School Changes Silent Night Lyrics... my town

[sam_gordon]

...although now that I think about it more maybe it would be a hoot if some of us parents got together and "fixed" Blurred Lines and sang it at a youth event! (Yes, let's be real - Christian kids listen to this stuff too!!) Merry Christmas Sam!

I wonder if you did that (changed Blurred Lines and sang it at a youth event) if anyone would complain about you changing the song?

Happy Holidays!

 

[Jaime4004]

It's funny bc my first questions was whether or not it was a Christmas concert. If they did, in fact, refer to it as the Christmas concert then it would be ridiculous to say that but change lyrics. I think changing he lyrics was silly and agree they should have chose a different song. I went to public school, where we called it the Holiday concert and sang nothing remotely religious.

My kid's holiday concert had Silent night (with the real lyrics ), a hanukkah song, and several secular songs. No problem there. I think, to most atheists (or maybe it's just me ) silent night (and christmas songs like them) are made up stories/songs no different than frosty or rudolph. And we are certainly not offended by frosty songs, so why be offended by jesus songs? A lot of people seem to be looking for something to be offended over these days...

If something is labeled a "Christmas concert," then it shouldn't be surprising if it includes christian songs. I do think "holiday concerts" should be a bit more broad.

 

[Kimberlyann11]

That doesn't make a difference, the song is about the birth of Jesus on Christmas. You can't really make other religions (or non-religions) inclusive in that. If they want an all inclusive concert/show, then use winter, non denominational songs, or better yet, include religious songs from all faiths. Like the pp said, its still PC BS.

It does make a difference.

It might very well be PC BS. I don't know and don't care. We have a wonderful Christmas collage concert at my kids high school and it's about 25% religious music and I'm not a Christian and I'm fine and dandy with it. I would miss the Hallelujah chorus because it's such an ingrained tradition. I wouldn't walk out on my kid's concert if they axed it - but maybe that's just me.

My issue - if you read what I said at all - is everyone clutching their pearls about the meanies not wanting to offend anybody. And why is it okay to offend religious people. YadaYadaYada, I just want people to know that's not their goal. Your post above is very much on the mark as far as inclusiveness . But it makes a huge difference when you ascribe motives to people that just plain aren't there like many of the previous posters. It's dishonest. The reason they did it was kind at heart. In other words - like I tell my kid when she's all offended - they didn't do it just to tick you off.

Your post above - except for the first sentence - was wonderful because it addressed the actual issue. Thank you.

 

[luvmy3]

It does make a difference.

It might very well be PC BS. I don't know and don't care. We have a wonderful Christmas collage concert at my kids high school and it's about 25% religious music and I'm not a Christian and I'm fine and dandy with it. I would miss the Hallelujah chorus because it's such an ingrained tradition. I wouldn't walk out on my kid's concert if they axed it - but maybe that's just me.

My issue - if you read what I said at all - is everyone clutching their pearls about the meanies not wanting to offend anybody. And why is it okay to offend religious people. YadaYadaYada, I just want people to know that's not their goal. Your post above is very much on the mark as far as inclusiveness . But it makes a huge difference when you ascribe motives to people that just plain aren't there like many of the previous posters. It's dishonest. The reason they did it was kind at heart. In other words - like I tell my kid when she's all offended - they didn't do it just to tick you off.

Your post above - except for the first sentence - was wonderful because it addressed the actual issue. Thank you.

I don't think it makes a difference because in this particular instance, the act of including everyone is done so that nobody can be offended by not being included. Why else would the school feel they needed to include everyone by changing an obvious Christian Christmas song about the birth of Jesus. If it was about true inclusiveness, the song would be allowed as is, and others of different faiths would be added to the show.
The act of changing the lyrics to Silent Night doesn't make it "inclusive" it makes it less offensive to those who don't share the beliefs (of that song).

FTR, I'm not offended either way, I just think those who made the decision to change it aren't very intelligent.

 

[lisaviolet]

Stupid. Ridiculous. Sighing.

 

[Talking Hands]

DOn
t change the lyrics. If you don't want it sung as a religious song leave it out. Leave out any Jewish, Muslim and songs from any other religions. Of course then there will be little to sing and you won't need a chorus concert at all

 

[Wendy31]

Either sing the song the way it is written, or don't sing it.

I'd be less "offended" if the school just didn't sing the song as opposed to changing the lyrics.

"Silent Night" is a religious song w/ lyrics that tell the story of Jesus' birth. I can understand why some schools choose not to include religious songs in their winter concerts, and that's fine. But don't insult people's intelligence & sensibilities by changing the lyrics. I don't think changing the lyrics of a known religious song makes the song "inclusive."

I once attended a college's winter concert - they sang religious songs, secular songs, Hanukkah songs, Kwanzaa songs, etc. It was wonderful & very inclusive. And the concert just had a special feel to it.

I'm a Christian & celebrate Christmas, but I also enjoy the celebrations & traditions of other faiths & cultures. Christmas, or the holiday season, is one of the only "world-wide" celebrations, & I just think there's something so special about the whole world coming together & celebrating with their own traditions & faiths. And I think we can find ways to celebrate together w/o becoming so "politically correct" that we start taking away from one another's traditions.

Sometimes, when we try to please everyone, we end up pleasing no one.

And, if Jimmy Fallon can sing "Joy to the World" on SNL w/o changing the lyrics, then I think a school can sing "Silent Night."

