Chorale Should Be Able To Sing Irish Blessing at the 2015 NJHSA Graduation
19 Comments
N
Nancy C. Pearson
11 years ago
The Irish Blessing is like our school colors. It just needs to be included!
B
Betty Ann Yates
11 years ago
Why wouldn't we want more blessing? (Not-so-famous quote by Pat Yates about having more kids.) I digress.
Seriously, though, if it's not mandated in the graduation guidelines and/or by-laws of NJHSA, then I guess it's up to the committee. (Did anyone check the graduation "requirements"? We may have covered this in a previous year.)
What a privilege to share our views and petition, yes?! Thanks be to God, we are still able to voice our opinions in this country!
My position? Each year's chorale students would happily ask God's blessing on the graduating class and their guests in this traditional rendition, if invited, because they want to bless us. It is always a touching and powerful witness. They have blessed folks with this song in many settings, big and small, on three different continents. A song, like a picture, paints a thousand words. People will know that these kids are praying for them and they will see what it is to pray a simple prayer. I, personally, would sorely miss it. I hope the tradition is not lost by the time my youngest son graduates in a few years.
C
Carolee Adams
11 years ago
Is this a politically correct decision? If yes, do we lesser hold dear the road we took less traveled by, and one that made all the difference?
C
Chelsey Cahilly
11 years ago
I believe this should be left up to the graduates. It's like leaving the national anthem out of a baseball game. People expect to hear it....
S
Sean
11 years ago
Americans with European ancestry should always be proud of their heritage. We are the last vestige (along with true Europeans) of Western Civilization.
S
Sean Cahilly
11 years ago
Featured
I recognize that maybe the singing of the Irish Blessing isn't the most inclusive aspect of the program, especially as the graduation classes have expanded precipitously over the last few years... But it's by far the most prominent tradition of the ceremony and carries a certain finality that is not imparted just with the handing of diplomas and all that... Perhaps opportunity to sing could be offered to all graduates?
A
Anonymous
11 years ago
Featured
This has been a tradition since the mid 1990s. Only a few of the early NJHSA graduations did not have this. It's usually the only song that the Chorale sings. As an older alumni, it's a staple and tradition of graduation. I think cutting it will create more problems than those solved.
S
Stephen Farrell
11 years ago
I must confess that I am surprised to hear that this is even a possibility. The song barely takes any time out of the program, there's really no reason to cut it.
If this is because we'd like to try something new, something more, that's fine, time goes on, new traditions are formed, but there should still be enough space in the graduation festivities for this and anything new.
If it was going to warrant cutting stuff out of the program, it wasn't going to have the full time budget balanced off of only this anyway.
W
Will Golden
11 years ago
Featured
Irish Blessing is more than a Chorale theme song or a graduation tradition. It's the sending off of the seniors as they jump into the real world and begin the next stage of their lives. It would be a pity to take away from them.
M
Morgan Taylor
11 years ago
Featured
The Irish Blessing is a gorgeous melody and a tradition that I look forward to hearing each year at NJHSA 12th grade graduations. The song serves great meaning for the graduates as well as their families and friends. I think that eliminating the song from the program would be a heart-wrenching loss for all involved. Please reconsider your decision.
M
Michele Hayes
11 years ago
a lovely tradition - I hope it is kept!
E
Elise Folkerts
11 years ago
Bring Irish Blessing back! This song is so sentimental to me and all my fellow chorale alumni. Please don't cut it!
J
Justin Yen
11 years ago
Featured
As a chorale alumni who has sung this song twice for the seniors, and once for myself, please allow chorale to sing this blessing song. It is a powerful tradition and is not something that needs to be changed. I understand that change hurts, but let's not change what is excellent for the sake of obtaining something different. Different is able to be achieved while maintaining this tradition.
D
Debra Stensrud
11 years ago
Sounds like such a lovely tradition and I've heard them sing this beautiful song- so so lovely! Oh how I pray you will reconsider!
L
Lori Maynard
11 years ago
I respectfully ask the 12th grade graduation committee to change its mind and include the Irish Blessing. Not only is this a long standing NJHSA tradition, but the song adds a sweet solemnity to the ceremony.
M
Melissa Woodford
11 years ago
Featured
One of my favorite end-of-the-year traditions has always been singing "Irish Blessing" with Chorale before the seniors leave us. It is our last chance to sing together in Chorale and it is always a special time for us. Also, so many other people look forward to hearing it every year. Would you please consider keeping this timeless piece in the program? Sincerely, Melissa
J
Jonathan Roberts
11 years ago
This song should be sung! I cannot begin to imagine what is taking its place on the program. What will bring hope, joy, satisfaction, inspiration and much more than the Irish Blessing. It has touched to many hearts of those who have sung and heard the wonderful music! Let us hope that this will bring the committee to rethink about the decision they have made and change it before it is too late!
