BELLINGHAM, Mass. (WGGB) – It’s a popular song spanning several decades, lined with patriotism. However, one Massachusetts school wanted to change the words to Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the U.S.A.” to remove the religious reference.
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.
One parent who was on that email chain agrees with the school’s position. “Don’t think there is anything wrong with changing the song. It’s a public school. If you want to have God in a song, go to a private school,” Matthew Cote told the station.
Parents caught wind of the move and started complaining, speaking out against the change. Now, the school has removed all songs from the assembly, according to WFXT-TV.
In a statement, the school says in part that the decision was made 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.”
Late Wednesday night, singer/songwriter Lee Greenwood issued a statement to ABC40.
In it, he chastised school officials on the decision. “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,” says Greenwood.
“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,“ adds Greenwood.
Greenwood concludes by saying that if the song is good enough to be played during every naturalization ceremony along with 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.”
“God Bless the U.S.A.” was released in May 1984. On Billboard, it reached #7 on the Hot Country chart and #26 on the Adult Contemporary chart that year.
After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the song regained popularity and a re-released single of the song dropped in October 2001.
It’s a shame that the school won’t acknowledge GOD. HE still acknowledges them. Shame on the school.
God would never treat us like that!
the next time some student goes crazy and starts shooting their classmates…don’t you dare ask where was God to allow this!
GOD was kicked out of their schools some time ago. I dare someone to start blaming the one responsible for it all! that of course is the one everyone refuses to blame anything on…the devil!!!
read your history and you’ll see how the schools were formed.
the CHURCH started the first schools. and it did not bother them that GOD was their Head Master of the schools!
that is so right!
as the Bible says, teach a child in the way he should go and he shall not depart from it, if you want children to behave properly teach them the fear of God, teach them to love their neighbor as they love themselves,the only thing that hates anything to do with God is EVIL
How about we stop paying thier salaries because the money we use has In God We Trust on it How ridiculous these educators are Add other religions to teach diversity not remove it completely
that would be wonderful, but as if they have the only one who have a choice and we taxpayers don’t have!
I am so sick of the people saying if we want God go to a private school. If you want us gone then give me and everyone else who believes in God our tax money that is used for public schools so that we can fund more private schools. That’s the kind of division that will come with stupid comments like that.
Seperation of church and state. Plain and simple. I don’t want them singing about God, or Mohammed, Buddha, or any other religious icon. And as for this incredibly wrong story, the email wasn’t “circulated throughout the town,” it went to about 40 or so of us 4th grade parents. Nothing like putting the facts second.
Mr. Cole… You have no problem using currency that says “In God We Trust” or having that currency used to fund public schools but you have a problem with the use of the phrase “God Bless the USA…” Sounds a bit hypocritical to me. That song is played when the men and women complete Marine Corps boot camp, it’s played when individuals from foreign nations become American citizens. If it is good enough for those who fight to protect you why isn’t it good enough for our children?
And just a little added knowledge for you and others who love to tout this whole “separation of church and state” thing… that statement does NOT appear ANYWHERE in our constitution nor in our Declaration of Independence. That statement was made by Thomas Jefferson in a letter to the Danbury Baptists in 1802, which stated that no LEGISLATION shall be made to promote the church. It had absolutely NOTHING to do with the singing of a song. The last time I checked, singing a song is not making legislation… I have enclosed the letter in this post for you and others who like to distort the truth.
Gentlemen
The affectionate sentiments of esteem and approbation which you are so good as to express towards me, on behalf of the Danbury Baptist association, give me the highest satisfaction. my duties dictate a faithful and zealous pursuit of the interests of my constituents, & in proportion as they are persuaded of my fidelity to those duties, the discharge of them becomes more and more pleasing.
Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should “make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,” thus building a wall of separation between Church & State. Adhering to this expression of the supreme will of the nation in behalf of the rights of conscience, I shall see with sincere satisfaction the progress of those sentiments which tend to restore to man all his natural rights, convinced he has no natural right in opposition to his social duties.