 

[Mousemom234]

Eh - let's just offend everybody
We can annoy #1 by singing A which offends #2 who'd rather we sing B, which ticks off #3, because they believe in singing C, and nobody likes song D.
So we'll 'fix' the lyrics - and nobody knows what we're singing

Happy/Merry/Blessed Christmaticekwanzakah Everybody !​

 

[shoney]

DOn
t change the lyrics. If you don't want it sung as a religious song leave it out. Leave out any Jewish, Muslim and songs from any other religions. Of course then there will be little to sing and you won't need a chorus concert at all

You can still have a chorus concert, just not holiday themed.

We went to our 7th graders last week. The band, orchestra and chorus performed. No holiday music at all. There were snowmen drawn on the program. It is referred to as the "winter concert".

I wish they would do a mix of different holiday themed music. It would be more festive!

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Oh noes. Break out the fainting couch!!! Someone changed a song.

I guess then nobody can sing the national anthem because that's an English drinking tune with the lyrics changed.

Come to think of it, we can't sing Silent Night either seeing as how that was changed from the original German version.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Oh noes. Break out the fainting couch!!! Someone changed a song.

I guess then nobody can sing the national anthem because that's an English drinking tune with the lyrics changed.

Come to think of it, we can't sing Silent Night either seeing as how that was changed from the original German version.

I don't think that's the point. The point is they seem to have changed the lyrics so as not to offend people… rather than just NOT singing the song.

 

[kirstenb1]

You can still have a chorus concert, just not holiday themed.

We went to our 7th graders last week. The band, orchestra and chorus performed. No holiday music at all. There were snowmen drawn on the program. It is referred to as the "winter concert".

I wish they would do a mix of different holiday themed music. It would be more festive!

I know right!! What an amazingly easy solution. I find it ironic that in our very small town in Virginia, where virtually everyone is Christian, we have been doing a winter program at the elementary school for years that is non-religious. I've never been to Long Island, but I'd venture it's a whole lot more religiously diverse than down here.

 

[Lorelei Lee]

I know right!! What an amazingly easy solution. I find it ironic that in our very small town in Virginia, where virtually everyone is Christian, we have been doing a winter program at the elementary school for years that is non-religious. I've never been to Long Island, but I'd venture it's a whole lot more religiously diverse than down here.

My Long Island school district -- we have 4 synagogues, 2 mosques and a Hindu temple. We have a Catholic Church, a Greek Irthodox Church, a church where services are in Chinese, one where services are in Korean . . .

Sometimes the winter concert in in December and sometimes it's in January. If it's in December, it may or may noy have holiday music. If it has holiday music, the music will celebrate our diversity.

 

[kirstenb1]

My Long Island school district -- we have 4 synagogues, 2 mosques and a Hindu temple. We have a Catholic Church, a Greek Irthodox Church, a church where services are in Chinese, one where services are in Korean . . .

Sometimes the winter concert in in December and sometimes it's in January. If it's in December, it may or may noy have holiday music. If it has holiday music, the music will celebrate our diversity.

So I did guess right, a very diverse community. Although our elementary schools have done secular winter programs for years, our church, like so many others has done a children's Christmas program ever since I can remember. We even sing the original Silent Night there. So there are many ways to celebrate religious beliefs without making non-Christians feel excluded. Again, I'm very surprised a public school in a diverse community still has a religious bent.

 

[palmtreegirl]

So stupid

 

[castleview]

This is called overthinking. I have no love for people whining there's a "War on Christmas" and believe religion shouldn't be a part of public school. But when it comes to the holiday season, even in my liberal northeast town the choir directors stick in Christian songs along with Jewish songs and non-religious songs and no one complains. As long as one religion isn't dominating the song selection, then who cares. This seems to be a typical administrative action where someone is trying to look like they're doing something and only look foolish.

 

[ronandannette]

I wonder if you did that (changed Blurred Lines and sang it at a youth event) if anyone would complain about you changing the song?

Happy Holidays!

Funny story; we attended church this morning with DH's mom, which we do on rare occasions only because she loves to have us there. She is a member of an extremely liberal albeit ostensibly Christian denomination; we ourselves belong to a much more orthodox, traditional and conservative church. Their service opened with a bizarrely revised version of Away In A Manger that talked about frosty window panes and red poinsettias. I'd complain, but I'm not sure to whom...

 

[disykat]

It doesn't seem to me like they secularized it. Holy, Heavenly Hosts, Alleluia, Heaven, Heavenly peace... those don't seem secular to me?

My guess is whoever decided to do this is in a religion where she/he doesn't consider Christ his/her Savior, but there are definitely religious tones remaining in the song!

I'm with the "just don't sing the song if you consider it a problem" group.

 

[sweetpeama]

Taking apart the lyrics they used

Silent Night Holy Night (line 1 on all 3 verses in original English version
All is Calm All is Bright (line 2 verse 1)
Glories stream from Heaven afar (line 3 verse 2)
Heavenly Hosts sing alleluia (line 4 verse 2)
Sleep in Heavenly Peace (line 5 verse 1)
Sleep in Heavenly Peace (line 6 verse 1)

If I didn't know this was done to avoid "offending" anyone I would presume that the director got the lyrics of the verses mixed up.

Tammy

 

[sweetpeama]

Taking apart the lyrics they used

Silent Night Holy Night (line 1 on all 3 verses in original English version
All is Calm All is Bright (line 2 verse 1)
Glories stream from Heaven afar (line 3 verse 2)
Heavenly Hosts sing alleluia (line 4 verse 2)
Sleep in Heavenly Peace (line 5 verse 1)
Sleep in Heavenly Peace (line 6 verse 1)

If I didn't know this was done to avoid "offending" anyone I would presume that the director got the lyrics of the verses mixed up.

Tammy