Sep 24, 2012
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A Pennsylvania high school marching band is raising eyebrows with a halftime performance that commemorates the Russian revolution, complete with red flags, olive military-style uniforms, and giant hammers and sickles.
“St. Petersburg: 1917” is the theme for the New Oxford High School Marching Band. Ironically, the school’s athletic teams are called the Colonials and their colors are red, white and blue. The band’s website features a picture of the group with students holding a hammer and sickle.
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“There is no reason for Americans to celebrate the Russian revolution,” said one irate parent who alerted Fox News. “I am sure the millions who died under Communism would not see the joy of celebrating the Russian revolution by a school 10 miles from Gettysburg.”
The parent, who asked not to be identified, attended a football last Friday night with his children. He said he was shocked by what he saw.
“It was Glee meets the Russian Revolution,” he told Fox News. “I’m not kidding you. They had giant hammers and sickles and they were waving them around.”
“Who thought this was a good idea?”
Rebecca Harbaugh, the superintendent for the Conewago Valley School District, told Fox News that the band’s performance was “not an endorsement of communism at all.”
“It’s a representation of the time period in history called St. Petersburg 1917,” she said. “I am truly sorry that somebody took the performance in that manner. I am.”
“If anything is being celebrated it’s the music,” she said. “It is what it is. I understand people look at something and choose how to interpret that and I’m just very sorry that it wasn’t looked at as just a history lesson.”
Besides, she explained, “in 2008 we did an entire show on freedom.”
But some critics said it’s outrageous for any American school to be celebrating such a violent era.
“It would be tantamount to celebrating the music of 1935 Berlin,” the parent said. “If I was Lithuanian, Estonian, or Ukrainian, I’d be a little hot. I’d be really hot. It’s insulting to glorify something that doesn’t need to be glorified in America.”
Paul Kengor is the executive director for the Center for Vision & Values at Pennsylvania’s Grove City College.
He initially thought the halftime performance was a joke.
“This is surreal,” he told Fox News. “This is like something out of the Twilight Zone – but it’s even stranger than that.”
Kengor said even if the school was not celebrating the revolution “they seem to be commemorating this to some degree.”
“The Bolshevik Revolution launched a global Communist revolution that from 1917 through the 1990s was responsible for the deaths of over a hundred million people,” he said. “What the Russian revolution unleashed was a nightmare – a historical human catastrophe. This is something that should be condemned and not in any way commemorated or laughed at.”
Gerson Moreno-Riano, dean of Regent University’s College of Arts & Sciences, told Fox News the performance is shocking.
“The Russian revolution was one of the most violent episodes of the 20th Century,” he said. “Lenin put into place a doctrine of mass terror to crush the opposition and thousands and thousands of people were murdered.
The history professor said there’s very little to celebrate in that movement.
“It’s full of violence, terror, destruction and in some weeks thousands of people were executed – some thrown with rocks around their necks into the river to drown,” he said.
“It’s quite frankly horrific that a high school would be celebrating that at a football game,” he said.
He was even more disturbed by the group photograph of the band in front of the hammer and sickle.
“To raise the emblems of the hammer and sickle – the emblems of so much violence, destruction and terror – is a lack of knowledge of history,” he said.
In the best case scenario, he said the editors were simply ignorant of the era.
“The worst case scenario is someone who is trying to celebrate something they know about – and they’re trying to insert this into their educational agenda,” he said.
FOX News Talk
Well next year why don't they have "Nurumberg 1935" and march around with some Nazi banners?
wow fox good job on being a lousy piece of shit.
My father is Latvian, and was born in a camp in what is now the Czech Republic after leaving to escape the advancing Red Army in 1945. I am also someone who has been involved in the marching band and drum corps activity extensively for the last 18 years as a performer, educator, and show designer.
As someone who has a relevant opinion on both the marching band and historical fronts, this is a complete overreaction, misses the point of almost everything involved, and extrapolates from that mistake to absurdist levels. I completely support the band director and would be happy to lend that support to him however it is needed.
You're Latvian? No way! I am also half Latvian.
And you are surprised Fox New overreacted on something political?
The fact that the parents doesnt want to be identified says it all.
No, but when it's this specifically something in my area of experience I feel obligated to at least say something.
Dennie, when's your names day?!
No, but when it's this specifically something in my area of experience I feel obligated to at least say something.
Dennie, when's your names day?!
To the principal's credit she seems to get it…..
To the principal's credit she seems to get it…..
I seem to remember a certain drum corps who marched a show called Russia: Revolution/Evolution. Damn commies have been corrupting this activity for years! But seriously. Why the hell is this an issue?
I seem to remember a certain drum corps who marched a show called Russia: Revolution/Evolution. Damn commies have been corrupting this activity for years! But seriously. Why the hell is this an issue?
Doing an Afro Cuban show? You must love Castro and communism. that is the line of logic presented here by Fox. Ridiculous.
Problem is: they think of marching bands as a simple diversion for halftime at football games. Not an art form unto themselves. No one would get this outraged at a Russian Revolution-themed ballet.
