NYC principal bars students from singing 'God Bless the USA' at graduation . Fair or unfair?

NEW YORK – A New York City
principal has pulled the plug on patriotism by preventing students from
singing "God Bless the USA" at their graduation.

The decision has sparked fireworks at a school filled with proud immigrants.

Greta Hawkins, principal of PS 90, the Edna Cohen School, will not
allow kindergarten students to belt out the beloved Lee Greenwood
ballad, also known as "Proud to be an American," at their moving-up
ceremony.

Five classes spent months learning the patriotic song, which
skyrocketed in popularity after the 9/11 attacks and the 2003 invasion
of Iraq.

It was to be the rousing finale of their musical show at the June 20
commencement. The kids, dressed up for their big day, would wave tiny
American flags -- which, as the lyrics proclaim, "still stand for
freedom."

But Hawkins marched in on a recent rehearsal and ordered a CD playing
the anthem to be shut off, staffers said. She told the teachers to drop
the song from the program.

"We don't want to offend other cultures," they quoted her as saying.