Missoula Children’s Theater: Calling for the beheading of Sarah Palin.

Link To The Missoulian

GretaWire Link

Clipped from a letter to the editor of the Missoulian.

Open letter to MCT director Curt Olds:

First I would like to compliment you and the entire staff of "The Mikado" on the beautiful sets, costuming and professional performance we experienced on Sunday, Jan. 23. However,
...
your calling for the beheading of Sarah Palin. I am painfully aware that most in the audience tittered with laughter and clapped because "no one would miss her" but
...

I'm certainly not a huge defender of Palin... It's alarming that a children's theater would have anything like this anymore that they should/would be calling for beheading Obama.

Were they calling for Obama then the alphabet agencies would be on them faster than ... well, you know.

Although, the penalty for treason is death, our country RARELY executes given the tremendous amount of capitol crimes committed.

A nation that is mostly united AGAINST capitol punishment comes out in the media and activities calling for capitol punishment of those that committed absolutely no crimes against humanity.

Except perhaps in those tiny, little, easily offended, minds; Great offenses taken personally! ?

Just... Wow. Never ceases to amaze to some degree. Perhaps not so amazing as I'm in complete disbelief as to the extent of delusion of so called Americans... They are LUCKY they live in America.

Freedom of Speech should never be extended to cover mentally ill speech... Nor the mentally ill given the opportunity to buy and wield dangerous firearms ... or a vehicle for that matter.

Yes, that play sounds absolutely mentally ill.

Is it easy for someone to defend that play?

I don't understand it, maybe it is all the drugs in the water supply.

reply to post by DrMattMaddix


Wait, I am confused. Your title says Palin, but your words say Obama....which is it? Either one, the calling for the death of another is ignorant and could be deemed dangerous but does not warrant the restriction of free speech.

reply to post by ownbestenemy


You have to read the letter to the editor.

It was a play that was put on by the Missoula Children’s Theater. Based on 2 letters submitted to the editor, there was a line inserted into the play that called for Palin's beheading.

I said IF it had been Obama then there would have been severe reaction.

That's not calling for restriction of free speech. It's an illness that has no part in civilized society. American children calling for the beheading of anyone.

Ever seen videos of children in 3rd world countries carrying automatic weapons in the streets? Civilized?

Our country is going mad, insane, it's an illness cloaked and protected by what some people have been convinced is Freedom of Speech.

It stinks. Like some immature teenager waking up one day and realizing that they have Freedom Of Speech ... "so, nah nah nah, I'm going to say anything I want ... JUST TO PISS YOU OFF! I have Freedom of speech, now you'll pay for giving me freedoms."

Those types need some discipline and structure ... they need to be taught what is responsible speech.

Yes, Freedoms include being taught how to use them wisely... But they aren't being taught anywhere and especially now... NOT the youngest of children.


Recently I've noticed that most ATS replies never read the linked material and just go off the OP.

Footnote: some OP's will post links into paid subscription websites or heavily scripted sites that, at least on my system, don't appear as intended. Every computer system is inherently insecure, but we do the best we can to block tracking and scripting that's unnecessary.

The sources simply cite a letter to the editor (The second source provided is just a rehash of the first one). I wish that the letter writer, one Mr Clinton, would have quoted the line, so that we might have a bit of context or a way to research the line.... for example to see if it was just a pop culture replacement of an older name.

In poor taste, to be sure, if it actually happened. But, for me, a letter to an editor of a paper, is a difficult thing to base belief or opinion upon.

~Heff

reply to post by Hefficide


Sometimes you just have to take it at face value. Not everyone is going to have a YouTube enabled camera filming every aspect. Maybe some want it that way.

That poster was articulate and accurate to their liking and bold enough to ask for an apology in public.

