Does the first amendment no longer apply to Christians?

Question

Christians were asked to stop singing so as not to offend someone of another faith.

http://www.examiner.com/a-456704~_Silent_Night___Carolers_Told_to_Stop.html

This is an excerpt:

'Silent Night': Carolers Told to Stop
Silent Night': Carolers Told to Stop
19 hrs ago A "silent night" as carolers told to stop singing at skating show


The Associated Press
Dec 14, 2006 5:48 PM (8 hrs ago)
Current rank: # 272 of 13,260 articles
RIVERSIDE, Calif. - A high school choir was asked to stop singing Christmas carols during an ice skating show featuring Olympic medalist Sasha Cohen out of concern the skater would be offended because she's Jewish.

A city staff member, accompanied by a police officer, approached the Rubidoux High School Madrigals at the Riverside Outdoor Ice Skating Rink just as they launched into "God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman" and requested that the troupe stop singing, the Riverside Press-Enterprise reported Thursday.

My what an interesting and varied set of responses we have.
Is the day approaching when we will ALL be asked not to profess any aspect of our beliefs because it might offend someone? Christian, Jew, Buddhist, Islamist, Atheist, all others. This could grow to affect you so agree with this at your own peril. In Nazi Germany a catholic preist is reported to have said, " When they came for the Jews, I said nothing. When they came for the Protestants, I said nothing. When they came for me there was no one left to protest...

A POLICE OFFICER, an official representative of the city government used his authority to mentally convince the singers to stop. Sure the singers were only ASKED, but the threat of punishment was there.

PLEASE USE THE SPELL CHECK.

SHEESH HOW HARD IS THAT??/

Answer 1

The fact that the singers were asked to stop is a moot point. The staff member deliberately found a police officer to accompany him. So, the police officer was there lending visual support to the request.
What does the policemans' uniform represent?
The city that hires him to keep law and order.
He represents the city whenever he is on duty.
It gave the impression the singers could be in trouble with the law even though none was mentioned or threatened.
This is a classic example of how honest, law abiding citizens will respond to even a simple request if police are present. They have been taught to be respectful of police and follow their instructions. The simple fact that the officer was there during the request by a member of the city staff gave the impression that he also agreed with the request. If he didn't he should have told the staff member he was wrong to ask the singers to stop.
The officers silence spoke for him.
Christians are taught to obey the laws of the land and respect those who risk their lives to protect us.
This is a perfect example of how easy it is for police or others of authority to abuse the rights of Christians.
When Christians start refusing to obey orders that infringe on their rights and begin to protest, they will be branded as rebels, troublemakers. No matter that they work hard to end the abuse of women and children, try to keep the airways fit for children and teens to watch, and marched in great numbers when the rights of African Americans were being violated. That will quickly be forgotten.
I fear the day is rapidly approaching when Christians who protest when the authorities abuse their rights will even be jailed for daring to speak out against the government.

Answer 2

It was a stupid decision made by a probably well-meaning idiot who had good intentions.

It was an attempt to show consideration for an invited guest--but they should have checked with said guest before doing this. I bet Sasha would have happily agreed to the Xmas carols, and I'm sure she is as disgusted as anyone about these kids being asked to stop.

The city staff member-and the cop--should be giving a complete dressing down, but let's not blow this out of proportion. This is not a case of persecution.

Answer 3

I feel that what we in the United States ahve done for many years should continue inspit of what is requested to stop. who is requesting the stop should remember that this is what we always have done and if they don't like it then they need to return and nor abuse. the first Americans in the US, American Indians or the Mexicans that had over five states won have not been given a fare freedom as the Chinese or Arabic culturs that cry of "Give us respect" when are they going to give the American Indian and Mexican that were the first here on the US soil resept. Japanese have need given the welcome to study their language but yet the US such as California wanted to rake the Spanish language out of the schools. When Honda opened new plants, homes were offerd at a very low cost out of guilt. weel where was that guilt for The Alamo? who are the strongest workers in the firlds that bring the crops to the grochery stores? or construction. what happened to "made in the US" oops yes the the low pay but yet we expect high quality and it had been given but yet robbed. and the driving of the females with the scarfs don't know the meaning of a Stop sign. we can al respect as long as we All follow the same rules as we all live in the UNITED STATES, unity and not against or else go back to the country where they have their strong beliefs. Amen

Answer 4

No where in the article above did I read that they were commanded to stop. Take a closer look people before you get your panties in a bunch. It says they requested it. It isn't infringing on Christian's rights to ask them to stop singing. Besides it says that she was putting on an ice skating show. Maybe she was there doing that out of the kindness of her heart for the community or may be she was their to earn a profit, either way it was part of her job. Would you like a bunch of satanist to come to your place of business and sing anti christian songs? NO?? Why cause you might be offended? Why is wrong for someone that is Jewish to get offended by people singing songs about a religion they do not believe in at their place of work? I think the police and the city council had every right to ASK them to stop. It was an insult to her.

Answer 5

Merely another example of political correctness gone wacky. What I can't understand is when we became a society of thin-skinned crybabies, afraid of words. This is the Orwellian fantasy come true: Thought Control. If you have to think so hard about what you're going to say or do next, because it might offend some left-wing knee-jerk liberal kook, that's thought control, and it flies in the face of our Constitution. My guess is that Jewish skater A) Didn't notice what the choir was singing because she was concentrating on her skating and B) Wouldn't care even if she DID hear them. Most of the Jews I know aren't that sensitive; they know they live in a society dominated by right-wing knee-jerk Christian kooks.

Answer 6

This is stupid. It's taking political correctness too far. I'm an atheist, yet I don't object to christians celebrating christmas at all. I even enjoy hearing the carols at this time of year.

We should respect everyones faith, and all try and live together in peace.

Answer 7

Let's see, you are crying for free speech when the Western World is subjected to nothing but Christmas hymns from Halloween until the 26th?
I love Christmas Carols but I do want a break from them. The skater herself did not complain. But don't get your panties in a bunch because someone requested a break.
Tis the Season of love and giving.

Answer 8

It seems like people have been insulted and annoyed by the Christian Right wingers so long that they are starting to hit back. This is to be expected.
It was handled nicely though, a minor official did the deed and anybody who needed to protect their position has complete denyability and can even apologize for the misunderstanding. Everybody was just trying to do the right thing. The minor official was even acting just out of concern for the main guest performers feelings. Very nice, very smooth.

Answer 9

stop singing for only one person????? and a whole chorale at that??? hmmmm .... has the good Jewish Sasha even told them to stop singing? i thot America was a free country??? then they souldnt have invited the choir to sing in the first place :( Merry Christmas to all. Peace.

Answer 10

As time goes on, the angelic conflict escalates, and Christians will experience GREATER PERSECUTION. Other faith groups are not told not to practice their faiths. As we race faster and faster toward the end of time, we should expect these things to happen. Revelation talks about Christians being martyred for their faith in the end times.