Flyers cover Kate Smith statue, dump ‘God Bless America’ over racist songs

Philly.com ^ | 19 April 2019 | Rob Tornoe

[LavaDog]

The Flyers are scrubbing connections with famed singer Kate Smith as the team investigates racist lyrics in several of her songs. That includes covering a bronze statue of Smith that stands outside Xfinity Live! and removing her iconic recording of “God Bless America” from their playlist.

“We have recently become aware that several songs performed by Kate Smith contain offensive lyrics that do not reflect our values as an organization,” the Flyers said in a statement. "As we continue to look into this serious matter, we are removing Kate Smith’s recording of 'God Bless America’ from our library and covering up the statue that stands outside of our arena.”

[ManHunter]

Yeah, really? What a crock of shit!

I’ve hated the Flyers for years; now I have another reason.

p.s. The Yankees did it too.

[Afterguard]

“What’s the offensive lyric?”

According the Flyers it should be Allah Bless America. /s

[OttawaFreeper]

ANAN: You realise what you have done? KIRK: Yes, I do. I've given you back the horrors of war. The Vendikans now assume that you've broken your agreement and that you're preparing to wage real war with real weapons. They'll want do the same. Only the next attack they launch will do a lot more than count up numbers in a computer. They'll destroy cities, devastate your planet. You of course will want to retaliate. If I were you, I'd start making bombs. Yes, Councilman, you have a real war on your hands.

[lodi90]

Reads like the onion. Millennials in marketing departments are totally out of control.

[Varda]

Blazing Saddles had stupid rural whites and villain whites, smart noble black hero, just like today. The homo dance scene might not get made.

[ManHunter]

Erring on the side of bending over and taking it up the ass from nutjobs like Almost Occasionally Coherent is a much more accurate characterization. We went from an attitude among some that “God Bless America” should be our national anthem (that was discussed extensively in the 60s and 70s) to we have to ban it because there might have been some racist elements of a song sung by Kate Smith... WTF?

Gotta destroy ALL vestiges of patriotism and nationalism; Obama “transformed” America dontcha know...

[Afterguard]

One of my favorite scenes was all the black track layers singing “I get no kick from champaign.” Comedy brilliance.

[an amused spectator]

It's GOOD to bring back the "old traditions".

The Brits dug up Oliver Cromwell and "executed" him in 1661.

Cromwell's body was exhumed from Westminster Abbey on 30 January 1661, the 12th anniversary of the execution of Charles I, and was subjected to a posthumous execution, as were the remains of Robert Blake, John Bradshaw, and Henry Ireton. (The body of Cromwell's daughter was allowed to remain buried in the Abbey.)

His body was hanged in chains at Tyburn, London and then thrown into a pit.

His head was cut off and displayed on a pole outside Westminster Hall until 1685.

[imardmd1]

The heart-rending melody "I'd walk a million mils for one of your smiles, my Maa-aa-aam-meee! with Al Jolson in costume, kneeling, hands clasped before him. I suspect that performance would melt a few "snowflakes," wouldn't it?

[Buckeye McFrog]

Her statue will probably end up in an Altoona scrap yard next to the Stephen Foster Memorial that was torn down in Pittsburgh.

[onedoug]

“Holiday Inn” has Cosby & Co in blackface. A bit embarrassing, but a real good movie.

[Bringbackthedraft]

Next on the fascists’ hit list after Stephen Foster? ................................. Naaaah, they’ll just claim that Jeannie with the light brown hair was a guy, so its OK.

[Bookshelf]

What is the genesis of this action? Who called for Smith’s removal? Go after that person or institution with all the fury you can muster. This idiocy must cease.

[sparklite2]

Evidently, GBA isn’t the problem.
It’s other material she sang ...

“Someone had to pick the cotton,
Someone had to plant the corn,
Someone had to slave and be able to sing,
That’s why darkies were born”

[nikos1121]

I saw it at the theater too, but missed the first ten minutes, which left us totally clueless about what was going on, in fact the movie came across as really corny. Fially saw it from the start.

Every scene is funny.

[Fair Paul]

The Yankees also are not going to play her singing “God Bless America” anymore.

[Kazan]

I wonder how All In The Family would be portrayed today.

It would never be allowed to air.

[yesthatjallen]

"There mission is Search and Destroy."

CORRECTION: Their mission is Search and Destroy.

[nikos1121]

OTOH, Clint Eastwood’s movie sure cross the line.

Saw The Mule. There’s a seen where Clint comes along to help a black couple with a flat tire. I’m paraphrasing here, but he says:

“Doesn’t seem so strange to see two negros on the side of the road unable to change a tire. Happy to help.”

[Highest Authority]

It’s time to start taking names and making lists.