What I Learned at Graduation: I Have No Rights

[muzicluvs93]

First off, I am not an Athest, Chirstian, Jewish, Wiccan, Muslim, Hindi or any other belief system. I do believe in a God but that is all. This is soo hypocritical, it is basically a requirement for Politicians to at least have a faith yet we can allow people in schools to even say the words "God" or "Christ" ONCE! Make up your minds!!! either we have freedom of religion and speech for all ages or none at all. I know that seems extreme be in all honesty what happens all the time all the time. :/

[RubySkull888]

I feel very bad for all of the children who can no longer express their thoughts in a meaningful way. Everyone is effected though this lacking method of education, every religious person, weather Hindu, Muslim, Jewish, Wiccan, Christian, Buddhist, or followers of Jainism or any other diverse philosophy. The Agnostic individuals need to realize that every human being has different history,s no two fingerprints are exactly the same. This is slowly becoming something very different then learning.

[DeadlyChinchilla]

This is not a "free speech" issue. This is a "mandatory graduation ceremony in a public school" issue. If she wanted to give that speech to her family and friends who *voluntarilly* attended, great! Good for her. NOT at a mandatory function (and yes, many ceremonies are required).

She was told before her speech not to give religious references, and she AGREED. Then she went on stage & decided to disrespect the school and the law. The school could be SUED & absolutely did the right thing.

[justicetrooper]

It's true that there are no free speech rights in many schools. I was taught this by nearly every teacher I had. "You're a child. You don't have the freedom of speech." Was what they would tell us.

[AnAnonymousStudent]

Simple solution would be just to replace God with "Bob" and Christ with "Chris" in this speech. See if this passes the political correctness test.

[thearbiter221]

im a buddhist

[Clembo]

You learnt that at graduation? I knew that before I could spell graduation.

The only freedom you can get is by floating around the system and breaking the rules at times.

As for this cook, he hides behind the first amendment as if a point in history has universal relevance. Freedom is a necessity for humans to progress, and progression into freedom is self serving, it is an inevitability, not a war of freedom against encroachment, the battle was over before it begun.

[daizee106]

They are mad that they failed to destroy her Faith and replace it with their religion. Brainwashing everyone to be Godless communist. They are easier to manipulate.

[leeroynaggins]

Oh, she wanted to deliver a sermon...

What if she had said she learned to rely on her faith in Satan??

Would Mister non-politically correct still be okay??

[magichandpuppet]

As an atheist, I have no problem at all with this student's speech or her religious references since she is after all a student (not employed by the state). However, I hope that the same fairness I would apply to this student speaking of how important God and Jesus are to them as to another student who points out in their speech that God and Jesus are just make believe, invisible, imaginary friends.

[zaccc]

@magichandpuppet It bothers me that she was censored. Not what she was censored for.

Also. Agreed on your points.

[SkorpioD1991]

@magichandpuppet

Perhaps...but your former example is a person endorsing their own beliefs (which is okay but should be done modestly), while the latter is an example of downright tearing down the beliefs of others, which isn't QUITE as okay. I mean, what would be the point in pointing out that God and Jesus are imaginary in a graduation speech when you're supposed to focus on what DOES motivate you? It would be pointless provocation.

[magichandpuppet]

@SkorpioD1991 - no it would not be pointless provocation. It might actually help bring courage to more people who recognize that religion is a b.s. to come out of the closet. Or, it might actually help make a stand to protect intellectuals from having religious bigotry imposed on them. In fact, there may be an infinite number of possible reasons someone would state the obvious: There is no god. Who are we to be so arrogant to assume only one possible motive?

