Isn't the controversy about her wanting to mention that God was behind all her academic success? If she's not talking about herself, then why the need to mention that?
Read what you wrote. LOL Oh my. You'll do absolutely anything to defend government authority over all. To whom did she give the glory of her success? Herself or GOD there is you answer. Now keep in mind this woman is the most successful academic achiever of her class.
Her personal achievements earned her that place at the podium. An honor of achievement {which is what her position actually was} most of the times involves a speech from the achiever to basically give the people insight as to what drove them or their secret of success so to speak. It also involves most of the time naming persons who inspired them thanking them. GOD and Christ to many of us is a Living Person a Divine Being. This type of speech is true in high school as well as company award dinners etc.
Good grief. She said like many graduates want to thank their parents, she wants to thank her Lord and Savior. That doesn't make her speech all about herself.
If she's not talking about herself, then why the need to mention that?
If you have consistent standards, then you'd have to say that a student who thanks his/her parents for helping him/her, then he/she is being 'focused on the speaker.'
So tell me, are your standards consistent?