Principal: No 'God Bless the USA' for kindergarten event

A group of Coney Island kindergarteners spent months singing and rehearsing Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA" but, days before their graduation performance, their principal scratched the song from the program. "We don't want to offend other cultures," Greta Hawkins reportedly told the staff, even though the song has been sung at previous school events. ("They gave it a standing ovation," one mom said.) The Department of Education gave an alternate explanation, saying the song's lyrics -- including references to having children and a wife -- "were not age-appropriate" for five-year-olds. The students are still scheduled to belt out Justin Bieber's "Baby" as originally planned.