Am I Already In Heaven?

Myself | 11/21/01 | brewcrew

[brewcrew]

Last night I attended my son's fall concert at his (gasp) public school. It was presented by all the 4th and 5th graders. On the wall behind the stage was a 30-foot American flag, properly displayed.

At the beginning of the program, the principal asked all the veterans in the crowd to assemble in room 130. After some brief remarks, she then asked the veterans to present the colors. They walked in in a line, each one having placed their hand on the shoulder of the one in front.

The choir of about 300 kids then sang the Star Spangled Banner, and proceeded to give a 40-minute show of mostly patriotic songs, including the Battle Hymn of the Republic, America the Beautiful, God Bless America, and a neat arrangement of the Pledge of Allegiance.

Needless to say, I was extremely proud to say that I live in a community where the school's administration not only allows this kind of display of patriotism, but actively encourages it. There weren't many dry eyes.

If you've never heard 300 9- and 10-year-old voices singing "My eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord...," you don't know what you're missing.

Am I already living in Heaven?

[Cvengr]

No, but it reads as though there's a much greater likelihood that many of those youngsters will be led to heaven than hell from that improved environment.

Good job, Mom & Dad, keep it up,...but remember regardless the outcome, its between them and God, but your burden bearing reads as though it will bear good fruit.

[Rubber Duck]

Tell us where the school is located. I'm betting it is in the L-zone (the US minus the the left coast and northeast).

[UncleWes]

Am I already living in Heaven?

Well you're certainly not living in California.

[WIladyconservative]

I'm brewcrew's spouse, so I'm qualified to answer. Yes, we're in the L-zone . . . in a state that, unfortunately went to Gore (but only by voter fraud - IMHO)!

It was a truly wondeful concert, and I'll add that the kids say the pledge everyday, the walls are plastered with red white and blue, and the staff and teachers (for the most part) have their heads on straight. We're fortunate and blessed, and we work VERY hard to keep it that way.

[Amelia]

Very good!

My son's (public) middle school always had a Christmas concert with the band & the chorus (it's only been a couple of years since I attended the last one so I suppose they still do)....the selection of songs always included at least half religious ones.

I was rather amazed one year that they were still "getting away with it" considering the lawsuits that sometimes follow such things. There was one little Muslim girl in the chorus, headscarf & all, singing away at all the Christian songs...

[Boxsford]

As a homeschooling mom, this story really makes my morning. I hope that you will write to the principal and let him/her know how pleased you were with their decision to honor our flag and veterans. Encourage, encourage, encourage!!!!!! They need it badly.

[Quilla]

I'd have been crying like a baby. Whenever I attend one of my children's school performances, I can't help it, I tear up tremendously. Stir an American flag into the mix and I imagine I'd lose it. Yep, sounds like heaven to me.

[MamaTexan]

Great story!!

In the school where I work, the cafeteria walls are lined with different American flags...
starting with the Bonnie Blue, and including the cannon with 'Come and Take It'

(OK, I admit I can't remember the proper name for this one..isn't it Goliad?)

[WIladyconservative]

ME TOO! I told the choir director that I don't wear make-up on concert days because I will just cry it off. I spent most of the hour of the concert blubbering in the school gym!

[WIladyconservative]

Oops, one more thing I forgot to add. This isn't just a knee-jerk reaction of patriotism for this school. For the 4 years he has attended, the fall concert is always dedicated to the Veterans. The songs were a little more patriotic than they have been in the past, but the honor is always there!

During the week leading up to the concert, the school invites Veterans to the school for assemblies and small group presentations for the kids. My son waxed poetic for an hour about the Iowa Jima vet his was able to meet!

[Quilla]

When my daughter was in the sixth grade, she was trying out for the lead in her school's musical. Now, I've heard the child singing in the shower and would run in thinking she'd hurt herself. I've always thought she would take after me and my mother in the singing department - they don't make buckets big enough for us to carry a tune. I carefully explained that she might want to try out for several female parts rather than put all her eggs in the lead basket. She came home the evening of the audition and announced she'd gotten the lead. We were in total shock. I asked her to repeat what she had to sing to get the part. I swear, we had a Leann Rymes (sp) on our hands. I started crying and the poor thing didn't know what to think. We taped the performance which was wonderful and when we watch the replay you can hear me crying, yet again, in the background.

[AppyPappy]

)....the selection of songs always included at least half religious ones

Oddly, black high school choirs in the South are allowed to sing hymns at school events. And do frequently.

[Norb2569]

No, you are in Wisconsin.

[brewcrew]

Where I live, the High Schools are calling their Christmas concerts 'festive' concerts because the use of the word 'Christmas' is offensive to some.

They won't even call them "Holiday" concerts because the word holiday really means "holy day." God forbid anyone at all should become offended. And the thing that kills me is that "being offended" is one of those touchy-feely things that can't be proven or disproven. One only has to say that they're offended. There's no way to prove that they actually are offended.

It doesn't matter anymore if I'm offended by anything - I'm a white, middle class male. I just have to shut up and take it. That's why last night's concert was so great - it reflected my values and the values we're trying to teach our son.

[brewcrew]

Well you're certainly not living in California.

And I thank God for that every day.

Now if I could just get them to lower my property tax bill....

[brewcrew]

the selection of songs always included at least half religious ones.

That's because most of the really good music is religious in nature.

[brewcrew]

I hope that you will write to the principal and let him/her know how pleased you were with their decision to honor our flag and veterans.

Not only will I write, I tell her right to her face every time I see her. And the music teacher, too. In fact, I'm going to write my thank you notes right now, before it gets pushed to the back burner.