Valedictorian's speech cut short by school district

[borgslayer]

http://www.kvbc.com/Global/story.asp?S=5042317

The school which I used to go to has barred this student for speaking about God.

It is another case of the schools bias against Religion.



[Edited to remove article- I'd suggest you read the World News rules before posting another article. Thanks, IntrepidIsMe]

[Republican_Man]

Pffff. My God. Wow. This is disgusting. Secularism at its best, no?

[IntrepidIsMe]

I don't see how this is much different than that kid who wanted to wear that dress to the prom. She was told before hand that she couldn't talk about god in her speech, and he was told before hand that he couldn't wear a dress.

[borgslayer]

There is nothing wrong with telling everyone that God is the reason your successful.

Everyone does that almost everyone who believe in God say that they thank God their successful in life.

[IntrepidIsMe]

I'm not arguing that point. What I'm saying is that if she knew before hand that she wasn't allowed to include that in her speech, then what should she (and everyone else) expect?

Whether or not the school district is right or wrong as far as what is and isn't allowed in speeches is a different issue.

[LightningBoy]

A male wearing a dress to prom = socially unacceptable.
Thanking God in a graduation speech = socially acceptable.

This school was wrong; no double standard either.

[IntrepidIsMe]

Not at a public school, apparently. If you aren't allowed to talk about your belief in god, then why exactly should you be allowed to give a speech about it?

Also, she seems to be preaching, more or less. She made "numerous references to god and Jesus Christ." It really takes only one to say "I thank God for where I am today."

[ILoveHarry]

I think the whole PC thing has gotten way out of control. People need to get over it. No one can please everyone all of the time. Not just this incident... in general. It's out of control. I love the song, "Everyone's a Little Bit Racist," from, Avenue Q. It's so true. If you've never heard it, you should go listen to it now. Anyway, I think people get offended just for the sake of getting offended.

[Republican_Man]

[IntrepidIsMe]

And what about Religion in the Public Schools: A Joint Statement of Current Law? All public schools follow the guidelines listed within it.

[ILoveHarry]

Mmm... sort of... but from what I understand, the grad was saying God is something that really helped her. She wasn't saying, "...if you don't attribute your successes to God, you will burn in Hell." ONe is a testimonial. The other is a judgment.

[IntrepidIsMe]

Then all she would have to say is "I attribute my success to god" and not have to make "numerous references." That's apparently what they took issue with. Although the article isn't really all that clear on which point they (the school district) had a problem with.

[ILoveHarry]

You make a good point. We really need to know what was said in the speech to properly debate it's intentions.

[Republican_Man]

[ILoveHarry]

Great! Please share your findings with us, RM.

[teya]

[ILoveHarry]

I don't see the differance.

[Republican_Man]

Okay, the interview just ended and the girl will be on Hannity and Colmes tonight. We might even get to see some video of the commencement ceremony as well. Here�s what happened.

The students giving speeches had to write rough drafts for their speeches a month ago. Brittney wrote her speech, turned it in, and was told to revise much of it. She and her parents went to get a lawyer to help them out because they didn�t feel that this was right and yet, for whatever reason, the lawyer didn�t get around to helping them. She had to revise the speech or not speak at all, but she had the courage of her convictions to still speak.
She started her speech and eventually got to a part of it where she talked about God�s love and the encouragement that it gave him. The reaction from the audience was ecstatic and one of excitement, but then she started talking about Jesus and the support he gave her. The mike was turned off at that point and there was plenty of booing from the audience. She heard people yelling things like �turn the mike back on� and the situation was just �chaotic,� to use her words.
But there�s context to her message about Jesus. She wasn�t �preaching.� What she was doing was talking about what drove her to her success, as one is supposed to do when giving a commencement speech. It just happened to be that what helped her succeed and get through her high school career with such success was God, Jesus, and the love that they provided.
That�s the context in which she was stating those things. It wasn�t merely about God and a preaching kind of ceremony, but rather in the context of, �What got me through my high school career with such success?�
That is entirely within the proper context of the ceremony and her rights as an American citizen. She was speaking just as a valedictorian should, discussing her motivations, inspirations, and her values that led to her success--what gave her the success she had, and it just happened to be about Jesus.
And yet apparently we can no longer express God and faith and love and country in America because it�s too controversial and somebody�s going to be offended. And yet she had the courage to stand on her convictions and didn�t change who she was and what inspired her to go to success simply because of some anti-religious school rules. Now kids can�t speak at commencement ceremonies because they want to talk about God, and in the proper context, no less? What�s right about that? It seems to me like this is nothing more than another attack on Christianity.
She got up there and talked about how God and Jesus helped her succeed. It wasn�t a Bible lesson, but rather an expression of what brought her the success she had attained and what brought her to become valedictorian--what resulted in her presenting that speech to that constituency. She did it in entirely the right context, and yet because it was about God, because it was about Jesus, it was not permissible. That�s just sad. It really is.

[IntrepidIsMe]

I'm assuming the school district was invited to speak about why it responded the way it did?

[ILoveHarry]

HM. I bet if she'd of said she attributes all of her success to not being Christian, no one would of cared.

[IntrepidIsMe]

That doesn't make any references to one God in particular, though. So, naturally, no.

[Republican_Man]

I don't believe that that's the case for tonight, but my guess is they may get their chance in the next couple days if it's not tonight. But it doesn't matter, in my opinion. This gives an intelligent 18-year-old girl who worked hard to become valedictorian the chance to state her case. No doubt Allan Colmes will argue the school's side, though, and the school's statements and everything will be stated. But the girl clearly laid out the school's policies on Hannity's radio show, stating how she knew what the rules were and everything. She talked about the policies and all that, so it's not like she's saying, "Hey, I'm persecuted. The school did it just 'cause." She clearly stated the district's policies which she took to task in not revising her speech much.
The fact still remains, though, that she did it in the proper context and the school just didn't give a dang about the context. All they cared about was the references to God and Jesus and the fact that they were there. Who cares abut how she was saying it, what the context was. All that matters was that she was "pushing her Christian agenda" and whatever else the left could pull out

[ILoveHarry]

[IntrepidIsMe]

Perhaps we should all re-read what was posted an not make quick assumptions:

[Republican_Man]

Well, that's treu, but that would still be the flip-side, saying the opposite of "It's because I'm a Christian" and whatnot. Both should be permissible, as wrong as ILH's suggestion is (not ILH in any way, but the prospect of what ILH said).