A provable LIE, the children are allowed to pray at school, have religious clubs and even read their bibles. What is not allowed is interrupting normal classroom routine with such prayers, club activities or forcing their beliefs on everyone around them. Also, school teachers and administrators are not allowed to take part in such activities with the students or advise students on religious beliefs. The commencement prayer is a clear violation of federal guidelines on religion in schools since the person praying is doing so to a captive audience, people who have no choice but to sit and listen to the religious mumbo-jumbo.

Actually you can have prayer in school - what you can't have are teacher under the employment of our government holding prayers because it's a violation of the constitution. As for those who are tired of the minority preventing the majority from dominating them? Tough. The constitution is there to protect the rights of all, and if you don't like it, you are free to leave the country for one that allows religion to govern it - you know, like Iran?

I'm just plain tired of all of this...this student had to sit through a lot of other things he did not agree on during his high school education. Did he sue the school then? I just feel sorry for this kid...he is starting his adult life portraying himself as a victim...he has a long and sad road ahead.

So Ken it is ok for him to violate the rest of the classes 1st amendment rights? To circumvent the due process that was in place. The majority overwelmingly voted for their 1st amendment rights of free speech to include a benediction. We do live in a DEMOCRACY. One founded on Christian principles I might add, so as requested he was not a part of that part of the ceremony where others were expressing their rights.

I agree Sandy, I've read the comments and I can't believe how many people agree with him. What is this world coming to. People in the audience are captives because they have to listen to the prayer also. Where are the constitutional rights of those people that are God fearing Christians. Our nation and it's forefathers were born, one nation under God. I feel sorry for these people,because when they take their final breath, what do they have to look forward to. How can they not accept the word of God. His promises to those that believe and those that don't. I am a child of God and I see his blessings everyday. And the consequence of not being one is damnation. Read the Bible. May God have mercy on their souls.

i have heard of many students not being allowed to pray in school, before meals and such, even though they have a strict religious upbringing. They have received detention and expolsion for privately and silently praying over their meals. So, if they no longer have the freedom to pray in school, why should they be forced to endure this tradition at graduation? They usually pick one minister to deliver the prayer. What if you don't believe in that faith or what the minister says in that prayer? Jehovah's Witnesses find many of these prayers offensive to their beliefs, yet they still have to endure them. Isn't this infringing on their rights?

Thank you Matthew. It's time people start standing up for secularism and against religions.

I have tried my best to understand the viewpoints of non-christians, and as a christian I think what bothers me most is the hostile attitude that many display. I am so thankful that one of the many attributes of a christian is to show love and not to judge, as that is not for us to do!

prayers are the reason we have problems in the world today. can you just imagine youself in the cockpit of one of the jetliners that crashed into one of the towers. i'm sure you would have heard "praise allah" (GOD) more than a few times. our founding fathers knew something about religious fascist when then implies the two dont go together, meaning religion and government. on top of the praying it was christian prayers. what about the other kids with different religions?.guess you dont care about them. this kid is great in my book. hes a free thinker and is smart enough to use his thinking and say.."wait a minute, this isnt right" and then have to courage enough to pursue and do something about it. contrary to what the majority of right-wing christians try to demand, that we should just all go along with them or somehow WE should be punished. when the majority have the power to dictate over the minority as in civil, religious or equal rights are democracy will come to an end.

I think that what's being overlooked here is that the prayer was not meant as some sort of device for causing offense and inflicting punishment. More likely it was a way of using faith as a method of helping to express the best wishes of the student for their classmates. I highly doubt that the speaker had any ill will toward any member of the audience that did not share in their beliefs, they just wanted to contribute to the ceremony. Pretty soon you'll be able to get sued for saying "Bless you" when someone sneezes.

Sure, prayer is what's missing. Teen pregnancy, large numbers of children in high school who can't read, and vast numbers of teenagers who don't even graduate high school -- but if they just PRAY hard enough, all will be solved.

Just to indulge you, would you feel better if they were praying to other "gods" like from other faiths than whatever mythological being to which YOU subscribe?

What if the prayer was Shinto, Wiccan, Zoroastrian, Buddhist, Islam, Hindu, Judaism, VooDoo, Sikhism, Taoism, Ásatrú, Druidism, or any of hundreds of other faiths ASIDE FROM Christianity? Would you THEN FEEL the same way about those prayers in your public schools?

Sandy I agree with you and the people being law suit conscience now is rediculous. I wonder if he was asked to be baptized also. Get real.

religion does not belong in school

Religion does NOT belong in schools.

A message to Darrin:

You're actually very wrong. We do NOT live in a democracy, we live in a REPUBLIC, with a representative form of government. If we lived in a TRUE democracy, every time Congress wanted to vote to pass a bill to fix potholes on highways, you'd have to go to vote on it, which would mean that you would have to vote all day, every day, and likely have no time to work and no days off because of all the legislation you had to read and vote on every day.

Our founding fathers purposesly constructed a Republic to protect not only minorities in the country, but even an upper house of Congress that protected smaller states by giving all states in the Senate equal representation. This is specifically to avoid a "mob" or "majority vote" or "majority rule" system.