That's for the two parties to hash out; if they go that far into a discussion on the offensive lines added to the play.

reply to post by DrMattMaddix

Free speech means responsible speech. The irony is after all the political correctness "rhetoric" after the Az shooting and finger pointing, they are back to bashing Palin.
S+F

Perhaps the author wanted to offend. The writer in this instance is aware that the children in the audience were brought to the play by adults. It may seem logical that the joke was aimed to tickle the funny bone of the adults in the audience.
It is obvious no one wanted Sarah Palin murdered.
Making the leap from a light-hearted reference to a failed ignorant loser politician to the current President of the USA is a mighty one indeed.
I'm glad to live where people feel they can express themselves. Other peoples opinions and views help me to grow.

I want to hear the line to be able to make a judgment about it. These letters are ONE side of a story and I suspect that they contain a bit of hyperbole. I want to hear the line and the context before I make a judgment.

And yes, if someone called for the head of the president, that's against the law, but this is satire. It's comedy, not to be taken seriously, so even if they had put Obama's name in there, it wouldn't be a big deal. Sarah Palin is not the president, though. She's a regular citizen (although I haven't seen her birth certificate).

I don't support calling for anyone's head, just to be clear.

I found this:

It wasn't "children", it was the MCT Community Theatre, which is comprised of adults.

The Mikado is not ever presented as a children’s theatre play. The production in question is an offering of the MCT Community Theatre, which produces main-stage shows such as Fiddler on the Roof, White Christmas, Jesus Christ Superstar and many other well-known and sometimes lesser-known show titles.
...
I am sorry that the satirical reference to Sarah Palin has offended some of our patrons. Gilbert & Sullivan were well-known as satirists, addressing the social and cultural issues of their day—aristocracy, government, etc…. Some of the lyrics performed in The Mikado around the country today reflect the issues and topics of our time. ... In this instance, however, we are talking about an MCT Community Theatre production (not to be confused with a Missoula Children’s Theatre production). Although MCT Community Theatre did not pen the lyrics that were found to be offensive, we have taken the action of removing them from this production.

Source

The words to the original Mikado are on that page, too, but not the inserted line. There's nothing about a beheading in there. It's all about different people who would be put "on the list" and how they wouldn't be missed. I'm thinking they inserted Palin's name or a reference to her and said she "wouldn't be missed"...

Much ado about nothing, IMO.

Added: The Response from MCT

Community Theatre did not pen the lyrics that were found to be offensive, we have taken the action of removing them from this production. It is my hope that the audiences will appreciate the hard work, artistry and beauty within this MCT Community Theatre production of The Mikado.

.

reply to post by Benevolent Heretic


Nice research.

But.. . . . .

If society is going to write the "rules" in terms of speech, then it should apply equally to either side of political spectrum. Say what ever you* want about Palin. Write plays about her, write plays about Beck, Bachmann, Rush, et al.
But don't get in a snit when the same satire is pointed in your direction.

*"You is meant as a reference to those on the spectrum against Palin, not you specifically.

Originally posted by beezzer
If society is going to write the "rules" in terms of speech, then it should apply equally to either side of political spectrum.

True, but society shouldn't write the rules concerning free speech, IMO. There are valid exceptions to free speech and they are well documented. That's all we need. I would LIKE to see the political arena clean up a little bit with all the death talk, but it should be their CHOICE, not some kind of mandate.

People on the Internet are going crazy because they think this was children doing this play and because of this person who wrote the letter claimed it called for Palin's beheading, of course, people just believe it without looking further... I always love it when the right wing calls for political correctness! It cracks me up. They DESPISE political correctness! Except when they get offended.

The Title is inaccurate, by the way. It wasn't the Children's Theatre.
.

I wish people would be familiar with a work before commenting on how a group changed it for their production.

Since I'm going to assume we don't have a ton of opera, musical, or general theater buffs allow me to post the original lines.

