politics and politicians
See other politics and politicians Articles
Title: Three 11-Year-Old "Dancing Trumps" Forbidden to Perform at School Talent Show
Source:
Reason
URL Source: http://reason.com/blog/2016/04/16/three-dancing-trumps-forbidden
Published: Apr 16, 2016
Author: Anthony L. Fisher
Post Date: 2016-04-18 10:28:21 by Deckard
Keywords: None
Views: 1267
Comments: 10
Three 11-year-old boys attending Fiske Elementary School in Wellesley, MA were forbidden by the school's administration from performing a benign, wordless, apolitical dance routine while wearing comically oversized Donald Trump masks. Christian Mattaliano, Marc Maggiacomo, and David Maggiacomo had been dubbed the Bobblehead Boys after performing a similar number last year, only then they wore masks bearing the face of the school's retiring principal. When the three boys became the Dancing Trumps at the morning edition of this past Wednesday's school talent show, "at least one" parent complained, according to the Boston Globe, which led to school officials forbidding the boys from reprising the performance at Wednesday's evening talent show. Whether the complainant was offended because of pro or anti-Trump sentiments is unclear, though a similar skit performed by Wellesley grade-schoolers acting as Donald Trump and Marco Rubio was also nixed from the night show, apparently because a parent found it disparaging to the Republican Party. One of the boys' parents, Laurie Mattaliano, told the Globe that the experience has left the boys feeling like they did something wrong even though, "No words were spoken. It’s just pop culture. The skit took no stance in support or defamation.” The Wellesley school superintendent, David Lussier said to the Globe, "We wanted to make sure that nothing we are doing would be perceived as biased in some way" and that "in a highly charged political environment like the one we’re in" the school talent show isn't an appropriate place to engage the upcoming presidential election. Christine Norcross, whose son was one-half of the controversial Trump/Rubio dance-off said, "I’m so happy that he even knows who’s running for president." Earlier this week, Reason's Robby Soave noted the recent predicament of a Maryland high school student who was instructed to write an essay in the outrageous style of 18th century satirist Jonathan Swift. For his compliance, the student was subject to an official public shaming by the school. But at least the Maryland student wrote something deliberately provocative, whereas you could watch video of the Dancing Trumps' two-minute performance a hundred times and not discern any specific political point of view. These are fifth graders who are aware that adults are working themselves into a lather over some old guy with orange skin and yellow hair, and by dancing around wearing his face, they were having some fun with the idea of grown-ups taking things way too seriously. If anything, the effectiveness of the routine lies in the reaction of the person (people?) who complained. The sublime absurdity of the Bobblehead Boys' performance was further demonstrated by the administrators who were cowed by the slightest bit of discomfort expressed by adults over some kids expressing themselves through some innocent joyful fun. 
Lauire Mattaliano
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
#1. To: Deckard (#0)
Money quote. I think the boy in the tan trousers did the best of the three. That was funny! Thanks.
Yeah, it was funny. I bet if they were dancing "al sharptons" they would not have banned them
Si vis pacem, para bellum Those who beat their swords into plowshares will plow for those who don't Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God. There are no Carthaginian terrorists. President Obama is the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people. --Clint Eastwood "I am concerned for the security of our great nation; not so much because of any threat from without, but because of the insidious forces working from within." -- General Douglas MacArthur
We don't need no education In a Cop Culture, the Bill of Rights Doesn’t Amount to Much I like that song too. The boys' performance was hilarious. I confess that I watched the video 3 times, it was that funny. Thanks again. Maybe we'll see it on the nightly (programming) news tonight. Did TooConservative burn out?
I think he feels emasculated after Stone demoted him by changing his screen name from TooConservative to "tooconservative". In a Cop Culture, the Bill of Rights Doesn’t Amount to Much I was wondering what happened to him? His handle was changed to "tooestablishment" for a short time, then he lost the capital letters and was demoted to... tooconservative on the next name change, and then he was gone. libertysflame.com/cgi-bin...?ArtNum=45720&Disp=34#C34 #34. To: SOSO (#33) I don't see that I did but I don't intend to debate that (another excursion into Offtopicville) with you either. tooconservative posted on 2016-04-13 The school was right to stop it. There is no such thing as non-political satire while wearing masks with the image of a political candidate during an election year. Schools are supposed to TEACH children how to think for themselves,not indoctrinate them. BOYCOTT PAYPAL AND CLOSE YOUR PP ACCOUNTS NOW! ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO DO SO,TOO! ISLAM MEANS SUBMISSION! Why is democracy held in such high esteem when it’s the enemy of the minority and makes all rights relative to the dictates of the majority? (Ron Paul,2012) American Indians had open borders. Look at how well that worked out for them.
Si vis pacem, para bellum If they had been dancing Sharptons or Obombers,there would have been riots. BOYCOTT PAYPAL AND CLOSE YOUR PP ACCOUNTS NOW! ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO DO SO,TOO! ISLAM MEANS SUBMISSION! Why is democracy held in such high esteem when it’s the enemy of the minority and makes all rights relative to the dictates of the majority? (Ron Paul,2012) American Indians had open borders. Look at how well that worked out for them.
All pussies must die:) потому что Бог хочет это тот путь
Those kids should carpet-bomb all the email accounts in that school with that video.
These are fifth graders who are aware that adults are working themselves into a lather over some old guy with orange skin and yellow hair, and by dancing around wearing his face, they were having some fun with the idea of grown-ups taking things way too seriously.
#2. To: Fred Mertz (#1)
#3. To: Fred Mertz (#1)
I think the boy in the tan trousers did the best of the three.
We don't need no thought control
No dark sarcasm in the classroom
Teachers leave them kids alone
Hey teacher leave them kids alone “Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul
Americans who have no experience with, or knowledge of, tyranny believe that only terrorists will experience the unchecked power of the state. They will believe this until it happens to them, or their children, or their friends.
Paul Craig Roberts
#4. To: war, sneakypete, Hondo68, Deckard, buckeroo, Stoner, TooConservative (#3)
#5. To: Fred Mertz (#4)
Did TooConservative burn out?
“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul
Americans who have no experience with, or knowledge of, tyranny believe that only terrorists will experience the unchecked power of the state. They will believe this until it happens to them, or their children, or their friends.
Paul Craig Roberts
#6. To: Fred Mertz, TooConservative, SOSO, winner take all democracy, mob rule (#4)
Did TooConservative burn out?
Looks like SOSO pushed him over the edge, advocating winner take all, mob rule democracy. TooConservative's last post... 
"We (government) need to do a lot less, a lot sooner" ~Ron Paul
#7. To: Deckard (#0)
#8. To: Stoner (#2)
Yeah, it was funny. I bet if they were dancing "al sharptons" they would not have banned them
#9. To: hondo68, Fred Mertz, TooConservative, (#6)
Looks like SOSO pushed him over the edge, advocating winner take all, mob rule democracy.
#10. To: Deckard (#0)
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
[Home] [Headlines] [Latest Articles] [Latest Comments] [Post] [Mail] [Sign-in] [Setup] [Help] [Register]