It was Paul Ryan (R-WI) favorite conservative author who penned:
"Individual rights are not subject to a public vote; a majority has no right to vote away the rights of a minority; the political function of rights is precisely to protect minorities from oppression by majorities (and the smallest minority on earth is the individual)." - Ayn Rand

Darrin, the majority can be WRONG and doesn't get to force its views on the minority when the Constitution protects that minority from exactly that.
Your majority allows you to pray in the car, in the shower, in your church, but don't tell anyone else even that they SHOULD pray in a public forum because THAT is what being an American is all about.

You can have prayer in school. What you cannot do - and should not be able to do - is force everyone around you to join in that prayer. I wonder what the reaction would be if all students were asked to bow to the east or perform some rite or ritual not inherently Christian. But, should you decide to bow you head and offer a prayer, I do no beleive anyone would attempt to prevent you from doing so.

Well, I guess we are getting ever closer to the fortold end of this "System of Things", as mentioned in the Bible. It said the "Last Days" were going to be full of People like this. IE: 2 Timothy 3:1-5. Also we received intelligence that it would be a "Crooked and Twisted Generation", "What is right, is wrong and what is Wrong is right". Welcome to the time of the end, people.

Mike, those who said their prayers were exercising THEIR rights as well. They have their right to free speech just as anyone else. So you are to say just because you don't agree with their speech they cannot speak, yet if is is your view you can. That would be most hypocritical. Just as the student opted out of being part of it as is expected, and if he had chose to make his own speech, that would have been acceptable as well with those that did not agree could also opt out.

That definately is what is wrong wiht our world today. We let other people come in and make us stop doing what WE feel is right and best for our world. God is who put us on this earth. I DARE anyone to tell me i cant say a prayer in public. What happened to our freedom of speech. If these people dont want prayer then go elsewhere. We dont say that what ever their religion is taht they cant .

PRAISE GOD. All of you voicing your faith and standing up for God will be rewarded by Him. I love and feel encouraged every time a fellow christian stands firm in the faith and shows the "deeds" of not giving up. When one or two people sue to get God taken out of something the other 99 people should sue him to put God back in. Then they would understand we are a majority rule, not ruled by one. Otherwise there would be 10 millions seperate laws to fit 10 million different people. God Bless you all even those going against God. "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

If you don't want to here us pray then leave the room!!! I love the lord, it;s not just my right but my way of life. I am sorry for you and pray for you.like it on not!!!!!!!

Oh brother.... Everyone's offended by something. That's life. This "graduate" should DEAL with it and stop this petty crap because there are a lot more important issues that will offend him. He's going to find out the HARD way that there are rules that lots of people don't like, but you have to deal with them or work somewhere else. Kids are so used to getting everything they want and now they expect to be able to sue for "their" rights. Others have rights, too. And that includes the right and freedom of religion. That kid needs to grow the hell up.

You are so right sandy and all of us who believe in GOD this country was built on in GOD we trust even our money still has it on it and to let these people take prayer out of our functions is crazy GOD is Great all of the time when we had prayer in our schools we didn't have shootings in our schools I want GOD every where my grand children attend school and where ever my family goes

Unicorn,yes I'm sick to death of the minority telling me what I can and can't do.I want a prayer said at my graduation so if not allowed my rights will be violated as well.Get real,unless the teenager is mentally imbalanced the prayer didn't affect him whats so ever,IT'S ALL ABOUT MONEY,law suit,talk shows,radio interviews,books,etc.

Sandy, we are doomed!

YOU SAID IT... MAYBE WE SHOULD TAKE ALL THESE TYPE OF PEOPLE AND PUT THEM ON AN ISLAND SOMEWHERE AND THEY CAN CREATE THEIR OWN COUNTRY/WORLD AND MAKE THEIR OWN RULES AND SUE THEMSELVES IF SOMETHING DOESN'T SUIT THEM RIGHT. MY FAMILY LIKE OUR GREAT NATION GREW UP ON GOD AND PRAYER AND ITS SO STUPID TO LET THESE PEOPLE SUE AND CHANGE WHAT WE BELIEVE IN.......

Enough is Enough, it is time for our American society to learn to accept others. Our laws are built upon the principle of treating each other as you would like to be treated. As a christian, we love our neighbors, religious or secular. Read the Declaration of Independence and Constitution. Exercising our faith is what made us a country. There is no denying that.

When will these bible thumpers learn that the constitution gives us freedom FROM religion. Three cheers to Mr. Nielson

I have read several comments pro and con. I keep reading that there are federal guidlines to not have prayer in schools. My question is this " If there are federal guidelines in the constitution why has this been an accepted pactice for generations. Why did we have to wait until now to decide it is wrong."

Well if he does not believe in pray or GOD then he will not be able to use any money as all the money in the USA says " In GOD we Trust" So I say give him his day in court and fine him for a frivolous lawsuit and be done with it. The class voted he lost. To bad if he does not like democracy either then move out of the USA.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Keep your imaginary friends to yourself. School is for education, which is reality-based. How would you feel if an Islamic imam spoke instead? Because its the fantasy you subscribe to, it's OK? How about this? Don't pray in our schools and we won't think in your church.

