Valedictorian's speech cut short by school district because she mentioned God...

[cardaway]

Do the people in support of this girl think the school board made the rules without the blessing of a majority of Christians? Once again folks, you don't get to claim this extreme majority when talking about how things should be given the numbers and then ignore it when it comes down to who made the rules others must follow. That majority you claim did it to themselves.

 

[Charade]

Do the people in support of this girl think the school board made the rules without the blessing of a majority of Christians?

Since when does a schoolboard (in general) make it's policies based on the public's approval? They don't.

Once again folks, you don't get to claim this extreme majority when talking about how things should be given the numbers and then ignore it when it comes down to who made the rules others must follow. That majority you claim did it to themselves.

I have no idea what you're trying to say here.

 

[chobie]

Since when does a schoolboard (in general) make it's policies based on the public's approval? .

Since they became elected by the public.

 

[poohandwendy]

. Rosa Park's actions changed the course of history in this country. All this girl did was to thumb her nose because she didn't get her way.

Rosa Parks did not have any idea that her actions would change the course of history. She took a stand because she was tired of being treatment she and other African Americans were dealing with. She was thumbing her nose too. That may very well be the same exact feeling the valedictorian had at the time. If you don't think that many, many Christians are tired of being told their religious views must be kept to themselves, you are misinformed. Many feel their rights are being tramped on and that is why this sort of thing is happening.

Right or wrong, whole other debate, but that is what is fueling this sort of thing.

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

To those of you who think she should have been allowed to continue with her deviation from the approved speech:

Would you feel the same of she were including references to a different religion? Muslim? Hinduism? Judaism? What about Paganism? What about Satanism?

The fact that this country does NOT discriminate based upon religion means that there must be equal treatment for all religions. If the school allows a speech with so many references to Christianity, they have set a legal precedent and have opened the doors for references to any and all of the above. They CANNOT say "Well, those references to Christ were okay, but references to Buddha or Allah, or atheism aren't."

The school made the right decision to disapprove her first speech. She made the decision to amend her speech, pretended that she was going to give that speech, let the school approve it, and then said what she wanted to say. That is a lie.

I'm glad the school board stopped her.

 

[eclectics]

Rosa Parks did not have any idea that her actions would change the course of history. She took a stand because she was tired of being treatment she and other African Americans were dealing with. She was thumbing her nose too. That may very well be the same exact feeling the valedictorian had at the time. If you don't think that many, many Christians are tired of being told their religious views must be kept to themselves, you are misinformed. Many feel their rights are being tramped on and that is why this sort of thing is happening.

Right or wrong, whole other debate, but that is what is fueling this sort of thing.

I don't think I'm misinformed. I do know that some Christians want their views front and center, above others beliefs, and when that does not happen they view it as their rights being tramped on. If you look at the whole picture in this country, it just isn't so. Christians are as equal as any other religion in this great land, but Christianity is not the state religion and others have as much rights to their religion as you do to yours. And I am a Christian, by the way. And I do not feel discriminated against, in any way, shape, or form.

 

[cardaway]

Since when does a schoolboard (in general) make it's policies based on the public's approval? They don't.

I have no idea what you're trying to say here.

Nevermind. You like to ask questions but ignore the questions of others.

 

[poohandwendy]

I don't think I'm misinformed. I do know that some Christians want their views front and center, above others beliefs, and when that does not happen they view it as their rights being tramped on. If you look at the whole picture in this country, it just isn't so. Christians are as equal as any other religion in this great land, but Christianity is not the state religion and others have as much rights to their religion as you do to yours. And I am a Christian, by the way. And I do not feel discriminated against, in any way, shape, or form.

I am also a Christian and I also do not feel discriminated against. But others do and that is what is fueling this sort of thing, that was my only point. the thing is, things like this just fuel the fire even more. Right or wrong.

 

[discernment]

Wrong.

The majority of the school board, the school, and the community can all be professing Christians but it only takes the threat of the ACLU for these schools to over react and start banning anything related to Christianity. Most school administrators are more worried about an ACLU lawsuit than what the school board or community believes in as professing Christians.

