Posted on 06/19/2006 2:02:05 PM PDT by Indy Pendance
A local high school graduation ended with roars of protest after school officials turned the microphone off right in the middle of one of the valedictorian's speeches. The microphone cut out after the valedictorian at Foothill High made reference to God.
The family says the District's decision isn't fair. Brittney McComb says she's a straight A student, number one in her class, and is headed to Biola University in the fall.
Brittney attributes all of her success to God. Trouble is, she tried to explain that during her speech which the school district said they told her beforehand was a no-no.
"God's love is so great."
This was part of the speech that Brittney McComb says she so wanted to give on graduation night. But because it did have numerous references to God and Jesus Christ, the school district cut off the mic, leaving her practically silent. That's when many people stood up and booed, showing their support.
Now, the day after, McComb says she got nothing but support from her fellow students. "All of my classmates came up to me and were so happy. They told me they loved me and I said God's awesome because I couldn't have done it without him."
McComb says the district reviewed her speech beforehand, just like everyone else. But she says they sent it back with the last half chopped off.
"They said it was offensive, it identifies a particular religion," explains McComb. "I really think it's free speech; we're American, we should be able to handle that."
We asked her father about that.
Rob McMillan: We have freedom of speech, but what about separation of church and state?
Michael McComb: They brought that up, and they say they were going to give us some documentation to prove why she could say that in her speech.
They said the documentation was ambiguous. That was when Brittney said she took it upon herself to go ahead and give her speech as written, no matter what the consequences might be.
The district tells News 3 there are guidelines for what valedictorians can and can't say, but they didn't get back to us on our request for an interview. A district spokesperson told us they were not trying to avoid interviews on this subject and that multiple graduation ceremonies prevented top administrators from giving us an interview.
The school district maintains it was simply following procedure at the Foothill Graduation.
We're told students are required to submit their speeches in writing ahead of time and they're told if they deviate from the script at all, their microphones will be cut off. The district maintains that's exactly what happened in this case.
Any Fool Can Make A Rule and Any Fool Will Mind It--Thoreau.. Some rules have nothing to do with right or wrong but are merely the arbitrary laws of whoever feels empowered.
A lot of times, making it up as you go is effective. Maybe she didn't follow the 'rules', but are the rules constitutional?
She agreed to them.
Her behavior relates to judgement. She used poor judgement. However good she is at taking tests and writing papers, her future doesn't look particularly bright unless she wises up in a hurry.
OF COURSE they're Constituitonal! A school can say "submit the speech for review. If you go over we're cutting the mic.'
What's not Constitutional?
The, BTW, is right up Ward Churchill's alley!
So what is the point of delivering a speech written by the PC humanists? Only fools mind rules made by fools.
I doubt this smack off has ever had an original thought. His children must be ashamed!
What is the point of breaking rules that you have agreed to follow? It makes you look the the deceitful liar you are.
She should have given a speech in which she praised Allah. That would have OK. Hey, California schools teach the Muslim way of life, but teaching anything at all about Christianity is verboten. What idiots! It's the ACLU again, of course, those commies are up to their old strategies.
Even if that were true, there is no Constitutional endorsement prohibition. When's the last time you actually read the Constitition? From all appearances, it's been a long time, if ever.
Consider this -- for a very long time her name will be associated with her actions for anyone who cares to Google her. That includes future employers, etc.
These administrators confuse seperation of church and state with seperation FROM religion.
Also the administrators are interfearing with the free exercise clause.
It is apparent the administrators are pushing the religion of atheism.
These administrators confuse seperation of church and state with seperation FROM religion.
Also the administrators are interfearing with the free exercise clause.
It is apparent the administrators are pushing the religion of atheism.
The point is she was entitled to deliver her own speech, not the speech of the administrators. This takes fortitude to speak your own mind and not the mind of a controlling group of heavy-handed teachers. Her speech was harmless. As I stated, I still think it is foolish to submit to rules made by the foolish. My own curiosity, do you ever break rules?
"Please point to me where the phrase "separation of church and state" appears in the Constitution."
What are you? Blind?
It's right there next to the part that says women can have an abortion anytime they want.
Jeez. I gotta tell you people everything.
Straw man argument.
If I have agreed to the rules, I abide by them. If I have not agreed I do not have to follow them. She agreed and broke them. We don't even know if this girl is even a good Christian. By the looks of it she isn't. She lies at the very least,
Seems like some here think if you are preaching religion it's okay no matter what.
No, she was prohibited from exercising her religion and she was not evangelizing the audience.
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