Trace Adkins has a song by the title of "There are more of Us than there are of them" It is time for a democratic society to stand up and make the minority stop making decisions for the majority.
The kid can simply ignore the prayer like he may have ignored other things in school that he did not like.
No one said he had to like it or listen to it, block it out, he is also saying the majority should accept his view, however they did a democratic vote and the majority ruled, that is the way it should be and these fringe orginizations need to stop wasting tax payer money trying to push their minority agenda

If you want prayer and religion in school, do as I do and pay for it. As for Public school, it's there for everyone. No one religion should have claim to their form of prayer in an educational system that is there for all people.

Be glad that religion is not taught in our public school system...while you have your beliefs, I have my own, as does the teacher with a rag wrapped around his head and prays to Allah...would you want this person teaching and praying with your 5 yr old when you're a devout Catholic, or Protestant, or Jehovah Witness, or Morman, or Athiest?

Religion isn't missing at school, it's missing at home.

Sarah, it is not about have "claim" in school. A majority of students wanted to exercise their right to free speech in a benediction. If another group wanted to speak, it would appear that that was also welcome. Christian religion is ingrained in this nation. Have you ever taken an oath for the military,public office, to tesify in court? Sat in on Congress, Senate? All invoke religion.

Prayers to which god? Or gods? I'll put up with your prayers to Jesus and Allah if you'll put up with mine to Zeus and Apollo. Deal?

As I have been reading through the different comments about this I have come to believe it is the school that is at fault. For the people who say it's ok to pray in school, and the ones who say at the students voted it in, to the ones that say it's free speech. Here's the rub. Graduation is a school function. Therefore no prayer should have been allowed. The students should never have been given a ballot to vote on the issue. That is why the school & principle are at fault. The government should not promote one religion over another or any religion at all. If you want a public prayer great, but a high school graduation is not a public event. Just like a high school sporting event. For those who say the country was founded on religion, that's almost correct. The country was founded on freedom of religion, to worship any god you choose, the way you choose and as often as you choose, with no repercussions from the government or groups. There are literally tens of thousands different religious denominations & beliefs. Which one is the one to use for the prayer? And who decides? What happens if its not the one you worship? The point is there shouldn't have been a vote from the students to begin with. No one is saying you can't worship or pray. You just can't force it on anyone in a school or government setting. There are countries that allow that. We're not one of them!

This child need to stop and think he can't get his way all of the time and if he is going to sue then that just tells me that his parents have brought him up that suing is the best way to get what you want. Anyone that doesn't want to hear my Prayer, they just need to sit down and shut up , because I am sure that there is something that they do that I don't like' That is just how life is...you have to tolorate everyone that is just what life is about! Plus has he even stop to think that he is voilating the other students freedom of speech rights?!

Oh boo hoo... Call the Whaaaaaaambulance. Your faith is a joke.

Religion is for fascists.

Who is choosing the prayer? Perhaps everyone should get a number, put a like number in a box, and the principal should draw a number from the box. Whose ever number he draws, gets to choose. If somebody as a joke picked a religious prayer that required the slaughter of a chicken, that would be the invocation. And if the number drawn for the benediction decided it would be fun to have a Muslim prayer, then that would be it. That would be the democratic way to choose the prayer. It is possible that the number would be drawn for someone who would choose no prayer at all, and that is what would happen, or perhaps Greek Orthodox, who wants all the pomp and circumstance for the invocation. Wouldn't that make it better, closer to the intent of the Constitution, and cover all the objections? No. The intent of the Constitution is to keep religion out of state sponsored matters, and state sponsored matters out of religion.

Absolutely not. He is violatng the majorities right to prayer by filing s frivolous lawsuit against the school. What happened to our rights to freedom of speech, our right to not to be persecuted for our belief in the Almighty God or is it just the Muslims, Jews and hypocrits and Non believers that get to shove the crap down our throats. Well I am for one fed up with it. I say every individual who wants to PRAY STAND UP AND PRAY OUT LOUD NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE, WHAT TIME OF DAY OR NIGHT IT IS, IT IS YOUR GOD GIVEN RIGHT. AND our fore Fathers gave their lives and belief in god for us to be able to practice our religion free of persecution.

I agree..its ridiculous there are no morals in this country anymore. What a low life, complaining about that. People need to get a life!

Gee Unicorns, perhaps you should read it again!!! A fellow student, not teacher. Gee.

Colleto, your just stupid, there's bigotry every where and on all sides. That is not what this is all about. Let's remember to whom we all turned to on the Day Our World stopped turning 9/11/01....Have you Forgotten. I haven't. I bet if it happened to someone you loved or that little shit, he would be dropping to his knees and learning real quick how to pray to the one True God. God gave us a choice and we chose We man kind Chose to take the life of Our Savior and kill him, So God allowed us this choice and forgave us, so now the choices we choose is up to us, not Him...take a stand for God...Maybe one day He will take a stand for you like He did for our fore fathers who built this Great Country that so many have died to protect.

