Olympic Skater Sasha Cohen 'Stunned' by X-Mas Flap

Reuters ^ | 12/14/06 | Dan Whitcomb

[meg88]

By Dan Whitcomb | December 14, 2006

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Olympic figure skater Sasha Cohen was "stunned" to learn that a U.S. high school choir had been ordered to stop singing Christmas carols at a holiday show because she is half-Jewish, her mother said on Thursday.

Article Tools Printer friendly E-mail to a friend Other sports RSS feed Available RSS feeds Most e-mailed Share on Facebook Save this article powered by Del.icio.us More: Sports section | Latest sports news | Globe front page | Boston.com Sign up for: Globe Headlines e-mail | Breaking News Alerts A city official accompanied by a police officer caused a stir by silencing the carols on Tuesday night as Cohen signed autographs after a performance in Riverside, California.

Riverside Mayor Ron Loveridge has since apologized to the student choir, the Rubidoux High School Madrigals.

To some, the incident appeared an example of excessive political correctness in the United States over the celebration of Christmas -- which some conservative commentators have characterized as a "war on Christmas.'

Cohen, who is half-Christian and "celebrates everything" during the holidays, learned only through news reports that the choir had been cut off on her account, the 22-year-old skater's mother and manager said.

"Sasha was stunned. We both thought the voices were just lovely, they were doing such a wonderful job," Galina Cohen told Reuters. "Christmas carols are part of celebrating the holiday season."

The Riverside Press-Enterprise newspaper reported that the Madrigals had just launched into "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" when a city special-events employee told them to stop singing.

Cohen's mother said the 2006 Olympic silver medalist and U.S. National Champion had taken part in Christmas tree lighting ceremonies at New York's Rockefeller Center and in California.

[MikefromOhio]

Well my wife is relatively athletic. But not really petite (she's 5'8)...

I'm glad she's athletic. She's able to do workouts with me and stuff...it's great to have a workout partner.

[Shqipo]

X-Mas = Christmas

>>>X is in the Greek alphabet and is pronounced CHI, meaning Christos or Kristos and has the meaning of "Messiah"<<<

I'm well aware of that, but that's not how it's being used and perceived throughout America. It was the initial means of making it a secular holiday prior to those such as banning carols per this article.

[Trampled by Lambs]

"Half-Christian", eh? Where do these idiot reporters come from? Does he think that being a Christian is a hereditary thing or something? It's a belief system not a race thing, foo!

Perhaps it's just a way of saying that she acknowledges both halves of her religious heritage?

If a person has a jewish parent and a christian parent, they must choose one or the other? I admit to not being a very religious person but I don't really understand an objection to such a thing.

[The KG9 Kid]

Someone in another thread yesterday called her a 'Butterface'.

We have some Freepers who are clearly smoking Drano®.

[MaestroLC]

No. I think that all of these extra-curricular activities, and she wants to act...she doesn't have the same passion for skating as she did. It seems obvious she wants to evolve in her life beyond skating. I think it is healthy.

The Japanese armada is pretty strong this season, and even at top form, Sasha might not even medal. I think she should go out now while she has the title and the Olympic aura. That would be the smart move. Get some acting lessons and move forward.

[fgoodwin]

Thanks for posting this. A year from now, half the libs will deny this ever happened (just ask them about Dems booing the Boy Scouts at the 2000 Convention).

The other half will write this off as an insignificant incident, not representative of any "war on Christmas". They just can't see the intolerance in themselves.

[wastedyears]

I could use a workout partner.

[wastedyears]

I means everything is good about her 'but her face'.

That's where the 'butterface' comes in.

Don't ask me where it came from, I never spoke like that *shrugs*

[Suzy Quzy]

Sadly, Jews are going to feel the backlash of this kind of anti-Christain thing!! Doesn't the word CHOIR kind of have a CHRISTIAN connotation anyway?? Geesh.

[wireman]

But I like women with a bit more meat on their bones.

That meat (and the bones it's on) looks like USDA Prime to me.

[steve8714]

"Happy Hanaramakwaansmas!"

[MikefromOhio]

I'm well aware of that, but that's not how it's being used and perceived throughout America. It was the initial means of making it a secular holiday prior to those such as banning carols per this article.

Whether or not the idiots realize it or not, they are still saying Christmas without even knowing it. Please don't say that again, you don't help your cause.

[MikefromOhio]

LOL

Can't help ya there :)

[DUH]

okee dokee ... I asked.

[NRA2BFree]

Oh my gosh, that looks soooo painful. LOL

[KenmcG414]

INSANITY!!!!

[Leftism is Mentally Deranged]

I'm stunned that the armed instruments of an oppressive government were called out and were used to stop the singing.
Now that the police enforce political correctness, will we be arrested whenever someone falsely accuses us of racism?

[GreenLanternCorps]

Oh my... I think I'm in love... [Don't tell Mrs. GreenLanternCorps! :-) ]

[Yossarian]

Just checked Wikipedia, she's 5'2", but no matter, still shorter than I am :)

Yeah, but she's 5'6" with the skates on...
...or 6'2" with that leg up!

[grjr21]

Is she still a minor?

Definitely not !

after what I just finished thinking