It may have been one of the most jaw-dropping, unpatriotic things ever seen. Some 50 students from Waynesville Middle School in western North Carolina were at the Sept. 11 memorial Wednesday and had just started singing “The Star-Spangled Banner,” when a guard ordered them to stop.
Sept. 11 memorial officials say groups wishing to perform on the crowded plaza are supposed to pay $35 to apply for a permit and obey a list of rules, such as no amplified sound and no interfering with the flow of traffic.
Teacher Martha Brown said Monday that a different security guard had given the OK for her students to sing. But the second guard said, “You just can’t do this. You’ve got to stop now,” Brown said. “So we very reverently and quietly stopped what we were doing and complied with his request and quietly exited the park.”
Video of the incident, seen below, has sparked outrage and led to an invitation for the students to sing the anthem live on Fox News. Brown and Principal Trevor Putnam joined the students for their performance at the school Monday.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztPYxrhq864
Officials at the Sept. 11 memorial said Monday that their security guards shouldn’t have stopped the choir from singing the national anthem on the memorial plaza.
“The guard did not respond appropriately,” said the spokeswoman, Kaylee Skaar. “We are working with our security staff to ensure that this does not happen again with future student performances.”
Brown said her students learned from the experience. “We turned it into a teaching moment and taught them that even if you don’t agree with it, or understand it, you must respect authority,” she said.
Putnam echoed the sentiment.
“The lesson learned here is always to respect authority,” the principal said in a telephone interview. “And I’m so proud of our kids for conducting themselves the way they did.”
Crystal Mulvey, a parent who accompanied her daughter on the school trip, said she was shocked that the guard interrupted the national anthem because “it’s kind of a sacred song to us.”
Striking a balance between remembering those killed by terrorists and rebuilding a bustling commercial district has been a challenge ever since the twin towers were toppled in 2001. Tourists paying their respect to the dead now share the memorial plaza with neighborhood residents and office workers from the new World Trade Center towers lunching under the trees.
Visitors to the memorial had mixed feelings about the rules.
“To me, the children’s singing was in remembrance of people who had a soul. It was reverence for their lives so they’re not forgotten,” said Gwendolyn Tucker, herself a security guard from Los Angeles. But, she added, “the guards have to keep it orderly.”
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
Then you see southerners sometimes acting like they have some sort of monopoly on patriotism. In recent years I’ve seen these sort of things in the news from Tennessee, Alabama and even Texas. My point is, that the politically correct and anti- patriotism folks are in every corner of this land.
It’s a good thing that I wasn’t there; or one idiot guard would no longer exist. Civil War is soon coming.
THE SOB GARD MUST BE FIRED NOW AND NEWER HAVE A JOB STARVE HIM TO DEAD,
That idiot was hired by Barry “The Ass” Soetoro-Obama. The monkey should swing from a tree, by his rotten, lying neck.
That was my FIRST THOUGHT….
What adick assenine bullshit guard, your correct. I will do that with Our Flag on my Shoulder. So there is no mistake, My name is Victor de Thouars, upholding my constitution rights as the students have.
To our people of the USA. Lets not let these traitors of our country go unpunished. The person who stopped this needs to go to jail.!!!!!!! This unconstitutional regime needs to be put in the place. And it is us who needs to stand up and fight this from every angle that we can think of. They are trying their ugly best to beat us down to submission. What we saw in Egypt a few years ago is happening here on our own land. They can’t stand us having the freedom that we have. And we all know who has been operating this ugly change that they want to happen. They so much want us to riot. We need to rebel from every way we can BUT WE CAN’T HAVE A RIOT. HE A WANTS US TO RIOT. HE WANTS TO PUT US IN HIS CONTROL TOTALLY. REMOVE OUR CONSTITUTION AND CALL MARSHAL LAW. AND STAY IN OFFICE. I HOPE EVERYONE CAN NOW SEE WHAT HE IS UP TOO. HE IS A DICTATOR AND A TYRANT. WE MUST KEEP OUR HEADS TO STALL ANY PART OF HIS PLAN. HE WANTS US TO LIVE UNDER A ROCK, HIS ROCK SO THE BROTHERHOOD TAKES OVER OUR COUNTRY. WE ARE IN A FIGHT FOR OUR FREEDOM. GOD BLESS AMERICA AND HELP US TO RECOVER OUR FREEDOM,!!!
No need to worry so much. All we need to do is make Shithead Obama DEAD.
Where is a good sniper when you need one?
Thanks for those good and true words!
