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Posted on 10/12/2001 10:28:02 AM PDT by UB355

Firestorm over pledge creates fear of boycott of city 10:29 PM 10/11/01

Doug Erickson and Scott Milfred Wisconsin State Journal

   The backlash against the Madison School Board broadened Thursday, with the city's hospitality industry fearing a boycott by incensed tourists.

   One group already has pulled its national conference from Madison because of the board's restrictions on reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, and dozens of other people are threatening to bypass the city, according to business leaders.

   Meanwhile, a state legislator says she'll introduce a bill that would yank the district's state aid - more than $100 million - if it doesn't return to offering the pledge or at least the words to the national anthem.

   School officials were in high crisis-management mode Thursday. Walloped by incoming calls, the district's phone system malfunctioned, with some employees unable to call out or receive messages. Monday's special board meeting to reconsider the pledge decision was moved to a bigger venue - Memorial High School - and Board President Calvin Williams said security will be increased.

   The fallout surrounds the board's response to a new state law that requires schools to play the national anthem or allow students to recite the pledge daily. Monday, the board opted for the anthem but with no lyrics.

   Supporters say that's a sensible way to comply with the law and still be sensitive to those who oppose the pledge's "one nation under God" line. Some people also object to the militaristic lyrics of the national anthem.

   The policy was implemented Tuesday morning but quickly suspended after a wave of criticism.

Superintendent Art Rainwater said the board's motion had no start date, so it was within his purview to delay it until the board revisits the issue.

   Rainwater also said Thursday that the district will participate in a synchronized national recitation of the pledge at 1 p.m. today. The event is being promoted by the U.S. Department of Education.

   But board member Bill Keys disagreed with Rainwater's decision, calling the simultaneous national recitation "very coercive."

   "Here we have the national government telling all of its children what to do at one time," said Keys, who authored Monday's pledge motion. "It's an artificial recitation of words to create a sense of togetherness and conformity."

   He said he's getting dozens of supportive e-mails and phone calls now. "This is precisely what I thought would happen - people would start to rally with their support."

   But others said the board's decision has blackened Madison's image.

   "It's a huge blemish on the complexion of this great community," said Deb Archer, president of the Greater Madison Convention & Visitors Bureau. The organization has heard from dozens of people saying they won't be visiting the city now, she said. An official with the American Society of Magazine Photographers told the bureau he was yanking its annual conference from Madison.

   Part of his e-mail to the bureau reads: "I don't want to offend the Madison School Board with the words 'In God We Trust' written on the $100,000-plus in cash that we usually spend at our annual conference."    Archer likened the backlash against Madison to the boycott against South Carolina for its use of the Confederate flag. The Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce and others also bemoaned the effect on business here. "The only reprisal people can take against a city is to avoid it, and I think that's what a number of people are going to do," said Joe Way of the Wisconsin Innkeepers Association.

   Rep. Sheryl Albers, R-Reedsburg, said Thursday she'll push for legislation to deny state aid to any school district that fails to offer the pledge or both the words and music to the anthem daily. She called the board's vote an "unbelievable demonstration of anti-Americanism" by "left-wing radicals."    While stressing that they don't support the School Board's decision, two Madison Democrats questioned Albers' intentions.

   "This is meaningless pandering and, I think, trying to get political gain out of a national tragedy," said Rep. Dave Travis, D-Madison. "The Madison School Board screwed up. They know they screwed up, and they're going to change their position next week."

   Assembly Minority Leader Spencer Black, D-Madison, called Albers' comments "overcharged rhetoric and intemperate name-calling (that) does not serve our country well and is a bad example for school children."

   Steve Baas, a spokesman for Assembly Speaker Scott Jensen, R-Waukesha, said that Albers' "heart is in the right place," but that the speaker will not support her proposal.

   The pledge decision seems to have heightened people's sensitivity to district actions. Several irate callers told the Wisconsin State Journal Thursday that Shorewood Hills Elementary School played the Chinese national anthem Thursday morning instead of the U.S. anthem.

   Principal Lynn Berton said the Chinese anthem was indeed broadcast when an employee mistakenly played the wrong cut from a compilation album. The U.S. national anthem was then played, she said. The school has a large population of foreign-born students.

Keep up the freeping

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