[HANASHIR:1712] Re: the words to rise & shine

[T. Salisbury / L. Berkson <bravetoni...>]

Friends - As we get carried off in the tide of discussion about gender and
political correctness I would like to suggest that we remember where this
song came from:  the great lexicon of Black spirituals.  These songs not
only reflect joy and deep devotion to G-d but also often had built into them
underlying meaning relating to liberation from slavery and hardship.  

Not knowing who made the change from "children of the Lord" to "children of
One G-d", I am also wondering if they had the intention of giving it a more
Jewish slant.  True, Christians believe in One G-d, but there is also the
Christian reference to Jesus as Lord.  

I am involved in a number of interfaith community events here throughout the
year.  I have a feeling that the members of the Olney Street Baptist Church,
with whom Temple Emanu-El does its Martin Luther King, Jr. event each year,
and the Newport Baptist Church, who brings their glorious choir to Temple
Shalom for the annual Black/Jewish seder, would probably be offended if they
heard
the song in its new version.  As much as I want to reflect sensitivities of
the
times, I also feel it's extremely important to respect the nature of these
songs as they reflect the experience of the community which gave them to us.

B'shalom,
Laura Berkson