Amen
Amen Robert, I’m with you all the way, Most of those liberals have never serve a day in the military or been a war zone with bullets flying by their head, or they would have a different outlook
Agreed. !! We have to stand united against anything that tears apart American freedoms with respect to patriotism religion race gender we all have the same homeland and must defend it together. When it comes to such things it’s good verses bad patriots verses traitors love verses hate. We Americans divided so much by our enemies can find common ground with patriotism freedom loving Americans against anyone who wishes to destroy our home land and way of life. The Trojan horse if here we must destroy it before it’s to late!
Amen! That, no common-sense, $hit for brains, security guard should be fired forthwith! Of course the obamanation will probably offer him a job at the WH!!
the teachers stating that it was a learning experience of always obeying was wrong. If the founding fathers had taken that attitude we would never have had our country. One other thing to remember is every person signing the Declaration of Independence and leading up to the Constitution was a criminal in the eyes of the prevailing form of government at the time. They are now revered as our founding fathers. Thus history can change how the world looks upon your actions. OH and recall from history one general in the Continental Army and then tried to follow the British (the law at the time was British Monarch Rule) was Benedict Arnold. Everyone have a great day.
I also believe , due to the conduct of our current administration , both current , and over the past 7 years , that unfortunately , Civil Unrest is just around the corner. Obama will achieve his goal of destroying this nation. The day it begins, he has won. I do hope , in the malay , confusion , and smoke , at least some , if not ALL of the politicians that have turned their backs on the Constitution, and the American citizens , will pay the price for their, weakness, cowardice, and treason. I personally do NOT wish any of them personal harm. I am talking about THEIR family members, close friends etc.. They need to live with the consequences of their actions. This is the worst Administration we have had post WW2. Who would have EVER thought , America would allow foreigners to enter our country, legally vote for our politicians , and demand to be supported without working OR becoming a legal citizen. It has happened , it is NOW. Yes , everything stated can be verified. This is NOT baseless chatter. American citizens are being pushed into a corner. God has been removed from anything public, yet allah is taught to our children in schools, Sharia is the accepted law in certain areas, races are divided by government,,,I am an old man and can not actively fight from what will be ” a front line”……..I hope , I see America stand for Liberty and Freedom once again , yet I believe those are days of yesterday………Keep your powder dry and your boots close………the day they will be needed, IS around the corner. Be Blesses in the name of God , and stay safe……
MORONS, MORONS EVERYWHERE and Most of them WORK for some part of GOVERNMENT…CITY.. State and Federal…( and some are even ELECTED)
I sincerely hope Obama, and his dumb assed staff, is reading your comment. Very good brother !
they get elected and accomplish nothing in the past 7 ears Obama has done nothing but take trips create illegal laws and get paid big bucks ,put people out of work and create trouble all over the world most tax payers are sick and tired of this crap congress has created this monster and made it worse because they do nothing to stop him
That was my FIRST THOUGHT….
What bothers me also is that the teacher told the students that this was a lesson, that you submit to “authority” when you know they are wrong and are violating your rights. The lesson should be to pursue the issue and get it corrected, not blindly comply.
this is absolutely disgusting the teacher should have been told there was a fee for things first because if this was known first none of this would have happened the first guard should have told the teacher before the children started singing it is possible that these children will have a negative opinion of our nations memorials and other places of interest this will definitely leave a bad taste in their mouths and will destroy their opinion about these things especially a thing like this chances are the teacher assumed that because it is a public place mostly open to every citizen and the students had a right to be there with no charge
You are wrong and the teacher is right this was a very teachable moment about respecting authority even if you disagree with it. This is the problem with young black men, they have no respect for lawful authority and consequently get hurt by lawful authority for not just disobeying but actually physically confronting the authority.
The guard was definitely wrong, but he was the authority in place.
Jerry-
i believe it is YOU who are in error, and so was the leader of that group; “respecting authority” is only valid when the alleged “authority” is acting Constitutionally; the “teachable moment” should have come when the children were encouraged to continue, and the guard confronted with the possibility of having to arrest them ALL.
And here’s proof:
“The right to defy an unconstitutional statute is basic in our scheme. Even when an ordinance requires a permit to make a speech, to deliver a sermon, to picket, to parade, or to assemble, it need not be honored when it’s invalid on its face.”
— Justice Potter Stewart(1915-1985), U. S. Supreme Court Justice
Source: Walker v. Birmingham, 1967
But in truth, that’s the “underlying assumption” in ALL government-run schools, that is “Obey Authority.” That nonsense has gotten Americans where they are right now; dumbed-down debt slaves to a government that doesn’t care about them at all. At All. AT ALL!!