Sandy, what they need to do is TEACH what the first amendment ACTUALLY says..

I agree with your statement too...when a Columbine icident happens they all ASK HOW could a loving God allow this to happen..DUH..you threw Him out of the school..

Well, Unicorns, perhaps you should read the article. It said "fellow student" not teacher. This kid has a complex!!

Emily you do not belong in school, perhaps you belong in these other countries that practice muslim beliefs where women are not allowed to have an opinion and are caned or stoned for wearing pants or having sex outside of marraige. How about you John you up to moving to a country where every word you say or write is censored. Because that is what all of you are doing to christians. In the work place is politicaly incorrect to say anything with the word christ in it such as Merry (Christ)mas we now have to say happy holidays in fear of offending some one. You know I have a great idea let's stop celebrating any Holidays at all. Then especially then all government employees will have to stop getting all that holiday time off and actually earn their money. And it truly would be a separation of church and state, no more Easter, Fourth of July, Christmas, no more memorial day, after all it was Christ that said "let the dead bury the dead". What a wonderful place this would be with no celebrations. Right.

Well he certainly won't need college will he. He's already learn a trade, get rich the quick way" sue sombody". There are ad's all over the place. Might as well insure yourself against your own mouth these day's.

And John it's butt's like you, this kid and politicians is why we have so many problems today. PRAYER NEVER HURT ANYONE!!! Try it you might like it, it is a lot like meditating.

What is "missing" is your ability to force feed your religion to all of us. No one can stop you from saying a silent prayer any time you like. But that isn't good enough because it doesn't involve forcing others to join you. The student body does not have the right to "vote" out someone else's Constitutional rights and freedoms, including the right to be free from religious dogma being forced on them.

Just for you John, I would never punish you for anything. My God teaches me to love you, even Osama Bin Laden, I had to forgive for without forgiveness I cannot be forgiven. I love you and respect your opinions, you are entitled very much to them. I would like you to know It is not about religion, but a personal relationship with God's Son and to achieve that is through constant prayer. Not organized churches.Not a religion telling you what to believe in or what to do or even what to wear. God's only requirement is that you believe in His one and only Son. Christ did say however if a sues thee and takes away thy coat, give him thy cloke also..Love your enemies and pray for those that would do you harm...

He had the right to cover his ears and not listen or to remove himself until the prayer was finished. Since these things are rehearsed he had time to make arrangements. So he chose to violate his own rights by remaining, thus no lawsuit.

You are what's wrong with the world today. You refuse to see that when you force your religious beliefs into the lives of others, you are no different than the Taliban.

someone needs to sue for NOT having prayers in the schools! We have every right to hear them as they do to not hear them! STOP ROLLING OVER!!!

REALLY!?!? What happened to no religion in public schooling? You want religion in school go to a private school. If it's that goddamn important why not have two graduations. One with religion, one without!

First, being forced to skip your high school graduation is a punishment. Someone who doesn't share the majority religion should not be punished by having to "leave the room." While students were free to pray on their own, when the district got involved it violated the rights of the student who is suing.

Second, and most important, remember that the district employees who did this are bureaucrats who work for politicians. Having been both a bureaucrat and a minor politician I don't like the idea of the government telling kids when and how to pray. History is full of cases where governments end up forcing a different faith onto people. Whether it's China, Iran or the USA, government involvement in religion harms everyone. Supporting this students lawsuit is a good way to protect your own right to practice the religion you choose.

What's missing is sanity in the Religious Right.

People here have a strange sense of history. many of our forefathers were actually deists. In fact Thomas Jefferson wrote his own bible, taking out all the hokey miracles. People also don't in to account in which the way people spoke and wrote back then. Also, people talk about a democracy, but we are really a REPUBLIC. Look up the difference. I would also point out that we are a secular nation. Our forefathers stated it, eloquently in the 1796 Treat of Tripoli, ratified (and I believe 1 of only 3) unanimously by the US Senate. People here who tell the student if he doesn't like it, he can leave, are by their very nature stating an unAmerican view. Whether we agree or disagree with this young man, we should be applauding him for standing up for his convictions. Most people are cowards, refusing to stand up against a crowd in a fight that is emotional to many people. There was a case where a lady heard her next door neighbor screaming.. instead of calling the police, the woman prayed... while the lady was murdered. Prayer was very helpful. Just this past weekend in WV, a Pentecostal Pastor, who was handling a rattlesnake as the bible claims, he was bit. Instead of seeking help, he prayed... he died a very ugly, tragic death.. prayer helped..

That's right 'unicorn'.....Mr Nielson can go to Iran as well. Obviously he doesn't like to show respect to 99% of his fellow classmates for what they believe. He will be in the work-force soon, maybe in your office. He is the type that will belly-ache over anything and everything.
Good Luck to all the students at #5 and may GOD bless.

@wayne acree

problem is, you're rights to do that aren't being violated, because there is no right to do that. Sure you can pray during the graduation, but there can not be state sponsored prayer. period. It's in the first amendment, and its a law put there by Christians who were wiser than Christians seem to be today - since they all seem to forget that many families moved here from Europe BECAUSE the state was endorsing a particular religion, and they were an oppressed minority.

