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Kate Smith's interpretation of "God Bless America" is no longer heard at the New York Yankees' home games or Philadelphia Flyers performances at the Wells Fargo Center. The incredible turnaround came after team leaders received complaints about the deceased singer – especially her recording of two racially-sounding songs, including the 1939 hit "That's Why".
The reaction of Smith's supporters was just as fast. The mayor of Wildwood, New Jersey, proposed taking the recently-removed statue of Smith from the Flyers and erecting it in his city. They argue that the work of many artists of the day reflects the values of their time and should not be thrown in the trash.
The teams do not move. The Yankees switched to an instrumental version of the song. Flyers management, recognizing that Smith's song and his appearances in the 1970s were extremely popular and inspiring, said that some of his lyrics "are inconsistent with the values of our organization and evoke painful and unacceptable themes."
What do you think? Is this the right call? Should teams reconsider? Express yourself in our informal non-scientific poll and feel free to say more in the comments section.
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