But thankfully you are starting to see a backlash now esp around the holidays and see people stand up to those that choose to misinterpret teh Constitution.

 

[Charade]

Since they became elected by the public.

So you're saying the SB holds public hearings for every policy decision they make?

They don't. That's what I meant.

 

[PoohnPglet]

I don't think I'm misinformed. I do know that some Christians want their views front and center, above others beliefs, and when that does not happen they view it as their rights being tramped on. If you look at the whole picture in this country, it just isn't so. Christians are as equal as any other religion in this great land, but Christianity is not the state religion and others have as much rights to their religion as you do to yours. And I am a Christian, by the way. And I do not feel discriminated against, in any way, shape, or form.

You know, I don’t know if the phrase is discriminated against, but I do feel like my position, and those like mine, is completely overlooked. And in many cases, actually looked down on. I hear so many people say that "they" are trying to take god out of everything. Try living as someone that does not believe and then you might see how difficult religion, any religion but mostly Christianity, is to stay away from.

I do not smoke; therefore I stay out of smoking areas. There are a lot of smokers that are resentful of being shoved into designated areas to smoke. But, for those of us that do not smoke, it’s a reasonable way keep smoke out of our space as best as possible. No one is taking away their “right” to smoke, only designating where they can do it.

I feel this same way about religion in public. I am not a believer and because of this I do not go to places of worship. I am completely and totally respectful when in the home of someone that has certain beliefs. I do not want to take anything away from anyone. But can’t there be designated areas where the sermons and the preaching and the witnessing etc…can take place? Actually, aren’t they called churches and synagogues and mosques? Aren’t your homes and private meeting halls such a place as well? Does God have to be everywhere?

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

To those of you who think she should have been allowed to continue with her deviation from the approved speech:

Would you feel the same of she were including references to a different religion? Muslim? Hinduism? Judaism? What about Paganism? What about Satanism?

The fact that this country does NOT discriminate based upon religion means that there must be equal treatment for all religions. If the school allows a speech with so many references to Christianity, they have set a legal precedent and have opened the doors for references to any and all of the above. They CANNOT say "Well, those references to Christ were okay, but references to Buddha or Allah, or atheism aren't."

The school made the right decision to disapprove her first speech. She made the decision to amend her speech, pretended that she was going to give that speech, let the school approve it, and then said what she wanted to say. That is a lie.

I'm glad the school board stopped her.

No one wants to answer this?

 

[poohandwendy]

You know, I don’t know if the phrase is discriminated against, but I do feel like my position, and those like mine, is completely overlooked. And in many cases, actually looked down on. I hear so many people say that "they" are trying to take god out of everything. Try living as someone that does not believe and then you might see how difficult religion, any religion but mostly Christianity, is to stay away from.

I do not smoke; therefore I stay out of smoking areas. There are a lot of smokers that are resentful of being shoved into designated areas to smoke. But, for those of us that do not smoke, it’s a reasonable way keep smoke out of our space as best as possible. No one is taking away their “right” to smoke, only designating where they can do it.

I feel this same way about religion in public. I am not a believer and because of this I do not go to places of worship. I am completely and totally respectful when in the home of someone that has certain beliefs. I do not want to take anything away from anyone. But can’t there be designated areas where the sermons and the preaching and the witnessing etc…can take place? Actually, aren’t they called churches and synagogues and mosques? Aren’t your homes and private meeting halls such a place as well? Does God have to be everywhere?

I do understand your point, but religion is such an intergral part of many people lives that it is bound to be something they express. I guess I just cannot think of any way to explain it except to say that it would be like someone saying you cannot discuss a special interest of yours, except in certain places.

And the problem is that there are very differing opinions on what is and what is not 'witnessing' or 'preaching'. Some people see the very mention of religious views is 'preachy', some poeple think it is fine unless another person is trying to get others involved in their religion. So, it's not so easy to make 'rules' that would please everyone. It's an etiquette thing. You can have unwritten rules that many considerate people will follow, but it really isn't anything you can regulate so there are bound to be people who will offend others.