@sami
why would you even say that? the guy is non-religious, and is fighting against having a government that is influenced by religious ideals, why would he go to Iran?

@others
It doesn't matter if the teacher is speaking the prayer or not, if its organized as a school event its being endorsed by the state, which is illegal.

Would you say this if they had tried to have a Muslim lead the prayer ? I think not. The courts have already ruled on this form of religious expression, they ruled against it. You want to pray in school, go ahead, but you do not have the right to force others to observe your benedictions.

Darrin,

I don't know if this has been stated, but our nation was not founded on Christian beliefs. They were founded on deist beliefs, and if you don't believe me, it was Thomas Jefferson who wrote a version of the bible removing all the miracles of Jesus. They believed that Jesus was a good moral model but not the son of god.

People can pray in their heads. There is no reason to force other people to have to listen to the ramblings of religous dogma that they don't care about or don't believe in.

First of all, the students followed the rules. The students voted on it and the majority of them wanted it. In our country democracy wins. Many people do not always agree with the majority, but here in America the majority rules. Michael needs to face the fact that there will be times when things do not go his way, and that it is an opportunity to grow and become a civil adult and realize that it is a priveldge to be an American citizen and be a part of the process regardless of the outcome!

"First of all, the students followed the rules."
By the school staff organizing a student vote instead of the it being student led, that is against the law. If the majority of your kids public school was Muslim, and they won the vote, how would you feel about going the see you your child graduate and being asked to bow toward Mecca and thank Allah for your child graduating? What? You wouldn't be for that? This is why Thomas Jefferson and James Madison were wise to create a separation of Church and State in our Constitution.

Calling prayer mumbo jumbo is offensive and disrespectful and I think it's ironic that liberals who promote "tolerance" are usually the most intolerant of those who don't believe as they do. Christian students are forced to listen to secular, atheistic views in the classroom all day long in our public schools and universities - yet they are expected to just be quiet and listen - heaven forbid they speak out in disagreement only to be chastised or ridiculed. It's perfectly fine for them to have an opportunity to express their faith without fear of intolerance. If a short prayer is so offensive that someone cannot muster an ounce of tolerance ... they can simply cover their ears!

He was not forced to participate and he says he did not participate...but claiming to be
damaged beyond repair and looking for millions in damages...well that I think is unreasonalble !!

Your rights extend only so far, until they begin to infringe upon another person's rights. Democracy is one thing, but rights are not up to votes for majority or plurality.

So all of the rest of the students has to suffer or change their values for one student who wants to exercise his right to sue. I really feel for you bleeding heart liberals.

Dickerson - maybe next time they should vote on whether or not the black children in the school should be slaves or not while it's okay to vote peoples "inalienable" rights away in america all a sudden.

Your statement above saying "the christians in this nation seem to think that they have the right to force everyone attending such events to listen to their religious mumbo-jumbo." Is offensive I do not push my beliefs on anyone and I am a christian you are assuming all christians act the same way and therefore give a bad reputation for those who do no ill will towards anyone.

As unicorn said, if you don't like it, TOUGH. Majority rules and this country has always been a believer in God. As unicorn said, if you don't like it, leave this country. I guarantee we won't miss you one little bit.

Quit being such an a$$hole and being divisive. Anybody can pray anywhere at anytime in any venue. The Constitution gives us this right and if students required to listen to the Big Bang Theory then they can listen to a prayer.

I feel sorry for you, so blind are they that can not see. Religious mumbo-jumbo, what about your type taking away my rights. I hope you never find your self in a position where you need to cry out to God for help.

So you have the right to force this country not to allow prayer at any public event??? You are soooooo full of CRAP!!! This country was built by those who had severqal relegious beliefs, the majority, Christian beleifs. Because you chose not to beileve, you have the right to limit everyone else?? They don't tell you you must beleive!!! you probalbly don't knoe the Pledge of Allegiance or the Star Spangled Banner, do you!!!! Please excercise you rights and leave this wonderful nation of ours and go to a country like Somalia where they let theives and rapist rule every day life. I feel so sorry for your rights being violated! NOT!!!!!

b.dickerson. i dont know what country you live in. but you sure dont know or understand this one and its democracy. whatever makes you think that majority rules in this country. what do you think, we live in some kind of mob rule or something. the majority shouldnt and cant vote on minority issues of civil, religious and equal rights .there would be nosense voting in the first place, the majority would always win. can you imagine during the sixties if a state like alabama could vote on civil rights issues. there wouldnt be any civil rights for the minorities there if that would been able to have occurred. before you start posted something thats not part of our countries democracy, look up the rules first..

