Coney Island Principal Bars Kindergartners From Singing “God Bless the USA”

A Coney Island principal is refusing to  let students sing “God Bless the USA” at their upcoming graduation ceremony, sparking fireworks at a school filled with proud immigrants.

The New York Post reports:

Greta Hawkins, principal of PS 90, the Edna Cohen School, won’t allow kindergartners to belt out the beloved Lee Greenwood ballad, also known as “Proud to be an American,” at their moving-up ceremony.

Five classes spent months learning the patriotic song, which skyrocketed in popularity after the 9/11 attacks and the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

It was to be the rousing finale of their musical show at the June 20 commencement. The kids, dressed up for their big day, would wave tiny American flags — which, as the lyrics proclaim, “still stand for freedom.”

But Hawkins marched in on a recent rehearsal and ordered a CD playing the anthem to be shut off, staffers said.

She told the teachers to drop the song from the program.

The first reason given, “We don’t want to offend other cultures,”  didn’t wash because the multicultural school is filled with immigrants from Pakistan, Mexico and Ecuador, and they “love it,” according to one of the disappointed moms, Luz Lozada.

The song was sung by fifth graders, last year, and “Everybody applauded and whistled,” the mom said. “They gave it a standing ovation.”

A teacher agreed: “It makes them a little goosebumpy and teary-eyed. I’ve never come across anyone who felt it insulted their culture.”

So a second excuse was given:

Department of Education spokeswoman Jessica Scaperotti gave The Post an explanation staffers said they never heard — that Hawkins found the lyrics “too grown up” for 5-year-olds.

Another dubious excuse, given the fact that a flirty Justin Bieber song about teen romance, “Baby,” was deemed a fine selection for the show.

Hawkins had no problem with 5-year-olds singing lines such as, “Are we an item? Girl, quit playing.”

See, now — I would have a problem with that. Not God bless the USA.

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Let’s cut the chase, shall we? The reason Hawkins and Scaperotti have a problem with the song is because of its unapologetic patriotism and association with Republican Presidents and wars.

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It was played at the 1984 Republican National Convention with President Reagan and  Nancy Reagan in attendance, and  gained even greater prominence during the Gulf War in 1990 and 1991, under President HW Bush. It’s popularity became greater still after the September 11, 2001 attacks and during the 2003 invasion of Iraq, under President GW. Bush.

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Always remember, leftists are totalitarians at heart. No diversity of thought and opinion allowed. The acceptance of a conservativish song that glorifies patriotism, constitutes a thought-crime as far as these people are concerned.

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I have no doubt in my mind that both Hawkins and Scaperotti would have had no problems at all with these same kindergartners singing an ode to Barack Hussein Obama (“mmmm mmmm mmmm!”)

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But a song associated with {{{Republicans}}} — no thank you. Tough luck, kiddies.

MORE:

A couple more things about the principal, mentioned at the very end of the article:

School insiders say Hawkins tried to end the school’s tradition of reciting the pledge each morning,  a couple years ago but staff objected.

The song uproar comes amid tensions. Hawkins has been called a tyrant and bully by some staffers.

The DOE reprimanded her in 2010 after teachers complained she called the school “racist” and declared: “I’m black. Your previous principal was white and Jewish. More of us are coming.”

Linked by Michelle Malkin, thanks!

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Hat tip: Brian B.

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