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Once again, one can imagine what would happen if a traditional Christian hymn was inserted into an Islamic festival.My husband and I attended the Virginia Glee Club’s annual Christmas Concert held at the Paramount. We thoroughly enjoyed this concert under the expert direction of Frank Albinder, with one exception.
The program was advertised as a Christmas concert, so we were surprised to see one of his selections, “Zikr.” This song has nothing to do with Christmas. It is a Muslim chant to their God. I think it is disingenuous to insert an Islamic chant, however good and exciting the music, which is the antithesis of Christian music.
Zikr reminds Muslims to remember their God — Allah, who is not the God of the Christians. We celebrate at Christmas the biblical view of God — that he is one in three persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit. To give recognition to the Muslim’s God by putting this devotional chant along side Christian songs is totally inappropriate. Would a Ramadan celebration include a Christmas song?
The God of the Koran does not recognize Jesus Christ as the Son of God the Father who came to earth to save us from our sins. Was this chant included for the purpose of political correctness?
Mr. Albinder does an outstanding job every year as the Glee Club conductor. I just hope he is more sensitive to his audience next year.
About the Virginia Glee Club, whose motto is “Virginia’s Messengers of Harmony, Love and Brotherhood Since 1871″ and their concert :
Musical surprises such as lauding an alien god representing a faith which seems to cause nothing but death and suffering, all in the name of political correctness.The 70th annual Christmas Concerts by the Virginia Glee Club will be presented at 8 tonight in Cabell Hall Auditorium and 8 p.m. Dec. 10 at the Paramount Theater. The men of UVa’s oldest musical organization will perform Franz Biebl’s “Ave Maria,” a traditional audience favorite, and a variety of carols and compositions from around the world. Expect a few musical surprises.
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1 comment:
Anyone who has even the tiniest bit of knowledge about UVA should understand its founder Thomas Jefferson's vision of the separation of state and church. Some may even argue that Jefferson was not a Christian himself, as a self-identified deist.
All religions are often associated with violence, and Islam should not be singled out as the most violent. Violence committed "in the name of God (Christian or Muslim)" has always been prevalent throughout history. There are Muslim and non-Christian members in the Glee Club and the fact that they all come together to perform exemplifies what the Christmas spirit really is.
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