TO "RQ" you have no idea what your rambling about. Obviously you have never read the constitution. There is not one word meantioned about "church and state" in the constitution. HELLO. read it some time. Seperation of Church and State was written in a personal letter from Jefferson to a Babtist Preacher who didn't want government telling him how to run his church or what moneys to pay. Jefferson said that Government had no business regulating or picking a specific denomination as "america's religion". this was to protect Churches from Government influence. Not to keep religion out of Government.
Anyone who says or thinks different is a complete IDIOT. Go to Washington and look on EVERY SINGLE MONUMENT, COURT BUILDING, ETC. THEY ALL HAVE SCRIPTURES FROM THE BIBLE ENGRAVED IN STONE ON THEM. HELLO. Even in the Superior Court there is scripture engraved in wood over the Judges bench. The biggest lie that is believed by stupid people is that our nation was not founded on religion. LISTEN. THERE ARE OVER 40 DIFFERENT QUOTES FROM THE BIBLE IN THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE AND CONSTITUTION. All refer to a higher being, Lord or Majesty, all speek of "creation of the sovereign being" etc.
Any idiot can make up crap. Take your kids and read the constitutiona and declaration of independance then take them to Washington to see hundreds of Government building with God's Scriptures engraved on them by our Fore fathers. Ever read whats written our money? "IN GOD WE TRUST" HELLO

There is NO separation of Church and State in our Constitution, Read it some time. It's freedom OF Religion not from Religion.

Exactly! What are churches for, if not to congregate and pray. WHY must they force non-believers to listen to their BS? Most of the time, I find that they don't even know if they are Christians, or Old Testament fire and brimstone fundamentalists. Get back in your churches, people. And if you don't stop with the political agenda in those churches, TAX THEM!!!

What seems to be forgotten is the fact that this country was founded as "One Nation Under GOD." As a God fearing country we rose to the top of the food chain of the globe, and as we have slid away from God we have seen a drastic change in our economy, dynamic with other nations and our dynamics at home. It's sad really, to see how divided we have become. Prayer is a simple thing that harms no one, it's your choice to participate, and it's even sadder that this young man has been taught that not only suing people but forsaking God is ok. I'm not even religious, at all, but I firmly belive that the problems in this world would be better if people would turn to God instead of away from Him...

Ken,the only mumbo jumbo,nonsense I have read is your comment.Nobody forced him to participate in the prayer so his rights wasn't violated.When the students voted and a majority wanted a prayer said during their graduation,it was their right! If the prayer wasn't allowed because of one attention getter brat then their rights were violated.So why would one person get his way while the others doesn't? It's a bunch of BS.

RQ,first of all it isn't against the law,I just asked my father n law who is a judge.Second he was not forced to participate in the prayer in any way.

unicorn,your comment is ridiculous.There is a law that abolished slavery but there never has been a law that said if everyone in a class votes for prayer but one, he gets his way where the others do without.When does one over rule the majority especially when there was no harm done what so ever.

Ken, thank you so much for your post. I've been sitting here shaking my head reading all this. As you said, praying in a school does violate the constitution. For all you who believe that it is okay, what do you think would happen if you stood up at work in the middle of the office and 10 of you started to pray outloud around eveyone else, and repeated this day in and day out. Do you think you would still have a job. Would you then sue your employer for discriminating by firing you after you had been told once to not do that. It is incredibly ignorant to think that your beliefs should be espoused by those who want to in a public forum. What about that 10 year old child who is raised without God. That is their parents choice. This child attends a school that has prayer each day, this child is the only one that does not participate and leaves the room. All the other children pick on him or her for being different. This child commits suicide because of all the bullying. Is that what you want. Prayer to yourself, in your church or home out loud. I don't want to hear your prayers unless I choose to. Religion does not belong in our schools. Period.

Ken, you're wrong, he did have a choice, he didn't have to attend. He probably already knew there was going to be a Prayer, as I'm sure like the rest of us who graduated, they had a practice prior to graduation. He could have skipped graduation, but he chose to be there, so he therefore was in agreement with what was happening. What he is, is someone trying to make a name for him self. It is my hopes that he has a scholarship and the college offering it will snatch it back so fast they tear off his arm.
This country was founded on Christian prinicples, and should remain that way. Anyone not agreeing with that should find another country to live in.

I should say I can't believe all the unfortunate ignorance displayed in these quotes, but I am used to it now. For those who think we are in a Democracy (demonocracy) or that we should NOT have religion in our lives (actually atheistic secular humanism IS a religion - it's called satanism), I offer these links for your study:

The Myth of the Separation of Church and State
http://www.kevincraig.us/EndTheWall/index.htm
Politics is REligion Externalized:
http://kevinforcongress.blogspot.com/2011/01/politics-and-religion.html
Republic v. Democracy:
http://www.hisholychurch.net/study/gods/cog7rvd.php
Are Men The Property of the State or Free Souls Under God (From the Opening Scene of the Ten Commandments:
http://www.hisholychurch.net/media/video/nimnow.php
INDEPTH STUDY OF THE MARK OF THE BEAST: (click long link or cut & paste:)
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=in%20depth%20study%20of%20the%20mark%20of%20the%20beast%2C%20gregory&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CF8QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hisholychurch.org%2Fstudy%2Fstpg%2Fmarkofthebeastst.pdf&ei=VSbIT77hHIqJ6AGm-tjrDw&usg=AFQjCNHYu9t2ny3RNKjkeqSYz4aQkblKrw

Actually wayne acree, It isn't a LAW that freed the slaves; it is the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Actually, there is a Constitutional Amendment to protect the Rights of the Individual from the Power of the religious Mob. It is the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The Intent of the First Amendment with regard to Religion, was to keep Religion out of State sponsored institutions, such as schools, courts, and government, and to keep the State our of Religion, which is why Church property is not taxed, because it would involve the State too closely with the Church. That way, the religious Majority could not foist their beliefs on a Minority who are a captive audience in a State sponsored institution such as school, court, or government. What YOU do not perceive as a harm, may and will be perceived as harm by another.

