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Valedictorian Defies School District and Recites Lord's Prayer [W:618]

Should the school have banned the reading of the prayer by the student?

  • Yes

    Votes: 24 27.3%

  • No

    Votes: 60 68.2%

  • Undecided

    Votes: 4 4.5%
  • Total voters
    88
davidtaylorjr said:
The Supreme Court opens with prayer, Presidential Functions include prayer, yet someone at a school function shouldn't be able to pray?
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They can pray all day whenever and wherever they'd like. They shouldn't be leading a prayer at an event that a public school that has nothing to do with religion.
 
iacardsfan said:
Ok, be ignorant, ignore actual court rulings i quote and just continue to think that your religion is the only one out there, and don't think how the forcing of listening to anothers religion can affect one. whatever i have no time for ignorance. Continue to think this kid has been wronged even though not only did he violate the rights established through court cases on the matter, but he defied his school at the same time. You are right the poor kid is being disciplined for NO reason.
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He isn't being disciplined. In fact, he got standing ovations.
 
iliveonramen said:
They can pray all day whenever and wherever they'd like. They shouldn't be leading a prayer at an event that a public school that has nothing to do with religion.
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The functions I mentioned have nothing to do with religion, why is it ok for them?
 
davidtaylorjr said:
I deny that anyone was forced. Nobody had to stay and listen. They could leave and come back when he was done.
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your opinion doesnt matter to the rights of those in question

yep dishonest is definitely your one and only strong suit.
 
X Factor said:
You're right, they should cut his ****ing tongue out, the little criminal.
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I never said that. I'm just at a loss why people are defending him. there is a time and a place for everything, and in a school filled with people from several different backgrounds and religions, it is not the time to break out in prayer. Those people did not ask for it yet they were subjected to it. I'm not saying the kid needs to be thrown in jail. I'm just saying that whatever punishment the school board gives is fair. There shouldn't be a controversy over freedom of speech because there are other freedoms in violation too. There isn't anyhting major, i'm just pointing out here that this kid isn't the victim like it is being made out he is.
 
AGENT J said:
your opinion doesnt matter to the rights of those in question

yep dishonest is definitely your one and only strong suit.
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You keep saying I'm dishonest, I haven't been dishonest about anything.
 
davidtaylorjr said:
He isn't being disciplined. In fact, he got standing ovations.
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Well yes, South Carolina is a place where racism and religious intolerance along with ignorance is quite common. I lived there for quite some time. Much happier up north. It explains why he got standing ovations, other places where ethnic diversity is not frowned upon might have been taken more seriously. Alas the kid might be looked at as a hero, and it might not have offended anybody at all, and if that's the case then by all means congrats and continue to spread the word of your God. This isn't that big of a story to get so worked up upon. I just don't want the freedom of religion to be trampled on by close minded people.
 
davidtaylorjr said:
The functions I mentioned have nothing to do with religion, why is it ok for them?
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I don't think it's ok for them. I'm not sure what your point is here. I don't think the girl should be punished because it's not some major deal but I don't understand why religion for evangelicals has to be some public matter.

I've always found the "need to be in your face" religious folks weird. I generally adhere to this

nd when you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Truly I say to you, They have their reward. 6But you, when you pray, enter into your closet, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father which is in secret; and your Father which sees in secret shall reward you openly. 7But when you pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. …
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davidtaylorjr said:
You keep saying I'm dishonest, I haven't been dishonest about anything.
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nooooooo of course not
well its either you being dishonest or you are severely uneducated about the topics at hand. Either way you are wrong.