I reciprocate your kind prayers for the protection & blessing of the common father and creator of man, and tender you for yourselves & your religious association, assurances of my high respect & esteem.
Th Jefferson
Jan. 1. 1802.
I agree with Mr. Cote. I don’t think the government should be printing money that has God on it. I use it because I don’t have a choice in currency. I don’t think that song should be played at any naturalization ceremonies nor boot camp graduations. I don’t think anything associated with the government should have God/Allah/Buddha/Shiva or any other religious undertones. Keep religion and government seperate. I am religious and therefore send my child to a private school. The only thing I think public schools should add is a theology class (not a religion class). I think it is important for children to learn about all religions and their roots and how it has shaped humanity for generations (good and bad).
So how do you feel about the National Anthem, which also uses the phrase “in God we trust”? Now, of course that is in the FULL version of the song written in 1814 rather than the one verse that is taught because for some reason, the attention span of Americans is too short to learn the entire song. Should the Star Spangled Banner NOT be our National Anthem since it refers to God? Or how about the Declaration of Independence that refers to our “Creator”?
Just keep your kids away from my kids. If you don’t respect my beliefs you and your family are not welcome in my Community.
And when Christ rules earth which He created where will you and your likes be?
Let me if you think these decisions are uniting us think again. I have never hated people in this Country more than I do today. It will be a cold day in where I hope most of them end up that I would ever put my life on the line to defend their ****. You want a line drawn in the sand, you got it!
You are the poster boy for school vouchers, and if that were to come about there would be about 12 kids in each public with one moronic principal, teacher, custodian doing the teaching running the show and sweeping up after the 12 go home.
Perhaps then you would either not object or get a broom and help with the clean up.
Separation of church and state was designed to keep the state from interfering with the church, not to keep God from interfering with the state.
Reread history, but use references that pre-date the liberal alteration of it.
Nothing like trying to put irrelevant facts first. Why would it go to anyone other than the parents? Do people without children usually attend school functions?
So true!
It’s simple . . you can’t change the lyrics to a real song . . it shows the menatality of some of these educators thinking this is just another worn out school song. This song has become an American favorite. Hmm . . just sing another song.
About the school changing the words of our AMERICAN song.If I was to go to another country and decided to change the words in their songs would that be OK
Sad commentary for our educators.
I think they should eliminate that who lying song–
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.
What kind of BS is that? Everything he has worked for
all his life is gone, but being an American
is more important. What a guy!
It appears that you don’t understand the meaning of the song… his point is that here, in AMERICA, we have been so blessed that even if EVERYTHING were taken away (with the exception of his family). He would have the ability to rebuild because of the great nation we live in. There is nowhere else in the world where that can be said
What kind of stupid BS is this? Our country was founded due to the need to flee from religious persecution and we are now headed back to that. Your educators should be fired. So, it is wrong to sing patriotic songs. People like you should move to Communist China. Oh wait, signs of patriotism are encouraged EVEN THERE. This is just more of the pussification of our Nation. I am a middle-aged white male who served his Nation for 23 years and proud of it, I won’t hide it so I don’t offend anyone.
Please explain how “We Love the USA” is less patriotic? If you aren’t religious, are you thereby less of a Patriot?
Go ahead and take God out of everything, America, but when dissaters strike….Don’t call to Him for help! He’ll only help those who want Him…
And don’t call for my tax or Charity dollars. TS live with it. You want jaded people, you got them.
Self hating liberals try to spread their disease to everyone they come into contact with….
Thank God I am immune to their BS. (I don’t believe in a God but I can still say God and not get bent out of shape over the mention of God.)
I agree with the school. If they want to take god out of the song, I think they should be able to without the whole country hating them
No not the whole Country but I do more and more each day.
You need counseling.
