Saturday, November 22, 2003
The Rapid City Journal
November 22, 2003
Forbidden works
The official explanations on behalf of the protesting Rapid City Christian High School All-State chorus representatives become problematic with a look at the lyrical source. The poem suggests mankind will improve itself and live in peace, to better honor God.
Perhaps a more honest objection would be that it sounded "anti-war." But it's the territorial fighting between religious viewpoints that don't belong.
Given a fundamental misinterpretation if not misrepresentation of the work's intent, the alleged "secondary issue" of the poet's sexual orientation may be the real story. Therefore, to stave off future protests from professionally offended, overprotective parents, prevent innocent victims from being forced to sing or hear the works of homosexual composers, I suggest as a city we ban the following from being performed within our city limits by public schools, choirs, or symphonies: "West Side Story," selections from Disney's "The Little Mermaid" or "Beauty and the Beast," the works of Aaron Copland, George Gershwin, Franz Schubert, Stephen Sondheim, Benjamin Britten, "Amahl and the Night Visitors," or "The Nutcracker."
In promoting their views above all others, religious supremacists ignore why the Congregationalist Pilgrims we celebrate at Thanksgiving came to America: to escape from an oppressive church state.
November 22, 2003
Forbidden works
The official explanations on behalf of the protesting Rapid City Christian High School All-State chorus representatives become problematic with a look at the lyrical source. The poem suggests mankind will improve itself and live in peace, to better honor God.
Perhaps a more honest objection would be that it sounded "anti-war." But it's the territorial fighting between religious viewpoints that don't belong.
Given a fundamental misinterpretation if not misrepresentation of the work's intent, the alleged "secondary issue" of the poet's sexual orientation may be the real story. Therefore, to stave off future protests from professionally offended, overprotective parents, prevent innocent victims from being forced to sing or hear the works of homosexual composers, I suggest as a city we ban the following from being performed within our city limits by public schools, choirs, or symphonies: "West Side Story," selections from Disney's "The Little Mermaid" or "Beauty and the Beast," the works of Aaron Copland, George Gershwin, Franz Schubert, Stephen Sondheim, Benjamin Britten, "Amahl and the Night Visitors," or "The Nutcracker."
In promoting their views above all others, religious supremacists ignore why the Congregationalist Pilgrims we celebrate at Thanksgiving came to America: to escape from an oppressive church state.
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