Bravo: That is the correct lesson you have mentioned.
It’s not just southerners, it’s the dumb cops everywhere. The kids were almost finished singing the National Anthem, it really would have hurt to let them finish. Good Lord use your heads cops.
What can you expect from this ridiculous “Politically Correct” society created by the most anti American president in the American History Barack Hussein Obama, the enemy # 1 of this country.
I have scrolled down and read a lot of these comments. Go to facebook and search for “ameriKa”. It is a made for T.V. mini-series filmed in the mid 1980’s. This mini-series will shed a lot of light on what is happening in this country right now.
I don’t believe this was a ‘mistake’ by the security. They just started copping deuces after the adverse publicity. All future tourists should be aware of this. And am I not correct that entering this area requires a fee? Hit them in their pocketbook. Don’t pay to visit the site.
he followed “ORDERS” and LOOK who is the IDIOT..MAYOR..
I feel sure the guard was simply following his orders for the day but now will be made out to be the one who caused the problem since he is “expendable.” All police departments face this same problem, there is a saying among most P.D.’s that “Our worst enemy is the city political group in power and that doesn’t matter whither it’s a democratic or Republican organization. Their attitude is, “Protect the city at all costs, Officers (good or bad) are ALL expendable!”
You can sing this in America in any Public Places, This has got to be a Deblasio or Obama thing
Agreed !
What about the 1st amendment???…they should have kept on singing at the top of their lil lungs!!!
Exactly!!
The guard should of went to pee while the children sang.This is a American song,not a Trump rally.
And if it were a Trump rally, would it be illegal then? I suppose its alright with you if it were a Hillary rally. Right? Double standards are what that guard was into. I’d bet ya. I would that the “Rent A Cop” would be defrocked publically. Stripped of his uniform right down to the bare skin. One of our problems is the idea that we have to respect all authority with submission. Bad idea. look what happened to the people of Germany. However if folks rioted that might just be the excuse Obama would need to declare “Martial Law.”
Martial Law is what he is pushing for , in my opinion. Once he has a reason to declare, THIS country stops. The elections , the economy , everything. THEN he can start to impose ALL those Executive Orders he has been putting in place. FIRST thing he will do is instantly “seize” every personal bank account in this country ( he gave himself the power to do that , through an EO ). HE can seize every asset you have within an hour , and YOU will have no recourse. Then he controls everything , YOU will not have money to buy anything. HE will then have the authority to “move the citizens to a location of the governments choosing” ( yep, another EO, and its in the obamacare package)…This is why he is a “loose cannon” so to speak, right now..He has put his things in order while everyone was distracted with “other” disasters the government intentionally created as a diversion. He will do as he wants without interference. It is to late for impeachment. He will contest and delay and finish his term. That should have been years ago , but our politicians are afraid of him and his “backers”. He would have played the race card or the religious card , and THAT knowledge scared everyone with the authority to stop him. Look where we are now. As long as there is air in his lungs , he will continue his march of destruction. HE is counting on Hillary to continue what he has started, and she will make him look like an amateur. This is why Obama is , and has been protecting Hillary from ALL of the investigations going on against her..and she stands in front of America with her store bought smile , spewing lies of innocence and false promises of a better tomorrow , while waiting….waiting ….waiting for her opportunity to ” control HER country “…..May God Bless you and your families and keep you safe……….Keep your boots close and your powder dry………
Vikki-
Absolutely correct! Their First Amendment Right to freely assemble AND freely speak(or sing) were both violated, and that guard – as well as the idiot who gave them their “ordahs” – should face a civil rights violation lawsuit.
They won’t, but they should. i cited this just a couple of posts above, but i’ll post it again because it needs to be read, understood, and APPLIED against ALL pretended “authority”:
“The right to defy an unconstitutional statute is basic in our scheme. Even when an ordinance requires a permit to make a speech, to deliver a sermon, to picket, to parade, or to assemble, it need not be honored when it’s invalid on its face.”
— Justice Potter Stewart(1915-1985), U. S. Supreme Court Justice
Source: Walker v. Birmingham, 1967
I think whoever made that stupid decision needs to make a public apology to members of the school choir and to all those they offended with their illegal action. We are expecting “I’m sorry” apology ASAP.
Yes we are!!
They should also have to pay for the students to return and sing
There is more than a mere apology in order. Whoever gave that order needs to join in with those whom they told to shut up and sing the National Anthem loud enough to hear it clearly for at least the distance across two football stadia (stadiums), in the Name of the Master Yahushua (Lord Jesus) who gave us this land in the first place, omein.
