School Talent Show Draws Secret Service

[Jahfin]

From ABC.com:
http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=247437&page=1

Colorado Band Singing Dylan Song Seen as Threatening President Bush

BOULDER, Colo., Nov. 12, 2004 — Parents and students say they are outraged and offended by a proposed band name and song scheduled for a high school talent show in Boulder this evening, but members of the band, named Coalition of the Willing, said the whole thing is being blown out of proportion.

The students told ABC News affiliate KMGH-TV in Denver they are performing Bob Dylan's song "Masters of War" during the Boulder High School Talent Exposé because they are Dylan fans. They said they want to express their views and show off their musical abilities.

But some students and adults who heard the band rehearse called a radio talk show Thursday morning, saying the song the band sang ended with a call for President Bush to die.

Threatening the president is a federal crime, so the Secret Service was called to the school to investigate.

Students in the band said they're just singing the lyrics and not inciting anyone to do anything.

The 1963 song ends with the lyrics: "You might say that I'm young. You might say I'm unlearned, but there's one thing I know, though I'm younger than you, even Jesus would never forgive what you do … And I hope that you die and your death'll come soon. I will follow your casket in the pale afternoon. And I'll watch while you're lowered down to your deathbed. And I'll stand o'er your grave 'til I'm sure that you're dead."

The students told KMGH they never threatened the president and never changed the lyrics to the song.

"It's just Bob Dylan's song. We were just singing Bob Dylan's song … If you think it has to do with Bush that's because you're drawing your own conclusions. We never conveyed that Bush was the person we were talking about," said Allysse Wojtanek-Watson, a singer for the band.

"She never said anything about killing Bush … It's crazy, it's chaos. We have nothing in there it says about killing Bush," band leader Forest Engstrom told KMGH.

The principal of the school said he stands behind the students.

[12vmanRick]

From ABC.com:
http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=247437&page=1

Colorado Band Singing Dylan Song Seen as Threatening President Bush

BOULDER, Colo., Nov. 12, 2004 — Parents and students say they are outraged and offended by a proposed band name and song scheduled for a high school talent show in Boulder this evening, but members of the band, named Coalition of the Willing, said the whole thing is being blown out of proportion.

The students told ABC News affiliate KMGH-TV in Denver they are performing Bob Dylan's song "Masters of War" during the Boulder High School Talent Exposé because they are Dylan fans. They said they want to express their views and show off their musical abilities.

But some students and adults who heard the band rehearse called a radio talk show Thursday morning, saying the song the band sang ended with a call for President Bush to die.

Threatening the president is a federal crime, so the Secret Service was called to the school to investigate.

Students in the band said they're just singing the lyrics and not inciting anyone to do anything.

The 1963 song ends with the lyrics: "You might say that I'm young. You might say I'm unlearned, but there's one thing I know, though I'm younger than you, even Jesus would never forgive what you do … And I hope that you die and your death'll come soon. I will follow your casket in the pale afternoon. And I'll watch while you're lowered down to your deathbed. And I'll stand o'er your grave 'til I'm sure that you're dead."

The students told KMGH they never threatened the president and never changed the lyrics to the song.

"It's just Bob Dylan's song. We were just singing Bob Dylan's song … If you think it has to do with Bush that's because you're drawing your own conclusions. We never conveyed that Bush was the person we were talking about," said Allysse Wojtanek-Watson, a singer for the band.

"She never said anything about killing Bush … It's crazy, it's chaos. We have nothing in there it says about killing Bush," band leader Forest Engstrom told KMGH.

The principal of the school said he stands behind the students.

I once tried to draw a picture of the secret service too.. the little men in white coats came and took away my crayons

[ragtopW]

The principal of the school said he stands behind the students.

Thats right where I would be too.. When the Shooting starts
I have half a chance!!!!1

[captainjoe]

It did not say which students he is standing behind. . . the band or the students that complained?

[ragtopW]

It did not say which students he is standing behind. . . the band or the students that complained?

does not matter Human Shield time here!

[captainjoe]

It did not say which students he is standing behind. . . the band or the students that complained?

does not matter Human Shield time here!

Kind of like in the South Park Movie - "Operation Human Shield". Not very PC but very funny!

[buffettbride]

This whole thing cracks me up. First of all, this happened in BOULDER, CO. This is granola-crunching, tree-hugging, sock-with-Birkenstock-wearing MECCA. If that makes no sense to you, Boulder is EXTREMELY liberal.

This band is made up of students and teachers. The principal supports the students in the band.

The band had to change their name and change the order of the media presentation so the word "kill" did not coincide with the president's picture. Another teacher who contacted authorities with mis-information that the song was about killing the president--didn't even know it was a Bob Dylan song... What had people concerned is because the images were of the president while the band was singing about death.

The teacher that contacted the authorites really had no premise to do so, and although as a parent I don't really feel what the students were doing was appropriate for their age/audience (and I guess even I'm pretty liberal by some standards), but the secret service here is a little extreme.

Mind you, this is the same school that had a student lock-in (sleepover in the school library) because the Pres was re-elected.