TOWN HALL: School sings 'no truth except Allah'

We like Muslims, most of whom are not at war with Christians and Jews. We want Muslims to celebrate Islam in this free country with all the enthusiasm that Christians, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists and others practice their religions in a country that was founded to protect the free exercise of religion from suppression by the state.

That’s why The Gazette’s editorial board has criticized planning and zoning boards for abusing their authority by impeding the construction of mosques. We have encouraged Colorado Springs to welcome Muslims with open arms.

Likewise, we defend school officials and the choir director of Grand Junction High School for instructing students to sing a Muslim song titled “Zikr,” which contains the lyrics “there is no truth except Allah.”

Singing a song is not akin to Congress making a “law respecting an establishment of religion,” which the First Amendment forbids. Anti-Christian activists abuse the establishment clause when they want to ban “Jingle Bells” or “Silent Night” from public schools with bogus “separation of church and state” complaints.

Don’t expect an uproar over “Zikr” from the ACLU, the Freedom From Religion Foundation and other usual censors. Their target is not religion. It is Christianity.

While we defend the use of this controversial song in a public school, we must point out the intolerance toward Christian lyrics — or lyrics relating to a Christian holiday — when performed in public schools. News excerpts tell the tale:

Chatsworth, Calif., March 2011 — “A disabled boy was banned from performing a Christian song in a talent show by his school because of its religious content, a lawsuit claims. Jerilyn Shubert, Superior Street Elementary School principal, allegedly told the mother of the cerebral palsy sufferer that the lyrics were ‘offensive’.

“The boy auditioned for last month’s talent show by dancing to his favorite tune, ‘We Shine’, but his mother was told by Shubert that he should pick a song that ‘does not say Jesus so many times’ as the lyrics were ‘offensive’ and a violation of the ‘separation of church and state.’”

Washington, Nov. 2010 — “‘Silent Night’ and other religious songs will remain off the program at holiday concerts in one New Jersey school district — and possibly others across the country — after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal of a school ban on religious holiday music.”

Should a public school choir be allowed to sing 'no truth except Allah?' Vote in poll to the right. Must vote to see results.

Windsor, Va., June 2003 — “Two students who wanted to sing an inspirational song at their graduation ceremony won’t be hitting any high notes following a legal scuffle that erupted when school officials said their choice of music was too religious for a public school ceremony, reports the Hampton Roads Daily Press.

“‘The Prayer’ mentions God once and speaks of faith and the presence of a higher power.”

We applaud Grand Junction High School for respecting the free-exercise clause of the First Amendment. We hope other schools, throughout the country, will give this same respect to Christian lyrics.

That's our view. What's yours? Please initiate or join in a Facebook discussion below, and vote in poll to the upper right.

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