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.
Sounds like USSR. Nobody brought a bull horn as a backup?
Just how in the Hell do a bunch of loonie jerks like the ACLU gain so much power?
WHAT THE F--K?
This is a tough one for me. While I don't want to see any particular religion promoted, I don't want to see first amendment rights violated either.
At this point, any American parent who sends their kids to government schools is coooooooooooooooRAZY.
She was interviewed on one of the Fox shows or Hannity and did complete it, but is soft-spoken so only those who sat in the front several rows in the large assembly hall heard it. Of course, she was also drowned out by the jeers and shouting for the microphone to be turned back on.
"Just how in the Hell do a bunch of loonie jerks like the ACLU gain so much power?"
Asked and answered. The master of hell.
Congress can't, but the ACLU can.
> The ACLU was happy. They had silenced another Christian.
Really? So... this girl will never speak again?
> "Just how in the Hell do a bunch of loonie jerks like the ACLU gain so much power?"
> Asked and answered. The master of hell.
Now, now... Algore can be blamed for many things, but in this case I don't think he was involved.
Exactly what do you think the words "free exercise thereof" meants?
Why is it a tough one for you? What do you not understand about free speech? Note the key word: "free." That means we're free to speak. In a public high school. Note that word, too: "public."
You try to quash my freedom to speak freely about my "particular religion," and see what happens.
So in the end, we have to keep the very slight minority happy... great democracy
In this case, it was an individual making the statements, not the official policy of the school.
Those are two different issues. Obviously, you do not want the government to run a church based school. But you also should not censor individual student's (and teachers I might add) statements of their personal beliefs.
Separation of church and state as a concept was NEVER intended to keep an individual from being exposed to other peoples ideas. In fact, at it's root is a philosophy intended to make sure YOU ARE exposed to other peoples ideas.
I am solidly behind this brave young lady.
When we said "Free Speech" we didn't mean for you. :P
-Leftist Mantra
The gov't is NOT establishing a church; an individual who earned the right to speak, was silenced. This is a public event, and a citizen was denied the right to address a crowd; not because of attempts to incite a riot, not because of slander, not because of an intent to promote an atmosphere of hate, but to thank publically God for their accomplishments.
If the topic had been "My American Jihad", the speech would likely be manditory attendance.
Jfk said it well:
We are not afraid to entrust the American people with unpleasant facts, foreign ideas, alien philosophies, and competitive values. For a nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people. ~John F. Kennedy
I find this girl to be an obnoxious pest. If she is so principled, why didn't she decline the invitation to speak when her speech was edited by the school (which isn't unusual, even if I disagree with their edits)?
No, this principled wondergirl agreed to the changes and then reneged on her promise.
Obnoxious.
She should have known she was going to be censored and she should have edited her copy for review. The school officials then would have been unprepared to cut off her mike.
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