The nativity scene was still excluded from the performance as of Thursday afternoon.

On Thursday, Springer told The Associated Press that he does not approve of students playing the Biblical roles of Mary, Joseph and the three wise men, which was planned as part of the original version of the play.

Previous Story:

Dec. 8, 2004: Mustang School Removes Christian Portion Of Holiday Play


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; US: Oklahoma
KEYWORDS: christmas; christmascarols; napalminthemorning; nativityscene; oklahoma; partyofthehindparts; religionofpeace; schooldistrict; silentnight
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Good for the fine people of Mustang, Oklahoma, for standing up to Superintendent Karl Springer, but shame on him for cowering in fear of a person who saw the program ahead of time and apparently threatened legal action.
1 posted on 12/09/2004 10:38:26 PM PST by Kryptonite
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To: PhiKapMom

Karl Springer and the perp whom he claims threatened him need to be zotted, Sooner-style. Christmas is all about the birth of Christ.


2 posted on 12/09/2004 10:40:22 PM PST by Kryptonite
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To: Kryptonite
Merry
CHRISTmas!!!

3 posted on 12/09/2004 10:40:27 PM PST by Brad’s Gramma (Proud Patriots dot com! Check it out!!!)
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To: Kryptonite

There's a passage in the Bible that I think we should start looking to for inner strength and gumption these days as Christians.

The story regarding Jesus overturning of the money-changers tables outside the temple in Jeruselem has an object lesson in it that I think we should look to.

Jesus Himself became animated and took physical action to display his disgust with the apostate condition of the process. I'm not advocating physical action, but I am advocating Christians start developing some backbone, and implementing tangible efforts to neuter the ACLU and other avowed enemies of their faith.

I've had enough of the athiest hordes, and I'm not even the world's best Christian.


4 posted on 12/09/2004 10:46:45 PM PST by DoughtyOne (US socialist liberalism would be dead without the help of politicians who claim to be conservatives)
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To: Brad's Gramma

email: springerk@mustangps.org

phone: 405-376-2461

Mr. Springer's Forum

He needs a good freeping.

5 posted on 12/09/2004 10:55:46 PM PST by Kryptonite
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To: DoughtyOne
I've had enough of the athiest hordes, and I'm not even the world's best Christian.

Me too. I'm not even a Sooner, but I'm taking pride in those folks who switched gears and staged their own nativity scene, as well as the kids who performed "Silent Night".

6 posted on 12/09/2004 11:00:32 PM PST by Kryptonite
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To: Kryptonite

i'm sad to see that this PC nonsense is even happening in my beloved former home state.


7 posted on 12/09/2004 11:02:20 PM PST by Awestruck (The artist formerly known as Goodie D)
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To: Kryptonite

You and me both. I was glad to read about their actions.


8 posted on 12/09/2004 11:02:44 PM PST by DoughtyOne (US socialist liberalism would be dead without the help of politicians who claim to be conservatives)
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Comment #9 Removed by Moderator

To: thangdatrang

Thanks for the response. I am glad that even though you aren't "convinced", that you can see the dynamics at play here and see your way clear to denounce the conserted efforts against Christianity.

While Christianity (the movement) is not perfect, the alternatives (other movements) are far less perfect and have far less to offer when it comes to morals and the directive that we try to live a good life.

Humans including Christians are falible and will fail. At least Christian's do aspire to honorable ethics and wholesome morals.


10 posted on 12/09/2004 11:31:02 PM PST by DoughtyOne (US socialist liberalism would be dead without the help of politicians who claim to be conservatives)
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To: Kryptonite

"religious traditions such as Kwanzaa"

Kwanzaa is not a religious tradition; it's a fraud invented from whole cloth out of hatred for "whitey."


11 posted on 12/09/2004 11:45:33 PM PST by dsc
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Comment #12 Removed by Moderator

To: Kryptonite
Superintendent Karl Springer had originally banned a staged nativity scene and the singing of "Silent Night" because of First Amendment concerns.

No wonder the kids can't read when they leave these schools, the Superintendent can't read either. The Constitution says Government shall make no laws against religion, precisely what he did. Humanists with the club of Government in their hand, the new State Religion.

13 posted on 12/10/2004 1:13:29 AM PST by American in Israel (A wise man's heart directs him to the right, but the foolish mans heart directs him toward the left.)
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To: Kryptonite
My Husband's brother lives in Mustang. This little community is the epitome of small town America, it is located on the outskirts of Oklahoma City, literally on the prier

If this PC stuff is going on here, I can't imagine what is going on in the big city.

