Posted on 03/09/2002 4:00:49 PM PST by Brandybux
The Orange County, Calif., chapter of the American Red Cross has canceled the planned performance of a music group at an upcoming event honoring the organization's volunteers who helped at the World Trade Center after the Sept. 11 attacks because the group planned to sing songs that mention "prayer" and "God."
"Somebody has gone a little overboard" at the Red Cross, said Cherilyn Bacon, director of First Act, a choral group made up of middle school-aged students from a local performing arts school.
The group was invited to perform "Heroes' Trilogy" and to dedicate it to the 9-11 volunteers at tomorrow's event. The arrangement includes three songs: "America the Beautiful," "Prayer of the Children" and Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the U.S.A."
First Act's rendition of "Declaration," a song that includes the opening lines from the Declaration of Independence, was also deemed inappropriate. Bacon says Patricia Johnson, a representative of the American Red Cross in Orange County, told her the Declaration is "a political document that … may offend" some.
Lynn Howse, public affairs director in the Orange County Red Cross office, defended her organization's decision on the Fox News Channel yesterday.
"We need to remain a neutral organization," she said. Howse said another group from the same school will perform in place of First Act and that the program will still include patriotic numbers.
While there have been issues raised by public school districts throughout the U.S. about the religious content of songs students perform, the charter school First Act represents has no problem with its repertoire. As a California charter school, it receives some private funding.
"The school is totally supportive," Bacon told WorldNetDaily. She refused to divulge the name of the school, citing the desire of administrators not to be drawn into the controversy.
Bacon mentioned that her group has received rave reviews for its moving rendition of "Heroes' Trilogy," which was arranged specifically to commemorate Sept. 11.
"The kids have performed these songs for a wide variety of organizations, from the Democrat and Republican Parties to the Santa Ana Interfaith Council," she said in a statement. "Without fail, the performance has brought tears and instant standing ovations. From Muslim to Hare Krishna to Christian to Jew … there has been unanimous applause."
Cindy Boragno, mother of one of the performers, was stunned by the Red Cross' action.
"What rot! This is outrageous," she said. "To think that the word 'God' cannot be used in a song."
Student Malorie Bryant expressed disappointment at the withdrawal of the group's invitation.
"We were so excited to finally be able to perform our special 'Heroes' tribute to the real heroes themselves," she said.
Surmised Bacon, "By taking this 'neutral' position, [the Red Cross] has just offended most of America."
Dear Dana Allen,
This is to inform you that I am undertaking a call to boycott contributions to the Red Cross in favor of any and all other relief agencies who know how to avoid insulting and defaming the millions of Christian contributors to the Red Cross in the past.
The Orange County Chapter's arrogant and demeaning rejection of a performance of "God Bless America" in a program by Americans to honor American heros has no justification at all. While such inanity is, by itself, of little consequence, the fact that there seem to be no sensible people within either the Orange County chapter or the National Red Cross, able and willing to reverse this insult, shows me that the Red Cross is not worthy of the confidence and support of truly tolerant Americans.
I am, therefore, using every resource at my disposal to spread the word that genuinely tolerant Americans should immediately commit themselves to withhold all funds from any affiliate of the Red Cross, until those responsible for this insult have been fired, and the National Red Cross has widely and prominently apologized and made amends to those who have been defamed and insulted by the Orange County Red Cross' intolerant and bigoted ban on this song and those who were scheduled to perform it.
[my name ommitted for this copy of my letter]
You may send your own protest to:
Contact: Dana Allen allenda@usa.redcross.org Phone: 703-206-8107 Pager: 877-869-9816
or use the Red Cross contact form, found on their website at:
http://www.redcross.org/contactus.html
-------------------------------
Here is something many of you may not know. Early in the 20th century, the Red Cross was sanctioned by Congress to be the responding organization in every major emergency that occurs in the country. When an emergency occurs, like September 11, the Red Cross goes into action. One of the groups they call is the Southern Baptist brotherhood, who is responsible for food service during an emergency. Other denominations are responsible for other aspects of emergency service.
The Southern Baptist brotherhood is a group of Southern Baptist men who have volunteered for service and receive appropriate training.
Soon after the planes hit, the head of the Southern Baptist brotherhood got moving and was already on route to New York when he got the call from the Red Cross. He was on the ground in New York the same day. Within two days, they had established a massive base of operations and Southern Baptist volunteers began arriving from all over the country. In the months following the attack, the Southern Baptist brotherhood turned out over 700,000 meals in New York in support of the operations there. I personally know two men who spent a week in New York preparing meals beginning 11 days after the attack. Their contingent alone was putting out 1000 meals a day.
The point is this. We can talk all we want about government money going to faith based organizations to supply social services. But right now, when disaster strikes, it is groups like the Southern Baptists who voluntarily hit the front lines. Another thing - they don't spend a lot of time trying to get headlines over it.
Remember folks,you donate it for free.
Mine says " (Red cross symbol) followed by, GODLESS/ MARXIST , (then) MOB, (then " Hammer and sickle drawing ) Then Steals from 9-11/ Widows and Orphans" Both have Free Republic bumper stickers and American flags attached. We'll take my digital camera along.
Hopefully other area Freepers will join us..
17900 Jamboree Rd Irvine, Ca. Corner of Main and Jamboree, right off the 405 and Jamboree. We'll be there by 10:00 AM.
hhmmm... made me think of O'Reilly.....I freeped him to blast these idiots. I hope he's already on it.
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