By Kate Edwards, Young America's Foundation

It seems implausible that adults would yell at kindergarten children singing "God Bless the USA" outside a public school, right? Except yesterday in Coney Island, NY, that is exactly what happened.

Young children singing Lee Greenwood's hit "God Bless the USA" were drowned out by angry adults who told the organizers of the event that they were going to "burn in hell."

The controversy began earlier this month when Principal Greta Hawkins of Public School 90 decided to pull "God Bless the USA" from a kindergarten "moving up" ceremony, replacing it with Justin Bieber's "Baby." Instead of the 6 to 7 year olds singing lines such as "I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free," they would now be singing the age-inappropriate lines "She had me going crazy, oh I was starstruck, she woke me up daily, don't need no Starbucks."

The principal's reason for the change in songs? She "didn't want to offend other cultures."

In response to this outrageous decision, Congressman Bob Turner and members of his staff organized students who wished to sing "God Bless the USA" outside the school. Protestors, heckling the children before they even began singing, drowned out the patriotic words of the song, yelling "It's ridiculous! It's sad, sad, sad. Y'all are going to burn in hell! You all burn in hell! Shame on you! Shame on you!"

After the children finished singing, they began to chant "USA! USA! USA!", but it failed to quiet the protestors.

Radio host Rush Limbaugh commented on the event, stating "A bunch of [liberal] adults show up to heckle them. 'You are all gonna burn in hell! Burn in hell!' That was the reaction to kids singing 'God Bless the USA.' Why in the world would that make anybody mad? And the fact that it does tells us a whole lot."

So we must ask ourselves, what does this story tell us and how do we react? Why is it "offensive" to sing proudly of those who risk their lives to protect our freedoms? When a Justin Beiber hit single about teenage romance is deemed more culturally acceptable than "God Bless the USA," we know it is time for a change; the type of change that doesn't apologize for American values, but allows our children to be openly proud of this great nation.

You can be a part of this change by starting a Young Americans for Freedom chapter on your college campus. For more information, email Kate Edwards at kedwards@yaf.org. You could also attend the National Conservative Student Conference in Washington, D.C. this summer, where you will meet like-minded patriots from across the country, hear prominent conservative speakers and learn strategies to help further conservatism at your school.  

God bless the USA!