Having not seen the show, none of us can truly judge whether or not the theme of the show was celebratory. It's possible that they were using the hammer and sickle as a shorthand for a Russian theme. What music did they play? What was the tone? Questions that could and should be asked. But no. It's a marchin' band. They should just play Hey Baby and dance around for our amusement.
Football parents saw the hammer and went no further because of their preconceptions about them damn marchin' bands.
Joseph Anton Bruckner – yes I agree, and yes they're just reporting what some people said with an actually admirable lack of specific editorial comment, but I still think they (the people talking and the people who decided/agreed to post this) are extrapolating on a missed point, mainly the idea of it being celebratory in nature like David Tatarakis is saying. Devil's advocate points duly noted
I know some Latvian family members who would disagree with you. Personally, mixed feelings. I would feel uncomfortable with a Dachau 1944 theme, and a cheerfully posed picture with the Nazi insignia. Hard to say without seeing the whole show. Art has freedom, but at a public high school halftime (not a competition) might be a poor context.
Again, cheerful and celebratory are the things people keep incorrectly assuming, and it's not about Dachau with a Nazi insignia or anything close. It's not even about art or freedom of speech, because no one is supporting or saying anything positive about the actual Russian Revolution or anything that resulted from it except possibly the music, and the music in question is largely subversive to the movement in question. The point is people keep projecting their own viewpoints onto something they haven't even seen.
Again, cheerful and celebratory are the things people keep incorrectly assuming, and it's not about Dachau with a Nazi insignia or anything close. It's not even about art or freedom of speech, because no one is supporting or saying anything positive about the actual Russian Revolution or anything that resulted from it except possibly the music, and the music in question is largely subversive to the movement in question. The point is people keep projecting their own viewpoints onto something they haven't even seen.
Again, cheerful and celebratory are the things people keep incorrectly assuming, and it's not about Dachau with a Nazi insignia or anything close. It's not even about art or freedom of speech, because no one is supporting or saying anything positive about the actual Russian Revolution or anything that resulted from it except possibly the music, and the music in question is largely subversive to the movement in question. The point is people keep projecting their own viewpoints onto something they haven't even seen.
It's not an assumption – although the faces are blurred out, you can see the people are smiling in the picture. And it is close – Nazi insignia and the hammer and sickle both are symbols of a political movement, ones that were associated with quite large numbers of innocent deaths. As were the military uniforms they are dressed in. Again, I have not seen the show itself, and I stated that. However, I'm basing my statements on what I am seeing in the picture posted with this article, not some imagined projection of what might exist. And what I see is questionable.
It's not an assumption – although the faces are blurred out, you can see the people are smiling in the picture. And it is close – Nazi insignia and the hammer and sickle both are symbols of a political movement, ones that were associated with quite large numbers of innocent deaths. As were the military uniforms they are dressed in. Again, I have not seen the show itself, and I stated that. However, I'm basing my statements on what I am seeing in the picture posted with this article, not some imagined projection of what might exist. And what I see is questionable.
That pictures is almost certainly their yearly band photo. People smile in those. They dress in uniform and hold props from the show so people will remember what their show was that year. The photo is not necessarily representative of the tone of the actual show.
Again, would you like a smiling yearly band photo with Nazi uniforms and the insignia? And again, I'm not condeming the show. Haven't seen it. But with these sorts of side-items as indicators, I have mixed feelings about its appropriateness and I don't think they should be surprised that some people are upset.
Right on, Ryan. Let's not forget that the point of this commentary, and apparently of this author's writing in general, is to inflame, not to inform.
My father is Latvian, and was born in a camp in what is now the Czech Republic after leaving to escape the advancing Red Army in 1945. I am also someone who has been involved in the marching band and drum corps activity extensively for the last 18 years as a performer, educator, and show designer.
As someone who has a relevant opinion on both the marching band and historical fronts, this is a complete overreaction, misses the point of almost everything involved, and extrapolates from that mistake to absurdist levels. I completely support the band director and would be happy to lend that support to him however it is needed.
I just went to read the article, and honestly?
It's pretty stupid. It's a halftime representing the music and art from that period. There were many wars in Ancient Greece, and even though hundreds of thousands of people died, we still praise their art and culture.
It's just people who have absolutely no musical background who just want something to angry about. 10 bucks says the angry parent was a football player's parent. Just anger for the sake of being angry about something.
I am the one who suffered from Communists, particularly Stalin who deported my nation together with Chechens to die in Siberia and Kazakhstan. I am a North Caucasian Muslim also. I am not offended by the performance or by "Innocence of Muslims" or by erecting monument to Joseph Stalin in Virginia in 2010, because the USA after 1988 became a complete joke. Since 1988 the people confuse freedom of speech with the freedom to wreck chaos and promote hatred via lies and false accusations. I am not offended at all.
