Valedictorian's Speech About Christ Prompts Controversy

[SSanf]

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A high school class's top student took the show at her graduation with a nearly 20-minute speech urging her fellow students to find God -- a topic that prompted a commencement controversy.

http://www.news4jax.com/news/13401043/detail.htmlI am sure the atheist kids and parents were very moved. Just the message they wanted to remember from their graduation!

[Brightshores]

The scary thing is the number of people who clearly thought it was a good idea.

[cheddarsox]

This exact same thing happened at my son's graduation last week in South Carolina, the val spoke about only being able to find purpose in giving one's life to Christ.

As far as I know, noone made a public fuss. The kid has a right to say what he believes, but dang...!

My daughter's response..."Makes me want to work my ass off so I can be valedictorian and say what I believe"

We were blown away, it was basically a sermon.

Another student gave an invocation that was the least eccumenical that I've ever heard.

OK...funny thing, both speakers are very close buddies of my son, like among his best friends who he hangs with all the time. My son is the least religious person I've ever known. he just has nothing to do with any faith, any deity, any aspect of religious or even spiritual pursuit,

My husband asked him how he deals with hanging with these guys when they get talking that way. He said he pretty much just ignores it. I also wonder how they deal with having such a close friend who believes in nothing.

The speech was so religious, we were surprised there wasn't an altar call, and yes, the young man is planning to become a minister.

zownds!

cheddar , who's daughter has already decided having her say at graduation isn't worth all that work, but, no matter, she brings up the tough issues all the time anyway.

[Fairy_Princess]

We need a Druid Valedictorian to sacrifice a an animal on the podium for us!

That'll show'em!

[SSanf]

We need a Druid Valedictorian to sacrifice a an animal on the podium for us!

That'll show'em!UH, yeah! Fine with me. But, no chickens, cats, dogs, or goats puhlease!

[LostSheep]

Hmmm... I suppose 20 minutes of
"If we die with that sin on our souls, we will immediately be pulled down to hell to pay the eternal price for our sins ourselves" and so on would make me, um, wonder if the bar was open, but was this actually out of place? Is talk about religion out of place in these things?

I'm not entirely sure what a valedictorian is exactly, but was it blatantly out of context or inappropriate?

I looked up valedictorian: according to Wiki, The graduation speech is a closing or farewell statement, address, or oration delivered at a graduation ceremony. It is an oration or address spoken at commencement in American high schools, colleges or seminaries by one of the graduates. The mode of discourse is generally inspirational and persuasive. The many aims of this address are to thank, inspire, affect, and above all say farewell to the high school, college, or seminary.

Not sure if I'd have wanted to sit through 20 minutes of it ~ actually i wouldn't want to sit throuigh 20 minutes of any speech ~ but was it really inappropriate in this case? Just wondering, because the story doesn't seem to say that she shouldn't have said it.

[LostSheep]

UH, yeah! Fine with me. But, no chickens, cats, dogs, or goats puhlease!

or sheep, please.

thank you.

[SSanf]

I think it is a pretty accepted general policy that since the schools are publicly funded and serve people of all faiths, that they are supposed to leave religion out of the address.

[SSanf]

or sheep, please.

thank you.
Uh....RIGHT!

[Fairy_Princess]

UH, yeah! Fine with me. But, no chickens, cats, dogs, or goats puhlease!

Chickens and Goats and Sheep and Rabbits would be best...

Cats and Dogs are pretty worthless for sacrificing.... pretty useless all around actually.