we are just too PC these days...

[VioltePrincess]

Skater 'Stunned' by Christmas Carol Cutoff
AOL Wire Services
RIVERSIDE, Calif. (Dec. 14) - 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.




A city employee, accompanied by a police officer, approached the Rubidoux High School Madrigals at the Riverside Outdoor Ice Skating Rink just as they launched into "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" and requested that the troupe stop singing, the Riverside Press-Enterprise reported Thursday.

Cohen, the 2006 Olympic silver medalist and 2006 U.S. National Champion, had just finished her performance at the rink on the downtown pedestrian mall, and was signing autographs.

The employee, special-events worker Michelle Baldwin, could not be reached for comment. City Development Director Belinda J. Graham confirmed the incident.

"This request was simply made by a staff member who was attempting to be sensitive to the celebrity guest, without considering the wider implications ... or consulting with her supervisor for guidance," Graham said in an e-mail to the newspaper.




Riverside Mayor Ron Loveridge, who called the incident "unfortunate," apologized to the choir. "You kind of wish people do a little checking first," he said.

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 said. "Christmas carols are part of celebrating the holiday season."

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's mother said the skater had taken part in Christmas tree lighting ceremonies at New York's Rockefeller Center and in California.


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2006-12-15 12:45:59

 

[GeorgeG]

Some people shouldn't think. The staff member should have asked. I used to put little signs at all the consoles at work that said "Stupid questions are easier to deal with than stupid mistakes."

Political correctness is going to ruin us.

 

[bicker]

I completely disagree. This was a stupid decision made by one person to take it upon herself to decide whether the celebrity guest would be upset about the choice of song instead of actually asking Ms. Cohen. The reason why political correctness is so vital and important is because of the damaging effects from capriciousness -- people making the decision for others what they should or shouldn't be offended by. In this case, the special-events worker exhibited that very capriciousness. Her decision to stop the singing of the Christmas carol was, EXPLICITLY, politically INcorrect. That's why it was a bad thing to do.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

I completely disagree. This was a stupid decision made by one person to take it upon herself to decide whether the celebrity guest would be upset about the choice of song instead of actually asking Ms. Cohen. The reason why political correctness is so vital and important is because of the damaging effects from capriciousness -- people making the decision for others what they should or shouldn't be offended by. In this case, the special-events worker exhibited that very capriciousness. Her decision to stop the singing of the Christmas carol was, EXPLICITLY, politically INcorrect. That's why it was a bad thing to do.

well said! a bad call by one individual....

 

[I'mNoPrince]

But most likely a bad call because of the position they have been put into in the past.

Being PC now a days is just keeping your month shut and thoughts to yourself. Someone is always offened for one reason or another.

 

[bicker]

I disagree. There is always a respectful way to share your thoughts. Offense stems from a lack of thought, not thoughfulness. The key, actually, is for each of us to stop assuming that our thoughts, beliefs, values, principles, are the only valid ones that could exist.

 

[Luv'sTink]

We worry about it too much and that, in my opinion, gives people the open door they are looking for to be offended. I believe some people are not really offended at all they either think they should be or sometimes are looking for a way to make a buck by "I will sue" or want some kind of notoriety.

 

[C.Ann]

Don't you just hate it when someone else makes a decision for you?? It's not like she's a child..

 

[Saffron]

Something just doesn't add up in that story. "Some" city employee just happened to have a police officer handy, a police officer who would agree to march over with the city employee to stop the choir from singing because they thought someone might be offended? Doesn't that sound weird to anyone else?

Anyway, I agree with Bicker.