General Discussion

And, when they're frightened, they get angry.

I remember an incident in my life. I had just finished an intensive Russian Language program in the USAF and was home on leave just before Christmas. My hometown church choral director asked if I'd sing a solo in the Christmas service. I frequently sang as a bass-baritone there before joining the USAF.

So, I said, "Sure." I talked to the church's organist and asked if she had music for "O Holy Night." Of course she did. So the Saturday before the service, we ran through it a couple of times.

The next day, in my USAF dress uniform, I sang that well-known Christmas song, the first time in English, the second time in the original French, and the third time in my newly learned Russian. I had translated the song into Russian earlier to sing it at the graduation ceremony for the language school.

So, after the service, one of the church's Deacons came up to me and scolded me for singing in a "Communist" language. I laughed in his face, to his surprise. I guess he still thought of me as the high school smartass kid I used to be. Obviously he didn't understand my reasoning in singing a Chrismas song in more than one language. I wish I had sung the Spanish version, as well.

People get angry at things they don't understand.