[pnh102]

While I think it is wrong that one whiney student gets to ruin graduation for everyone else, I still think the best way to deal with this kind of crap is to simply have one or more private graduation ceremonies that students could choose to attend. This also eliminates the converse of this problem... what if someone wanted to invoke a prayer from a... non-mainstream religion?

The only official act that the school would be tasked with handling would be the mailing of the diplomas.

[pgyanke]

BS. The Valedictorian speech should include something about what makes someone a valedictorian! Let’s just assume for the sake of argument that Christians believe that everything they have and everything they are is a gift from God... what right does the school or anyone else have to tell them to find someone else (government?!) to thank? Not only are we censoring the religious liberty of one, we are removing the possibility of inspiration from the rest!

GK Chesterton noted that the end result of political correctness, where politics and religion weren’t acceptable topics of discussion in a polite society, is that we are pretty much left with discussing the weather. So every graduation will have the same speech from now on so that no one’s knickers can get in a twist... and no one will learn a damn thing from those who have achieved success.

[McBuff]

To equate being "whiney" with merely stating that her faith was instrumental for her academic success, is stunning. It shows how our nation, founded on religious principles and the affirmation of God, has drifted from its founding spirit. The idea of "separation of church and state" has now been misappropriated to include separating America from her soul.

Let her speak, freely.

[oneamericanvoice]

Who is whiney? The group that is trying to suppress her free speech and practice of her religion are the whiners.

Most of those that are protesting would have no protest if it were a speech by a non-mainstream religion. This is an attack on Christianity and the practice of religion as set forth in the Constitution.

Who would pay for the multiple graduations?
These kids interacted throughout their attendence, why segregrate them now? Life isn’t like that. School is preparation for adult life.

I’m not Christian, yet I find no problem with her invoking Jesus’ name.

[reaganaut]

I went to a HS graduation when I lived in Utah. The LDS students gave the Invocation and the Christian students (their terms) gave the Benediction.

At our HS one graduation, after the Jewish valedictorian was told he could not pray, he sneezed and the entire student body responded loudly “God Bless you!”.

I think what the school did was completely wrong. She has a right to say what is important to her, including her faith, that isn’t proselytizing in the least.

It is freedom OF religion, not freedom FROM religion, and this whole separation of church and state junk has been misinterpreted and misused by the GD’d Atheists.

[achilles2000]

NO, CLOSE THE GOVERNMENT RE-EDUCATION CAMPS. THAT AVOIDS ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS. BUT, THEN, CONSERVATIVES WOULD HAVE TO GIVE UP THEIR FAVORITE WELFARE ENTITLEMENT -”FREE” GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS.

[Gee Wally]

Didn't they cut-off George Washington during his 1st inaugural address when he attempted to thank God with these words from his prepared inaugural address:

Such being the impressions under which I have, in obedience to the public summons, repaired to the present station, it would be peculiarly improper to omit in this first official act my fervent supplications to that Almighty Being who rules over the universe, who presides in the councils of nations, and whose providential aids can supply every human defect, that His benediction may consecrate to the liberties and happiness of the people of the United States a Government instituted by themselves for these essential purposes, and may enable every instrument employed in its administration to execute with success the functions allotted to his charge.

In tendering this homage to the Great Author of every public and private good, I assure myself that it expresses your sentiments not less than my own, nor those of my fellow-citizens at large less than either.

No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the Invisible Hand which conducts the affairs of men more than those of the United States.

Every step by which they have advanced to the character of an independent nation seems to have been distinguished by some token of providential agency; and in the important revolution just accomplished in the system of their united government the tranquil deliberations and voluntary consent of so many distinct communities from which the event has resulted can not be compared with the means by which most governments have been established without some return of pious gratitude, along with an humble anticipation of the future blessings which the past seem to presage.

These reflections, arising out of the present crisis, have forced themselves too strongly on my mind to be suppressed.

You will join with me, I trust, in thinking that there are none under the influence of which the proceedings of a new and free government can more auspiciously commence.