I attended the 2008 Battle of the Bands in support of the band from my local high school and must acknowledge that though I love the guys of The Planets and respect their skills as musicians, the experience of older and better-practiced musicians in other bands was evident.
However, with all due respect to the professional judges, I believe the results were inconsistent with Junior Achievement's stated rules and standards of the event; at the very least indicating the judges' lack of understanding of the local populace and sponsorship.
Rule #2 states, "Absolutely no obscene, offensive lyrics or gestures while performing will be tolerated. It will be the sole decision of the panel of judges to determine what is obscene or offensive. Breaking of this rule is grounds for immediate disqualification."
Yet with sponsorship including the Saint Mary's/Duluth Clinic Health System, the judges awarded second place to a Colmekill. This band is named after a place of the dead. Their presentation included gesturing multiple times a hand sign whose uses include Satanic glorification, and their lyrics made open mockery of the Christian expressions contained in the simple childhood prayer "Now I lay me down to sleep..." This mockery included using the Name of the Lord in vain.
As a minister of the good news of Jesus Christ, inviting people of all backgrounds to seek a culture of Life, I protest the public glorification of a band which gives honor to a culture of death and has openly bashed the faith of many in our northern Minnesota communities. Had such disparagement been made of Judaism or Islam, significant protest would certainly ensue. While the development and holding of reasoned personal opinions and beliefs is to be cultivated and defended in our society, it is entirely uncalled for to have public bashing of religion be promoted and glorified by a secular non-profit organization such as Junior Achievemnt.
I call upon Junior Achievement to find healthier means of involving our community's young people in business development than what the current "Battle of the Bands" has demonstrated.

Sincerely,
Rev. Martin Wenger
International Falls, Minnesota
218-286-3316