The whole of the Amendments, except for Prohabition, expand the rights of Individuals. They protect Individuals from the State and the Majority. There never should have been slaves, but there were. All men and women should have been able to vote, but that is the nature of history. As we recognize wrongs, we have the opportunity to right them. This is one of those times.

to B Dickerson... you should learn a little history... Do you know the words to the Pledge of Allegiance? Do you really understand them... Does it say we are a democracy? No... but it does say a REPUBLIC. Do you know the difference between the two? As they are very close, most people say we are a democracy. In a REPUBLIC, there is a Charter, usually a Constitution. In this Charter, it is there to protect the rights of the minority against the majority. Under your idea, if a state wanted to have slavery, all they had to do was vote for it and if the majority wanted it, so be it.. As for the last part of your comment, Michael is doing exactly what he should do, by exercising his right, and by following the due process of law. Whether I agree with him or not, he is standing up for something he believes in... that is being an AMERICAN... a privilege that you should better understand..

@wayne acree

actually there was a law passed - the civil rights act establishes non-religious a position on religion that is protected just as any other religion is. Paired with the 1st amendment's establishment clause which prevents the government showing preference to a religious group, and this is clearly against the law. The courts have ruled on this time and time again, and its always been ruled that it's illegal. You should be pissed at the school, since despite this being a settled case, insist on pissing away our tax dollars.

No, this is man's world, some adults just choose to still believe in such fairy-tale nonsense and want to inflict that nonsense on everyone around them.

you are right- this is Satan's world. But I do not believe that one religion has the right to govern the prayer said. It is also ridiculous to have a minister from each denomination to come up and say a prayer. We would be there all night! I think they should just do away with it. At my graduation, most of the kids were making so much noise during it, that it couldn't be heard anyway.

iF PEOPLE DON'T BELIEVE IN A GOD OR RELEGION, WHY DO YOU PUT UP SUCH A FIGHT, IT HAS ALWAYS AMAZED ME PEOPLE FIGHT MORE OVER SOMETHING THEY DON'T BELIEVE IN , THEN WHAT THEY DO BELIEVE IN.

Oh? Please tell me where in the Bible are these alleged words of satan?
Remember that these is no satan in the Old Testament.

Actually this IS God's world and through Christ he has given you a REAL kingdom a REAL government by which you can live with God ruling over you, NOT MEN (tyranny). Under God's rule YOU ARE FREE - you have FREE WILL and the RIGHT TO CHOSE - under men you are a slave, but you can't "see it", can you? Start here for your study and research:
http://www.hisholychurch.net/media/publications/index.php

Michael Smith, spokesperson for AMEND28: National Referendum and Recall (Website under construction)

Actually this IS God's world and through Christ he has given you a REAL kingdom a REAL government by which you can live with God ruling over you, NOT MEN (tyranny). Under God's rule YOU ARE FREE - you have FREE WILL and the RIGHT TO CHOSE - under men you are a slave, but you can't "see it", can you? Start here for your study and research:
http://www.hisholychurch.net/media/publications/index.php

Michael Smith, spokesperson for AMEND28: National Referendum and Recall (Website under construction)

WOW - I just love your POV - the majority doesn't get to rule over any minority... but time and again the majority has to bend over and take another one for the team because the minority won't quit their whining. At what point are the rest of us allowed to express our views and be free from the minority's demands??? Oh right, never.

@shannon

No. This rule isn't aimed at the majority. For instance, it is also illegal to hold a muslim prayer, even though muslims aren't the majority. The target is creating a fair environment where no group feels excluded or penalized. The only way to do this is to maintain a secular environment in school. Also stop with the not being allowed to express your views thing - stop acting like you're an oppressed minority group when you're not. No one is stopping you from expressing your views - you're just crying because you can't impose your beliefs on other in every situation without facing resistance.

"At what point are the rest of us allowed to express our views and be free from the minority's demands"
When you are not co-opting our shared civic institutions as a platform to promote your views, thereby making the rest us us pay for you to publicize your viewpoint. Do it on your own time, and your own dime.

"At what point are the rest of us allowed to express our views and be free from the minority's demands"
Also when you ask for government to give special rights to you to promote your viewpoint, but not allow the minority the same public forum to share their viewpoint, that is also against the law.

You're an atheist...I get it. I don't give a nit on a nats rear end as to what your core beliefs are...but when it comes to trying to limit my religious beliefs you'll always be met with a common sense approach...not your militant stance on backwards view of the Constitution. There are far too many constitutional scholars who would pound you into the ground with your idiotic rebuttals. Embrace your atheism and keep it to yourself.