Sorry to see this disrespect for our National Anthem. I wish that the person who stopped the ceremony explain his authority to do so. Was this one persons opinion or was it a legal fact that the Park officials will not allow any patriotic demonstrations at Memorial services that do not meet its standards whatever they are. This sad circumstances does not even meet the standards of Political Correctness. It seems more like the censorship of Nazi Germany or the heavy handiness of the Soviet Union. If singing or hearing this beloved song does not bring tears or at least a warm feeling in ones bosom America has a lot of soul searching to do. God Bless America and may freedom ring always. Trenton Spears
God bless America…United we stand.
I truly hope there comes a time when it is NOT POLITICALLY CORRECT TO BE POLITICALLY CORRECT. Americans [the majority of] are growing increasingly sick & tired of the liberal garbage we are being bombarded with everyday, there will be a day of reckoning, & it won’t be a lot of fun.
First singing happens in grave yards not considered disrespectful . Singing happens at all sorts of state & national memorials not considered dishonorable or disrespectful . For singing patriotic and/or religious songs at places where the dead lie or memorialized is if nothing else traditional in human history in all nations including the USA .
These guards need to be suspended without pay and moved from this spot. This spot belongs to all Americans and paying respect to those fallen on 9/11 especially should be embraced. I seriously can not comprehend how this guard could stop this song. Please get those security guards off the site now!! Those children did what they were told and showed respect. This guard definitely did not show respect to those children, American people, or the site itself. Out raged – yes I am. This is another incident taking away our freedom of speech. Government needs to wake up and hear Americans, as we are very tired of “being treaded upon”.
Every comment, Thank you for your words. This country in the last 7 1/2 yrs have really changed to be dictatorship. Wake up America. This is the Land of the FREE. ” GOD BLESS AMERICA. & IN GOD WE TRUST. ” The CROOKS are trying to take this country & turn it in to a ONE WORLD GOVERNMENT. STAND UP AMERICA DON’T LET THEM.
UNITED WE STAND!!! No way in HELL will we let them take our Country!! THEY CAN TAKE THEIR ONE WORLD GOVERNMENT AND SHOVE IT UP WHERE THE SUN DON’T SHINE!!!! These sick people will NOT succeed!!! OBAMA and his corrupt administration will go down in flames!!! VOTE TRUMP2016!!!! He’s our Godsend and our LAST hope.
The security guard is anti-American and should not be working at a public school that gets funding from our government.He should be fired with no questions asked.
If they had started chanting alahu akbar nothing would have been said.
Wake up America! You have a chance of a lifetime to get your country back and if you don’t take this chance it will never happen again! The powers that be will make sure of it! TRUMP 2016! http://donaldtrumpisjohngalt.com
I agree with every comment that I seen on here,God bless everyone of you and thank you for still loving this Country and standing up for what is truly right
The kids were not disorderly. I see their hearts. I know the motivation behind their voices. Muslims would smile about them being stopped. They must make Muslims sad. Don’t stop them again.
Had he sang the Muslim anthem or an ISIS anthem they would have let the singer go and put it on National News for being so great!! This is rediculous and the decision maker should be tarred and feathered and rode out of town on a rail!!!
Cruz was right about New York
The Muslim mentality is polar opposite to us and others. When others are sad Muslims are happy. When others are happy Muslims are sad.
A security guard, who hired that company, and who gave them there orders, and what were those orders. Look, not wanting to start on these people, but who gave those orders, and then, lets move up the “food chain” the National anthem, hell, people from countries all over the world know that song and I have seen people who speak no English stop and come to attention when they hear OUR song, but we have two security guards stopping the singing of the song……..excuse me but just what the hell is or has happened to this country in the past (8) yrs?.
Give a moron power…and he will abuse it.
We The People must rise…stand and be counted…and let the “politically incorrect” leftist/socialist/communist/progressive/totalitarians know that this (Anti-American BS) will not be tolerated.
If Damnation is their desire: then damn the anarchists, damn the satanists, and damn the totalitarian worshipers.
All of your coments were great , the only thing that will turn this country around is for all of us to get on our KNEES AND PRAY ASK GOD TO FORGIVE US OUR SINS . AND HE WILL ANSWER FROM HEAVEN AND HEAL OUR LAND!!! NO MAN , WILL BE ABLE TO TURN THIS NATION AROUND !! ,,, NO , ….PRESIDENT, ,!!! …WE NEED TO PUT PRAYER BACK IN OUR SCHOOLS, AND STOP THE ABBORTION , AND PRAY THE BLOOD OF JESUS OVER OUR WHITE HOUSE, ……….THE GOVERNMENT ..AND …….THE PEOPLE ARE ..BRINGING GODS … JUDGMENT ON OUR LAND , THE USA!! MAY GOD BLESS ALL OF US!!AND THE USA!!
