It’s both the title and the point of Lee Greenwood’s classic anthem — literally, God bless the USA.
If tomorrow all the things were gone,
I’d worked for all my life.
And I had to start again,
with just my children and my wife.I’d thank my lucky stars,
to be livin here today.
‘Cause the flag still stands for freedom,
and they can’t take that away.And I’m proud to be an American,
where at least I know I’m free.
And I wont forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.And I gladly stand up,
next to you and defend her still today.
‘Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA.
But hoping not offend someone who had not stepped up to announce offense, officials at a Massachusetts elementary school re-wrote the song, gutting it of its meaning.
Our FOX affiliate in Boston, WFXT-TV, is reporting that officials at the Stall Brook Elementary School in Bellingham wanted to change some of the lyrics to Greenwood’s song during an upcoming school production.
The station reports that the school wanted to substitute “God Bless the U.S.A.” with “We love the U.S.A.”
In an email circulated through town, some parents claimed that it violated their child’s first amendment rights, while others said that they were going to tell their kids to sing it in its original format, with ‘God’ in the lyrics.
It’s worth noting that the God in “God Bless the USA” isn’t identified as Christian or any other specific faith. The song is sufficiently generic and secular that it also thanks “lucky stars.” So we’re not talking about an explicit presentation of the Gospel here. It’s of a piece with the “In God We Trust” motto on our money.
Yes, I know, some want to remove that too. And “under God” from the Pledge. But the most recent attempt to remove the latter was bounced out of court.
The majority of parents who reacted to the school’s decision, objected to it. Rather than listen to those parents, the school has killed the song and canceled the whole event.
The song was scheduled to be performed at an April 12 assembly where students will show off their knowledge of the states.
School officials issued a statement Wednesday saying that because of “logistics,” no songs would be performed.
“Logistics.” Cowardice would have been more accurate.
I feel sorry for kids going to school now, I really do. Foolish and fearful bureaucrats gut the meaning of our history, deny the spirit of our holidays, chase shadows of political correctness and don’t allow kids to defend themselves from bullies on the playground or in courtrooms. They’re systematically destroying the culture that gave rise to the greatest nation the world has ever known. There will be consequences, and they will be grave.
Update: Responding to the negative blowback this episode is generating, the school’s principal has reversed course again. Now the singing is back in the assembly, the song is back in, but kids are allowed to sing the offensive phrase — the actual words — or “We love the USA.” Or not sing at all.
Which will sound awful.
The school is run by spineless idiots.
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