P
Peter Rauschenbach
11 years ago
I would sincerely like the committee
to reconsider and include the Irish
Blessing for graduation.
J
Jonathan Roberts
11 years ago
This song should be sung! I cannot imagine what is taking its place because there is nothing equal to the joy, hope, and amazing that this song brings ti everyone who hears!
The Irish Blessing is like our school colors. It just needs to be included!
Why wouldn't we want more blessing? (Not-so-famous quote by Pat Yates about having more kids.) I digress. Seriously, though, if it's not mandated in the graduation guidelines and/or by-laws of NJHSA, then I guess it's up to the committee. (Did anyone check the graduation "requirements"? We may have covered this in a previous year.) What a privilege to share our views and petition, yes?! Thanks be to God, we are still able to voice our opinions in this country! My position? Each year's chorale students would happily ask God's blessing on the graduating class and their guests in this traditional rendition, if invited, because they want to bless us. It is always a touching and powerful witness. They have blessed folks with this song in many settings, big and small, on three different continents. A song, like a picture, paints a thousand words. People will know that these kids are praying for them and they will see what it is to pray a simple prayer. I, personally, would sorely miss it. I hope the tradition is not lost by the time my youngest son graduates in a few years.
Is this a politically correct decision? If yes, do we lesser hold dear the road we took less traveled by, and one that made all the difference?
I believe this should be left up to the graduates. It's like leaving the national anthem out of a baseball game. People expect to hear it....
Americans with European ancestry should always be proud of their heritage. We are the last vestige (along with true Europeans) of Western Civilization.
I recognize that maybe the singing of the Irish Blessing isn't the most inclusive aspect of the program, especially as the graduation classes have expanded precipitously over the last few years... But it's by far the most prominent tradition of the ceremony and carries a certain finality that is not imparted just with the handing of diplomas and all that... Perhaps opportunity to sing could be offered to all graduates?
This has been a tradition since the mid 1990s. Only a few of the early NJHSA graduations did not have this. It's usually the only song that the Chorale sings. As an older alumni, it's a staple and tradition of graduation. I think cutting it will create more problems than those solved.
I must confess that I am surprised to hear that this is even a possibility. The song barely takes any time out of the program, there's really no reason to cut it. If this is because we'd like to try something new, something more, that's fine, time goes on, new traditions are formed, but there should still be enough space in the graduation festivities for this and anything new. If it was going to warrant cutting stuff out of the program, it wasn't going to have the full time budget balanced off of only this anyway.
Irish Blessing is more than a Chorale theme song or a graduation tradition. It's the sending off of the seniors as they jump into the real world and begin the next stage of their lives. It would be a pity to take away from them.
The Irish Blessing is a gorgeous melody and a tradition that I look forward to hearing each year at NJHSA 12th grade graduations. The song serves great meaning for the graduates as well as their families and friends. I think that eliminating the song from the program would be a heart-wrenching loss for all involved. Please reconsider your decision.
a lovely tradition - I hope it is kept!
Bring Irish Blessing back! This song is so sentimental to me and all my fellow chorale alumni. Please don't cut it!
As a chorale alumni who has sung this song twice for the seniors, and once for myself, please allow chorale to sing this blessing song. It is a powerful tradition and is not something that needs to be changed. I understand that change hurts, but let's not change what is excellent for the sake of obtaining something different. Different is able to be achieved while maintaining this tradition.
Sounds like such a lovely tradition and I've heard them sing this beautiful song- so so lovely! Oh how I pray you will reconsider!
I respectfully ask the 12th grade graduation committee to change its mind and include the Irish Blessing. Not only is this a long standing NJHSA tradition, but the song adds a sweet solemnity to the ceremony.
One of my favorite end-of-the-year traditions has always been singing "Irish Blessing" with Chorale before the seniors leave us. It is our last chance to sing together in Chorale and it is always a special time for us. Also, so many other people look forward to hearing it every year. Would you please consider keeping this timeless piece in the program? Sincerely, Melissa
This song should be sung! I cannot begin to imagine what is taking its place on the program. What will bring hope, joy, satisfaction, inspiration and much more than the Irish Blessing. It has touched to many hearts of those who have sung and heard the wonderful music! Let us hope that this will bring the committee to rethink about the decision they have made and change it before it is too late!
I would sincerely like the committee to reconsider and include the Irish Blessing for graduation.
This song should be sung! I cannot imagine what is taking its place because there is nothing equal to the joy, hope, and amazing that this song brings ti everyone who hears!