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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
AlabamaPaul said:
Again, these students had already graduated. They were simply attending a ceremony to recognize that fact. IMV, from the reaction I saw on youtube, the vast majority of the audience was in agreement with the speaker. Are you also fighting to have "In God We Trust" removed from our currency? You see, I'm not a very religious person, but I have no issue with its public expression. I'm not interested one way or the other...
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Okay, so the majority people who happened to be in attendance at that particular ceremony happened to agree with reciting of the Lord's Prayer. That really doesn't mean anything in the bigger picture though. Also, the fact that the student was a graduate attending a ceremony does not mean he is immune from the rules.

I also can't do certain things on school property. If I was to be a guest speaker, yes, there are certain rules I would have to follow with regards to my speech and how I presented myself. That is just LIFE. There are rules, and nothing that I am aware of was outrageous or an egregious affront to this student's rights. We don't even know if they asked for religious content to be left out of the speech. ALL we really know here is that the boy disobeyed a school rule.
 
polgara said:
Good afternoon, stonewall50.

:agree:

Verbalizing a prayer establishes a state religion? How? :shock:
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Aaaargh - NO it doesn't "establish a religion" but it does support a specific religious view - one that is not shared by every American. Majorities are not always correct
 
AlabamaPaul said:
They would need to pick and choose the circumstances, but I think the more local the control of the schools the better without having to concern themselves with who might be offended. Good evening 2m...
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Agreed. Good evening, AP.:2wave:
Social event this evening, so I'm gone shortly.:mrgreen:
 
Jack Hays said:
Agreed. Good evening, AP.:2wave:
Social event this evening, so I'm gone shortly.:mrgreen:
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If it's a graduation ceremony, you'd better behave yourself! :cool:
 
ChrisL said:
Okay, so the majority people who happened to be in attendance at that particular ceremony happened to agree with reciting of the Lord's Prayer. That really doesn't mean anything in the bigger picture though. Also, the fact that the student was a graduate attending a ceremony does not mean he is immune from the rules.

I also can't do certain things on school property. If I was to be a guest speaker, yes, there are certain rules I would have to follow with regards to my speech and how I presented myself. That is just LIFE. There are rules, and nothing that I am aware of was outrageous or an egregious affront to this student's rights. We don't even know if they asked for religious content to be left out of the speech. ALL we really know here is that the boy disobeyed a school rule.
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Yes, he basically was immune, as he would not be returning, and you should feel free to speak as you wish if you were invited to speak knowing beforehand that you may never be invited back should you choose to violate any given rules...
 
AlabamaPaul said:
Again, these students had already graduated. They were simply attending a ceremony to recognize that fact. IMV, from the reaction I saw on youtube, the vast majority of the audience was in agreement with the speaker. Are you also fighting to have "In God We Trust" removed from our currency? You see, I'm not a very religious person, but I have no issue with its public expression. I'm not interested one way or the other...
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I would see the speech as completely appropriate if this was a graduation ceremony at a fundie madrassah..............Or is this school a fundie madrassah ? Or just a fundie madrassah wannabee ?.......................
 
Jack Hays said:
Agreed. Good evening, AP.:2wave:
Social event this evening, so I'm gone shortly.:mrgreen:
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I try to avoid social events at all costs. I have only one per year that I must attend. The others are attended after a cost benefit analysis... :mrgreen:
 
AlabamaPaul said:
Yes, he basically was immune, as he would not be returning, and you should feel free to speak as you wish if you were invited to speak knowing beforehand that you may never be invited back should you choose to violate any given rules...
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:rofl That might be how a selfish jerk might view things.
 
Jerry said:
You of all people should know that the only people who go after typos are those who can't argue the topic.

You went after a typo, which means you can't counter my point that the Lord's Prayer is a message of peace.

What matters is not if a message is religious, but if the message is constructive or harmfull. If the religious message were one to inspire war, that would not be appropriate.
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The Christian message, which goes far beyond the Lord's Prayer, has been used to inspire war many, many times throughout history and you know it. Just claiming that it's peaceful means about as much to me as the Muslim claim that Islam is the religion of peace. That's just not how it's used worldwide.
 
