What are your thoughts on this?
posted by Mr. Carlisle at 11:34 AM
Monday, June 10, 2013
About Me
- Name: Mr. Carlisle
- Location: Portland, Oregon, United States
I'm a native South Carolinian and I attained my undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of South Carolina. I taught fourth grade for two years in the Mississippi Delta and two years at an alternative high school in Western North Carolina. I have been at Tigard High School since the fall of 2003, where I teach U.S. History and Psychology.
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13 Comments:
There's tons of things you can do besides recite the lord's prayer. I know religion means a lot to many people including myself but some people who are of different faiths could be offended by this. The valedictorian should've taken that into consideration.
1:05 PM
I disagree with him. I don't like Obama but I don't think that he should be impeached, nor do I think that he is messing up America that severely.
4:11 PM
I do understand how this would certainly offend certain people. I personally wouldn't be offended had I been there, or if someone recited that at our graduation. However I do think the kid shouldn't have disrespect the school rules, and laws that are in place. He obviously knew that he wasn't suppose to talk about God, and he did it anyway, which isn't the best quality to have in a valedictorian. And I don't think it was appropriate given the circumstances that not everyone believes in the same God.
4:54 PM
Although this may have offened some people at his school I think that is okay that he did this, because if a students is saying it out of his own will and not being affiliated with the school district then I think he should not be punished for his personal comments. I know some of you may say they were "personal" thats why they shouldnt be said but I'm just sharing my opionion.
5:14 PM
I think that it is awesome that he was secure enough with himself to use his freedom of speech in this way. This was his valedictorian speech, and God is who he credited his high school achievements to. It's interesting that she comments that it takes courage to mention God when God is mentioned in our pledge of allegiance, on our currency, and by our nation's founding fathers.
5:15 PM
I think what he did was awesome. Its better than quoting a pointless song. And he actually gave glory to the one who deserves all glory. This just proves nothing can stop the favor of the Lord.
6:04 PM
If a student is courageous enough to do what he did then I think students should be able to share their own opinion no matter what religion they believe in. Certainty if he was specifically told not to do that maybe he should not have, but he was speaking what he believes in and I think we should respect him for that.
9:32 PM
I think it takes a lot of courage to speak out like that, I respect him. In a valedictorian speech, people speak of the future and what inspires them to move forward. God is an instrumental part of his life, shouldn't he be able to express that? It is way more meaningful than a "go out there and achieve your dreams" speech.
10:01 PM
I suppose if you view the Establishment Clause as only saying that the United States shall not form a national church, then proselytizing at a speech is fine. Of course it's a misguided view that the United States is in any way founded on Judeo-Christian values. The most notable Framers were non-Christian. Obviously, the basic Christian tenants are referenced in American culture, but where does it say in the Constitution the word God? The Declaration of Independence? Not US law.
The speech was harmless and if religion really played a large role in this person's success, then he could get away with sharing this, as long as he is not forcing his views on others, and as long as the school makes it clear that the speech does not necessarily represent the school's views. However, where do we draw the line? When cheerleaders, representing the school wherever they wear their uniforms, do this they get stopped. There are no student-led prayers. Anything that resembles school endorsement or the domination of the majority is unacceptable. So when a single person, about to graduate from high school, tells his own exclusive views, the above two criteria for unacceptable display of religious practice are not met at face value. There are certainly limits on public individual expression in a school activity. A valedictorian speech is not a platform for political rants. The person in the video was partially making a statement however, and was no risk in South Carolina of repercussions.
Like it or not, the Establishment Clause makes this line clear: there will be a separation of church and state. In any school-sponsored event, there will be no public religious practice.
10:23 AM
This whould not have offended me, however, I don't think that he should have recited the Lord's prayer because people may not have agreed with him. I understand that it's something he firmly believes in but I think that reciting it at a graduation ceremony was not the right thing to do due to the fact that some people may be offended by it.
4:16 PM
Where did the Obama stuff come in...
I didnt hear any of that in the video.
10:02 PM
Atheist me here wouldn't have been offended by this guy's speech, maybe a little annoyed but nothing serious. He was exercising his freedom of speech and is not a representative of the government. Now that being said it wasn't in the best of taste either.
10:09 PM
I don't mind mention of religion as an influence in a valedictorian's speech, something like saying how God helped support you and lead to your success in high school but I think saying the lord's prayer as your speech is too much. Commencement speeches are supposed to inspire and represent the graduates and even in a community like the one in this video I doubt that every single graduate has strong christian beliefs. I feel that this valedictorian used an event that is meant to celebrate graduates to express his own religious and political views which distracted from the real meaning of the ceremony.
12:30 AM
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