Valedictorian Rips Up Speech And Recites Lord's Prayer

[pmv]

It would be his right. I think a lot of people praising this kid are failing to realize how separation of church and state work. The school can not lead a prayer during a graduation ceremony. It is a school function and a prayer led by school officials violates the entire premise behind separation of church and state (public school only obviously). This kid however is welcome to pray in his seat, in the stands, during his speech, whatever. Even being valedictorian doesn't make him an official of the school and thus an official of the state, it's just an honor bestowed upon him. His speech is perfectly welcome to contain religious references if he chooses.

Notice how it talks about him ripping up his pre-approved speech but it nowhere mentions him ever trying to get a version with the prayer approved to begin with. It probably would have been. The only thing schools would generally disallow would be profanity or verbal attacks on the school or students, they may also disallow speech with a clear political agenda as a graduation speech is no place for such a thing.

This is what I was going to say. I don't see why anyone would want to punish him (though I wonder if he was hoping to be made a sort of martyr?).

If I were a student there I would object strongly to the school officially bookending my graduation with a religious reading (that I would not identify with or see as having anything to do with my graduation) - but if a student wants to read something like that as his own 'speech', what's the problem?

Personally, I wouldn't mind if a student gave a political speech either (within reason). Its their speech, I expect nobody other than their own family is listening anyway.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

I say let him. It would be completely inappropriate though especially in a Christian country. I would suspect that people might drown him out.

If he wants an Islamic prayer then let him but Christians and atheists should be able to respond back though.

The ACLU and atheist groups along with liberals would have no problem but would have a problem with the Christian so there are double standards.

I have no problem with free speech as long as people are saying something I agree with.

 

[CitizenKain]

I say let him. It would be completely inappropriate though especially in a Christian country. I would suspect that people might drown him out.

If he wants an Islamic prayer then let him but Christians and atheists should be able to respond back though.

The ACLU and atheist groups along with liberals would have no problem but would have a problem with the Christian so there are double standards.

If he had walked on stage and "Allah is the way and the light" he likely wouldn't have survived the night, and you'd be cheering about it. Also why would christians and Atheists be allowed to shout him down, but not the other way around?

 

[debian0001]

That must have been painful to watch.

 

[TheVrolok]

He wasn't pushing an agenda and he got mostly positive responses.

So he did it as a protest, but wasn't pushing an agenda? Trolls be trollin'. Troll on.

 

[JEDIYoda]

Somehow I doubt you would be supporting the student's "right to free speech" if he were Muslim and recited a prayer to Allah instead.

that has what exaxctly to do with this thread....or are you just trolling...

 

[Incorruptible]

So he did it as a protest, but wasn't pushing an agenda? Trolls be trollin'. Troll on.

From what I read he is passionate about Christianity and his father is a pastor. He feels religion is important and I didn't see him force his views onto others.

 

[Brainonska511]

From what I read he is passionate about Christianity and his father is a pastor. He feels religion is important and I didn't see him force his views onto others.

No... he just led a prayer to a relatively captive audience. I think there's a word for that, but I just can't seem to force the words to come to mind...

 

[JEDIYoda]

No... he just led a prayer to a relatively captive audience. I think there's a word for that, but I just can't seem to force the words to come to mind...

awwwwwwwwwwwwww

 

[peonyu]

If he had walked on stage and "Allah is the way and the light" he likely wouldn't have survived the night, and you'd be cheering about it. Also why would christians and Atheists be allowed to shout him down, but not the other way around?

The town this kid did this in sounds like it is entirely Christian, so the chances of a Muslim doing that is close to nil. However in Dearborn Michigan, [which is rapidly becoming a clone of Pakistan] a Muslim could easily say allah akbar in his speech and expect great praise for doing so...A Christian saying the Lord's Prayer in Dearborn may very well be beheaded on stage by the Muslim-Majority in the area.

Context is everything.

