High School Valedictorian Stuns Audience After He Rips Up Speech and Delivers the Lord’s Prayer

http://www.theblaze.com ^ | june 5, 2013 | Billy Hallowell

[lowbridge]

Roy Costner IV, a former public school student from South Carolina, stunned the audience at his high school graduation last weekend when he ripped up his previously-approved valedictorian speech, going on, instead, to speak about God — and then deliver the Lord’s prayer.

The act, which drew loud applause, was taken in opposition to the School District of Pickens County’s decision to axe prayers from graduation events, Christian News reports. Officials said that they had recently received complaints from atheist activists and church-state separatists, leading to the removal of invocations from all school events.

But that didn’t stop Costner.

The Liberty High School ceremony is already making its way into national headlines, as the valedictorian’s actions and the subsequent cheers this past Saturday were caught on video.

As he spoke, Costner went from merely mentioning “the Lord” to jumping right into the well-known prayer.

“Those that we look up to, they have helped carve and mold us into the young adults that we are today. I’m so glad that both of my parents led me to the Lord at a young age,” he said. “And I think most of you will understand when I say –”

And that’s when he commenced the popular invocation.

“Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name,” Costner continued. “Thy Kingdom come…”

Throughout the entirety of the prayer, cheers and clapping raged.

[Michael.SF.]

Watch three people:

The woman with sandy brown hair just above his cap - She smiles and appears to be in support.

The woman to her right - She seems to be enjoying it also.

The guy to that women's right (the one not paying attention) - suddenly he is, and is likely not happy, but he at least restrains himself.ut

[MestaMachine]

Beautiful!!!

[Kazan]

If he had prayed to Allah, would that be OK by you?

Of course. Students have free speech. One doesn't lose that right because someone else is offended by it. What sort of libertarian opposes free speech, other than the communist ones at the ACLU?

I doubt a prayer Allah would have brought applause, however. And, other students would have the right to drown the speech out with boos.

[diamond6]

You'll have to forgive him. He's a member of the ACLU. They don't understand that the "establishment of religion" does not mean that you have to remove "God".

Our Declaration of Independence, our Constitution, and our laws are all based on Godly principles, in fact, Judeo Christian principles. Our government in recent years has chosen to become anti-God, instead of merely refraining from promotion of a religion.

There is a huge difference between the two.

[avacado]

"If he had prayed to Allah, would that be OK by you?"

Allah didn't form the basis for the Declaration of Independence or the US Constitution.

[diamond6]

Amen, brother.

[who knows what evil?]

The guy to that women's right (the one not paying attention) - suddenly he is, and is likely not happy, but he at least restrains himself.

New York/Red England transplant.

[workerbee]

If he had prayed to Allah, would that be OK by you?

Probably not. I probably would have stood and boo'ed. As would many people in the audience. If we did, would you feel justified in suing over it?

Careful how you answer.

[SpaceBar]

Another one to audit with a fine toothed comb.

[tbw2]

May Christianity take root in the next generation as rebellion against the liberal elite.

[tbw2]

What punishment could he receive?

[NELSON111]

>>>If he had prayed to Allah, would that be OK by you?

Nope. But it would have been his right. And it would have been my right to BOOOO and yell.

Just like it is your right to be a moron.

Oh wait...this is a private site...so...not really.

[smalltownslick]

Even though he doesn’t exist?

[Sirius Lee]

Our government in recent years has chosen to become anti-God, instead of merely refraining from promotion of a religion.

I disagree, this government is establishing islime as the official religion in fact. When the force of law is brought to bear against Christians for merely wearing crucifixes to school, yet foot washing stations are being built with taxpayer money, special prayer times established for scuzzlims to stick their patoots in the air, and Christian children are forced to wear those burlap bag clown suits over their heads for the sake of teaching "diversity" it is promotion and establishment of a state religion. or rather the sand pirate's bloody fascist moon cult that they call a religion.

[Sergio]

bkmk

[Lurking Libertarian]

Probably not. I probably would have stood and boo'ed. As would many people in the audience. If we did, would you feel justified in suing over it?

Absolutely not.

[workerbee]

Well, that’s good.

So, what’s your point then, in asking about “Allah?”

[Lurking Libertarian]

Of course. Students have free speech. One doesn't lose that right because someone else is offended by it. What sort of libertarian opposes free speech, other than the communist ones at the ACLU?

I never said I opposed his right to free speech. I don't, in fact.

[Lurking Libertarian]

Allah didn't form the basis for the Declaration of Independence or the US Constitution.

I actually support this student's right to pray. As I would support him if he prayed to Allah, or Moloch, or Vishnu. I support both the free exercise of religion and the principle of the Government not establishing any particular religion.