A high school senior from Grand Junction (Colo.) High School quit his choir rather than sing a song that glorifies Allah. “I don’t want to come across as a bigot or a racist, but I really don’t feel it is appropriate for students in a public high school to be singing an Islamic worship song,” says James Harper. “This is worshipping another God, and even worshipping another prophet…I think there would be a lot of outrage if we made a Muslim choir say Jesus Christ is the only truth.” The song in question, “Zikr,” by Indian composer A.R. Rahman, includes a verse that says, “There is no truth except Allah.” The school district has defended the song’s inclusion in a competition program, and officials notes that anyone who objected to singing the song (or a Christian song also included in the repertoire) was given permission to stay silent. “Choral music is often devoted to religious themes,” says district spokesman Jeff Kirtland. “This is not a case where the school is endorsing or promoting any particular religion or other non-educational agenda. The song was chosen because its rhythms and other qualities would provide an opportunity to exhibit the musical talent and skills of the group in competition, not because of its religious message or lyrics.” (Fox News)