Posted on 06/22/2006 10:46:58 AM PDT by UnklGene
High School Valedictorian Refuses to Bow Down; Has Speech Censored
June 21, 2006
Brittany McComb was the valedictorian at Foothill High School recently. She graduated with a 4.7 GPA. She earned the right to address the other graduates at Foothill, located in Henderson, Nevada.
She gave a copy of her graduating speech to the school administrators. It contained some Biblical references and even mentioned (one time) the name “Christ.” The school administrators censored some of the Biblical references. They also censored the single reference to Christ.
Then the school officials handed the speech over to the ACLU for approval and/or more censoring. After getting the OK from the ACLU, Brittany’s speech (minus the censored references to the Bible and Christ) was approved. Brittany was warned that if she deviated from the ACLU approved language, her mike would be cut off.
Then came the moment for the big decision. She would not bow down, she decided. She would go with her original version. She stepped to the mike and began her speech. But just before she could utter the name “Christ,” her mike went dead. School officials silenced her. The crowd of 400 jeered for several minutes, angry at the action of the school officials. The ACLU was happy. They had silenced another Christian.
“I went through four years of school at Foothill and they taught me logic and they taught me freedom of speech. God’s the biggest part of my life. Just like other valedictorians thank their parents, I wanted to thank my lord and savior,” Brittany said.
Because she refused to bow down to the ACLU’s idol of gold, she did not get her wish. She was censored.
This young heroine deserves praise and a thank you from those who believe in free speech.
She is being heard. She's admired by some, not by others.
Especially if it's "offensive". What was once OK is now worthy of muzzling.
Me too. When they shut off the mic, it showed the entire audience how idiotic the school officials are.
Okay, I didn't see the Today show so I'll take your word for it. Still and all, a teen who is being told by school officials, backed up by the ACLU, that she can only give THIS speech is likely going to be intimidated.
She gave her word to the administrators, then broke it.
She was intimidated into agreeing to something that was completely out of line for the school officials to have demanded. THEY were wrong, not her.
She was intimidated? Then she should have refused to give her speech at all.
No. She had no intention of giving the edited speech, even though she knew what would happen if she didn't.
I wouldn't WANT to hear any mention of Allah at a valedictory speech, and I would hate it, but if the speaker mentioned it, that would be his right. That's the beauty of this country -- at least it used to be -- a person could say anything with little fear of being condemned.
Basically, if you want to worship Satan, knock yourself out. Just don't tell me whom/how I can worship. The problem is, everyone has rights except the Christians.
Actually, it's not. I said they were working on it, and they are. And they will keep working on it. Liberals never get tired, they just keep plugging.
The Supreme Court settled that last summer.
Which doesn't mean the liberals aren't working on it. They will work on it in others ways, but they will keep working on it.
Your straw man won't work.
What straw man? You seem confused,,,again.
Hard to say. I have seen lots of things happen in my life that no one thought would happen.
Maybe a time will come when people just accept the double taxation and pull their kids out, It would be hard for them to expand with no enrollment.
Actually, it is the point. There have been endless calls for celebs to shut their mouths when they utter their anti-American drivel. Where are all you "First Amendment activists" when Streisand and Natalie Maines open her mouthes?
I stand by my statement. If you back this girl referencing Christ at a public school graduation, you must back a atheist child or a Muslim child doing the same somewhere else. No thanks.
The child can go to church and praise God in front of her congregation. When the ACLU limits that, give me a call.
Certain advanced classes can come with a "weight" so that an A in say AP U.S. History equals a 5.0. Or a class that is considered above grade level might get a 1/2 point weight so that an A equals a 4.5. With her GPA that high, it indicates she took a great many weighted classes and very few unweighted.
I can appreciate that. But many are. Many more than you would think. Of course it would require them to cut spending in other areas.
Do any of you realize how ridiculous you sound when you make statements like that?
Don't ever let me hear you complain about liberals being cry-babies claiming "victim" at every turn. With your statement above, you just joined their ranks of permanent victimhood.
Ok. I think you live in a bubble, but ok, let's say I accept your point.
For the very "few" whom you acknowledge cannot afford private school, what would you suggest be done with them?
"Since children don't have free speech rights, I reject the premise of your question."
We aren't discussing a child. We are discussing a young woman. My premise is just fine, thank you.
Care to answer the question?
"However, school administrators act "in loco parentis," and courts have recognized that they enjoy the same ability to limit children when they are at school that you do when they are at home."
And I would expect them to exercise that authority with responsibility. This was not the case here.
"She is still under the jurisdiction of the school. When she gets her diploma, she is free to do and say whatever she wants."
So, until she gets her diploma, she has no right of free speech? That's very bizarre thinking.
"If she enters the world of the military, she will find that she had more "rights" when she was a student. And, depending on where she chooses to work, she may find that some companies will limit her right to speak about certain things or to proselytize on company property."
Who said anything about her entering the military? That's a pretty huge leap from what we're talking about.
And despite the fact that there are limits to what can be said on company property, employees still have freedom of speech. Any company that interferes with that may find themselves in court. For example, employees have the right to express religious views on the job. That is protected speech.
"Even as an adult, one may exercise one's right to free speech, but there may be consequences if one does."
No one's arguing that there are limits to free speech. What seems to be clear to the overwhelming majority of people here and seems to escape you is that this young woman was deprived of her free speech rights. She did nothing to come up against those limits.
The fact that she was at a school function in no way shape or form eliminated her free speech rights. Not in the least. I challenge you to site any Constitutional provision or court ruling that states that students at a high school graduation have no free speech rights whatsoever.
Please stay clear of any court, legislature, or any body of authority where you could possibly inflict your bizarre and censorous views on anyone besides yourself. You are literally opposed to liberty.
Thank you for sharing.
It did, and she agreed to the edited speech, but then decided she'd rather have the attention, especially when she knew that the mic would be cut off.
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