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June 20, 2006
Substitute "Brangelina" and she'd have been fine
A Las Vegas high school graduation ended with roars of protest after school officials turned the microphone off right in the middle of one of the valedictorian's speeches. The microphone cut out after the valedictorian at Foothill High made reference to God.
I can understand how officials must have wanted to protect the highly impressionable high schoolers who probably spent many high school hours watching "Pimp my ride" or other MTV tripe - but mention God and you are done for.
I thought we were suppose to embrace and support diversity?
Perhaps if we taught history and the constitution in schools, we could respect how diverse the founders expected us to be, when they wrote the first sentence of the First Amendment:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;
This young lady, the class valedictorian was clearly, freely expressing her belief that she was thankful to god for her blessings. Yep, there is no place for that in american schools - why wasn't she arrested?
Watch the video and read the story here, and then post a comment.
Perhaps, instead of saying "God", she had replaced it with "Pimped my diety", she would have been allowed to finish.
Tim Keaney
Comments
I love how people immediately generalize. One school did it in one city in one state (that was not even California) and Jerre jumps to imply that this is a common occurance in all public schools.
Posted by: Alan Reed at June 20, 2006 05:20 PMJerre, would you say the same thing if the speech giver wanted to say why atheism, Islam, or Nature Worship is what is what gave them power? Even if the school said not to?
It was not one mention of God that got her cut off. But, I haven't seen the whole speech since the video has it cut off.
Posted by: Not Jerre at June 20, 2006 10:49 PMCC, I left a question for you under "Viva Tax dollars"
You do have to wonder why Cathy is quiet - it's not like pulling down the Lenning signs would be that time consuming - both of them.
I don't think this issue is about religion at all. Rather, it's the intolerant tolerance cops trying to keep from "offending" anyone...so they offend everyone.
Equal rights right?
Tim
Posted by: Tim Keaney at June 21, 2006 10:05 PMLemming listed on her official bio the " Senatorial Medal of Freedom award". Too bad she left off that it is not an award from the US government, but is from The Republican Party.
I think it is fair to say that voters want experts, educators, parents, but not party hacks in charge of education. I think it is funny that she thinks she can bring both sides together when a big part of her bio shows deep partisan roots.
Posted by: Tim is the Funny man at June 22, 2006 02:20 AM

Reason 18 (out of 100) to opt out of public school.
Free speech is only for the liberals. In another generation, the concept of a "higher power" will be totally eradicated from public school.
How much are you all going to put up with? Is there no indignity that will keep you out of a school just because it is free?
Posted by: Jerre Reimers at June 20, 2006 04:13 PM