P.S. RIP good Americans who put their lives down in the same Soviet Gulags together with Chechens, Ingush, Ukrainians, Germans, Tatars, and many other peoples.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Forsaken-American-Tragedy-Stalins/dp/1594201684
http://www.amazon.com/Target-Patton-Assassinate-General-George/dp/1596986069/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1348592332&sr=1-1&keywords=target+patton
I am the one who suffered from Communists, particularly Stalin who deported my nation together with Chechens to die in Siberia and Kazakhstan. I am a North Caucasian Muslim also. I am not offended by the performance or by "Innocence of Muslims" or by erecting monument to Joseph Stalin in Virginia in 2010, because the USA after 1988 became a complete joke. Since 1988 the people confuse freedom of speech with the freedom to wreck chaos and promote hatred via lies and false accusations. I am not offended at all.
P.S. RIP good Americans who put their lives down in the same Soviet Gulags together with Chechens, Ingush, Ukrainians, Germans, Tatars, and many other peoples.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Forsaken-American-Tragedy-Stalins/dp/1594201684
http://www.amazon.com/Target-Patton-Assassinate-General-George/dp/1596986069/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1348592332&sr=1-1&keywords=target+patton
During the DNC, the large telescreens behind the podium had Russian warships instead of U.S. warships. And the campaign said "ooops". This commie crap is coming out of the wood work. Oh well, any more entitlement handouts and this place will be more socialist than Italy or France. Any more overlooked police brutality and violations of civil liberties and this place will be more authoritarian than China. So, what's new?
And this takes on a whole new meaning 'Confirming US Dumbification, Verbal SAT Scores Just Hit Record Low' http://blog.alexanderhiggins.com/2012/09/25/confirming-dumbification-verbal-sat-scores-hit-record-189001/.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQ-8IuUkJJc&feature=player_embedded
I was in this band for 4 years. I remember being taught out this horrific time at new Oxford. Seriously…who was the idiot who thought this one up? Anyone w/ basic history, student or adult, should have known better.
I was in this band for 4 years. I remember being taught about this horrific time at new Oxford. Seriously…who was the idiot who thought this one up? Anyone w/ basic history, student or adult, should have known better.
Pay attention folks!
Pay attention folks!
I saw this on ABC News and was stunned!
The close minded-ness that is going on here is fucking astounding. Who the gives a shit what show these kids perform? Who here actually understands the point of a marching band show from its perspective in pageantry. How does this actually affect you?
No one should, apparently no one, and a degree of jack-fucking-shit are the respective answers to those questions.
Pretend these kids were making a movie for a history class about the cold war era soviet union. No one would claim they're being brainwashed, or that they're being raised with communist values. They're just fucking learning. That's what's happening here. Its just a piece of art, for the education of music. THAT's IT.
I find it downright impossible to think that the band director would be promoting communist values and raising a tiny army of adolescent socialists. If you can fucking imagine such a thing, that's not a band director you're picture, its a god damn cartoon character. It simply doesn't exist.
Stop having such a knee-jerk reaction to communism. It helps no one, and only spreads hate. Try looking at things through a light of rationale and compassion. You know, like Jesus.
PS. Its not the same thing as parading a swastika. The Nazi's were fascists not communists, and were by far worse on all accounts. Read a god damn book.
Obviously millions died under communist rulers, but that not what communism was meant to stand for and definitely not what the revolution was about. I guess these people are all voting for Mitt Romney.
*you're picturing,
Two words. 1. Fox. 2. News. That is all.
Two words. 1. Fox. 2. News. That is all.
Ditto Taylor Mitchell. I posted on a friend's page about this. It's kinda like saying the attached show is promoting Nazism: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35u86TtIbEg I would LOVE to hear the design staff's response to this non-news.
Democrats still loving communism!
The responses here just goes to show how ignorant people have become. We have only been a Country for some 236 years. When a High School Band plays some Russian music you all get bent out of shape. What do you think will happen next? Maybe the band will play some French music, or Italian, or Austrian, or German, what will you idiots say then? get a freaking life you morons, it's just music. I guess you think it'll start some sort of Russian rebirth of Communism in the USA. DIPSHITS, all of you who are complaining. Go back to watching Dancing with the stars and drink more Koolaid.
The responses here just goes to show how ignorant people have become. We have only been a Country for some 236 years. When a High School Band plays some Russian music you all get bent out of shape. What do you think will happen next? Maybe the band will play some French music, or Italian, or Austrian, or German, what will you idiots say then? get a freaking life you morons, it's just music. I guess you think it'll start some sort of Russian rebirth of Communism in the USA. DIPSHITS, all of you who are complaining. Go back to watching Dancing with the stars and drink more Koolaid.
Last time I checked Tchaikovsky was Russian and pretty sure he is still considered a Classical Composer that BAND kids should probably learn about.
Last time I checked Tchaikovsky was Russian and pretty sure he is still considered a Classical Composer that BAND kids should probably learn about.
Also how dare you link me to Fox News, If i want conservative fiction ill read Chronicles of Narnia. Joke HAHAHAHAHA.
The responses here just goes to show how ignorant people have become. We have only been a Country for some 236 years. When a High School Band plays some Russian music you all get bent out of shape. What do you think will happen next? Maybe the band will play some French music, or Italian, or Austrian, or German, what will you idiots say then? get a freaking life you morons, it's just music. I guess you think it'll start some sort of Russian rebirth of Communism in the USA. DIPSHITS, all of you who are complaining. Go back to watching Dancing with the stars and drink more Koolaid.
