Discussion » Questions » Current Events and News » A high school student was banned from his Valedictorian speech for thanking God for his achievements.Is this an attack on his 1st Amendment?

A high school student was banned from his Valedictorian speech for thanking God for his achievements.Is this an attack on his 1st Amendment?

Posted - May 28, 2018

Responses


  • 5391
    It is.
    Just as his thanking God for temporal achievements he and many others attain without a God is an attack on reason.
      May 28, 2018 7:46 AM MDT
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  • 13071
    Yet it happened in Texas this year.  I wonder why you dont hear about things like this in main stream news.
      May 28, 2018 7:48 AM MDT
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  • 5391
    This surprises me in that his proselytizing was rebuked in Texas, the Buckle of the US Bible Belt.
    Are Texans awaking to the Separation clause? 
      May 28, 2018 7:53 AM MDT
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  • 13071
    Sure seems that way. You cant even get away with saying Merry Christmas without cause these days.
      May 28, 2018 7:54 AM MDT
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  • 5391
    The fact of a free society compels us to acknowledge not everyone is a Christian, or wants to be, and that the holy-days of other faiths fall into the same time frame as Christmas.

    Would you feel your beliefs were being respected if someone wished you a Joyous Ramadan? 
      May 28, 2018 8:04 AM MDT
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  • 13071
    Yes, but a free society should not ban one over another. 
      May 28, 2018 8:45 AM MDT
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  • 5391
    Nor show favor of one above another. 
      May 28, 2018 9:42 AM MDT
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  • 13071
    I agree. 
      May 28, 2018 10:09 AM MDT
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  • 34222
    The student should have every right to say what he wants. He is not a employee of the government school so there is no violation of "separation of church and state" (which is not in the Constitution by the way)
    Definately stepping on the student's rights.
      May 28, 2018 9:13 AM MDT
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  • 13071
    I thought so too. But non the less, he was forbidden to include the word GOd or Jesus in his high school speech. ;(
      May 28, 2018 10:10 AM MDT
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  • 13277
    *nonetheless.
      May 28, 2018 10:38 AM MDT
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  • 13071
    LOL
    Are you related to Randy D~
    ;D
      May 28, 2018 10:39 AM MDT
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  • 2706
    Good answer. :)
      May 29, 2018 5:30 AM MDT
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  • 13277
    *Valedictory speech.
    *his first amendment rights.
      May 28, 2018 10:41 AM MDT
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  • 22891
    sounds like it
      May 28, 2018 2:55 PM MDT
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  • 44595
    Had that been me, I would not have attended and would try to talk as many of my friends into also boycotting. (Yes, I did have friends in HS.)
    "Take this diploma and shove it."
      May 28, 2018 3:24 PM MDT
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  • 1713
    Poor kid. I'm not religious or anything, but people are allowed to believe what they want (freedom of religion and all that) and if he wants to thank God then I don't see a problem with that. Just because I don't believe in God doesn't mean everyone else has to keep quiet about it for my sake, kind of like how they have to listen to atheists as well.
      May 28, 2018 8:49 PM MDT
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  • 6023
    Nope.
    He was an official speaker, at an official school function.
    As such, the courts have ruled his First Amendment right to believe in a god (or not) is secondary to the First Amendment prohibition on government (and public schools are part of government) favoring one religion over another.

    When I graduated, our high school had 2 ceremonies.
    There was the official one that was completely secular ... and an unofficial baccalaureate, where local religious speakers were allowed.
    Nobody was required to attend either one.
      May 29, 2018 11:26 AM MDT
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  • 3719
    No. Based purely on the evidence in the question, it was just petty.
      May 29, 2018 3:06 PM MDT
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