It doesn’t say Jesus, or Allah, or Yaweh, or Thor, or Zeus, it says God. It’s whatever God you want it to be.
For the atheists who don’t believe in God, don’t sweat it, let it go. I don’t see a lot of complaining when people sing “Here comes Santa Claus” and according to atheists Santa and God are on the same level. Just let it go.
Just so you are all aware, the school said if your child wants to sing it the original way, that’s fine, that’s their choice. nobody was told you can’t say God. They said as a school we’re changing this, if you want your child to sing it the other way, that’s completely fine too. There was no hard-line ‘if you do this then you’re out’ attitude.
“Just so you are all aware, the school said if your child wants to sing it the original way, that’s fine, that’s their choice.”
This is a lie. Do you know what kind of chaos it would create in a choir if the singers were singing different words? You are either lying or you are buying (and spreading) the lies of others.
Common sense dictates one set of lyrics.
There is a hard line, and it is from patriotic Americans, they have all responded negatively to you Mr. Cole. We are one nation under GOD, the Nation was created on that premise even though the words were added later, when people like you were beginning to show their ungrateful side. God is a universally accepted being, called by other names and prayed to in many languages but never-the-less recognized and accepted by all but a few who say there is no God.
The separation of Church and State refers to the idea that the STATE may not advocate any religion, as there is a clause for freedom of religion. And if in your head you embrace atheism than you have a non existing god. Be sure however there is no clause that demands that God (everyone’s God) must be banned from the public square. Special for atheists “Get thee to a “none-ery”!
America was formed as a Judeo/Christian country and is under absolutely NO obligation to accommodate any other religion with the exception to not try to suppress it or allow it to suppress ours. That concept should resonate with the most rabid non believers. Being offended by the mention of my God would be the equivalent of my being offended by the color of your skin or your bigoted behavior and thus insist that you stop it.
Is it any wonder academia has become a joke? They claim they don’t want to offend anyone yet they don’t consider they’re offending this Christian American Marine Corps veterans who put his butt on the line to give these turds the right to do this. Is it any wonder I support giving parents a tax break for donating to private schools because I put my children, and now my grand children, in private school?
Just another example of the Tyranny of the Minority
Who initiates this trash. Names please. I consider this change offensive to me. They should be sued. Wonderful decision on Holly Week. Can’t wait when other religions complain about being offended. Stick it where the sun don’t shine.
Christians in this Country should react to unprovoked attacks on them just like they do in the Middle East. You want a fight, you want hate, you got it.
It’s a copyrighted song. If the Boss can tell republicans they can’t use “Born in the USA” on the campaign trail, then certainly Lee Greenwood can tell a school they can’t change the words to his song to suit them.
Ya’ll wonder why I was so HAPPY leaving the people’s republic of massachusetts. Nuts and fuits!
Haven’t these people heard of the copyright laws are are they above the law. The article does say that Lee Greenwood would not approve of hte change. Are these the same people that try to implement social change by redefining the meanings of words?
Is America as a nation that was colonized by atheists so that they could escape God or shall we say escape having to believe in God?
Has our society reached the pinnacle of intelligence that it see’s the use of the word God in a song at school damaging to our young children’s mental acuity? Are these poor children having to run home and cry for help from their parents to end the tyranny of having to believe in God or using the word God “ Mom they made me sing God Bless the USA today, I don’t think I can take it anymore,” “ Dad I saw the word God again today it’s on our money,” or how about having to deal with American history? “ Mom Dad today at school my teacher told us this myth that some people called Puritan’s made a huge loan in exchange for furs, food, and spices and came to this country to escape religious persecution and believe in God how they wanted to without being told what was the correct way, they used the word God again,”
I think we have an adult problem where someone in all their wisdom has decided that any mention of God at school is deemed a violation of the separation of church and state. It hasn’t been that long since I was in school we said the pledge of allegiance every morning and at all assemblies (Now that’s gone). We used to pray at school for our troops ( Now that’s gone). Christmas had beautiful nativity scenes everywhere (Now there is dueling atheist billboards that say God’s a myth like Santa). Pretty soon every national monument will have to be defaced to remove the word God off it. We will have to write a new National Anthem. Shall we ban politicians from using the phrase God Bless America? Should we strike the word God from every historical document in our country? Will children be able to say God bless you when someone sneezes at school? We will effectively be erasing our history!