 

[Incorruptible]

The town this kid did this in sounds like it is entirely Christian, so the chances of a Muslim doing that is close to nil. However in Dearborn Michigan, [which is rapidly becoming a clone of Pakistan] a Muslim could easily say allah akbar in his speech and expect great praise for doing so...A Christian saying the Lord's Prayer in Dearborn may very well be beheaded on stage by the Muslim-Majority in the area.

Context is everything.

You're right that a Muslim could say a prayer and nothing would happen but the Christian would probably get attacked and maybe even arrested for inciting a riot.

 

[CanOWorms]

Seems like this kid is not assimilated into American society, like so many white males today. Hopefully he will be identified as someone who should be targeted for more social programs to help him enter modern America.

 

[Incorruptible]

awwwwwwwwwwwwww

He just can't stand that a Christian stood up for himself and exercised his free speech.

 

[Paul98]

That isn't the place for a speech like this, it's not just about the person making the speech.

 

[Darwin333]

Listen you anti-Christian bigot. Why should the school be sued for this? This is just people being idiots and getting offended by nothing.

Lol, you still don't get it do you. The student simply walked into a very well thought out trap by the people winning the war against Christians. We can't wait to see what this "courageous hero for your cause" winds up costing you in real money while achieving absolutely nothing. Bwahahahaha, nothing better than making the other side beat themselves.

Sincerely Incorruptible, I must thank you. You are the sole reason I was even introduced to this war, before you I had no idea that it was being fought. Now that I do I am able to assist in and at times even fight in this war against the great thieves and oppressors, victory shall be ours!

Is it to early to wish you Happy Holidays? I know it wasn't that long ago that my kids were out gathering holiday eggs but it comes earlier every year.

 

[Darwin333]

I say let him. It would be completely inappropriate though especially in a Christian country. I would suspect that people might drown him out.

If he wants an Islamic prayer then let him but Christians and atheists should be able to respond back though.

The ACLU and atheist groups along with liberals would have no problem but would have a problem with the Christian so there are double standards.

LMFAO! If we were a "Christian country" you wouldn't be crying about a war on christians in said country now would you?

 

[Incorruptible]

LMFAO! If we were a "Christian country" you wouldn't be crying about a war on christians in said country now would you?

But there are constant attacks on Christianity so I talk about them.

 

[Retro Rob]

You know, this thread shows some atheists are simply a bunch of bigots hiding deeply behind the "separation of church and state".

That doesn't mean you have the right to keep religion COMPLETELY out of the public sphere -- which is what they want. I know they HATE THE FACT that people believe in God. Deal with it. I don't give a crap if folks believe in talking staircases... what harm is that beleif bringing on to me?

What makes is even more bigoted, is that they haven't offered no more scientific evidence than believers have offered -- the non-existence of God is nothing more than YOUR opinion, anyway.

Atheist need to follow their own advice -- leave Theists alone and you will be left alone.

 

[fskimospy]

You know, this thread shows some atheists are simply a bunch of bigots hiding deeply behind the "separation of church and state".

That doesn't mean you have the right to keep religion COMPLETELY out of the public sphere -- which is what they want. I know they HATE THE FACT that people believe in God. Deal with it. I don't give a crap if folks believe in talking staircases... what harm is that beleif bringing on to me?

What makes is even more bigoted, is that they haven't offered no more scientific evidence than believers have offered -- the non-existence of God is nothing more than YOUR opinion, anyway.

Atheist need to follow their own advice -- leave Theists alone and you will be left alone.

First, as we've been over before, theists are the ones making a positive statement about the existence of god, therefore the burden of proof is on them. (one they have been consistently unable to meet, I might add)

Secondly, this thread and many others are specifically about theists NOT leaving people alone and instead trying to use public resources to promote their religion. I wish for the day that Christians in the US would stop trying to use the power of government to promote Christianity. I basically never even think about religion unless it is due to someone else bringing it up or trying to force a belief on me.

 

[Retro Rob]

Secondly, this thread and many others are specifically about theists NOT leaving people alone and instead trying to use public resources to promote their religion. I wish for the day that Christians in the US would stop trying to use the power of government to promote Christianity. I basically never even think about religion unless it is due to someone else bringing it up or trying to force a belief on me.