Bonzai said:
I would see the speech as completely appropriate if this was a graduation ceremony at a fundie madrassah..............Or is this school a fundie madrassah ? Or just a fundie madrassah wannabee ?.......................
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The point of free speech is that it's "appropriate" anywhere.:mrgreen:
Good evening, Bonz.:2wave:
 
AlabamaPaul said:
Yes, he basically was immune, as he would not be returning, and you should feel free to speak as you wish if you were invited to speak knowing beforehand that you may never be invited back should you choose to violate any given rules...
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So, in other words, you should be a dick that can't keep his word? Whatever you say.
 
Jack Hays said:
The point of free speech is that it's "appropriate" anywhere.:mrgreen:
Good evening, Bonz.:2wave:
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Cool, I'm happy to know that if I stand up before a bunch of small children and start swearing at them, it's "appropriate".

Thanks for your help. :roll:
 
Cephus said:
So, in other words, you should be a dick that can't keep his word? Whatever you say.
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No, he should feel free to speak his mind when addressing his classmates. That you think otherwise is a bit concerning...
 
AlabamaPaul said:
Again, these students had already graduated. They were simply attending a ceremony to recognize that fact. IMV, from the reaction I saw on youtube, the vast majority of the audience was in agreement with the speaker. Are you also fighting to have "In God We Trust" removed from our currency? You see, I'm not a very religious person, but I have no issue with its public expression. I'm not interested one way or the other...
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Good afternoon, AP. :2wave:

I also saw the youtube video, and I agree with your assessment of the audience's reaction. Is belief or faith in something greater than we are so scary to some people? Or is it the fact that it is something they personally do not agree with? Whatever happened to tolerance? :shock:
 
Cephus said:
Cool, I'm happy to know that if I stand up before a bunch of small children and start swearing at them, it's "appropriate".

Thanks for your help. :roll:
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Indeed it is. Other adults may, however, express themselves in opposition. Just sayin' . . .:mrgreen:
 
Jack Hays said:
Indeed it is. Other adults may, however, express themselves in opposition. Just sayin' . . .:mrgreen:
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And what would that consist of?
 
AlabamaPaul said:
No, he should feel free to speak his mind when addressing his classmates. That you think otherwise is a bit concerning...
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But he's not just addressing his classmates, he's addressing a crowd of people, the majority of whom are not high school age. The fact that you think any kind of behavior is appropriate whenever the spirit takes you is more than a bit concerning.
 
polgara said:
Good afternoon, AP. :2wave:

I also saw the youtube video, and I agree with your assessment of the audience's reaction. Is belief or faith in something greater than we are so scary to some people? Or is it the fact that it is something they personally do not agree with? Whatever happened to tolerance? :shock:
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In today's environment, tolerance is not tolerated if one person is intolerant of that tolerance. Good evening pg...
 
Jack Hays said:
Indeed it is. Other adults may, however, express themselves in opposition. Just sayin' . . .:mrgreen:
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You apparently don't understand the difference between "appropriate" and "without consequence".
 
Cephus said:
But he's not just addressing his classmates, he's addressing a crowd of people, the majority of whom are not high school age. The fact that you think any kind of behavior is appropriate whenever the spirit takes you is more than a bit concerning.
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See post #1195 for further clarification. I understand you would like to stifle free speech, but I prefer to protect it...
 
Jack Hays said:
The point of free speech is that it's "appropriate" anywhere.:mrgreen:
Good evening, Bonz.:2wave:
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Good evening. Correct, but isn't it sort of like reciting "Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep" at sleeping disorder clinic ? Precocious in a late teen sort of way and completely irrelevant......................
 
AlabamaPaul said:
See post #1195 for further clarification. I understand you would like to stifle free speech, but I prefer to protect it...
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No, I understand that just because you are free to say a thing, it may be unwise or unacceptable to actually say it. That's a lesson you ought to learn.
 
Cephus said:
No, I understand that just because you are free to say a thing, it may be unwise or unacceptable to actually say it. That's a lesson you ought to learn.
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Many things I say are considered unacceptable by others, but I'm really not too concerned about it. I don't necessarily agree with your views, but I would not attempt to stifle anything you might want to express...
 
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