Hey everyone! With prom being this Saturday, I would like to throw in a last-minute theme idea that I think would really make the night: a communism themed prom, colloquially known as Prommunism.
The soundtrack to Prommunism would be High School Musical's We're All In This Together on a loop. We'd all wear red Ma(r)xi dresses. The line for food is five hours long and then there's actually no food. At the end of the night, a chaperone comes in and introduces promestroika, in which we'd get to lighten up and really enjoy the night.
Funnily enough, a school in Albuquerque tried to make their prom theme Prommunism before they were shut down by administration. It's unclear whether or not they tried to imprison all those who disagreed with the theme.
We'd all share dates.
Julia, this was a hilarious post. Thank you so, so much for posting this! Every line made me crack up, and I'm glad I understood all the communism references.
ReplyDeleteOn a more serious note though, do you think schools should be allowed to make their proms communist-themed? A communist-themed prom would definitely make some people uncomfortable because our country's ideology is very different, but would a ban go against the right to free speech?
This is absolutely hilarious (and Mr. Donnelly would approve..jk).
ReplyDeleteTo answer Kathy's question, I personally do think that if the majority of the student body agrees on a certain theme that doesn't discriminate or show hatred to a certain group of people, it should be allowed as a theme for prom. Whether that theme is underwater basket weaving or communism, I believe that the 1st amendment protects the freedom to assemble for any purpose, including a commie-prom. And the argument that schools shouldn't endorse a certain political view (and that they should remain neutral) can't be used because schools use a democratic process to elect student-officers. So if one type of government is permitted by the school, no others should be disallowed. It's almost like the religion debate: if a school teaches christianity in its World History course, it must also give space to Buddhism in the classroom. A public school can not enforce or teach one ideology while barring the other. That's my personal opinion.
There is a law, however, that outlaws any Communist organization, planning, or action in the United States. The Communist Control act was signed into office in 1954 by President Eisenhower and criminalized allegiance to the Communist Party.
This law has not been overturned (although it would probably be nullified if taken to the Supreme Court), but no subsequent administration has enforced the law. This act, if enforced, could potentially hinder our Prommunism efforts :(
p.s. I'm not a Communist, just arguing for the other side because I am free to do so.
This is so funny! I can't believe that anyone would propose a Communist themed Prom, but I would have to say that refusing to allow the high school to move forward with the theme was an infraction on student's freedom of speech, etc. I can understand why other theme proposals that pose a dangerous threat to the student body or break school rules and guidelines would be banned. However, Prommunism does none of those things and I believe that the student body should be allowed to have their prom in the theme of their choice. We have freedom of speech, religion and political affiliation. Do you think that the school would have had the same result if the student body had proposed a democratic Prom, socialist Prom, or dictatorship Prom?
ReplyDeleteThis is absolutely hilarious! But I do think it's understandable that the school administration shut down the idea–you guys would be amazed at all the awesome theme ideas ASB has had for Los Altos events that have been vetoed by admin–themes that don't even come close to the level of controversy that Prommunism could raise. Students' freedom of speech in the high schools of America is often compromised in favor of protecting the students' safety and keeping things school appropriate, whatever that means, and I think it mostly makes sense–schools do need to be careful about the ideas they promote.
ReplyDeleteThis is absolutely hilarious! But I do think it's understandable that the school administration shut down the idea–you guys would be amazed at all the awesome theme ideas ASB has had for Los Altos events that have been vetoed by admin–themes that don't even come close to the level of controversy that Prommunism could raise. Students' freedom of speech in the high schools of America is often compromised in favor of protecting the students' safety and keeping things school appropriate, whatever that means, and I think it mostly makes sense–schools do need to be careful about the ideas they promote.
ReplyDelete