Opera is the devil...

[Matt G]

From Yahoo! news:

BENNETT, Colo. - Some parents in this prairie town are angry with an elementary school music teacher for showing pupils a video about the opera "Faust," whose title character sells his soul to the devil in exchange for being young again.

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"Any adult with common sense would not think that video was appropriate for a young person to see. I'm not sure it's appropriate for a high school student," Robby Warner said after two of her children saw the video.

Another parent, Casey Goodwin, said, "I think it glorifies Satan in some way."

Tresa Waggoner showed approximately 250 first-, second- and third-graders at Bennett Elementary portions of a 33-year-old series titled "Who's Afraid of Opera" a few weeks ago.

The video features the soprano Dame Joan Sutherland and three puppet friends discussing Gounod's "Faust." Waggoner thought it would be a good introduction to opera.

Her critics questioned the decision to show children a portrayal of the devil, Mephistopheles, along with a scene showing a man being killed by a sword and a reference to suicide.

School Superintendent George Sauter said the teacher should not have shown the video to children below the fourth grade but will not lose her job. She has sent letter of apology to all elementary school parents in Bennett, population 2,400 and about 25 miles east of Denver on Colorado's eastern plains.

"I was definitely not sensitive to the conservative nature of the community, and I've learned that," Waggoner said in Sunday's editions of The Denver Post. "However, from what has been said about me, that I'm a Satan worshipper, my character, I can't believe all of this. My intention was just to expose the kids to opera."

Waggoner, who is in her first year teaching vocal music in Bennett, said she doesn't expect to stay in town.

"I know I'm not accepted here, that I'm not welcome here by the parents," she said. "It's a very uncomfortable position."

[windshieldbug]

Hey- she could have shown elementary school students a film of someone playing the tuba! For that, she would've gotten fired!

[Chuck(G)]

"She's a witch, I tell you! Someone get a rope and some firewood!"

Wonder if these kids read any of the ancient Greek dramas? Sophocles has a couple of humdingers..

[windshieldbug]

Sir Bedevere: There are ways of telling whether she is a witch.
Peasant 1: Are there? Oh well, tell us.
Sir Bedevere: Tell me. What do you do with witches?
Peasant 1: Burn them.
Sir Bedevere: And what do you burn, apart from witches?
Peasant 1: More witches.
Peasant 2: Wood.
Sir Bedevere: Good. Now, why do witches burn?
Peasant 3: ...because they're made of... wood?
Sir Bedevere: Good. So how do you tell whether she is made of wood?
Peasant 1: Build a bridge out of her.
Sir Bedevere: But can you not also build bridges out of stone?
Peasant 1: Oh yeah.
Sir Bedevere: Does wood sink in water?
Peasant 1: No, no, it floats!... It floats! Throw her into the pond!
Sir Bedevere: No, no. What else floats in water?
Peasant 1: Bread.
Peasant 2: Apples.
Peasant 3: Very small rocks.
Peasant 1: Cider.
Peasant 2: Gravy.
Peasant 3: Cherries.
Peasant 1: Mud.
Peasant 2: Churches.
Peasant 3: Lead! Lead!
King Arthur: A Duck.
Sir Bedevere: ...Exactly. So, logically...
Peasant 1: If she weighed the same as a duck... she's made of wood.
Sir Bedevere: And therefore...
Peasant 2: ...A witch!

[Daryl Fletcher]

[Brassdad]

lacks something without ....this

[Daryl Fletcher]

[Daryl Fletcher]

Yeah, that one. Thanks!

[Brassdad]

duck?



Man, just seeing that pic Quacks me up!!!

[windshieldbug]

So in the end, Faust gets exactly what's coming to him. Makes sense to me.

... but that would require either the parents stay awake until the end, or, even worse, read!

"She turned me into a newt!"
"You're not a newt!"
"Well... I got better!"

[Joe Baker]

I'm sure these parents are Christians.

But why will they not THINK!?!?!?!?!?


As a Christian, it drives me crazy when I see other Christians get all in a lather over something like this. The guy makes a deal with the Devil and bad things happen. This sounds like EXACTLY the message a Christian should want their kid to hear!! Of course, that's if you completely misunderstand the whole point of the story.

I do have to say that they really aren't being any more ridiculous than the anti-Christianity zealots responsible for the un-Christmas "holiday" programs. Remember "Cold in the night, no one in sight"? Sheesh. This is no worse.

And no better.
____________________________
Joe Baker, who wonders why people can't just teach their kids that not everyone believes the same things they do.

[Captain Sousie]

Joe Baker, who wonders why people can't just teach their kids that not everyone believes the same things they do.

HERESY

[tubeast]

The parents´ homes responsible for this hilarious, sad story should be searched for copies of the fairy tales books they read to their kids. In addition, their kids should be questioned about the TV programs they are allowed to watch.

Any evidence of Bugs Bunny, Elmer, Tweety, Tom&Jerry, The Grimms´ fairy tales and others should result in public discussion about their being kicked out of their jobs.
My, I can remember tons of cruel acts as well as suicidal tendencies and references to the devil in all of them.

And let´s not forget certain passages in the Holy Bible that aren´t exactly beneficial to a young person´s mind.

But then again, this would be an intrusion into their privacy.

[Chuck(G)]

I guess for these folks, Mahler 8 is off-limits, too.



As well as Franz Liszt:

[Joe Baker]

But why will they not THINK!?!?!?!?!?[/b]

They're thinking... They're thinking that this will be a way for them to show how much they "care" about their kids and ease their guilty consciences for ignoring their parental responsibilities most of the time. With this "issue" they can flail about in public and blame this music teacher for all that is wrong with their kids instead of taking responsibility for themselves.

Man, I wish I thought you were right, but I know quite a few parents from my church (not nearly a majority, but a spasmodic and demonstrative minority) who are JUST like this -- and believe me when I tell you they do not think. Actually, the one really positive thing I will say about the parents to whom I refer is that they are VERY devoted to their children. They spend time with them, read stories -- generally some of the better parents in most ways. But they'll listen to some radio preacher, and whatever goes into their ears comes out their mouths. Science? THE DEVIL!! ALL OF IT!! Movies? THE DEVIL!! ALL OF 'EM!! Anyone not from the US (Red states, of course)? THE DEVIL!! ALL OF 'EM!! It's almost as though they take pride in being more willing than the next person to close their minds to any sort of question or examination of their beliefs. As they see it, to question, after all, shows a lack of faith. So they spout inanity after inanity, with never a critical thought.

I wonder why it never occurs to them that God gave 'em that big grey organ behind their eyes for a REASON!! :EVIL:
_____________________
Joe "uh... sorry, I guess I lost it there for a second" Baker

[windshieldbug]

Lets not forget banning Stravinsky / La sacre and Firebird:

[Chuck(G)]

I wonder why it never occurs to them that God gave 'em that big grey organ behind their eyes for a REASON!! :EVIL:

...and good eatins:

[Kevin Hendrick]

Terrible how those preachers (and politicians) count on these people not thinking for themselves...

Flock that, eh? (I'm sure ewe'd say that's not a wool-reasoned argument (might even be shear torture?) ... )

[Albertibass]

Bobby Boucher, Opera is the devil!