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.
Do you have a reputable source confirming that she agreed to the changes? If so, please enlighten us.
***> The ACLU was happy. They had silenced another Christian.***
<<<Really? So... this girl will never speak again?<<<
It's truly a shame that you were unable to understand the implication of the sentence to which you replied. Perhaps we should all type slower to accommodate your comprehension level.
Or perhaps you intended your question as humor. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt, but trust you will apologize for your mistake.
with a lot of help from groups like the communist Party USA,
Democratic Party, Ku Klux Klan, And certain churches that
have traded the truth of God for a Lie.Balwin was a smart con.He taught his soldiers to wrap themselves in the flag and pretend they shared the PAtriotic interests of most Americans.
Sheesh- judgemental much? You "reason" like a liberal....big on opinion, but low on logic.
Yeah. Freedom sheemdom.
They ought to just stop allowing students to be represented at their own graduation.
In fact they ought to just abolish commencement altogether. Who remembers it, anyways? Unless any event is guaranteed to etched equally and equitably in the minds of every attendee, involved high achievers and losers alike, it should just be done away with.
The schools can just mail out the diplomas to an ACLU-approved list of graduates, since that's all that matters about graduation.
***Stuff like this shows that people well along the way to spiritual salvation can, indeed, be obnoxious pests.***
Christ was considered an obnoxious pest by the pharisees.
4.7 GPA?????????
The names of these school officials need to be published and information about them released. Incredible that they would run to the ACLU for approval. My guess - they are members of ACLU and/or NAMBLA or similar organizations.
There was nothing obscene, improper, or hate-filled in her comments. The school had no excuse to censure her. Whatever ACLU stands for, freedom of speech is not one goal (except for those who hate religion).
You may be able to speak in a public school, but a high school kid is not free to say whatever he/she wants. If she's at a school function, the administration is free to let her speak, or not, and can ask that she not speak about certain things.
The fact is, she agreed to deliver the edited speech, then went back on her agreement.
Her parents, instead of applauding her insolence, should have encouraged her to simply decline to speak.
Back when I was in school, 4.0 was as high as you could go. Maybe the .7 is for band or swim team or driving lessons.
Might read Joesph Story - A Familiar Exposition of the Constitution of the United States" Published in 1840 ,and
1859 A condensed version of his seminal Commentaries on the
Constitution of the United States Of America.Section 444 speaks to the First amendment and declares that the General if not universal sentiment in America was that Christianity ought to recieve encouragement from the State... anattempt to level all religions or to make it a matter of Statpolicy to hold all in utter indifference would have created universal disapprobaon if not universal
indignation." Cited directly by the US House Judiciary report on the Establishment clause by Mr Meacham US House of representatives Mar.27,1854.Story was th son of one of the Indians of Boston Tea Party , a graduate of Harvard Law (when that meant somehing good) Is memorialized in the
permanent displays of the US suprem Court building- and sadly has been edited out of our education concerning our
Constitution- for convienence sake?
True. Now what does that have to do with anything?
My opinion on valedictory speeches is that they should be whatever the valedictorian wishes them to be. They should not be edited by the school in any way.
By not attempting to edit such speeches, the school relieves itself from all responsibility for the content of the student's expression.
At graduation time, most high school seniors are 18, and so are adults. Whatever they say is their responsibility.
I'm an atheist, yet I've never been harmed by any speech. I hear people mention religion all the time, and don't find that it's harmful to me in any way.
That said, it must be understood that giving free rein to valedictorians to say what they will may lead to speeches not to the liking of everyone. One speaker may call on Jesus in the speech. Another may point out the failings of the local school system. Yet another may praise Allah, or another may give a speech based on Wiccan principles.
Either valedictory speeches are unedited, or they are edited. If they are edited, then the school may edit whatever they wish.
I prefer unedited, even if I don't much like what's being said.
***Christ was considered an obnoxious pest by the pharisees.***
>>>True. Now what does that have to do with anything?>>>
Sad that you actually have to ask that. My answer would be too long for the bandwidth of FR, so I'll just refer you to a book called, "The New Testament."
My opinion is that she EARNED her place as valedictorian. She should be able to have her say. Note that it is a literal contraDICTION to not let a valeDICTORIAN speak.
OK. So far, I haven't found that mentioned anyplace online.
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