Why was it inappropriate, unacceptable, or too far?
I understand you may not share his beliefs but his short introduction on his personal faith then recitation of a brief prayer seems far too inconsequential to be inappropriate, unacceptable, or too far. I could agree with you if he took the podium and delivered a fire and brimstone sermon antagonizing those who have different beliefs but he didn't.
What is so wrong with having to spend a few very brief minutes listening to someone who has a difference of opinion?
Because he was told beforehand that discussing things of a religious nature was prohibited.
He was required to submit his address to the school's administration for their review/appproval, which he did.
He school approved his address, and his being the valedictory speaker, based on the speech he submitted, which abided by the rules laid down by the administration.
When he got up to the podium to give the address which had been reviewed and approved he proceded to tear it up, make a few brief comments about how important his faith was to him, then recited the Lord's Prayer, and that was it.
The way he handled the matter was underhanded.
If he disagreed with the "no religion" policy he could have opted out of giving the valedictory address at any time.
He could have just chosen not to be involved.
He could have submitted, in protest, an address that included religious material and then either removed it or accepted the fact that he would not be permitted to give an address.
He could even have offered a few comments or a prayer and then given the appproved address.
Essentially what he did was choose the least appropriate and noble path possible.
As I've made clear previously in this thread, it wouldn't matter to me if he mentioned religion or said a prayer. I have no problem at all sitting through either. It wouldn't even have mattered to me if his entire speech was about God, and how great God is, and how great his religion is, and how God is good, and how God is great, and all that.
I think all of that is nonsense, but I've sat through plenty of speeches and presentations and whatnot that were equally, if not more inane.
Like I also said earlier, there is nothing good about a commencement ceremony. They all suck, and dragging God into one isn't going to make it any worse (or any better for that matter).
But I'm also of the belief that if you accept a responsibility, and if you give your word, you keep your word and you take your responsibility seriously.
This kid gave his word not to turn the commencement into a religious event and he accepted the rresponsibility to give the address which had been approved.
I think that shirking his word and his responsibility is the act of a real piece of trash human being.
Granted, this kid was a piece of trash in God's name (Amen), but nevertheless...