Mass. School Edits God from 'God Bless the USA'

A student presentation at Stall Brook Elementary in Bellingham was to include the kids singing the popular song "God Bless the USA" but with both the title and the lyrics changed to "We Love the USA." When parents complained of the re-write, the school simply eliminated all singing from the program.

Apparently, the last thing school leaders wanted to hear in the building was the name of God Almighty.


UPDATE 4/5/12: School Supt. backtracks, says kids can sing "God" if they want to

-- From "Mass. school drops patriotic song from assembly after parents object to removal of word 'God'" by The Associated Press 4/5/12

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.

[Songwriter Lee] Greenwood issued a statement saying he objected to the changing of the lyrics because God "is the most important word in the whole piece of music."

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From "School Removes 'God' From Lee Greenwood Song" by Todd Starnes, FOX News 4/5/12

The school’s principal released a statement to Fox [TV] 25 stating they hope to ”maintain the focus on the original objective of sharing students’ knowledge of the U.S. States, and because of logistics, will not include any songs.”

An online poll taken by the television station indicated more than 80 percent of viewers were outraged by removing God from the song.

LEE GREENWOOD’S STATEMENT TO TODD STARNES

“Maybe the school should have asked the parents their thoughts before changing the lyrics to the song. They could have even asked the writer of the song, which I of course would have said you can’t change the lyrics at all or any part of the song. The most important word in the whole piece of music is the word God, which is also in the title God Bless The USA. We can’t take God out of the song, we can’t take God out of The Pledge of Allegiance, we can’t take God off of the American currency. Let us also remember, the phrase God Bless the USA has a very important meaning for those in the military and their families, as well as new citizens coming to our Country. The song is played at every naturalization ceremony behind The National Anthem. If the song is good enough to played and performed in its original setting under those circumstances, it surely should be good enough for our children.”
– Lee Greenwood

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