The responses here just goes to show how ignorant people have become. We have only been a Country for some 236 years. When a High School Band plays some Russian music you all get bent out of shape. What do you think will happen next? Maybe the band will play some French music, or Italian, or Austrian, or German, what will you idiots say then? get a freaking life you morons, it's just music. I guess you think it'll start some sort of Russian rebirth of Communism in the USA. DIPSHITS, all of you who are complaining. Go back to watching Dancing with the stars and drink more Koolaid.
The responses here just goes to show how ignorant people have become. We have only been a Country for some 236 years. When a High School Band plays some Russian music you all get bent out of shape. What do you think will happen next? Maybe the band will play some French music, or Italian, or Austrian, or German, what will you idiots say then? get a freaking life you morons, it's just music. I guess you think it'll start some sort of Russian rebirth of Communism in the USA. DIPSHITS, all of you who are complaining. Go back to watching Dancing with the stars and drink more Koolaid.
The responses here just goes to show how ignorant people have become. We have only been a Country for some 236 years. When a High School Band plays some Russian music you all get bent out of shape. What do you think will happen next? Maybe the band will play some French music, or Italian, or Austrian, or German, what will you idiots say then? get a freaking life you morons, it's just music. I guess you think it'll start some sort of Russian rebirth of Communism in the USA. DIPSHITS, all of you who are complaining. Go back to watching Dancing with the stars and drink more Koolaid.
This would never have happened if the flag had a cross and the celebration was about the establishment of the Vatican. Or if it had a Star of David and celebrated the establishment of Israel in 1948. Of course, if it was a star and crescent or celebrated the establishment of an Islamic Brotherhood president in Egypt…
Having gone to Russia 16 times since the walls came down, I can assure you no Russian students would celebrate the "Soviet Era" as they call it now. Lenin and his gang killed millions of Russians and Eastern Europeans. They sent millions more to gulags! Stalin killed untold millions – the Russians do not even know how many died under Stalin. Someone at this school needs to get fired! And those kids need an accurate history lesson.
AND THESE LITTLE COMMIE PUKES HAVE THEIR FACES BLANKED OUT WHY? THEY ARE IN PUBLIC.. IN A PUBLIC SCHOOL THAT WE PAY FOR… I DEMAND TO SEE THEIR FFACES…
Wow, way to make a complete ass of yourself. Just because they are performing a show about the Russian Revolution doesn't make them communists. That's like saying if I learn about communism in school i'm suddenly a communist.
MAYBE you need to understand the devaluing of American and the uprising of Communism in this country? COMMUNISM IS NOT SOMETHING YOU SHOULD BE LEARNING TO RESPECT BY THE COMMUNIST TEACHERS UNION… Don't try to bullshit me.. I grew up in CA in the 50's when all this started.. I KNOW THE HISTORY.. I KNOW COMMUNISM.. I KNOW WHAT THE MANIFESTO IS AND WHAT IT SAYS.. I ALSO KNOW THAT THE COMMUNISTS HAVE ALMOST COMPLETED THIER LIST FROM THE 60s… ONE THING ON THE LIST WAS TO DESTROY THE FAMILY… BY INJECTING HOMOSEXUALITY AND OTHER DEVIANT PRACTICES INTO THE AMERICAN TEENAGERS ''CHOICES''… EITHER THEY WOULD FALL FOR IT.. OR THEY WOULD DO IT AND FEEL THE SHAME.. IT ALL COUNTS FOR SATANS PURPOSES… I CAN GO ON FOR MANY DAYS.. ON THIS PARTICULAR SUBJECT IF YOU WOULD LIKE.
COMMUNISTS LOVE LITTLE ''USEFUL IDIOTS''.. THAT WOULD BE TEENAGERS… BECAUSE THEY ARE ALREADY THINKING THEY KNOW IT ALL.. AND THINK THEY ARE SMARTER THAN THEIR PARENTS. PLUS… JUST AS YOU RESPONDED… THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANT YOU TO DO…. CHIPPING AWAY AT YOUR PARENTS INFLUENCE IN YOUR LIFE.. YOUR WITHDRAWING FROM ''FAMILY ACTIVITIES.. AND CHURCH… IN COMMUNISM.. THERE IS NO GOD ALLOWED.. NO ONE TO TRUST AND MOST OF THE PARENTS WILL BE KILLED.. SO THE KIDS HAVE NO WHERE TO GO BUT TO COMMUNISM..
MORE?
Hi I am from Russia. I read a lot of comments on this site. Some I think are quite interesting and some quite aggressive. Well, quite nonsense to compare Nazism with Communism, who fought with him.My question to the visitors: what events of the Russian Revolution and its consequences you know more than the mythical million dead Russian? Out of curiosity, try to remember at least one positive fact? I note that the study of American history, literature and the social order of America in Russian schools is given a lot of time. In particular, in my personal library is the complete works of Philip Morin Freneau, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Theodore Dreiser, Samuel Langhorne Samuel Langhorne Clemens. And who of the Russian writers of Soviet times you've read?
