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When Malala Yousafzai accepted the Liberty Medal at the National Constitution Center last week, one thing was missing from the ceremony: <\/p>\n
A scheduled videotape performance by 14-year-old pop singer Ayla Potamkin, a Colorado girl with deep Philadelphia roots, who wrote a song to honor the 17-year-old Pakistani human-rights activist. <\/p>\n
Advisers to Yousafzai, people familiar with the matter said, insisted that the song be struck from the event, telling Constitution Center officials that its ardently pro-America theme was offensive and insensitive to other nations. <\/p>\n
\"It was unfortunate,\" said former Gov. Ed Rendell, vice chairman of the center's board of trustees. \"And I think it broke Ayla's heart.\" <\/p>\n
He said Yousafzai - known to the world as just Malala - did not take part in the discussions. The talks occurred between her representatives and the center staff. <\/p>\n
Efforts to contact Eason Jordan, a spokesman for the Malala Fund, were unsuccessful Tuesday. The foundation led by Malala focuses on helping girls go to school and speak up for their right to an education. <\/p>\n
Jeffrey Rosen, president and chief executive officer of the Constitution Center, said excising the song, titled \"America,\" was \"absolutely\" the right decision, given the objections of Yousafzai's representatives. <\/p>\n
\"The whole point of the ceremony is to honor her in a way she felt comfortable with,\" he said, adding that he did not find the song troubling. \"We just learned from her team that they objected, and respected their wishes.\" <\/p>\n
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Continued here: <\/p>\n
At tribute to Liberty Medal honoree Malala, a song unsung<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" When Malala Yousafzai accepted the Liberty Medal at the National Constitution Center last week, one thing was missing from the ceremony: A scheduled videotape performance by 14-year-old pop singer Ayla Potamkin, a Colorado girl with deep Philadelphia roots, who wrote a song to honor the 17-year-old Pakistani human-rights activist. Advisers to Yousafzai, people familiar with the matter said, insisted that the song be struck from the event, telling Constitution Center officials that its ardently pro-America theme was offensive and insensitive to other nations. \"It was unfortunate,\" said former Gov Continue reading