First, FIRE the Security Guard!
Second, Sue him in court for violation of 1st Amendment Rights of Free Speech!
Which one of you Lawyers out there will do it Pro Bono?????
Look at that communist pig bet he does not even know what a veteran is
In all my 80 years, this has to be the most outrageous slap in the face for America children I have ever seen. God has finally given us a man who loves our country and wants to give us back our real America. Ask yourself, what will you say to your kids or grandkids the day they look you in the eyes and ask why we let this happen? Are you going to say ” well, we had a chance to change things in 2016, but we were just too lazy and scared to get behind the only man who could have changed things, so you will just have to live with what we have done to you and you’re new America”. I don’t know about you, but I’m giving Trump my vote, because he wants to change the corruption and graft in Washington, and God knows he can’t do worse than what we have now or the other choice’s, that will be more business as usual. We are at the bottom of the sewer, and we either climb out or dig dipper into the S***.
Most security guards/cop wana be are not very bright and lack common sense. Their job is doing nothing while waiting for something to happen then not having any authority to act. When they decide to act, they usually look like an idiot who’s job is to sit in a chair all day with no more accountability but to be in that chair. Wait, I just described a Walmart greeter no, a Walmart greeter is brighter than this idiot.
Why is it that political correctness only applies to things traditionally American. Americans better stand up and shout to be heard, and we speak loudest when we vote. Run these people who want to “change” our country to be their way the hell out.
This country is so morally bankrupt and sick. It is not worth defending anymore.
I urge all decent people to emigrate as soon as possible. There are at least 25 countries around the world with better public morality and more economic opportunity.
I say fire the stupid SOB that made the students stop singing. And then fire his manager also.
We live in a democracy and this is a free country (or suppose to be), but it sounds as though we are beginning to become like the mid-eastern part of the world. Our country is a free country and stop the bull shit of our country trying to satisfy the Muslin people and there propaganda. You people who voted for Obama did America a terrible injustice.
Jo-
We live in a democracy
No. It’s a Republic. Can you tell me the difference between the 2? If you disbelieve me, please a) recite the Pledge of Allegiance, and b) look for the word “democracy” ANYwhere in the Supreme Law of the Land.
and this is a free country (or suppose to be)
Technically, it hasn’t been “Free” since the near-simultaneous passage of 2 crucial pieces of legislation put forward by the Banksters, the Federal Reserve board act, and the 16th Amendment(individual taxation), cemented in place by FDR’s theft of American’s gold.
<o? but it sounds as though we are beginning to become like the mid-eastern part of the world.
Only if/when Liberty dies in our hearts.
Our country is a free country
See above.
and stop the bull shit of our country trying to satisfy the Muslim people and their propaganda.
Easily fixed, imo: run a law past Congress which says that any Muslim who practices, teaches, encourages, or attempts to impose Shar’ia Law is to be immediately deported to the nearest country that DOES practice Shar’ia law. When these immigrants were graciously and generously received here, they agreed to abide by AMERICAN law…NOT to try to supplant it with their OWN. Don’t lke the laws here? Fine. Buh-bye, don’t let the door hit ya where the Good Lord split ya.
You people who voted for Obama did America a terrible injustice.
Most of them were simply swept up in the hysteria surrounding the notion of “electing the FIRST Black President” and “we’ve come so far in leaving the racist past behind us” and all that other nonsense – in this case, literally, for not USING their sense in VETTING the Current Unconstitutional Occupant properly, especially on the “natural born” issue…which i’ve repeatedly stressed requires TWO citizen-parents to bestow.
I would have kept singing. And there’s nothing they could have done about it. PERIOD.!!!!!
America has lost it’s moral compass. As you sow so shall you reap! Well! we are sure reaping the fruit’s of our poor decisions and the fact we have thumbed are noses at Almighty God, for his word say’s to whom you give your self to, he will be your god and America worships the political system and without doubt we are receiving our just payment.
The guard should be sued for violating their constitutional right of free speech.
AND they say we are a land of the free. Our freedom has melted away in the last 8 years. I blame the do nothing, scared, yellow belly Republicans and Democrats. We need to all embrace Texas in the “Convention of States” and get this mess of a government re- organized.
I heard somebody said, “America- land of the cowards, home the slaves!” Is this why? What do you think is running in the minds of the children who were stopped as they sung the national anthem? I am wondering…