Honestly this is ridiculous. First off the people that are offended obviously don't understand marching band and its field shows. If this is how they're going to react then we should just ban everything that isn't american like movies about historical events or books about historical events. Does every person that watches a movie about communism turn into a communist? Does every high school student who reads a text book about communism or act in a play that contains communism turn into a communist? Are you kidding me? Calm down. It's not that big of a deal and its being blown way out of proportion. It's a marching band show – emphasizing history and music.
After I read the communist manifesto, I suddenly became a communist.
Oh for heaven's sake people…have you ever ATTENDED a marching band competition? These students have spent MANY MANY hours learning a difficult piece of classical music that represents a story in another nation's history. This school system and band are well-respected in my county (my sons march in an adjoining school district band, but I have nothing but respect for New Oxford's band program). They are not glorifying some communist agenda! Get a golly darn life! This photo sensationalizes one small aspect that represents the REAL HISTORY that coincides with the piece of music. Your ignorance cheapens the hard work and dedication of these students and their instructors to learn about something from another culture. Watch the entire program and you will see they are NOT trying to indoctrinate anyone. You would do well to be open to a little culture yourselves.
Some people need to just step back and look at the bigger picture… unfortnately that does not make ratings!!!
By the way…before every competition all students and spectators stand respectfully while the National Anthem is played or sung. These PA farm kids understand REAL patriotism.
Kendal, why in the wide wide world of sports are you watching FOX?
I don't watch Fox…lol…but this is big news in Marching Band circles locally. Just defending freedom
Amen to that, I saw the article in the Evening Sun,unbelievable!
Bless you and your insight, Ms. Hopkins!!!!!
I agree…this is all about the wonderful kids performing
SUGGESTION: The Marching Band can honor the Russian culture or honor and the enduring spirit of the Russian people. It probably is doubtful that Shostakovich would even approve of this half time band 'memorial' performance after theTRAUMA experienced by this composer (as well as Russia) Let the kids have fun & learn. Celebrate perestroka under Gorbachev that changed the meaning of economic and religious freedom for the people of the USSR. Celebrate 25 December 1991, when the USSR was dissolved into 15 post-Soviet states: Russian Federation. http://www.classical.net/music/comp.lst/shostakovich.php
this whole topic got out of proportion. New Oxford is a great school and just because one parent decided to be negative the whole school is? Fox acts like all of our kids and staff are corrupted because of this. New Oxford did nothing wrong at all! And Steve Langstroth, you say we are stupid or ignorant, why don't you look in the mirror. you all are acting ignorant and just agreeing with one parent who just wanted to look negative at a situation. before you all get your panties in a bunch get to know what is truely going on. Personally myself, I don't watch the news because half of it IS blow out of proportion. Don't worry OX we will always stand together! ♥
That's a really dumb reason to be angry? And the comment made about how "I'm sure the millions of people that died under communism wouldn't want it celebrated" well thats like saying lets not remember 9/11 because soldiers died in the war on terror? Flawed logic
I imagine the design staff is having a good laugh courtesy the free publicity their band is getting from Fox. I also love how there's no VIDEO of the show that we can watch attached to the article, so we can make up our own minds as to what is being portrayed. You GO NEW OXFORD HIGH SCHOOL, maintain freedom of speech and expression, just like Fox is trying to do at your expense.
I imagine the design staff is having a good laugh courtesy the free publicity their band is getting from Fox. I also love how there's no VIDEO of the show that we can watch attached to the article, so we can make up our own minds as to what is being portrayed. You GO NEW OXFORD HIGH SCHOOL, maintain freedom of speech and expression, just like Fox is trying to do at your expense.
People get over yourselves! We have become hyper sensitive to everything. Boo hoo I'm offended so lets make a huge deal out of it and start throwing around big political words. Lets tell our kids to once again burry their heads in the sand regarding history, it never happened. It was music showcasing composer Dimitri Shostakovich and the struggles of the people of the revolution. One ridiculous parent gets offended. These kids worked their asses off and won the Cavalcade of Bands Association Inc. with the very same performance. THIS COUNTRY IS GOING TO HELL IN A POLITICALLY CORRECT HANDBAG.
“It would be tantamount to celebrating the music of 1935 Berlin,” the parent said. “If I was Lithuanian, Estonian, or Ukrainian, I’d be a little hot. I’d be really hot. It’s insulting to glorify something that doesn’t need to be glorified in America.”.
To the parent who said this – are you Lithuanian, Estonian, or Ukrainian? If not, you're asking to censor somebody based on a *potential* outrage of a constituency that's not even your own. This is the exact same tactic that atheists use when trying to shut out public prayer because a constituency is *potentially* offended.
Since when was anybody celebrating it.
I know exactly where this town is I grew up not far away. This is a marching band show. They are exhibiting their artistic talent in representing this music. Nothing offensive about. You find it offensive then don't watch.
The teachers and leaders of our children are just teaching them the values they learned in college. Parents had better inculcate some patriotic and democratic values in their children at home. They sure don't get it at school.
this insinuates that patriotic and democratic values were not taught to this band teacher growing up. which would math out to mean many parents today are incapable of instilling such values that. they have yet to learn themselves.
About six months ago, I sat down with my kids in my library and we read the Bill of Rights together. Every 4th of July we read the Declaration of Independence and I remember in 6th grade each of them went through the entire Constitution. I have one Eagle Scout and one completed Cub Scout. We are really the one percent.
Maybe I'm completely wrong here – and I very well could be – but I feel as though the band's intent was not to promote or celebrate communism in any way, but used as a means to share a piece of history through one of the most interesting mediums out there: music. I was not around to see the suffering that it brought to the world, but I understand that one must have a healthy respect and fear for history so that the same mistakes are not made by future generations. Why is it wrong to allow us to remember those events; good or bad. To forget history is just as ignorant as to be constantly reminded of it. The use of music really strikes a balance here. In my opinion, there is absolutely nothing wrong with their show – the problems are merely fabricated by the sensitive – and I applaud them for their work.
You are not wrong in feeling that way, it is exactly what they did. They simply depicted the event of the Russian Revolution through music and physical descriptors like props, outfits, and formations. It isn't really as much teaching a history lesson, as it is expressing yet another set of musical pieces that should not be ignored at this day and age. It is simply a shame that people cannot see this and choose to continually berate it solely on their opinion that spporting communism is wrong…which has no connection to what the band is doing at all.
I've always found it extremely curious as to why Nazism is vilified as the absolute worst tyranny the world has ever seen, but Marxism is something that is ok? What's ok about it? So murdering 100 million people is ok? I really don't know how socialism in general is not being seen in the same light as radical Islam or Nazism, or any other extreme ideology that has lead to extreme suffering.
This makes me sick to think that other people believe that we are celebrating communism and the russian revolution, that is NOT what we are doing, we are remembering the music in that era such as other eras in history. who ever reported this was not being accurrate (as usual) and blew it out of proportion.
Sadly, that is what is to be expected from Fox News. The network consists of having many biased articles and even news reels on television.
Good Lord, this is what happens when our schools stop teaching history. I'll bet Tsar Nicholas and his family wouldn't find this time period so "celebrated"…
Should we just pretend that this brilliant music didn't come out of this time period? The history and the music are inextricably intertwined. Did you even see the show? It is not necessary to approve of something in order to believe its history should be preserved.
No, anymore than we would deny composers such as Orff or R. Strauss were a part of WWll. But could you imagine the outcry if that Pennsylvania High school came out on to the field in SS uniforms, holding swastikas and the Iron cross?. Both periods in time were bloody massacres of millions of people, and shouldn't be "celebrated" in any way. An orchestra performing music of the era is different. In that venue, you are simply listening to the music of a particular composer, not parading around holding a hammer and sickle, that following the 1917 Revolution came to be the symbol of Communism.
I'm guessing you didn't see the show.
No, I'm commenting simply on what I've read in this article…
No, I'm commenting simply on what I've read in this article…
So… do you just generally object to high school musicians portraying the music in its historical context?
No, I just believe they could have celebrated the music, but perhaps left out the communist angle….
So it's 'okay' to glorify and celebrate the horrible fate of millions of people under early 1900's Communism at half time and call it a 'history' lesson, but Heaven forbid one of those athletes takes a 'Tebow' in the end zone during the game.
Baloney. Nobody even blinks if a kid wants to kneel and pray in the end zone. However, I seriously doubt a hearty "Allah o Akbar!" chant would be tolerated.
Just sayin'…
Saying what? You haven't even seen the show, and you're casting judgment and making false connections. Grow up.
Saying what? You haven't even seen the show, and you're casting judgment and making false connections. Grow up.
Hows this, I'd rather not see a celebration of a bygone era in which a political agenda ended the lives of nearly 100 million people from the early 1900's to the late 1900's. I'd REALLY rather not see it celebrated in the form of song and dance on a football field here in America during a halftime ceremony. ' Making false connections'? 'Grow up?' I'd expect a bit more respect for someone else's opinion, but since we're keeping at a 7th grade intellect, fuck off beeeeyotch!
Pardon me, Fran. I thought sharing one's opinion was still possible in this country we live in. As for your 'grow up' comment, aren't you making a false connection and casting judgement upon me in response to my opinion? While you haven't stated your opinion, instead you chose to stay out of the ring and throw rocks from the cheap seats. My opinion may be wrong, but I have the fortitude to share it and still respect others who disagree with it. What's your opinion of this communist 'quasi-indoctrination' that these children were subjected to at the whim of their director, knowing all the while if they refused to participate they could be kicked out of the band, possibly receive a low grade, or worse? What's next for this high school's halftime band show, dress up in Chinese red army garb and march to their nat'l anthem? Perhaps an anthem for Che' Guevera and his plight? Or a tribute to Saul Alinsky just for kicks?
You didn't share your opinion, just your sarcastic, untrue version of the facts. There is no fortitude required to cast aspersions on a high school teacher and band program. Your version of their the participation policy is entirely imagined, as is your screechy, apocalyptic view of "what's next." I've shared my opinion with thoughtful adults on the subject.