The school has every right to limit and or sensor any speech that is being made at their function.
 
iacardsfan said:
Well yes, South Carolina is a place where racism and religious intolerance along with ignorance is quite common. I lived there for quite some time. Much happier up north. It explains why he got standing ovations, other places where ethnic diversity is not frowned upon might have been taken more seriously. Alas the kid might be looked at as a hero, and it might not have offended anybody at all, and if that's the case then by all means congrats and continue to spread the word of your God. This isn't that big of a story to get so worked up upon. I just don't want the freedom of religion to be trampled on by close minded people.
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Having someone say something regarding their religion in NO WAY stomps on your freedom of religion. That is ridiculous.
 
iliveonramen said:
They can pray all day whenever and wherever they'd like. They shouldn't be leading a prayer at an event that a public school that has nothing to do with religion.
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He read a prayer, those who wanted to join in did. He wasn't a representative of the school nor a leader of the ceremony. I'll be attending my Grandson's graduation ceremony today, I'll be praying, might even do so out loud.
 
davidtaylorjr said:
Having someone say something regarding their religion in NO WAY stomps on your freedom of religion. That is ridiculous.
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You saw the reaction, he was applauded. What next, mandatory prayer sessions? I'm just saying this opens the doorway for major infringements on the freedom of religion. Whether or not it was a violation (which I already proved through a court ruling it was) is not really the issue.
 
clownboy said:
He read a prayer, those who wanted to join in did. He wasn't a representative of the school nor a leader of the ceremony. I'll be attending my Grandson's graduation ceremony today, I'll be praying, might even do so out loud.
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I'm not sure why he had to pray out loud on a microphone. Generally religion is a personal matter (at least to me)....but by all means yell to everyone how religious you are even if they don't care.
 
iacardsfan said:
You saw the reaction, he was applauded. What next, mandatory prayer sessions? I'm just saying this opens the doorway for major infringements on the freedom of religion. Whether or not it was a violation (which I already proved through a court ruling it was) is not really the issue.
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I hardly say this would open the door to mandatory prayer sessions. That's a bit extreme don't you think?
 
iacardsfan said:
You saw the reaction, he was applauded. What next, mandatory prayer sessions? I'm just saying this opens the doorway for major infringements on the freedom of religion. Whether or not it was a violation (which I already proved through a court ruling it was) is not really the issue.
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No it doesn't. He is allowed to pray as a student (even out loud). No one was compelled to pray.
 
Geoist said:
Would you or other conservatives have applauded if it was a Muslim valedictorian giving a prayer?
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Applauded? No, however, I wouldn't be making a huge deal of it. If it is what he wanted to say let him say it.
 
Geoist said:
Would you or other conservatives have applauded if it was a Muslim valedictorian giving a prayer?
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Maybe not, maybe so. Doesn't change that he wouldn't necessarily be wrong in doing so.
 
davidtaylorjr said:
I hardly say this would open the door to mandatory prayer sessions. That's a bit extreme don't you think?
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Ok, that might have been a stretch with mandatory prayer sessions, but in all reality, it would open the doors to small more insignificant things, that in the long run could cultivate to that.
 
clownboy said:
No it doesn't. He is allowed to pray as a student (even out loud). No one was compelled to pray.
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They were forced to listen though.

The Justice Department:

The right to engage in voluntary prayer does not include the right to have a captive audience for that prayer or to compel other students to participate.
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His audience was captive: thus a violation....not rocket science.
 
iacardsfan said:
Ok, that might have been a stretch with mandatory prayer sessions, but in all reality, it would open the doors to small more insignificant things, that in the long run could cultivate to that.
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I still don't see how one person getting up and expressing what they believe in, which they have a right to do, would do that. If anything, others listening should just find it interesting about what the person believes and move on. It is not forcing anyone into a religion.
 
Absolutely not. I'm sorry if freedom of religion or free speech offends people (actually I'm not).
 
davidtaylorjr said:
I still don't see how one person getting up and expressing what they believe in, which they have a right to do, would do that. If anything, others listening should just find it interesting about what the person believes and move on. It is not forcing anyone into a religion.
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Well i mean this is where we just have to agree to disagree and move on because I'm not changing my view on it and I'm guessing you aren't either.
 
davidtaylorjr said:
Freedom of speech my friend.
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Would it have been okay then for anyone to get up on stage and start giving a speech? Don't get me wrong, I am as much of a proponent of the 1st amendment as anyone. But the valedictorian was in a position of privilege no one else had. He was wrong to give a speech/prayer that was unapproved by the administration.
 
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