Worst Halftime Show Ever? Texas H.S. Band Booed And Pelted With Debris!

[wilbill]

In a moment reminiscent of the "Springtime For Hitler" performance in The Producers --but lacking the comedy -- the Paris (Texas) High School marching band presented their halftime tribute to WWII veterans Friday night during a game at Hillcrest High in Dallas. One number in the program was Deutschland Uber Alles played while a large Nazi flag with swastika was carried across the field.
Just so you don't think I'm making this up...

Ft. Worth Star-Telegram

Oh, yeah, Friday you may remember was Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year.

"You can't tell a story about World War II," the band director was quoted then in the Plainview Herald, "and pretend there weren't any Nazis."

The same band director said he hoped that waving the swastika flag would offend crowds -- and remind them of the Nazis' evil.

So the Paris band's show must have been a complete success.

Folks in Paris, though, feel their Blue Blazers band has been wronged.

"Our listeners think this is all overhyped," said Dave Johnson, morning host at KOYN/93.9 FM in Paris, "Today's Best Country."

"Some apology needs to be made."

Some apology -- to the Paris band? For booing a Nazi swastika flag in a high school football halftime show?

"That's the feeling in town," he said. "Nobody understands the objection. It was a patriotic show. ... Those kids worked really hard."

It's been a few years since I was in high school but I don't remember a halftime show ever drawing that big a reaction. Even in college, I think the Ohio State band "dotting the i" was the most memorable marching band moment.
No doubt, there will be comments...

 

[amadeus]

A high school marching band up here in the Twin Cities a year or two ago marched around on Indpendence Day with a big hammer and sickle flag leading the parade. Oy...

 

[The Yankee]

Well, all I can say is that both instances (swastika and the ol' hammer 'n' sickle) were done in very poor taste. If anyone was surprised by the response of the spectators, then they've obviously had their heads up their.....oh, hey...this is a family forum!

 

[Mescalhead]

Maybe Bud Kennedy should concentrate on real news.

 

[Plexus]

Still, a swastika has no business in a HS football game.

 

[Mescalhead]

It's legal. That is good enough for me.

I have no Nazi sympathies, though I do have sympathy for the German military who fought in WWII. If when Eisenhauer asked American soldiers during the war, about what they are fighting for, and 9 out of 10 couldn't give him a reasonable answer, just imagine with all of the misinformation and propaganda, what the average German soldier thought.

And if they wanted to honor just the German military and not the Nazis, there are ways they could have done that, but most people will only recognize the swastika, or possibly the Iron Cross. But my point is only that it is legal and should not be a problem or even news.

 

[carlosMM]

First, we were mad at Paris, France.

Now, I'm not even sure we can trust Paris, Texas.

Heil Bush! Heil America! Heil Stupid White Men!

How can anyone really care about the BS written by such an idiot?

 

[sysyphus]

It may have been a somewhat odd idea, but there was no malicious intent behind it. They were trying to make a history lesson, and that involves mentioning the bad guys.

Geez people can be touchy these days can't they?

 

[wilbill]

Originally posted by Mescalhead
It's legal. That is good enough for me.

I have no Nazi sympathies, though I do have sympathy for the German military who fought in WWII. If when Eisenhauer asked American soldiers during the war, about what they are fighting for, and 9 out of 10 couldn't give him a reasonable answer, just imagine with all of the misinformation and propaganda, what the average German soldier thought.

And if they wanted to honor just the German military and not the Nazis, there are ways they could have done that, but most people will only recognize the swastika, or possibly the Iron Cross. But my point is only that it is legal and should not be a problem or even news.

When is this Eisehnower incident supposed to have occured? I've never met an American WWII veteran who couldn't deliver a lengthy and patriotic answer to explain why he fought.
I doubt the Paris, Texas HS Band intended to honor German veterans, but American. I've been to a lot of (American) Veterans Day parades and celebrations and have never seen the Swastika included in the festivities.
Sure, they had every legal right to include the Swastika in their show, but how dense can an adult band leader (presumably he's a college graduate) be not to think that it just might upset people? Everything that's legal isn't appropriate or in good taste in a public venue.