[SkorpioD1991]

@magichandpuppet

Here's my take. I support separation of church and state to a point, because I believe strictly in a "god-individual" relationship, though the Bible tells Christians (in its own words) to try to save as many people from Hell as possible. I also believe that Creationism should NOT be taught in science classes because it's simply NOT a science. Frankly I would think Christians should be offended if it WAS, since they are supposed to believe that faith "transcends" science.(cont)

[SkorpioD1991]

@magichandpuppet

Part 2: The problem is not religion itself, it's the religious (for the record, the Bible condemns the same behavior in Christians that non-Christians do, such as arrogance and judgment of others; "Judge not lest ye be judged"). HOWEVER, I think it is very naive & conceited when people call the religious "old-fashioned" or "close-minded" (or ruder words) because many Christians have been very reasonable, intelligent people (C.S. Lewis comes to mind; read him sometime). (cont)

[SkorpioD1991]

@magichandpuppet

Part 3: Lastly, I don't condemn others, as I have no right to; I have done wrong like everyone else at one point or another. I did not grow up the white-bread, la-di-da lifestyle that Christians are associated with; I learned very early that life is not all flowers & rainbows (Christ said it wouldn't be). I believe SIMPLY because I keep getting reminders that He is here. Things have happened in my life that couldn't "just happen". That's why there is no fault in a little faith

[warlord2080]

here is my thoughts on that subject if it was a christian or a catholic school the teachings of christ and religion comes first but since public schools have so much religions it is hard to over come what people are going to say as stated there is some people who would take anybody's religious statements offensively thus making friends with that person not likely. what i am trying to come out is the first admendment saids free speech but you can'tstart a riot and yell fire in a public building.

[spiffybumble]

and one lone girl briefly mentioning God's importance in her life during a 2 or so hour ceremony is the equivalent of yelling fire in a crowded theatre? Best to totally silence that riot instigator! Rights be damned. Who knows, other students might get the idea they have the freedom in this country to mention what they hold dear in their own lives-in public-gasp!. Sorry for the sarcasm - just baffled so many I talk to and read about aren't mad the 'thought police' seem to be taking control.

[warlord2080]

as one thing because public school have many religions its hard to say your religion than being in a catholic school, christian school, and muslim school. Now if she said this speech in a private school it would be accepted. Christianity is not the only religion in public schools. There are some people who pass out bibles maybe once a year guess what they are not punished so i'm not really saying its a yelling fire in public but rather the first amendment only states free religion

[warlord2080]

it doesn't contradict that what the school rules are otherwise it would have been allowed. so i've already established that the school makes the rules not the government if you want to change something protest to the school district. now if the first amendment would be removed everyone can't say something like protest or everyone has to be the same religion. it wouldn't have changed nothing there was a reason for religion schools.

[shadowgirl9891]

@spiffybumble My history teacher back classified school as a socialist environment. I mean, it feels like that. I remember in school I handed fliers out on the bus for a Christian event and they threw them all over the bus. And, before I got out the bus driver told me how she had to pick them up and that I shouldn't have done it. But, I was only practicing my faith. But, you know I don't know if I was right or wrong, because I didn't want to argue with her. So, I just kept quiet.

[savebury]

So this guy would have been a-okay with a muslim getting up at graduation speaking about islam? Would he be okay with a satanist talking about their faith? This is a two way street. I f we are going to turn the graduation ceremony into a religious forum I think we should give equal time to all religions. I say this as a Christian who does not want anyone but myself and my church teaching my kids about religion!!!!!

[dissonantflame]

As Christians, it's senseless to shield your kids from other views. YOU train your kids. "Father's, instruct your sons in the way of the Lord..." that is your job. Don't read something into it that isn't there. Going out and "spreading the good news" requires you to be able to do just that, "spread the good news". If someone else wants to spread their news too, that's fine, but you know in your heart, that your view is right. The truth will come to all in time as long as the truth CAN be told.

[dissonantflame]

After all, that is what constructive argument has always been about, everyone sharing their side, having all of the info out on the table, and being able to decide for yourself which view makes sense. I know in my heart that Jesus is the way, and I hope you believe that firmly too. But sacrificing our ability to evangelize as God instructed, just because we want to shield ourself from the people we are instructed to evangelize to, doesn't make any sense.

Just my $.02

[spiffybumble]

One student mentioning her faith is turning a grad ceremony into a religious forum? Can't follow that logic. I think you need to listen to this video again..Don't worry about people teaching your kids anything, pretty soon no one will be able to even mention religion outside of a church or one's own home if things keep going as they are, including your kids. As 'this guy' finished "pretty soon ALL freedoms are gonna fall". The dogma of PCism is totally stripping our first amendment rights.

[gdernie]

Wow... "Public Schools"...

[FAILED]