So, since you don't agree with them, they can't use public resources? I agree with your point about using Government to force it, but we're talking about a silly school prayer by an individual student.

If Atheists have a problem with me using MY time to make a prayer (whether its a Muslim or not), then they're indeed a hateful group of bigots.

What if he thanked Darwin? I'm am quite sure they'd not only applaud that, but probably buy him dinner.

This is really prejudice, when you think about it.

 

[Incorruptible]

You know, this thread shows some atheists are simply a bunch of bigots hiding deeply behind the "separation of church and state".

That doesn't mean you have the right to keep religion COMPLETELY out of the public sphere -- which is what they want. I know they HATE THE FACT that people believe in God. Deal with it. I don't give a crap if folks believe in talking staircases... what harm is that beleif bringing on to me?

What makes is even more bigoted, is that they haven't offered no more scientific evidence than believers have offered -- the non-existence of God is nothing more than YOUR opinion, anyway.

Atheist need to follow their own advice -- leave Theists alone and you will be left alone.

Good points. Many of these atheists have a deep hatred for Christians and will take any chance to attack them. Where were these same atheists when people of other religions pray in schools? They don't have a problem with Jews, Hindus or Muslims praying.

The separation of Church and state means that the state can't endorse a religion and it doesn't mean that religion must be kept out of public. Christians have the right to pray in public and atheists can't stop them.

These atheists are so full of hate and such hypocrites. They are nothing but a bunch of cowards.

 

[Retro Rob]

Good points. Many of these atheists have a deep hatred for Christians and will take any chance to attack them. Where were these same atheists when people of other religions pray in schools? They don't have a problem with Jews, Hindus or Muslims praying.

The separation of Church and state means that the state can't endorse a religion and it doesn't mean that religion must be kept out of public. Christians have the right to pray in public and atheists can't stop them.

These atheists are so full of hate and such hypocrites. They are nothing but a bunch of cowards.

No -- they dislike all religion, period. I expect the same treatment if these were Muslims praying.

At any rate, I think it stinks of prejudice when petitions are protests are being made against persons wishing to express, publicly, their beliefs... and people in this thread are actually supporting prejudice.

???

 

[Orignal Earl]

I say let him. It would be completely inappropriate though especially in a Christian country. I would suspect that people might drown him out.

Well, that's what was happening a long time ago, the Christians couldn't keep their religion to themselves, and that would lead to violence etc.
So gov had to make laws to at least try and keep it out of schools etc

Your constant chanting about the US being a Christian country, is actually worse then some foreign loser trying to claim it for Islam.
Your war against the infidels here is a long ways from over, and may never be won

Looking at this town on google maps, there is a hundred homes and 50 Churches.
There is maybe a Chinese restaurant

If there is a Jewish kid there (probably not), he should go for it next year, then recite out one of those 3 hour Hebrew bits
That'll keep the Christians quite for another decade

 

[TheVrolok]

If Atheists have a problem with me using MY time to make a prayer (whether its a Muslim or not), then they're indeed a hateful group of bigots.

Personally, had I been there I would have simply sat there and daydreamed. However, the quoted piece above isn't entirely relevant to the OP. The student wasn't using his time to make a prayer, he was using everyone's time, including those who do not want to use their time in Christian prayer.

 

[Orignal Earl]

The town this kid did this in sounds like it is entirely Christian, so the chances of a Muslim doing that is close to nil. However in Dearborn Michigan, [which is rapidly becoming a clone of Pakistan] a Muslim could easily say allah akbar in his speech and expect great praise for doing so...A Christian saying the Lord's Prayer in Dearborn may very well be beheaded on stage by the Muslim-Majority in the area.

Context is everything.

When you hear a Muslim saying " allah akbar " he is just thanking god
Like you hear people say * Thank God* a thousand times a day

You have some really messed up ideas about the Muslims in Dearborn, they smile and nod at millions of Christians everyday.
In reality, they are going to be happy you found God, no matter which version you picked

Context is everything