Valedictorian defies ban on graduation prayer: The school board of Pickens, SC had caved in to anti-prayer groups and decided no prayer would be offered at the recent graduation of...

SpeedyWilson Loc: Upstate South Carolina

The school board of Pickens, SC had caved in to anti-prayer groups and decided no prayer would be offered at the recent graduation of Liberty High School. However, the valedictorian had different ideas, and he chose to make his position known during his valedictorian speech.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EX28jjqu0HU

Roy Costner IV, you are to be commended for your strength in the presence of weakness by the administration of your school.

A printed version is here:
http://www.libertyspeaks.net/headlines/2013/06/03/lhs-valedictorian-takes-a-bold-stand-for-prayer/

Robert Graybeal Loc: Myrtle Beach

Aman, Brother!

Robert Graybeal Loc: Myrtle Beach

Can he go straight from H.S. to Congress???

cday Loc: North Carolina

More power to him!!! He's got more sense than our elected "officials" and I use that term loosely....

stevetl Loc: Muskegon, MI / Central Florida

Amen & Amen

SteveR Loc: Michigan

This was not over the top, but done in a very dignified way. Can't beat the Lord's Prayer.

Bangee5 Loc: Louisiana

The school will not punish him for going against the ban.

tschmath Loc: Los Angeles

This story is a perfect example of what makes America great. The School Board was 100% correct in not having a religious invocation as part of the ceremony. And the valedictorian was perfectly within his rights to express his religious beliefs in public. A perfect separation of church and state, and perfect example of freedom to practice one's religion.

As the comedian Yakov Smirnoff used to say, "what a country"!!!!

Remoman Loc: Someplace Remote Near LA

And if the valedictorian had been a Muslim and had offered a prayer?????

SteveR Loc: Michigan

Remoman wrote:

And if the valedictorian had been a Muslim and had offered a prayer?????

He certainly wouldn't have been cheered.

OnTheFly Loc: Tennessee

I have to agree with you this time. A lot of people don't want freedom of religion. They want freedom from religion. They have the right not to believe, but at the same time we do have the right to believe. As you said (in a way) we should also have a right to express that.
Well said and a well balanced statement tschmath.

tschmath wrote:

This story is a perfect example of what makes America great. The School Board was 100% correct in not having a religious invocation as part of the ceremony. And the valedictorian was perfectly within his rights to express his religious beliefs in public. A perfect separation of church and state, and perfect example of freedom to practice one's religion.

As the comedian Yakov Smirnoff used to say, "what a country"!!!!

SpeedyWilson Loc: Upstate South Carolina

The subjugation of the school board is a great example of anti-god people practicing their religion through bullying and intimidation.

SpeedyWilson Loc: Upstate South Carolina

Now, an example of a student who was treated in a poor way for her action to stand up for her heritage:

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/06/05/alabama-teen-denied-diploma-fined-1000-for-wearing-feather-at-graduation/?intcmp=obinsite

I hope she doesn't have to pay the fine.

tschmath Loc: Los Angeles

MisterWilson wrote:

Now, an example of a student who was treated in a poor way for her action to stand up for her heritage:

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/06/05/alabama-teen-denied-diploma-fined-1000-for-wearing-feather-at-graduation/?intcmp=obinsite

I hope she doesn't have to pay the fine.

Although the $1000 fine is ridiculous, the board was completely within its rights to prohibit the feather. She signed a contract before the ceremony, and she violated it. If she earned the diploma she should get it, but she should have been banned from the ceremony and gotten her diploma by mail.

wannabe Loc: Baton Rouge Louisiana

tschmath wrote:

Although the $1000 fine is ridiculous, the board was completely within its rights to prohibit the feather. She signed a contract before the ceremony, and she violated it. If she earned the diploma she should get it, but she should have been banned from the ceremony and gotten her diploma by mail.

She said in the artical that she never signed the contract.