I lived in New Oxford for 21 years – raised two children there. It's a small/quaint town (2 traffic lights) – and loaded with conservative values. My son was in the band and my daughter was a cheerleader. In fact, my daughter and her friends started a Christian club in the 8th grade and I also heard many public prayers at school events – including graduations. Teachers and students discussed a lot of things in class – openly and without fear – such as faith, tolerance, and respect for others. Marching band is all about putting on a show and maybe you don't agree with their choice but I can assure you it was about the music, and nothing else – no hidden agenda or political motives. Just kids putting on a show that matched their choice of music. Maybe not your first choice or my first choice but hey, this isn't about us. What if your child wrote an essay about the Communist Revolution and it was awarded first place then published in a national newspaper with a hammer and sickle as the cover art. Then some paranoid, ignorant, and very narrow-minded parent decides your child's essay is offensive so Fox News must be notified because that's where narrow-minded people go to complain about such things. People are so hyped up about a non-existent communist threat that we are about two goose-steps away from living in a fascist nation. There. I said it – a lot of Fox commentators sound just like fascists. Zero tolerance for anyone who seems "different" and a desire to control everything and everyone – what they do/create/say and even what they dare to think. "Oh, but we're just concerned about what young people are being exposed to in school" and then you get on message boards like this one and spew forth the most hate-laced rhetoric I've come across in my life – against children, no less… in a marching band… seriously? Don't you have bigger and better things to do with your time?
This is another story of thoughtless outrage that will bring more misfortune to an already underfunded, worthwhile activity (marching band). Shame on you, Todd Starnes. Those kids don't need the hassles you just brought down on them.
Oh my god so suddenly because we make a marching show based on the Russian revolution through a school activity us butthurt Americans have to flip because of it. You guys are overreacting and I can just feel my IQ dropping. I don't think in anyway they were supporting the idea and were merely showing that it was a part of that time period. Don't take FOX news seriously. These idiots love to exaggerate things out of proportion. And in no fucking way were they celebrating it. I honestly feel like they were actually exploiting it.
There are so many things that are wrong with this article, and the comments that have followed it.
1. Fox news is notorious for being a heavily biased news source, and they definitely continued to prove it here. If anyone actually took the time to step back and read the article from an unbiased approach, they would notice that this has been written in a manner that has made the event seem much worse than it truly is. Just by looking at the background of the editor you will notice that he covers the "far right side," so imagine what the article might be with a left winger, or even someone who writes in an unbiased manner.
2. Most of what the commenters are saying is how bad the school is, and how the teacher should be fired. I have even read threats to the school with, "bury 20 freshmen" and other things. Where is the basis behind any of these comments? Almost none of these people have seen the show, or even heard of our town. How can you input any fabric of truth into your argument when you have no knowledge to support it with? The majority of these people have no idea what they are talking about, simply because they actually have no idea what they are talking about. They state that it is absurd for our school to support communism, but who said we were doing that? What our marching band is doing is depicting the Russian Revolution of 1917 through music, props, outfits, and formations on the field. They are not in any way, shape, or form, celebrating communism. The show includes music from the era, and "fighting" scenes that represent what the country struggled through. Although the show includes the hammer and sickle which does represent communism, it is a vital piece to the show. The hammer and sickle is used to more accurately show that the communist party was largely, the most important party of the revolution. So there is nothing in the show that should be scrutinized for supporting communism.
3. I believe the reason why most people are posting their ignorant comments is because they see the hammer and sickle and immediately think about all of the people that have died behind the symbol itself. The only problem with that logic is that the symbol was created during the Russian Revolution, where the country was suffering from severe depression and the majority of the country was upset with the government. Ultimately, the party that came out on top of the power struggle was the communist party, who did take on the logo of the hammer and sickle. Since then, the ECONOMIC SYSTEM *communism* has taken the blame for mass murders, and severely oppressing any country that uses this system. Communism is simply a system in which the government controls all of the economic decisions and it also means that all property is divided evenly among every member. So as you can see, the picture that public has of communism is completely different from the actual meaning of communism.
4. The most important and ultimately, the most disturbing part of this whole ordeal is that people are threatening, bashing, and putting teenagers down for a marching band show. What does it really matter to all but maybe.00001% *exaggeration* of the country, let alone the entire world? The school is doing a show just like it does every year, and this year it happened to be about the 1917 Russian Revolution. It just shocks me that so many people decide to not only have such a strong OPINION about this, and also post it on a biased article, but to also THREATEN the kids, the teacher, and the school? There is no reason for doing it, it's as simple as that. People forget that when they get on the internet and post these kinds of things that they are actually threatening or putting down REAL people, and these people have feelings, and are legitimately insulted/harassed. Even if it is your opinion that they were in the wrong to show symbols of an economic system, and that they should not have depicted such a violent era, why would you put it out for the world to know when it has such a harming and hurtful meaning that is directed towards other people?