 

[eclectics]

You know, I don’t know if the phrase is discriminated against, but I do feel like my position, and those like mine, is completely overlooked. And in many cases, actually looked down on. I hear so many people say that "they" are trying to take god out of everything. Try living as someone that does not believe and then you might see how difficult religion, any religion but mostly Christianity, is to stay away from.

I do not smoke; therefore I stay out of smoking areas. There are a lot of smokers that are resentful of being shoved into designated areas to smoke. But, for those of us that do not smoke, it’s a reasonable way keep smoke out of our space as best as possible. No one is taking away their “right” to smoke, only designating where they can do it.

I feel this same way about religion in public. I am not a believer and because of this I do not go to places of worship. I am completely and totally respectful when in the home of someone that has certain beliefs. I do not want to take anything away from anyone. But can’t there be designated areas where the sermons and the preaching and the witnessing etc…can take place? Actually, aren’t they called churches and synagogues and mosques? Aren’t your homes and private meeting halls such a place as well? Does God have to be everywhere?

I don't look down on athiests at all. Your right not to believe is indeed, your right. My point is I don't believe one group should have more clout in this country than anyone else. It's almost an impossible task as there will always be some that think they are being overlooked and others that think they deserve more than they are getting. I think we all have to walk a very fine line and resist the urge to preach unless you are certain everyone you are talking to wants to listen.

 

[eclectics]

I am also a Christian and I also do not feel discriminated against. But others do and that is what is fueling this sort of thing, that was my only point. the thing is, things like this just fuel the fire even more. Right or wrong.

Yes it does. I agree. Free speech debates are never a cake walk.

 

[LuvDuke]

So you're saying the SB holds public hearings for every policy decision they make?

They don't. That's what I meant.

In the state of Florida, the Sunshine laws mandate that ALL policy decisions related to the public business, must be held in public or be available to the public and not in private in a room somewhere. It's called transparency in government. Perhaps you don't like transparency in government?

 

[MrsPete]

Does God have to be everywhere?

Well, yeah. He is everywhere.

Going back to the original question, I think the girl was right to want to include her beliefs in her speech; however, once she was told specifically that those lines had to be cut -- and once she chose to disobey that ruling -- she overstepped her bounds. By "sneaking" the lines into the speech, she dishonored both God and herself. If she really wanted to make a statement about religion, she could've stepped aside, saying that her right to free speech was being curtailed. Handled correctly, every newspaper in town would've then printed her original speech in full on the front page of the paper. Her entire message would've been "out there" for everyone to read, and she'd have made a positive impact for God.

 

[beattyfamily]

FYI...

They will be talking to the student on the Today show this morning.

 

[chris1gill]

No one wants to answer this?

LuLu, you made too many good points... hard to dispute what you said, other than for them to say that Christ is the only God that counts to them, but then they look like they are discriminating against others....

 

[Charade]

In the state of Florida, the Sunshine laws mandate that ALL policy decisions related to the public business, must be held in public or be available to the public and not in private in a room somewhere. It's called transparency in government. Perhaps you don't like transparency in government?

Actually, I prefer shadow government...

I don't think making a policy decision on what can be said or not said in a Valedictorian speech should include the public. Seems like a waste of time and money. However, if there is backlash from such a decision, the school board SHOULD listen to the public's concerns and possibly reconsider it's policies. Perhaps that's how that school boards policy came about. But it seems like they tipped too far in the other direction. IOW, overreacted.

I do like transparency in government but it's not the same from state to state. Around here, they do have public meetings but not for every little policy decision they need to make. I think there needs to be a balance between letting the people we elect do the things we believe we elected them for and keeping the public "in the loop" along the way.

Are you saying all public business decisions made by the school board are put to a public vote? If your SB is like ours, they hold public meetings, take "input" from the public and then vote. The vote could still be against what the public wants.