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Title: A "silent night" as carolers told to stop singing at skating show
Source:
contracostatimes.com
URL Source: http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/news/16238227.htm
Published: Dec 14, 2006
Author: Staff
Post Date: 2006-12-14 08:11:00 by bluegrass
Ping List: *New History*
Keywords: None
Views: 443
Comments: 2
RIVERSIDE, Calif. - A high school choir was asked to stop singing Christmas carols during an ice skating show featuring Olympic medalist Sasha Cohen out of concern the skater would be offended because she's Jewish. A city staff member, accompanied by a police officer, approached the Rubidoux High School Madrigals at the Riverside Outdoor Ice Skating Rink just as they launched into "God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman" and requested that the troupe stop singing, the Riverside Press-Enterprise reported Thursday. Cohen, the 2006 Olympic silver medalist and 2006 U.S. National Champion, had just finished her performance at the rink on the downtown pedestrian mall, and was signing autographs. Choir director Staci Della-Rocco said she complied with the request "because a policeman told me to stop. I didn't want to have a big old huge scene in front of my kids," according to the newspaper. The city staff member, special-events employee Michelle Baldwin, could not be reached for comment. City Development Director Belinda J. Graham confirmed the incident. "This request was simply made by a staff member who was attempting to be sensitive to the celebrity guest, without considering the wider implications ... or consulting with her supervisor for guidance," Graham said in an e-mail to the newspaper. Mayor Ron Loveridge called the incident "unfortunate." "You kind of wish people do a little checking first. You certainly have my apology," he said, referring to the choir members. A spokeswoman with the New York-based PR firm that helped promote the event said Cohen did not make the request to silence the singers.
Poster Comment: This isn't the skater's fault, but it is indicative of the workings of the larger culture.
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#1. To: bluegrass (#0)
Well, obsequious comes to mind. Fawning. Sycophantic. That goody-goody was really groveling - a real puke, actually....Country's full of 'em. They would be the first to suck up to any foreign invaders or masters. Real fine citizens they are...
MFGD fascist bastard. I would have kept singing louder and louder and forced the assholes to call the cops....then sued. FUCK the JEWS. I am sick of them running the media, the money and the government. The JOOS of Israel is not the spiritual Israel talked of in the New Testament. A lot of fundies are gonna' find that out the hard way.
In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act - - George Orwell
#2. To: bluegrass (#0)
Law Enforcement Against Prohibition
In a CorporoFascist capitalist society, there is no money in peace, freedom, or a healthy population, and therefore, no incentive to achieve these - - IndieTX
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