I am sorry to all of those that have been insulted, and threatened from this ordeal, and I thank all of the supporters of the marching band for simply doing another show this year….And for all of those that oppose the theme, the kids, the teacher, the school, or even the town, leave your opinions in your head, because there is no reason to put them out on the internet when all they are intending to do is hurt others.
I live near this school and I can only say THANK GOD my daughter went to Delone!
This is what you get when liberal college professors have had years and years of pushing their idiotic closed minded socialistic agendas onto thier students who then become teachers. No wonder home schooling has continually been on the rise over the last 10 years, or so.
I live near this school and I can only say THANK GOD my daughter went to Delone!
These comments remind me of the dark ages. They're funny to watch, I feel sorry for the parties involved, and I'm glad I wasn't part of it.
From a music history standpoint, Shostakovich wrote nationalist music to mock and rebel against the government. He found unique ways of snubbing his nose at Stalin without being found out. He is a musical genius and responsible for some of the greatest works of the 20th century. Mortar and sickle may have been a bit much, but for musical reasons, this show should stand.
What are we doing in this country if we can't teach kids about a dark period of time without fear of being castigated nationally? As a music teacher, am I not allowed to teach kids about Wagner since he was a student of Nietzsche and a favorite of Hitler? He was a bad guy and a complete anti-Semite, but he wrote some of the most profound and earth-changing music of all time. I will teach Wagner for his musical contributions, but it in no way means I support his philosophy. Likewise, Strauss was a favorite of the Nazi party because of his indifferent style with the regime. He didn't support Hitler, but he certainly didn't go out of his way to condemn his actions. He also wrote Don Juan, Ein Heldenleben, Salome and Elektra: some of the greatest music of the 20th century. I will teach him also.
BTW-I know this band director personally. He is a wonderful teacher who inspires kids every day with music. To even imply on Fox News that he would intentionally choose a theme like this to prove some type of political point is absurd. If he wanted to do that, he should have chosen some hick country music to represent all the hick Tea Party members.
http://holocaustmusic.ort.org/politics-and-propaganda/third-reich/reichskulturkammer/strauss-richard/
Ignorance…
An interesting read on Strauss
If this had been a play written by Anton Chekhov and produced by the drama dept., I wonder what the media attention would be.
This is just another Koch brothers-funded strategy to destroy the public schools.
James, the media would be very interested in a play written by a member of Star Trek TOS. Of course this is on FoxNews…a network that relies on its viewers being so lazy ass stupid that they will never, and I mean never, seek out the facts on their own. The band director must be an Obama supporter, since Obama is a communist from Kenya.
I'm looking forward to seeing the show. Not because of the ill-perceived attention it has received, but because the New Oxford shows are always a quality production with great music and artistry. That's what it is all about (not a celebration of Russia's dark history). I am positive this year's show is no different.
Dan: I have posted his before. However, these threads are hard to follow.
My objection to this production is the scope of this theme is ill-conceived and too large. Hense, the negative reaction to this performance! I frankly doubt that any marching band production could adequately present the TRAUMA experienced by this composer (as well as Russia) accurately in a HALF-TIME band performance. Or for that matter, if Shostakovich would even approve of this 'memorial':
[Excerpt] "Russia's new Leninist government recognized Shostakovich as a VALUABLE POLITICAL TOOL.
During the 1920s, the Soviet cultural bureau was eager to set new trends and provided him with commissions for the concert hall and stage. By the early 1930s, however, Shostakovich's avant-grade forms, brash harmonies, and sarcastic idioms brought him into disfavor with the regime then headed by STALIN. Although popular amongst Russian audiences, he was forced to suppress new works an
d remove others from the active repertoire.
For the remainder of his life, Shostakovich bore the weight of a hypocritical order that threatened to destroy his life while at the same time decorating him with awards and promoting him abroad as the Revolution's musical prodigy. As he grew increasingly famous worldwide, the physical and mental strains he suffered were great.
Shostakovich's support for Leninism, if leading biographies are accurate, had already dwindled while in childhood. He witnessed the BLOODSHED of the 1917 REVOLUTION first-hand, was malnourished in its succeeding years, and worked exhausting hours as a silent movie pianist after school to help family ends meet in the post-Revolutionary economy. His father had died in 1922 and the once comfortable Shostakovich family thereafter struggled in Russia's new social order." http://www.classical.net/music/comp.lst/shostakovich.php
Let the band the Celebrate perestroka under Gorbachev that changed the meaning of economic and religious freedom for the people of the USSR. Celebrate 25 December 1991, when the USSR was dissolved into 15 post-Soviet states: Russian Federation.
good guys
Is freedom in the U.S. – is the freedom to be just a liberal and capitalist? But it's your life and your country. Just do not hurt children, and teachers do not burn. ^_^
Can you imagine if they celebrated Christianity with all of the deaths they're responsible for? I mean…that would be crazy! It's a shame that the story doesn't mention the music at all. It was probably some music by Shostakovich. I bet the students learned a lot of interesting FACTS in class about the era and how scary it was for artists like Shostakovich and Prokofiev to live under the Soviet flag. By the way, I wouldn't mind a marching band show about Christianity either. There's so much great music for kids to play there, too.