Hicksville, USA: Bennett, Colorado

I was going to write again about the Islamic furor over depictions of Mohammed, but a case of blind ignorance closer to home caught my eye as I browsed the days news.

I believe that I will have to begin a regular series of posts dedicated to towns that have more than their fair share of conservative, religious morons. 'Hicksville, USA' is as good a title as any.

Bennett, CO has made the list due to their own brand of religious intolerance. The parents of school children are upset that a teacher tried to introduce opera to students at Bennett Elementary School. The video that she showed the children had a portion devoted to 'Faust' with references to 'The Devil'.

I suppose we need to add 'The Devil' to the list of subjects that are taboo in art. Perhaps the idiots like Casey Goodwin and Robby Warner would be more comfortable if they moved to a country where conservative extreme religious views are the norm: A country such as Saudi Arabia or Iran.

UPDATE: The teacher fights back!
It is about time that school boards and local communites began to stand up to the vocal, ignorant religious conservatives. If they don't, then sue the hell out of them!

Please read the entire original story below.

Tagged as:conservative,Christianity,atheist,atheism,religion,Bennett CO,opera,art
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Associated Press

'Faust' Opera Stirs Angry Parents

Some parents in this prairie town are angry with an elementary school music teacher for showing pupils a video about the opera "Faust," whose title character sells his soul to the devil in exchange for being young again.

"Any adult with common sense would not think that video was appropriate for a young person to see. I'm not sure it's appropriate for a high school student," Robby Warner said after two of her children saw the video.

Another parent, Casey Goodwin, said, "I think it glorifies Satan in some way."

Tresa Waggoner showed approximately 250 first-, second- and third-graders at Bennett Elementary portions of a 33-year-old series titled "Who's Afraid of Opera" a few weeks ago.

The video features the soprano Dame Joan Sutherland and three puppet friends discussing Gounod's "Faust." Waggoner thought it would be a good introduction to opera.

Her critics questioned the decision to show children a portrayal of the devil, Mephistopheles, along with a scene showing a man being killed by a sword and a reference to suicide.

School Superintendent George Sauter said the teacher should not have shown the video to children below the fourth grade but will not lose her job. She has sent letter of apology to all elementary school parents in Bennett, population 2,400 and about 25 miles east of Denver on Colorado's eastern plains.

"I was definitely not sensitive to the conservative nature of the community, and I've learned that," Waggoner said in Sunday's editions of The Denver Post. "However, from what has been said about me, that I'm a Satan worshipper, my character, I can't believe all of this. My intention was just to expose the kids to opera."

Waggoner, who is in her first year teaching vocal music in Bennett, said she doesn't expect to stay in town.

"I know I'm not accepted here, that I'm not welcome here by the parents," she said. "It's a very uncomfortable position."