The “War On Christmas” has taken a new turn, into the war on “gay apparel,” thanks to a teacher at Traverse City, Michigan’s Cherry Knoll Elementary School, which has censored the word “gay” from the song, “Deck The Halls,” a sixteenth century Welsh song with some lyrics from the nineteenth century.
In other words, for 500 years, “Don we now our gay apparel” was just fine, but now that conservatives are at the helm, we wouldn’t want children to think their clothes had a sexual orientation not approved by them.
This is so ludicrous and goes right to the heart of both what’s wrong with anti-gay conservatives, and the fact that people paid to teach children refuse to teach children.
Was it just a little too much to bear to respond to a six-year old’s question, which no doubt has been voiced about a gazillion times, “what’s gay apparel?”
Was it too hard to say, “festive”?
Dan Savage notes, “Someone had to straighten out that carol—can’t have children donning gay apparel.”
Some folks on Facebook are a little peeved — and rightly (or, leftly, I suppose) so, leaving these comments on the school’s page:
“This is a joke right? It’s like a bad SNL skit.”
“maybe next time we can trust our youth enough to have a conversation with them. imagine what could happen if we had a dialog and were able to truly listen. lets try teaching instead of indoctrinating.”
“You are seriously messed up if you think gay apparel in that seasonal song is referring to homosexual. Truly sick people.”
“T’was three weeks before Christmas, and all through the school
Smart folks were calling that principal “fool”.
The Fundies were lurking and fearful that SIN
Would frighten their children and come creeping in.”“While you’re at it could you please drop “cherry” out of the name of your school, as it is far too provocative a term to use around children. Ridiculous.”
Apparently, the censorship came from the schools music teacher, and a parent alerted the principal, who is going back to respecting 500 years of Holiday tradition.
The music teacher substituted the word “bright” for “gay,” in teaching students the lyrics. I suppose there’s some solace in being called “bright”…
For those of you less afraid of gay apparel, here are the words:
Deck the halls with boughs of holly,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
‘Tis the season to be jolly,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Don we now our gay apparel’
Fa la la, la la la, la la la.
Troll the ancient Yule tide carol,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
See the blazing Yule before us,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Strike the harp and join the chorus.
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Follow me in merry measure,
Fa la la, la la la, la la la.
While I tell of Yuletide treasure,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Fast away the old year passes,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Hail the new, ye lads and lasses,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Sing we joyous, all together,
Fa la la, la la la, la la la.
Heedless of the wind and weather,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.