Red Cross decision provokes debate
O.C. High School of the Arts had pulled out of awards program.
March 11, 2002
By MARY ANN MILBOURN and RACHANEE SRISAVASDI
The Orange County Register
IRVINE -- The show went on - sort of - at the Red Cross volunteers luncheon Sunday as the group made do with an audience sing-along of the national anthem after the student vocal group scheduled to perform bowed out.
The group from the Orange County High School of the Arts canceled its performance after the Red Cross objected to its musical selection, which included "God Bless the U.S.A." and other songs that included references to religion.
On Friday, the school's executive director, Ralph Opacic, said he respected the Red Cross' preference for nonreligious lyrics to keep its program more inclusive.
He had arranged to have a different group sing, but he decided not to send any performers from the school after speaking with Cherilyn Bacon, the instructor who had canceled her troupe's appearance last week.
"Although we respect the Red Cross' right to determine the program, (the school) stands behind the decision not to compromise the inspirational and patriotic lyrics of these songs," Opacic said in a statement.
Bacon said she was happy the school supported her decision. The troupe will continue to perform its medley at community events, she said.
Little mention of the controversy was made at the Red Cross luncheon. Dolores Churchill, a Red Cross Orange County chapter board member, only alluded to it in her opening comments.
"It's a peculiar time we are in when one day we are heaped with praise and the next day criticized," Churchill said. "Such is life."
While most people at the event had little to say about the cancellation, several said they were upset by the decision and by suggestions that the students could sing if they changed the lyrics.
Mike Tooman, 59, of Anaheim, a longtime volunteer, said he had mixed feelings about the decision: "When we sign up (as volunteers), we agree to be neutral, so I understand why they are doing what they are doing," he said. "But God bless America."
Four protesters unaffiliated with the Red Cross or Bacon held up signs outside the hotel where the event was held.
"We think it's unfair that kids who proposed to sing a song about America that had 'God' in it are not allowed to sing," said Judy Busch, 60, of Capistrano Beach.
"Peace panels" sewn by high school Red Cross members were on display at the luncheon. They included the phrases "God Bless America" and "One Nation Under God."
My mother is a nurse who was one of the volunteers honored at yesterday's event. In a phone conversation after the luncheon, she mentioned that the singing portion had simply been skipped; there were no replacement students or anything (even though it remained on the printed program, there being no time to reprint the program). They did have everyone sing the national anthem (but there was no Pledge of Allegiance).
My mother also relayed the Red Cross' line on the issue: this was a manufactured controversy by conductor Cherilyn Bacon, who has political ambitions (she is or may be running for some office?) and who wanted to create an incident to get publicity. She did so by going to Fox News, which is well-known as being anti-Red Cross.