Night of caroling won't be silenced
By Ralph Z. Hallow
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
A Republican in the blue state of New Jersey is bucking what some decry
as a national trend to eradicate all traces of religion in public places.
Steve Lonegan, who is running for the Republican nomination for New
Jersey governor, is defying a school-district edict that bans religious
music from holiday-season celebrations this year.
Mr. Lonegan has asked local residents of all religions to join him
at 5 p.m. tomorrow "to sing and listen to" songs such as George
Frederick Handel's "Messiah" and "Silent Night," which have been banned
from schools, even in instrumental form, by the South Orange/Maplewood
School District.
Residents will sing and hear Christmas, Hanukkah and other music
outside Columbia High School, where students and parents will assemble
later that night for the school's official holiday concert.
"The school district's decision to prohibit even instrumental
versions of classic Christmas tunes shows that those who claim to speak
for tolerance are, in fact, the most intolerant," Mr. Lonegan said.
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