Come on, you can come clean, you know which side I'm on in the religious wars. It doesn't have anything to do with the ME, does it, it's the religious content.
Like I said, it's both.
There is much about religious content that I'd prefer not be presented. It doesn't particularly bother me unless it's presented as part of something official. But this is an ice skating show--entertainment. Skaters can perform to whatever music they like. I've notice over the years that Ave Marie is popular. Doesn't bother me.
Now, this particular ice show is for the stars of the Olympics. They are touring the country and the show has been taped for broadcast in this country and elsewhere. The show includes both US Skaters and others. The finale number had all the skaters in red, white and blue skating to several patriotic songs including America the Beautiful, the National Anthem, and the hymn in question. It appeared to me that the patriotic theme was was in the pattern of the Super Bowl and Olympic presentations, that is, a post-9-11 tribute. Since our President has cautioned us about the appearance of a holy war, it seems to me unfortunate that the producers of this show saw fit to express patriotism with a holy war sort of song. I noticed that another ice show, featuring the Canadian pair, also included that song for one of the numbers. Now, I can't fault Canadian producers for their choice of music or any individual non-American skaters, but I can surely object to US producers waving the cross along with the flag in a show that will have Muslims in the audience and be broadcast where Islamists might see it. |
