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Anti-Religion Group Blasts Teen Valedictorian’s Prayer
Townhall.com ^ | June 6, 2013 | Todd Starnes

Posted on 06/07/2013 5:50:37 AM PDT by Kaslin

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To: Kaslin

This kid’s father appeared on Pierce Morgan’s show. Morgan totally agreed with the father and said he thought it was ridiculous that the Lord’s Prayer couldn’t be said in a public school. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.


21 posted on 06/07/2013 6:29:51 AM PDT by goldi
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To: P-Marlowe; Kaslin

Free Exercise of religion means the Founders thought that my having to put up with someone talking about religion was far less significant than people being able to freely voice their opinions about their religion.

Isn’t it strange that these people want to “protect” others from having to hear speech of a religious nature.


22 posted on 06/07/2013 6:31:36 AM PDT by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It! True supporters of our troops pray for their victory!)
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To: Kaslin

23 posted on 06/07/2013 6:33:28 AM PDT by EternalVigilance ('He frustrates the devices of the crafty, so that they cannot carry out their plans.' -- Job 5:12)
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To: Kaslin

Given that nothing is more boring than the standard, “approved” graduation speech, I’d be happy to see a trend of hymn-singing or reading of classic evangelistic sermons among graduates. Ballroom dance performances would be okay, too.


24 posted on 06/07/2013 6:34:09 AM PDT by Tax-chick (More open defiance is needed.)
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To: Kaslin
the FFRF filed a complaint objecting to what they called an “unconstitutional prayer practice.”

This makes me laugh.

From the Library of Congress:

Morality in the Army and Navy

Congress was apprehensive about the moral condition of the American army and navy and took steps to see that Christian morality prevailed in both organizations. In the Articles of War, seen below, governing the conduct of the Continental Army (adopted, June 30, 1775; revised, September 20, 1776), Congress devoted three of the four articles in the first section to the religious nurture of the troops. Article 2 "earnestly recommended to all officers and soldiers to attend divine services." Punishment was prescribed for those who behaved "indecently or irreverently" in churches, including courts-martial, fines and imprisonments. Chaplains who deserted their troops were to be court-martialed.

Congress particularly feared the navy as a source of moral corruption and demanded that skippers of American ships make their men behave. The first article in Rules and Regulations of the Navy (below), adopted on November 28, 1775, ordered all commanders "to be very vigilant . . . to discountenance and suppress all dissolute, immoral and disorderly practices." The second article required those same commanders "to take care, that divine services be performed twice a day on board, and a sermon preached on Sundays." Article 3 prescribed punishments for swearers and blasphemers: officers were to be fined and common sailors were to be forced "to wear a wooden collar or some other shameful badge of distinction."



25 posted on 06/07/2013 6:36:54 AM PDT by DJ MacWoW (My faith and politics cannot be separated)
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To: xzins

Our Founders were such tough guys that they could endure the expression of opinions or sentiments other than their own. (Also the dentistry of their time.) The species has devolved over the generations since then, it seems.


26 posted on 06/07/2013 6:40:01 AM PDT by Tax-chick (More open defiance is needed.)
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To: Tax-chick
Given that nothing is more boring than the standard, “approved” graduation speech, I’d be happy to see a trend of hymn-singing or reading of classic evangelistic sermons among graduates. Ballroom dance performances would be okay, too.

Amen to that. I do not like sitting through graduation speeches.

27 posted on 06/07/2013 6:42:56 AM PDT by Gosh I love this neighborhood
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To: Kaslin
Roy Costner did a beautiful thing and he did it with grace and aplomb. His simple act of, in effect, dedicating his graduation honor to God, is legally untouchable as it was constitutionally protected and as a bonus, well received.

The left has made great strides in their attempts to, if not outright criminalize Christianity, which is their goal, at least marginalize the expression of religious faith (except Islam) in almost any form outside of church walls.

Roy Costner struck a blow for religious liberty and reminds all of us how far we've allowed the atheist left to smother our constitutionally-protected expression of religious faith and make the belief in a god other than the state and the practice of religion, specifically Christianity, if not a crime at least something to avoid for fear of 'offending' someone, somehow.

Perhaps young Mister Costner, with his benign but powerful rejection of his school's PC rubbish that prohibits anything 'religious' or a reference to God being spoken in a Valedictorian’s graduation address, will awaken more Americans to the ever-growing stifling of 'religious' speech (except Islam) and spur more of us to reject that prohibition with no real basis other than a hatred of faith from atheists and those attempting to weaken the cohesiveness of the people of America who, although hardly devout, are not atheists and resent that tiny group attempting to dictate to the vast majority.

