Student Wins "God Bless" Dispute

KSDK-TV ^ | 1/28/2004

[yonif]

(KSDK) — A student in Dupo, Illinois says he's fighting for his rights: his First Amendment rights. On a school newscast, James Lord ended with the words "God Bless" and that sparked a storm of controversy.

School officials say they told him twice not to editorialize. They say his words that aired in the classroom were a reflection of the school, and in this case, a violation of the separation of church and state.

Superintendent Dr. Michael Koebel says, "If you go off school grounds you're certainly welcome to use your First Amendment rights and stand on a box and say anything you'd like."

Lord was punished and pulled from the air. But he thinks the school is wrong and he's willing to prove it. He called the media, contacted out-of-state lawyers, and came before the school board demanding to be reinstated, "Because if I let them do it to me, who's to stop them from doing it to anybody else."

The board took him into closed session to hear his case. Among the arguments, they say that if the President can say God Bless, so can he.

Lord's lawyer, Francis Manion of the American Center for Law and Justice, says, "It's simply like saying gezuntite, I mean it is not necessarily a religious statement."

Lord says, "I don't expect an apology. I just expect to be able to get my job back and on occasion, close with God Bless."

After a brief deliberation, the board came back to deliver its decision. They agreed to reinstate Lord immediately to his broadcast duties. Lord is overjoyed. He and his lawyers consider this a victory.

Though the board never said he could say "God Bless," they also didn't say he couldn't. Lord will be back broadcasting the school news Wednesday and he says he'll use his own discretion.

[yonif]

Sickening school policies.

[Sacajaweau]

The big statement in this according to the school, is that

"once you enter the school, you lose your first amendment rights".

[mtbopfuyn]

Good to hear that. Several here brought up Bush saying it too. Still think it's a hoot the kid's name is "Lord".

[WinOne4TheGipper]

"If you go off school grounds you're certainly welcome to use your First Amendment rights and stand on a box and say anything you'd like."

What part of "Congress (ie, the Government) shall make no law" doesn't this guy understand? Now to nitpick with Lord's lawyer: it's "Gesundheit".

[DeFault User]

What part of "Congress (ie, the Government) shall make no law" doesn't this guy understand?

Hmm, I thought the recent Supreme Court CFR decision made the 1st Amendment null and void; or subject to compelling interests; or only applicable during parts of the year; or something like that--about the same weight in law as a mattress tag.

[Daphne]

why shouldn't he be able to say it?

It's not like he was trying to convert anybody to anything. HE didn't blaspheme any religion or say anything demeaning.

No matter what religion you are, everyone knows that "God Bless" means something good.

Newscasters get on the air all the time and curse and scream at everyone who opposes them and no one says anything, but everyone's in a tizzy when someone says "God Bless."

[searchandrecovery]

Host: God Bless.
Co-Host: Thank you, Lord.

[goldstategop]

God Bless Lord and hey I guess blessing God really does pay off! :)

[yonif]

The funny thing is what would have happened if the co-host sneezed and he said "Bless You"

[Camachee]

The big statement in this according to the school, is that "once you enter the school, you lose your first amendment rights".

You are right. You do lose your rights in a private school, but not a public school.

[tahiti]

"You do lose your rights in a private school, but not a public school."

Amendment I

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;"

Everyone forgets about "part two" of the 1st amendment concerning religion on public property.

[Camachee]

Everyone forgets about "part two" of the 1st amendment concerning religion on public property.

Not at all. You forget that entering a private school requires execution of a contract in which individuals freely agree to restrict their rights. It's not about Congress. It's about private enterprise and the right of an individual to agree to restrict expression. Please read the prevailing legal precedents.

[NewLand]

"School officials say...a violation of the separation of church and state."

Where is that...violation of the separation of church and state... stated in The Constitution? State law? Federal law?

[tahiti]

"It's about private enterprise and the right of an individual to agree to restrict expression."

I do not understand your response listed above in response to my original post.

I did not refer to "private enterprise" or private anything.

My post referred to "public property."

[Dutch14]

Just another fine example of the state of this nation. I urge anyone offended by the word "God" to send me the filthy money in their wallet that says "In God we trust".