By: Diane Benjamin
This report comes from a citizen who attended the event:
Last night there was a band concert at Kingsley Junior High. One of the girls in the band refused to play the National Anthem. She not only didn’t play, she turned her back to the crowd while it was played.
When my kids were in band, it was voluntary – I’m pretty sure it still is.
It’s bad enough for a kid who lives in this country to disrespect the National Anthem. but that’s not the point. She is only reflecting what she is being taught at home.
She signed up to be in band.
She does not have a right to disrespect her fellow band members by being a distraction.
She does not have the right to make a mockery of the performance.
She does not have the right to choose which songs she is going to play and which ones she isn’t.
If I was the band director, guess what I would have done.
Imagine, she will soon be an adult – America’s future.
The correct answer is that she should not be allowed to participate in band. Of course we all know this won’t happen. I would not be surprised if she receives an invitation to the White House for her courage.
Freedom of Speech. For all you know, this girl did it against her parents’ wishes. Last I checked plenty of people have burned flags, torn them to shreds, or refused to stand during the national anthem. Low and behold, America still endures.
You have a right to say it is wrong and this girl has a right to her views. Did she kill anyone? Did someone suffer psychological or physical trauma? If not, then why waste your time? She wasn’t doing it then yelling at the top of her lungs to kill Americans. Should the colonists have been forced to sing Rule Britannia?
Being the the band is NOT a right. What if every kid did anything they feel like doing? She is now empowered to do even worse!
It’s happened before and America has been just fine. Is what she did a greater crime than beating some kid up or hazing band members? She made a benign political statement that was a expression of her God given rights. You don’t know anything about her, just a second-hand account.
I notice a theme that you tend to jump right on young people. It doesn’t make you sound any smarter and makes you sound like a cliche: a cranky old woman. Did you always act like the perfect American? If so, good job. Maybe you should help demonstrate why kids should love their country rather than suggesting young people are predisposed to doing the wrong thing.
In that case, every kid in school has the God given right to do whatever they want to. Ever heard of chaos? I must have a God given right to carry a gun anywhere I want then. It’s my political statement.
What about those of us who don’t believe in fables?
Kid needs a good old fashioned over the knee spanking imho.
Since her attitude probably came from her parents, to avoid a lawsuit – I’d just kick her out of band. Don’t play well with others, go somewhere else.
It’s not really chaos when you refuse to stand for the Anthem. And the actions of one kid will not mean the break down of law and order. I would say what the kid did was more appropriate than bringing a gun. My point is, of all the things this kid could have done, she picked one of the least disruptive options to express herself. We have had kids walk out of class to protest standardized testing. In the grand scheme of things, someone or some symbol is being disrespected, but at theses kids are not resorting to violence.
Can I ask your age? I’m thinking we have generational differences.
I am a millennial. It is generational differences because my parents each vote a different party but have similar opinions. The only thing I have agreed with you on is the irresponsible spending of tax payer money and illegal activities to hide government activities from us.
Life would be boring if we all agreed on everything! See the comment from another person present.
I’m pretty sure my parents would have warmed the seat of my pants too had I done something like this. Something I would have never forgotten that’s for sure.
I find this “attitude” quite prevalent among the younger generation. Yuk don’t make me do something I don’t like attitude. She likely won’t get far in the work force.
When I was on a school board I remember attending a work session hosted by lawyers regarding student rights. One case was about a student wearing some shirt with language that was found to be offensive and disruptive. Certainly the student has their 1st Amendment rights to free speech but courts have overwhelmingly ruled in favor of the school administration when a school dismisses a student in cases like this. I see the same reason in this case where her actions are disruptive and offensive to others. Yes she should be dismissed from band for those very reasons or shall we say given the choice to voluntarily leave the band.
Band director should have stopped the performance,excused her from the stage, and carried on. If she had the fortitude to come back on stage when they were done, so be it, but at least she would not have been able to garner attention during the song for her lack of respect.
Good one. Nothing better for a young teen girl than public embarrassment. Something she wouldn’t soon forget.
I can’t imagine why anyone who lives in the USA would refuse to play the National Anthem. I support her right to Free Speech however she disrupted the performance for the other band members and the audience. If the band director knew in advanced, the girl could have been given a choice to play all of the pieces or sit out of the performance. Given the girl’s attitude, she probably would have refused to leave the stage. Personally, I think it was a stunt to get attention.
Awesome idea!
I agree about stopping the concert and told her to leave, but I wouldn’t have let her come back. Did she practice this in band? If you sign up to play in the band, you need to play the songs selected.
Sadly, she may just be reflecting the “values” her “progressive” teachers are indoctrinating her with in the “modern” Unit 5. The District–which i am a product of, BTW–has become somewhat of an oh-so-politically correct, Leftist cesspool.
The Teacher? Little Marxist Missy has DIRECTLY challenged his/her authority, and attacked the musical integrity of the whole organization in the process. She has willfully chosen to create a conflict that, I, as Director, MUST win–regardless of the cost.
Well said.
WONDER how the little one feels about ALL the veterans who put their butt on the line for HER to be free and have THAT kind of attitude?? Dad ALWAYS said, “Ain’t NO aethists in a foxhole” And bout the ONLY thing worse then disrespecting the flag/anthem/country , is to one’s parents. MAYBE she’ll learn that as she gets older???
I’m a veteran and I couldn’t care less what she does. Spent a year over in Iraq from 04′ to 05′ driving trucks through the worst bomb laden parts of the country, I’ll tell you what, I’m an atheist and never ONCE prayed to anybody.
It’s funny how all of you say “if I was the band director, I would…” None of you would last a day in a teacher’s shoes. None of you!
It’s the student’s right to do this. She made the choice, now she’ll live with it. It’s really none of your/my business.
BNIndy: Your comment is Ignorant…..Presumptuous……and DEAD WRONG!
Opinions vary.
Pot, meet kettle.
She’s going to make a fine Senator from the great State of Illinois someday.
I am a unit 5 grad. My son is a unit 5 grad and this pisses the hell out of me! YOU DO NOT disgrace the school colors or the National Anthem! She should have her pretty butt kicked out of school!
Um, ok, Hitler.
I love how some people have no coherent thoughts – just name calling!
I wonder how many days the band practiced playing the Anthem before the show? Did the girl practice her protest every time they played it? If not, she’s a hypocrite.
Saw this article then looked at our video of the performance. I spotted the girl. I have it on good information that she and her family is of the Jehovah Witness faith. I assume the teacher was aware that she didn’t want to perform the anthem. I believe the teacher should have had her sit to the side or off the gym floor and come back once the anthem was over.
Thanks.
My grandparents were Jehovah Witnesses, but they did not disrespect our flag or song. I think the band director should have stopped the concert and escorted her off the stage and she would no longer be in the band. I’m sick and tired of letting these young people do anything they want to do. If you don’t like being an American, go live somewhere else. Parents need to teach their kids respect.
I’d like more info. Did she play her instrument during practice of the Anthem? Was she making comments about not doing it at the time it was to be played? And last but not least, were any relatives on the School Board?