28 posted on 06/07/2013 6:43:54 AM PDT by Jim Scott
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To: Hound of the Baskervilles

That these are even a distinct possibility that any or all will be tried shows the depths that Acirema has degenerated.


29 posted on 06/07/2013 6:47:46 AM PDT by NTHockey (Rules of engagement #1: Take no prisoners)
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To: BykrBayb

? I don’t have any problem with this, my comment was directed toward an establishment with a notion they must censure by pre approval a speech to be given by an academic excellent student. It smacks of an authorization to give free speech IMO.


30 posted on 06/07/2013 6:53:53 AM PDT by Mouton (108th MI Group.....68-71)
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To: bray

They are obsessed with God BECAUSE INSIDE they KNOW there really is a God. They are trying, attempting to convince themselves that there is no God. By always attacking anything to do with God, they are attempting to separate themselves, in their minds, from our God. BUT, there is no getting away. At the Great White Throne, THEY will be reminded of this. ALL of it. HE will judge them and THEY are not going to like where He puts them. But, always remember, God gave us the ability of CHOICE. FREE WILL. He did not want a bunch of robots or zombies coming to Him in worship of Him. He wanted people who wanted to come to Him, to worship Him. He gave us the choice. Sadly, the majority reject it and will find themselves in the lake of fire because of it.


31 posted on 06/07/2013 7:00:12 AM PDT by RetiredArmy (1 Cor 15: 50-54 & 1 Thess 4: 13-17. That about covers it.)
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To: Kaslin

I grew up during the 1960’s when “open defiance” was celebrated.

But, like most other things with the Left, it’s a one-way street.

Kudos to the young man.


32 posted on 06/07/2013 7:00:57 AM PDT by Arm_Bears (Refuse; Resist; Rebel; Revolt!)
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To: Gosh I love this neighborhood

If a valedictorian was honest he could say, “Even with my grades and test scores, I couldn’t get a full scholarship, because I’m a white male. I don’t want to run up a lot of debt for a useless degree, so I’m going to study online. With my brains, I still have a good chance of long term success. The rest of you, good luck in the Obama economy. You’re going to need it.”


33 posted on 06/07/2013 7:04:12 AM PDT by Tax-chick (More open defiance is needed.)
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To: Hound of the Baskervilles

Yes, I see which side you are on.

It’s a bit like having to sit through the Canadian National Anthem when you go to a sporting event near our Northern Border.

Funny though, it never harms me.


34 posted on 06/07/2013 7:09:40 AM PDT by Venturer
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To: Kaslin

He exercised his 1st admendment and now the progressives are out to get him. By the way, what does “Congress shall make no law” mean?


35 posted on 06/07/2013 7:19:09 AM PDT by fella ("As it was before Noah, so shall it be again,")
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To: bray
Why does it bother atheists so much if they don’t believe in God?

BTTT!!!!!!

I don't get it either....
36 posted on 06/07/2013 7:28:30 AM PDT by Eagle of Liberty (Be the Enemy Within the Enemy Within...)
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To: Kaslin

“The evil are powerless if the good are unafraid.” - Ronald Reagan


37 posted on 06/07/2013 7:43:37 AM PDT by detective
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To: RetiredArmy
They are obsessed with God BECAUSE INSIDE they KNOW there really is a God.

EXACTLY!!! The only way the "anti-religious" can be safe in their own minds is to RID THE PUBLIC SQUARE of anything relating to religion.

OUT OF SIGHT....OUT OF MIND!!
38 posted on 06/07/2013 7:57:48 AM PDT by Eagle of Liberty (Be the Enemy Within the Enemy Within...)
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To: Kaslin
The Freedom From Religion Foundation blasted what it called the “open defiance” of a valedictorian who delivered The Lord’s Prayer during a high school graduation ceremony last Saturday in South Carolina

Now... I'm quite certain these leftards were just thrilled when Bradley Manning handed over classified information to Wikileaks. Of course, THOSE rules were meant to be broken... after all, we're just talking about national security.

39 posted on 06/07/2013 8:17:53 AM PDT by ScottinVA ( Liberal is to patriotism as Kermit Gosnell is to neonatal care.)
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To: bray
Why does it bother atheists so much if they don’t believe in God? They are obsessed with God.

I've been asking the same thing... if faith in God is all hogwash, why the hell should atheists care? They can just tune it out.

But the real issue... the internal conflict they're truly having is -- they're just.. not.. sure.

40 posted on 06/07/2013 8:21:31 AM PDT by ScottinVA ( Liberal is to patriotism as Kermit Gosnell is to neonatal care.)
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