US Park Police Order Students to Quit Singing National Athem at Lincoln Memorial

[greatguns]

there are laws in this country and that isn't a new concept.  If you use your freedom and choose not to follow them then you suffer the consequences.  And yes, all they had to do was move a few feet to be legal.

[Varmit]

Un-freaking-believable.  Sad.  And down-right pathetic.  All these kids did was sing the NATIONAL ANTHEM!!  They weren't demonstrating, they weren't "marching" for anything, they weren't protesting anything, all they did was sing one song...

Tell me something, was it wrong for folks back in Lincoln's day to organize the Underground Railroad?  I mean, afterall, helping slaves escape was against the law, so they should've been punished right? 

[kshillbillys]

I agree Varmit and I heard of another ridiculous story of a 7 year old girl whose lemonade stand was shutdown by the Health Inspector near Portland, Oregon because she didn't have a license! What the hell's wrong with the stupid people in this country?

[Warph]

What's wrong with this country, you ask?   

Barack Hussein Obuma!

That is what's wrong with this country, Kshillbilly.  And I have all ideas you agree with me.   

[Varmit]

Warph, obama ain't the problem.  He's part of it to be sure.  The  stupid bastards that voted for him in the first place...theres the problem.

[twirldoggy]

I think the childrens' singing was spontaneous and a result of them contemplating the statue.  If it was truly spontaneoous then they would not have thought of moving to a different area.  They would be frustrated by someone telling them to move. 

[srkruzich]

Bottom line is it is a public (aka people owned property).  It is not private property.  So therefore restricting 1st amendment rights is unconstitutional period. 

[sixdogsmom]

It is also a memorial site; a park service site. A respectful silent attitude is expected when visiting, and the adults accompnying the students should have been aware of that. The park officer certainly was not to blame for doing his job.

[srkruzich]

It is also a memorial site; a park service site. A respectful silent attitude is expected when visiting, and the adults accompnying the students should have been aware of that. The park officer certainly was not to blame for doing his job.

Still a public property and no they have NO right to stop someone from speaking or singing.  To do so is a violation. 

[Varmit]

You're absolutely right Sixdogs, it is a memorial site, do you really think that President Lincoln would have minded a group of school kids singing our National Anthem?  Afterall, according to popular history he did lead this nation in a war for freedom didn't he? 

In this case the officer IS to blame.  L.E.O's have the authority to excrise what is known as 'Officer descristion', that is they pick and choose when and where to enforce so-called laws, and when to let it slide.