5655: Displays Of Independence.

Holiday fireworks in a MultiCultClassics Monologue…

• On Wednesday, 1,000 new NYPD officers celebrated as one of the most diverse graduating classes ever. Roughly 30 percent of the officers are Latino, 14 percent are Black, 5 percent are Asian and 49 percent are White—with women accounting for 17 percent. Madison Avenue will probably inquire if any of them are interested in joining the ad industry as security guards.

• Jazz singer Rene Marie drew criticism at a mayoral event in Denver, where she was scheduled to sing the national anthem but opted to perform the Black national anthem instead. Attendees expecting to hear The Star Spangled Banner were surprised with Marie’s rendition of Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing. “I am an artist,” explained the singer. “If I wait until I am asked to express myself artistically, or if I must ask permission to do it, it would never get done. I knew that if I asked to do my version of the national anthem, the answer would be ‘no.’” Mayor John Hickenlooper remarked, “We all respect artistic license and support freedom of expression. But in a tradition-laden civic ceremony … making a personal substitution for the national anthem was not an option. We asked for ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ and that’s what we expected.” He probably should avoid kicking off the next mayoral event with Rev. Jeremiah Wright.

• Kanye West will attend anger management classes, following recommendations from his own management team. The goal is to help the star on a personal level, plus aid him in landing more endorsement opportunities. Hopefully, West won’t enroll in the same school that graduated Naomi Campbell and Foxy Brown.

• Staffers and the distributor of Rachael Ray’s TV show are facing a discrimination lawsuit from an ex-employee. The man charges he faced a hostile work environment because he’s anorexic, with bosses making “vile comments” that included, “Anorexics should not be able to work.” Wonder if they’ll serve Dunkin’ Donuts during pre-trial meetings.

• Mickey D’s is facing a boycott from the American Family Association because the fast feeder recently joined the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, placed an executive on the group’s board of directors and donated money to the organization. “Hatred has no place in our culture,” said a Mickey D’s spokesman. “That includes McDonald’s, and we stand by and support our people to live and work in a society free of discrimination and harassment.” An AFA official declared, “We’re saying that there are people who support AFA who don’t appreciate their dollars from the hamburgers they bought being put into an organization that’s going to fight against the values they believe in.” Um, if they were really concerned about family welfare, they wouldn’t feed their kids fast food.