Somehow the Liberals just don't get it that the majority of this country still want God in their everyday lives.
14 posted on 12/10/2004 2:50:53 AM PST by Coldwater Creek ('We voted like we prayed")
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To: DoughtyOne

You've got another non-christian in this battle with you.

I don't think God should be taken out of the schools and many in this Anti-Christmas movement need to understand the differences between worship, praise, entertainment, celebration, establishment etc. The removal of the knowledge of any religion/God from educational(read as not proselytizing) instruction is dangerous. We are a diverse nation and children need to know that there are many different versions of religion. They need to know it was Christian religious persecution that was a driving factor to the founding of this nation.

It is at this time of year is when I see religiuos persecution against Christians. When they take the Christians out of the public square, who is next? Who will be next to have their, "free exercise there of" denied? It's a public square, established by the government, for all the people.

Singing Christmas Carols is not establishing religion. I think the Christmas religious songs are the world most beautiful songs to a weary world. Songs of HOPE. Stamping our HOPE in our world is what this movement is about. This Sat. the Olde Stone Church is giving their Christmas Choir Concert and I am going.

When a Christian says to me MERRY CHRISTMAS, I recognize what they're saying and that you all are wishing for me and my family the VERY BEST of what you believe. What a more beuatiful thing is there than the aura of divine love?

Have a Merry Christmas and a Blessed Yule.


15 posted on 12/10/2004 3:47:02 AM PST by EBH (A very proud Aunt of a US Marine in Fallujah)
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To: Kryptonite
I heard a beautiful song about the baby Jesus while shopping in a GAP store yesterday. I never heard the song before, and thought it might be on a Christian radio station. When I asked the cashier about the music, she said corporate headquarters sent the CD. Another clerk was quietly singing a Christmas Carol to herself at Gymboree.

The day before, I listened to another song about Christ the Messiah while waiting in my dentist office.

I've not heard many "Happy Holidays" from the clerks. They seem to be taking the silent track, or they say something generic like "Thank you" or "Come again.". When I say "Merry Christmas" they respond in kind. The few who actually say "Merry Christmas" have one thing in common. They're all young.
16 posted on 12/10/2004 4:32:11 AM PST by keats5 (Merry Christ Mass! Happy Holy Day!)
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To: Kryptonite

The Secular Taliban strikes again, eh?

These Christian haters should get professional help for their self-esteem problems, instead of beating up on Christans.


17 posted on 12/10/2004 4:33:40 AM PST by Liz
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To: Kryptonite
A few years ago, my sons' teachers dealt with the holidays in such a sane, considerate manner. They simply asked their little kids to write a paper about how they celebrate the holidays. Without embarrassing anyone, they figured out the religious leanings of their class.

Upon learning her entire class celebrated Christmas, one teacher put together a program with all Christmas Carols. The rooms was decorated with kids" art work of Nativity scenes and snowmen. None of the parents complained, because they were also all Christan.

Anther teacher learned she had a few Jewish kids, so she encouraged the entire class to verbally share their holiday traditions with their friends. The kids sang mostly Christian songs, but included a few Jewish songs. Again, both kids and parents were happy.

None of these teachers ever recognized Kwanzaa, because they never found that any of their students celebrated it. Most of the black kids preferred Christmas. The danger comes from trying to force one standard across an entire nation. These things should be decided locally. Even better, they should be decided at the classroom level.
18 posted on 12/10/2004 4:46:46 AM PST by keats5 (Merry Christ Mass! Happy Holy Day!)
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To: Kryptonite; DoughtyOne; Brad's Gramma

School districts around the country need to find out about this:

700 lawyers ready to fight ACLU lawsuits
Legal group's 'Christmas Project' designed to protect public schools

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=41610

Many public school officials act as though such prohibitions were clearly laid on in the Constitution and defensively ban every vestige of "religious expression" out of fear of an expensive ACLU lawsuit.

But this year, help is on the way: An army of 700 lawyers is being deployed to protect America's schools from the ACLU grinch.

[more at link]


19 posted on 12/10/2004 5:00:47 AM PST by texasbluebell
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To: keats5

Great anecdote! BTTT for the teachers out there.


20 posted on 12/10/2004 5:26:16 AM PST by The Spirit Of Allegiance (FREE people needn't apply to a Government of/by/for the People for a gun (PERSONAL PROPERTY) permit!)
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