Ko-Ko. (name if character who recites the lines)
As some day it may happen that a victim must be found,
I've got a little list — I've got a little list
Of society offenders who might well be underground,
And who never would be missed — who never would be missed!
There's the pestilential nuisances who write for autographs —
All people who have flabby hands and irritating laughs —
All children who are up in dates, and floor you with 'em flat —
All persons who in shaking hands, shake hands with you like that —
And all third persons who on spoiling tête-á-têtes insist —
They'd none of 'em be missed — they'd none of 'em be missed!

math.boisestate.edu...

reply to post by Benevolent Heretic


I don't see the right crying for political correctness hypocritically. The right are pointing out the hypocracy of the left by illustrating how political correctness is just a one-way street. Used by the left when they faux-feel offended and used by the left as a club to beat down anything that they can't honestly debate.

reply to post by beezzer


The difference is that the Missoula Childrens theater is not a political or wanna be political figure with a national audience. Their audience is limited to number of people who buy tickets. Play groups often make subtle changes to the text to reflect current political turmoil or conflict. Being they were playing for a liberal audience they used Palin's name, if it were a conservative audience it would have Obama or Pelosi or some other democrat.

There is no misunderstanding their intent, to get a cheap quick laugh in the beginning of the opera (if they performed it in its original version). They did not add the enter no one will miss her and behead her lines, those were there from the original they added her name in to list of people that I cited a few posts up.

reply to post by searching4truth


That is fine. I just don't want to hear the left wee themselves the next time some conservative says, "I'm on target!" Or, "Bullseye!"
Say what you want to say, when you want to say it. Just don't show me MSNBC clips with Mathews, Maddow or anyone else crying and bemoaning themselves over what someone said.

reply to post by beezzer


Well, to each their own. I know if the government began to censor the plays and musicals that I attend I would be outraged they are paid ARTISTS who I support through my patronage by purchasing tickets to their show or exhibit.

Political speech and a play are two different animals. If I don't want to listen to say Sarah Palin, I am free to change the channel but very often all news outlets cover her outbursts or those of any political figure. If I do not like a play, it's message, anything about the writer or producer I don't have to buy tickets and I am not exposed to it at all. IMO they are two very different things.

If you want to start censoring artists, will we then censor private conversation? I do feel that all people are free to speak whatever they feel, but there is a personal responsibility in what one's decides to say and more so when you decide to say it to a national audience. Also, if one is that offended by a production you are free to leave and request your ticket money back, as long as your offended before the first half is finished. If this person was truly offended the line is part of the first act, I believe the 4th scene or so, he was completely within his rights to leave and request a refund.

Artists are not politicians and therefore are not held to same standard, if any standard in art.

Just to be clear, I certainly didn't embellish or misinterpret anything in the posting. I know what I read and I read the headline and the concerned citizens posting.

It's just as it was posted ... Regardless if it was a childrens play or adults play it was cited as a childrens play in the headline.

Not my fault in taking someones' well articulated letter to the editor out of context or in error.

They clearly state it in the headline that is was the Childrens Theatre. And I did search if it even existed and any cursory search for the acronym or the childrens theatre will show that to be true.

Unless you've been living under a rock (see Dead Space 2 as example) these poor kids are being assisted into some severely psychotic future.

Although, now, going by your reply, BH, finding the research as you did... It doesn't change the fact that kids are being assisted into hell in a handbasket. And paying for the privilege (see Dead Space 2 as example, again).

I could go on for some time about this undercurrent in the youth these days... Seems a tired rant... Based on what my parents thought was alarming.

I'll console myself with the faith that the human condition will continually find the best out of what seems to be a bad (or nearly nightmarish) situation.

I would make a thread about how Dead Space 2 is being promoted as the game that your mom will hate (conclusion: that's more than enough reason to buy it)...but someone has already made a Dead Space 2 post (replies are all positive and look to be from our teenage community here on ATS.).

As the father that hates this game it would be banned and thrown out... I know one of the voice over personalities in the game and I don't want to know them anymore.

They are off my Christmas list forever for taking money and contributing to this psychotic game.

Kids need to be warned that some games will irrevocably damage their DNA and that, in turn, their kids will grow to be as the demons as shown in the game

What I'm saying is... that we all need to clean up our act. I take reports like my OP seriously. And it's certainly NOT an absurd claim. Thanks for taking the time look into it further.

reply to post by DrMattMaddix


Now hold the damn phone.......

Some one already has dead space 2 it doesn't come out til the 3rd, I want to know which of tptb they know to get an early copy of the game, and why I have to wait.