Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Colorado Student Files Lawsuit Over Commencement Speech That Mentioned Jesus
Foxnews via AP ^ | 8/31/07 | Unknown

Posted on 08/31/2007 3:03:49 PM PDT by Blood of Tyrants

DENVER — A student who said she was told she wouldn't get her diploma unless she apologized for a commencement speech in which she mentioned Jesus has filed a lawsuit alleging her free speech rights were violated.

The school district contends its actions were "constitutionally appropriate."

Erica Corder was one of 15 valedictorians at Lewis-Palmer High School in 2006. All were invited to speak for 30 seconds at the graduation ceremony. When it was Corder's turn, she encouraged the audience to get to know Jesus Christ.

Corder had not included those remarks during rehearsals.

[snip]

The lawsuit said Brewer would not give Corder her diploma until she included a sentence saying, "I realize that, had I asked ahead of time, I would not have been allowed to say what I did."

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Government
KEYWORDS: christianstudents; commencement; firstamendment; lawsuit; religion; speech
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-64 next last
I am so sick of these idiot anti-Christian "educators" I could puke.
1 posted on 08/31/2007 3:03:52 PM PDT by Blood of Tyrants
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Blood of Tyrants

Fifteen valedictorians in one graduating class??? That’s so incredible!
Identical or fraternal?


2 posted on 08/31/2007 3:06:43 PM PDT by Graymatter
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Graymatter

Have you forgotten that they grade on a curve to make it fairer!


3 posted on 08/31/2007 3:07:44 PM PDT by George from New England
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Graymatter

ACLU call your office. ACLU??? Hello?? ACLU?????


4 posted on 08/31/2007 3:08:34 PM PDT by MPJackal ("From my cold dead hands.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Blood of Tyrants

1st amendment re-written by moonbats:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, unless it is a Christian religion in which case you are not allowed to practice or talk about your religion in public places.


5 posted on 08/31/2007 3:09:06 PM PDT by Domandred (Eagles soar, but unfortunately weasels never get sucked into jet engines)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Comment #6 Removed by Moderator

To: Blood of Tyrants

Why doesn’t someone file a lawsuit on that dumb kid?


7 posted on 08/31/2007 3:10:29 PM PDT by freekitty (May the eagles long fly over our beautiful and free American sky.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Blood of Tyrants

I’m still looking for the part in the Constitution where it says Marxist “teachers” are responsible to make sure all traces of Christianity are removed from American life. I know. There is probably some phony-balony “judge” somewhere that could show me.


8 posted on 08/31/2007 3:10:39 PM PDT by FlingWingFlyer ("Is it hot in here or is it just me?" - Algore)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Blood of Tyrants

I bet that if the valedictorian would have mentioned Mohammed all would be well.


9 posted on 08/31/2007 3:10:41 PM PDT by 353FMG (Government is the opiate of the people.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Blood of Tyrants

Yep, but I’ll be they’d bend over backwards to promote an all Arab school in New York... I’m convinced there’d be no religion discussed there!


10 posted on 08/31/2007 3:11:02 PM PDT by DoughtyOne ((Victory will never be achieved while defining Conservatism downward, and forsaking its heritage.))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MPJackal
ACLU call your office. ACLU??? Hello?? ACLU?????

Since it does not involve adults have sex with children, it is not protected free speech.

11 posted on 08/31/2007 3:11:33 PM PDT by Always Right
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Blood of Tyrants
So, is the principal holding the diploma back because he's angry from the defiant actions of a lowly student who dared his power? Is this a personal matter between him and the girl now?

To me, that's usually the motive behind the demand for an apology, as if he were personally affronted.

-PJ

12 posted on 08/31/2007 3:12:32 PM PDT by Political Junkie Too (Repeal the 17th amendment -- it's the "Fairness Doctrine" for Congress!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Blood of Tyrants

I wonder if it appropriate to say “Jesus! What’s taking so long getting these Muslim foot baths installed?!”


13 posted on 08/31/2007 3:12:44 PM PDT by Normal4me
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Blood of Tyrants

I think she has a good law suit case! How about it? Any lawyers still in town?


14 posted on 08/31/2007 3:15:09 PM PDT by Paperdoll ( Vote for Duncan Hunter in the Primaries for America's sake!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MPJackal

Maybe CAIR will help her? For the sake of religious freedom?


15 posted on 08/31/2007 3:18:03 PM PDT by RaceBannon (Innocent until proven guilty; The Pendleton 8: We are not going down without a fight)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Blood of Tyrants
This is a poor test case. If you read her remarks, she went well beyond giving credit to Christ and her faith for her success, she was proselytizing, evangelizing. IMHO, that has no place in a public high school commencement address.

OTOH, isn't it ridiculous they had fifteen "valedictorians"??

16 posted on 08/31/2007 3:19:01 PM PDT by colorado tanker (I'm unmoderated - just ask Bill O'Reilly)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Domandred
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,

Thanks for that reminder.

Now, when was it exactly that Congress - the legislative and lawmaking body of our government - passed a law prohibiting the mention of Jesus or Christianity from a valedectory podium?

I can't recall that law being proposed or voted on or enacted. Anyone else?

Hmmmm...... maybe this is one of those "laws" devised by a federal court, which by the way has no lawmaking authority.

So why is anyone calling it a "law"? Sounds more like some judge's personal opinion, and not much more.

17 posted on 08/31/2007 3:22:10 PM PDT by angkor
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Blood of Tyrants

Did a search and found a site that says this is the entire speech:

“Throughout these lessons our teachers, parents, and let’s not forget our peers have supported and encouraged us along the way. Thank you all for the past four amazing years. Because of your love and devotion to our success, we have all learned how to endure change and remain strong individuals. We are all capable of standing firm and expressing our own beliefs, which is why I need to tell you about someone who loves you more than you could ever imagine. He died for you on a cross over 2,000 years ago, yet was resurrected and is living today in Heaven. His name is Jesus Christ. If you don’t already know Him personally, I encourage you to find out more about the sacrifice He made for you, so that you now have the opportunity to live in eternity with Him. And we also encourage you, now that we are all ready to encounter the biggest change in our lives thus far, the transition from childhood to adulthood, to leave (our school) with confidence and integrity. Congratulations class of 2006.”

Source:

http://samuraisam1.blogspot.com/2006/07/same-sun-shines-on-us-all.html

I see nothing wrong with her comments and no reason why she should not have been permitted to make them.


18 posted on 08/31/2007 3:25:31 PM PDT by Graymatter
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Blood of Tyrants

This is a complete abuse of her rights. The Supreme Court (erroneoulsy) decided that school initiated and sponsored prayers were a violation of the Constitution but that student initiated prayers were not.


19 posted on 08/31/2007 3:28:49 PM PDT by pgkdan (Tolerance is the virtue of the man without convictions - G.K. Chesterton)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: freekitty

What dumb kid?


20 posted on 08/31/2007 3:29:37 PM PDT by pgkdan (Tolerance is the virtue of the man without convictions - G.K. Chesterton)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-64 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson