This I think has done pushed me over the edge. The entire Political correctness that has gone on and grown over the past decade + has finally pushed me over the edge. It started with all the "Don't say Merry Christmas, but instead say Happy Holidays" garbage and contiued with the take down nativity scenes on public property stuff. Now this, it drives me nuts and I'm so sick of it!!!

 

This is to every single political correctness person in this country who thinks they should leave religon out of this holiday...guess what?!?!?! TH​S IS A CHRISTIAN HOLIDAY!!!!!!!!!! This isn't labor day!!! This holiday is about the birth of Christ. If you don't believe in the birth of Jesus Christ then do us a faovr and don't celebrate the holiday, no one is forcing you to!!!!!! If you don't believe in the holiday then do us a favor and don't have choir assemblies at your school where your kids sing christmas songs. Do us a favor and just move along and go on with your own lives and leave our holiday alone. It isn't a holiday for you in the first place so don't lose your minds over it.

 

I'd rather you keep your mouths shut and stop trying to tell Christians who celebrate one of the holiest holidays they have how they are to celebrate the birth of Christ.

 

Thanks you.

We have become a country that started with tolerance and thought it was a good thing, when in reality it was way short of what we should be IMO. Who really wants to be tolerated? All people, their beliefs and cultures should be valued. Why can't we value what Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Jusaism, etc. and enjoy their music, positive beliefs, their word, etc.? We do not have to agree with any, but they do have value and that should be respected. On a personal level it does not bother me if a school choir sang "Silent Night" or a Muslim song or a Jewish song, etc. And I spent 30 years in public education, 20 in administration being uncomfortable in dealing with these things. Like it or not, it is political and will always be political that is a shame.

I agree. Another song should have been chosen. "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" by Haven Gillespie of Covington, Ky., is always a safe choice. Having said that, the problem with many people who live in insulated red-state towns/regions is that they struggle with stories like this. I get tired of people who play the Christian-as-victim card all the time (usually followed by the "let's blame the media" card). Get over it. We're talking about a fifth-grade songfest, for cryin' out loud. I'm sure that "Silent Night" with all of its lyrics intact gets good play at public-school concerts all over south-central Kentucky.

 

The Concept of Santa Claus offends some these days, can't sing about him either.

I noticed that Glenn Beck is all over this story. And don't Bill O'Reilly and Sean Hannity both live on Long Island? Ouch! That poor elementary school choir teacher is going to be mincemeat after those three get done with her on national TV.

 

By the way, if a student were to have played "Silent Night" on guitar -- without any lyrics at all -- is that a whole lot different?

 

...and rightfully she should, just sing the song as it is written and all is good.

The Concept of Santa Claus offends some these days, can't sing about him either.

No! Say it ain't so!

Everything with you is political. Get over it already. This has everything to do with religion and not political.

 

This ^

I am just curious as to what is offensive to anyone in the song in it's original entirety? My three year old was taught the dreidel song at daycare and I was not offended at all. The same goes with saying Merry Christmas. When I say it, I am extended well wishes the best way I know how. When someone sneezes, I say "god bless you" Is that offensive too? Singing a joyous song during the Holidays should not offend anyone but the Grinch.

I am just curious as to what is offensive to anyone in the song in it's original entirety? My three year old was taught the dreidel song at daycare and I was not offended at all. The same goes with saying Merry Christmas. When I say it, I am extended well wishes the best way I know how. When someone sneezes, I say "god bless you" Is that offensive too? Singing a joyous song during the Holidays should not offend anyone but the Grinch.

 

Some Jews have spoken out about Christian songs being sung at the public schools their kids go to. Not all but some.

Due to congestion my hearing is less than stellar at the moment so when listening to the song, I could not tell what was changed but I am guessing the reference to "Christ the Savior is Born"?

 

This sort of reminds me of last year when Cee Lo Green singing John Lennon's Imagine and changing "nothing to kill or die for / and no religion too" to "nothing to kill or die for / and all religion's true." The atheists were offended then like the Christians are about this.

While I agree, I'm more offended than you. This smacks of anti-Christian to me, but then again, I may be over-reacting since it's one of my favorite Christmas songs.

 

I am not someone who would be considered a religious zealot by anyone. However, if people are hell-bent on taking the Christ out of Christmas, then why celebrate a holiday at all!! What do they want to call it mid-winter night? Just forget it...save money on the presents...and by all means let these music teachers work every day during the former "holiday".

Your reasoning is solid, but too often we forget that what's acceptable in Kentucky doesn't fly in other areas of the country.

 

Which other areas? I have lived in most, and in most if not all of these areas have Christians, and the Christians would have been offended. The right thing to do would have been to choose an unreligious holiday song unaltered and go with it.