Has there been such a revolution in education that a small group of adults decides the word God has no place in a child’s school to protect them? I think no one has the right to decide for that child or any child, that all decisions should be left up to those children when they grow up and can make their own decision. But, if you go ahead and take all use of the word God away you call more attention to who you are and how you want these children to believe.
Here is a fascinating history lesson for you my father who has Comanche ancestry’s genetic haplo-group is R1b (most closely matches indigenous natives of the cook islands) my mother has Pennsylvania Dutch ancestry and her mtdna is L0 ( most closely matches the indigenous Koison tribe from Africa). My mothers grandmothers name was America Strom changed to America Storm on arrival from Germany, my fathers ancestor was given the Christian name Warren Johnson he wasn’t allowed to keep his given Comanche name because none of the school teachers (at a Christian school to civilize Native Americans‘) could pronounce it . When I was 9 years old I asked if we believed in God at our house my father quickly answered yes, when I asked how? He recommended I choose for myself how I believe I was given a bible by an uncle, we did not attend church because my father was Methodist and my mother was strict Southern Pentacostal so they agreed to allow not only myself but my sister to choose. I owned a bible and a library card it started a search that has continued most of my adult life. No one said do believe and no one said don’t ( I believe in God) when my children where little I did the exact same thing for them when asked about God I told them they would have to decide for themselves ( they are both grown and both believe).
The freedom to choose to believe in God how you want the way you want is a gift that our ancestors gave us when this country was established, but they didn’t exclude God from anything. How is it that we need to be freed from the word God in order to separate church and state? Wouldn’t that also mean any church near any state road is in violation when it has a sign in front with God written on it? For that matter wouldn’t the existence of a church in any state be a violation of this same law? In fact I’m very confused about this whole thing because if it wasn’t for the word God none of these states would exist to separate the church from. No one outside of my father’s indigenous ancestors or any of the other indigenous Americans would be roaming around this country doing anything.
The once great nation of America has now become the myth! Frankly if our founding fathers could see what we’ve done with what they tried to do for us I think a do-over would be in order. Actually it would have made better since to stay where they were.
Then I wouldn’t exist and have to sit here reading about how people who don’t want to offend anyone by mentioning God in a song has now offended me and everyone who does believe in God no matter what faith or religion they are from.
I can’t believe the school is changing a song to take out God. The song shouldn’t be changed. This country was built due to religious freedom, the song was written due to freedom of speech, and a free country. I was raised it this town, educated in this town and still love this town. I just think people are taking things too far…
Once again a teeny tiny minority are whining loud enough to scare a few extremely wimpy administrators.
How sad; how disconcerting; this country was founded upon Christianity and Christian principles; we are the most blessed nation on this earth because we (used to) fear God, study His Word, and follow His Commandments. Jesus said there would be a falling-away in the last of the last days….that there would be an apostasy………..ladies and gentlemen, we are on the verge of the final 7 years on this planet; the 7 Year Tribulation, ie, Daniel’s 70th Week, ie, the Day of the Lord; all who fear man instead of God will soon wish they had read the Bible, especially Proverbs 29:25 ‘The fear of man brings a snare, but he who trusts in the Lord will be exalted’………….we must take a stand for God; we must not raise our puny fist at Him; He who gives us life, breath, everything we have and everything we are; He’s our Creator; soon the world will see what it’s like to live on an earth with no Christians; 1st Thess. 4:13-18. Maranatha!