Tis the season to hush those who sing “Tis the season.”
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.
Cohen, the 2006 Olympic silver medalist and 2006 U.S. National Champion, had just finished her performance at the rink on the downtown pedestrian mall, and was signing autographs.
Choir director Staci Della-Rocco said she complied with the request “because a policeman told me to stop. I didn’t want to have a big old huge scene in front of my kids,” according to the newspaper.
The city staff member, special-events employee Michelle Baldwin, could not be reached for comment. (lvmm)
Hmm. A quick search shows that, like some other organizations, Riverside uses a fairly standard naming convention when assigning email addresses. So, if someone wanted to send a Christmas ecard to mbaldwin@riversideca.gov–say to help assuage her undoubtedly devastated feelings at being made a figure of ridicule by an uncaring press– it would likely go right through.
Mr Dave says:
The part of the story left out:
‘The city staff member, special-events employee Michelle Baldwin, could not be reached for comment. City Development Director Belinda J. Graham confirmed the incident.
“This request was simply made by a staff member who was attempting to be sensitive to the celebrity guest, without considering the wider implications … or consulting with her supervisor for guidance,” Graham said in an e-mail to the newspaper.
Mayor Ron Loveridge called the incident “unfortunate.”
“You kind of wish people do a little checking first. You certainly have my apology,” he said, referring to the choir members.
A spokeswoman with the New York-based PR firm that helped promote the event said Cohen did not make the request to silence the singers.’
You know, just to be accurate when sending out those consoling e-cards.
18 December 2006, 9:27 amBigwig says:
The rest of the story wasn’t left out, it was there for anyone who followed the initial link, as is standard blog practice. The only time I’ll quote an entire story is when it’s not available online.
18 December 2006, 10:07 amMr Dave says:
You are, of course, correct and have my apologies. I clicked on the Michelle Malkin link and saw the initial link after my post. Oops.
18 December 2006, 10:32 amAgain, sorry for my mistake. I ain’t too learned about this bloggin’ stuff.
Bigwig says:
No worries
18 December 2006, 10:52 am