[SoothingDave]

Dave, what you think is inappropriate is still Constitutionally permitted, if not required.

It is now "required" for students giving graduation speeches to invite the audience to come forward and express their love to Jesus and "get saved"?

Would you like to re-word that?

Suppose a Jewish student invited those who wished to come forward and have a bris done in the middle of the graduation? Should we all just allow this to happen?

Maybe the local Baptist valedictorian can set up a baptismal pool and invite anyone who wants to to come up and get dunked. Or the Catholic student can have a priest confirm with holy oil anyone who wants to come forward.

SD

[muawiyah]

Sure ~ the Constitution says that the government does not have the authority to PROHIBIT THE PRACTICE.

You don't like that constitution, take a hike~!

[goldstategop]

Its not required. I don't see where the young lady forced her views on others. They are her views. And nothing about a commencement event should lead people to conclude the government agrees with the speaker's views or lack thereof. It simply provides a public forum and as such doesn't necessarily mean it agrees with the views expressed there.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie.Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[sharkhawk]

I wonder what the screams would be like here if the valedictorian was a wiccan who asked everyone to come up to the stage to join the coven, or if it was a mooslim who asked everyone to get on their knees and pray to the moon rock. I agree it is not a first amendment violation, but the graduation was not the time or place to make this call.