Posted on 11/17/2015 6:15:38 AM PST by Maceman
Was a teen runner disqualified for wearing a Bible verse? That's the question Fox News commentator Todd Starnes is putting into the national spotlight.
On Nov. 7, West Forsyth High School runner John Green finished in 3rd place in the Georgia 5-A cross-country state championship. Immediately afterwards however, he was disqualified for wearing a white headband with a Bible verse on it. The three broadcast networks, ABC, NBC and CBS skipped the story during their morning and evening news shows – although they have covered controversy over religious head attire before.
Green's headband read "Isaiah 40:30-31," an appropriate Bible verse for a runner:
"Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall; but those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint."
Forsyth County News reported that officials initially approved of the headband.
This should be protested. I hope his coaches are doing so, and especially since it was pre-approved by the officials.
I can’t remember any restrictions on headbands in cross country...they soak up sweat...only jewelry and school uniforms and colors permitted under those uniforms.
:: Nets Ignore Runner Disqualified for Wearing Bible Verse; Covered Hijab Case ::
Why would the NBA team from Jersey be concerned about a XC runner in Georgia?
It happened at a school near me. Their official response was a bit arrogant, basically “the rules say ‘because I said so’ is valid”. My reply was basically “that’s only so refs can handle unaddressed safety & fairness issues immediately, which an inside-out headband isn’t.”
https://www.facebook.com/OfficialGHSA/?fref=photo
Phrases on team attire should not be allowed. Here’s why:
“Allahu Akbar!”
“Black Lives Matter!”
“Che!”
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.