Image source: ACESHOWBIZ


BY NICHOLE CARTMELL

 

It is hard to imagine controversy surrounding the music chosen to be used at a kindergarten graduation ceremony.  But in Brooklyn, New York that’s what happened.   WPIX has the story .

“The schools been in the headlines following the principal's decision to scrap the song by Lee Greenwood because she thought was offensive to some cultures and religions.”


Greenwood scrapped.  Then Justin Bieber’s hit song “Baby” was chosen to take its place until principal Greta Hawkins had a change in heart and scrapped it too. WTVT says the controversy has surprise … surprise … politicians coming to the rescue.

“As of now, it is not back in the program. But that could change because of public pressure... Several New York City leaders have started campaigns to have the kids sing the song.”

The kindergarten graduation is set for June 20th.  No word yet on what songs the kids will sing. MSNBC states partisan politics are obviously at play here, but offers what they call a bipartisan solution for the school.

“The way to solve this is a mash-up of the two which I'm sure, now viewers, there are talented folks out there, "god bless america"/"baby" mash-up. Thats the solution. You know what that is, that’s bridging the divide.”

But this isn't the first time the principal’s actions have been scrutinized. According to a New York Post editorial ...

“She was officially reprimanded by DOE in 2010 after teachers complained she called the school ‘racist’ and declared: ‘I’m black. Your previous principal was white and Jewish. More of us are coming.’ Obviously, she wasn’t worried about offending other cultures then.”

Hawkins has also become a victim of racist hate mail since the incident. The Daily Mail reports she has received three abusive letters. One letter read...

“Let’s hope that AIDS will do what sickle cell anemia failed to do, exterminate your whole simian race.”

The NYPD hate-crime task force has began a full investigation regarding the anonymous letters.