Posted on 01/04/2005 12:59:58 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin
Band's version of one-time Presley tune hits sour note with some
MADISON, Wis. - As if the incoming Legislature didn't have enough problems, a high school band's rendition of a tune that was an Elvis Presley hit decades ago drew a complaint from a newly elected member of the Senate.
The Richland Center High School band played "An American Trilogy" at the Senate's inaugural ceremony at the Capitol Monday - the first day of a session expected to be dominated by battles over budget-cutting, a tax-freeze amendment and a myriad of other issues.
Sen. Spencer Coggs (D), who is black, said he was SHOCKED, as were his family and other guests, to hear the strains of the Southern anthem "Dixie" played in the Senate chamber as part of the trilogy, along with "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" and "All My Trials."
Coggs, a Democrat from Milwaukee, complained in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Dale Schultz, R-Richland Center.
"Whether the slight was intentional or not, the selection was not appropriate," he wrote, noting that "Dixie" is often associated with slavery.
"While now it should be unnecessary to suggest, in the future a list of songs should be submitted prior to a performance and the list should be reviewed for its appropriateness," he said. "It is unfortunate that this special day was marred by such an unnecessary event."
Schultz had invited the band and choir to play at the ceremony.
He said the complaint caught him by surprise.
"A simple apology is what's needed," Schultz said, "and I will certainly be happy to do that."
He said he wasn't aware of every musical selection the band prepared for the event, and the piece has some historical significance.
"But I want everyone to feel included. If Sen. Coggs felt offended, I would want to extend my hand in apology."
http://www.wisconsinstatejournal.com
I am wondering how Sen. Spencer Coggs (D), feels about the
The ICE-T Cop Killer song? http://it.uwp.edu/gangsters/ice-t.cop.killer.html
It gets old.
I think it is more insidious than that. I think it is the whole PC thing. You just got in the way of this one. I've been hammered for being openly Christian -- others just for being politically to the right, or too supportive of our military. You just got hit by this particular one. We are in this together. (IMHO)
My cell phone rings Dixie, my dog's name is Rebel. I'm just a slave-ownin' backwoods freak, I suppose.
Another wonderful song blasphemed...
Elvis' "American Trilogy" is one of my very favorites.
Well, slavery is often associated with slavery, so he needs to shut up and stop bringing it up.
"eenie meenie minnie moe - catch a tiger by the toe"
He would call that racist too - why? Because he is IGNORANT!
What a MORON!
Well now.... I'm moth thertainly offended too!
signed- Deceived by William
I live near the Rock Island Arsenal. As you probably know the island was a confederate prison during the Civil War. All the while I was growing up the Stars and Bars flew at the confederate cometary. No more. The poor Johnny Rebs now lie beneath Old Glory. PC you know. That's not bad but I think the Confederate flag should still be flown over that piece of ground.
Joke? I think not, my FRiend. If you doubt, or you're in the market for vacation property on beautiful Lost Coon Lake, check this link: http://www.nwwaterfrontrealestate.com/water.jsp?WAID=11330&orderBy=WATITLE&direction=ASC&offset=30
When they played it at the National Cathedral after 9/11 it gave me chills because I knew the man at the helm, BUSH, was a God fearing man, bent on justice...
I still smile when I think of the story about how Jesse Helms started whistling Dixie when Carol Moseley Brown entered the Senate elevator with him.
"She even taught me an alternative "counting rhyme" to replace the ubiquitous "eeny, meeny, mynee, moe"."
I led (and probably continue to lead) a sheltered life. I never even HEARD the "offensive" version of that rhyme until I was an adult. We always caught "tigers" by the toe when I was a kid.
>>"Whether the slight was intentional or not, the selection was not appropriate," he wrote, noting that "Dixie" is often associated with slavery
Even if it is, it's part of the history of our land. I also don't believe it to do with slavery--doesn't defend or glorify the practice.
A similar question: Wagner is often associated with Hitler and the Third Reich, even though Wagner lived way before the existence of the Third Reich. Do we stop listening to or performing Wagner?
See post 37.
Demagoguery is bad, mmkay?
Seriously, though, Southerners are hospitable people. Southern hospitality and all that. Sure we goof on "Yankees" sometimes but in good fun. We laugh at the incest jokes and all is good.
What I see in the media is constant attacks on Southern values, history and culture from northerners, most notably northern liberals, I suppose. I see none of this from the southerners aimed at the north.
Ulitimately, maybe it is the conservative south/liberal north rivalry more than anything else. I read on here about all the crap some of you have to put up with in your schools or in your communities during Christmas. After reading the articles and comments here, I really do thank God that I was raised and live where I do.
Then I get to read articles like this one from people who don't have a clue how good it is down here, how free we are, how equal we are in comparison to others in other areas of our own country. I would say that I am proud to be southern, but that is not exactly true. I can't be proud of something I took no part in. I am, however, very glad to be southerner.
No offense to you northern folks, this is just a hot-button topic for me. I'm sure you love your communities too and might be similary bent out of shape were they constantly attacked in the media.
How about Led Zeppelin's "Black Dog"?
In a related issue, when senator Coggs (D) was buying a bicycle for his son, was SHOCKED to see chains and padlocks being sold at the local Schwinn store. "Ass we all know," said senator Coggs, "That chains and padlocks were used by the slave trade, and I feel that it's terribly insensitive for Schwinn to sell these implements of the slave trade. I believe that the board of directors of Schwinn needs to reevaluate the way they do business."
Mark
I have been insulted and discriminated against by several of the minority folks from Milwaukee in my time. I am fed up with their panty-waisted whining! And, I'll wager, the ghosts of their departed ancestors are fed up with them too!
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