House of Eratosthenes

…and proxy outrage. Someone with power bowdlerizing something from public display, so that some undefined and yet-to-materialize someone else will be spared offense. Once again, the thing being ripped away and buried is a beloved, cherished thing, and the strutting martinet seems to have little grasp of the simple idea that telling people “I have found offense in this thing you value, as an extension of yourself” is, in itself, more than a little bit offensive…so if the object of the exercise is to avoid offense, it must be a fail.

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.
:
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.

“We don’t want to offend other cultures,” they quoted her as explaining.
:
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.

The song starts: “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.”

Scaperotti said the department supports the principal’s decision. “The lyrics are not age-appropriate,” she said.

But Justin Bieber’s flirty 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.”

The other songs: “We’re All Together Again,” popular at Scout campfires; “The World is a Rainbow,” which celebrates diversity; “Shake Your Sillies Out” by Raffi; and “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” from “Toy Story.”

Hat tip to blogger friend Rick.

The Bieber ditty has since been similarly ejected. New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg, true to form, has doubled-down on stupid on the God Bless The USA matter…and songwriter Lee Greenwood holds the distinction of making, by far, the most sensible remarks with regard to this.

“The principal has decided she’s not going to sing that song. It’s the principal’s decision, and we support the principals,” Bloomberg said during a press conference at the Bushwick HS campus.

[Schools Chancellor Dennis] Walcott said, “Now as far as Justin Bieber, I understand some of the issues people raised. It’s my understanding that song will not be part of the ‘moving up’ ceremony as well…I support our principals along that line.

But “God Bless the USA” was not put back in the program — drawing a rebuke from singer Greenwood and political leaders.

“I’ve been singing my song for 30 years. I sing it everywhere — Carnegie Hall, grammar schools,” Greenwood told The Post yesterday.
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“I think [Principal Hawkins is] confused between allegiance and worship. I don’t think it’s a religious issue to salute the flag. You always respect the flag. That’s just simple for me. A religion that says you can’t do that is out of place,” he said.

“I’m just disappointed. I’ve sung it at many elementary schools myself. It’s always a wonderful moment,” he said, adding that the students get “wide eyed.”

I recall a little while ago when Rush Limbaugh was compelled to apologize for calling a slut a slut. The apology he issued was, specifically, about having “created a national stir.”

And it is with interest that I note the low standards imposed on this slithery, spectral, complaining thing…which asserts and re-asserts its cultural existence by bitching and belly-aching about American-identified and America-centric traditions, and yet you are not allowed to call it anti-American. It wriggles through our public ceremonies and our public discourse, or waddles, or ambles, pick your verb — it “creates national stir” all over the place, offending many, with good reason, and it seems those best-of-the-best among us who are elected and appointed to uphold our evolving notions of decency, consistently fail to call upon this vile slithery thing to apologize for the stirs. If there’s some reason why a radio talk show host should be held to higher standards, it is lost on me. Can it not be said that this vile slithering waddling thing seeks to alter our culture? Accumulate power? Eliminate choices? Shape and mold our children? And yet, the beatdown is never lowered upon the thing; because, with strategic shrewdness, it refuses to take shape.

Someone wants to discuss private sexual activities in front of a congressional panel, and you call them out on it — well, you’d better do it without creating a national stir, or you shall be shunned, whoever does not shun you shall be shunned, he who does not shun he who did not shun you, likewise shall be shunned…

We toil away under the legendary Chinese curse — we live in interesting times.

“(W)e live in interesting times.”

No, we live in fucked up times!

“We don’t want to offend other cultures”?!?

Fuck you, you fucking fuck. “Other cultures”, where, here? If they’re at the graduation I’m assuming they’re citizens in which case I could give a shit if they’re offended. If not, I still could give a shit.

You offend me, Greta Hawkins, too bad we couldn’t dismiss you as easily as you did that song.
- tim | 06/12/2012 @ 09:21
This one is very simple. If you are proud of America, you are being “offensive” to other cultures. It’s very similar to the concept that, if you call the President “cool”, you are being racist. It’s all very flexible and can be changed to whatever happens to be in fashion amongst these folks.
- teripittman | 06/12/2012 @ 11:16
I’m sure the public schools in Russia, China, France, Italy, (and for that matter Cyprus and Bolivia and Nepal) spend lots of time sitting around worrying what songs are going to be offensive to “other cultures.”

I’m with Tim. This woman can go pound sand. Where can I register a complaint? This sounds like it’s ripe for public outrage and some good old fashioned calling and letter writing. These cowards always seem to back down after there’s an outcry from ordinary, common-sense Americans.
- cylarz | 06/13/2012 @ 01:19

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From Coney Island, Another Tale of Proxy Offense…Tuesday, June 12th, 2012

From Coney Island, Another Tale of Proxy Offense…
Tuesday, June 12th, 2012