Posted on 12/07/2004 9:03:09 AM PST by heyheyhey
MESA, Ariz. -- Many Arizona public elementary schools' winter concerts don't have children singing about angels, Bethlehem or the little Lord Jesus this year.
Instead, it's "Frosty the Snowman," "Sleigh Bells" and "Jolly Ol' St. Nicholas."
Teachers say the refocusing of music sung at schools is part of a growing effort to be sensitive to an increasingly diverse student population.
Some programs that include Christian music such as "Silent Night" or "Away in a Manger" this holiday season also will typically include songs from other religions in an effort to keep every concert balanced.
The legal counsel with the Center for Arizona Policy in Scottsdale says suppressing references to Christ during the Christmas season violates students' constitutional rights of free expression.
But the state director of the Anti-Defamation League in Phoenix applauded the efforts to reach out to students of all backgrounds.
He said that with the diversity that is now comprising the classes, what you have is not only many different races but also many different religions.
.........Arizona fears a Mexican Pope in dope land?
/sarcasm
New Mexico, a Red state with a blue state mentality.
It's not enough for us to grouse about this ad infinitum on to one another. Time to stop preaching to the choir & take action. Christians need to run for election to their school boards, attend board meetings & speak out, take an active role in the PTSA and extracurricular activities at their children's schools. When everything else fails....take these bastards to court. Nothing will change until we move away from the keyboard & become real agents of change.
The noose keeps tightening. And this is happening under a Republican adminstration. Just imagine when the Dem's win in the future. The real persecution is coming soon.
I believe it is coming.
It has happened many times before throughout the history.
It upset me then and still does today.
Interesting that they try to take the religion out of the program and still sing "Jolly Old St. Nicholas". The word needs to get out that Santa Claus is not just some invention of the advertising world, but was rather a real person. My child brought home a wonderful book from the public library. It's titled "The Real Santa Claus" by Marianne Mayer. It tells the story of Nicholas of Myra, the one and only St. Nicholas. So, even when the libs try to take Christianity out of Christmas, they fail, because Santa Claus, one of the most enduring Christmas images, besides that of the Nativity of our Lord, is a Christian symbol, no matter how commericalized they might make it. The word really needs to get out on this book. It is wonderful. Blessings for a wonderful and Christ-centered Christmas to all.
INTREP - Secularization of Christmas
i think it's interesting that for everyone else sensitivity means they get to practice and celebrate their beliefs openly without inhibition in the name of diversity, while we christians are being forbidded to do the same.
My little nephew was taught about hanakuah (did i spell that right?) traditions in nursery school last year, I've read articles in newspapers about schools teaching children about kwanza, and i'm sure that if not now, then soon they will start teaching children about islam in the interest of promoting tolerance and acceptance because it has grown so much over the years....none of which i have a problem with, i think that learning about other cultures is healthy and interesting, having a culturaly diverse family myself....but for all that it's been argued that so many christian practices have to be eliminated from our schools because religion doesn't have a place in them, how is it that every other religion has become apart of the ciriculum?
i'm waiting for the day when someone petitions that christian churches, catholic schools and christian academy's be shut down, because someone is offended by their presence...I think it's going to happen.
Considering the election results,I think we should provide a Mr Hankey for all the teary eyed Libs.
Re: Frosty the Snowman
That's a no-no! Should be Frosty the Snow-PERSON!
Damn, and you're in Virginia? that's the kind of crap I'd expect to see in Kalifornia!
From the program for a public school in Arizona for the 6th grade (a concert I personally attended):
O Christmas Tree
O Come, All Ye Faithful
Away In A Manger
Joy To The World
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
Good King Wenceslas
Angels We Have Heard On High
We Wish You A Merry Christmas
Christmas Bell Carol (The Ukranian Carol)
The last song is how it was listed in the program. I have otherwise always heard this called "Carol of the Bells".
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.