Gee Ken, you are really smart. You should be doing somehing more creative than posting on this lame assed story.

I don't remember voting that prayer should be taken from public forum so clearly someone made that decision for me and millions of other people. Sorry if people are OFFENDED by credit being given where credit is due...from GOD who created them. Would love to be a fly on the gates of heaven when non-believers say oh please let me even tho I denied your existance my whole life!

Our Constitution is amazingly good at preventing majorities from tyrannizing minorities. That is because it guarantees that we all have equal freedom to enjoy and practice our liberty; yet equal freedom to practice liberty means that one's freedom ends where others' freedom is infringed. That is why government at every level in the U.S. can legally prevent persons from harming others, and that also prevents government entities (schools in this case) from allowing the unconstitutional liberty of sponsoring unlawful worship to the detriment of others.

Oh, poor shannon, the majority doesn't get to rule over a minority? I imagine you'd prefer that WOMEN never got to the right to vote and that white people could still own slaves?? After all, THOSE were majority rule in the U.S.

Besides, what is the ONE AND ONLY religious holiday observed by federal, state and local governments across the entire United States? Christmas.

So, until ANY OTHER RELIGION gets a holiday with that kind of recogntion by EVERY level of government -- bite me, and quit your own darn whining in the mean time.

Amen

I am just wondering if he sues the public schools because there is a Christmas break? He is forced to take the week, or two depending on where you go to school, off because of a religious holiday. I have never heard a single student, christian or otherwise, complain about not having to go to school because it is closed to celebrate the birth of Christ. Just saying.

its all ignorance. when you have to go to court what do you put your hand on to be swore in to testify? a BIBLE are ya'll going to sue the court house for having to put your hand on a bible? a bible was formed from christianity. if you choose not to believe in god thats your choice. only thing this kid is looking for is to get money.

Under Our Constitution, the Majority does NOT rule. That which is Right, rules (generally, but not Citizens United). You cannot Vote to violate someone's Rights. Governor Christie suggested that it would have been less violent with less loss of life if the Civil Rights of black people in the South could have been put to a vote. Apparently he is weak in 20th Century American History; he didn't realize Civil Rights of black people would have lost, utterly, because black people couldn't vote, and white people didn't want them to vote. Lesson: You Cannot Vote On The Civil Rights Of People. Why? Because if the voters wanted those people to have had those Rights, they would already have had them.

It doesn't matter if you call our country a democracy or a Republic. I learned Democratic Republic; split the baby. The Courts have ruled when you can foist prayer on students and when you can't. But that is changeable. I wish this young man well.

Why should someone who is not christian be forced to endure christian rituals at what should be a SECULAR event? IIRC, most local churches have special services specifically for the christian students who are graduating, why should religion be forced on everyone in attendance of this graduation ceremony?
There are federal guidelines regarding prayer in public schools and they were IGNORED by the staff of the school and the students.
Our constitution guarantees freedom of religion, that also means freedom from having religion forced on an individual or group.

Joe you are so right if we as christians cried out like a bunch of babies every time we were offended,or filed a law suit every time we thought we shoudn't have to bow down to something we didn't believe in the courts would be so overloaded that nothing would get done. I don't care if they believe in God or not but many of us do.

He made his view known, he didn't get his way. He just needed to make a choice, either show up for the ceremony and sit politley through the prayer or to just not show up. I showed up and politely sat through mine even though I didn't believe what the minister said, therefore, I did not say Amen at the end. By saying Amen, you are saying that you are in agreement with the prayer.

Ken, I have read many of your comments. The one thing I agree with you in, is, in today's day and age, this prayer custom is outdated and should be terminated. Some people have become so disgusted with religion and no longer believe, and therefore should not have religion shoved down their throats. Also, there are more "non christian" religions in this country than when it was founded. Why shove Christianity down their throats. This practice has become outdated and needs to cease being included in the ceremony. But until then, these people need to just sit quietly and politely, just like when non-christian beliefs like evolution are taught in class.

Brenda said "But until then, these people need to just sit quietly and politely, just like when non-christian beliefs like evolution are taught in class."

There are many Christians who accept evolution. In fact, if you have ever taken antibiotics you accept evolutionary theory as true.

Actually Joe, whether he knew it or not, he was just as entitled to a graduation ceremony as EVERY OTHER STUDENT. It's called equal protection under the law, see: the FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT.

Thus, this student did not subject himself to the prayers of one mythology in a public school forum, but instead he was SUBJECTED to that mythological faith at his public school forum.

To your point, if the student who wanted to pray really wanted to pray SO VERY BADLY, they should have done so, at home, in a church, in the car, with their parents, with a minister, priest, rabbi, in the shower, or wherever the mood stuck them, but NOT at a public, school-sponsored event.

You wish you could sue every time you heard YOUR "Lord's" name in vein and you know you can't because you don't have a right NOT TO BE OFFENDED.

Frankly, you just proved your own point. You see, the Constitution does not have rights that people can just "vote on" like graduation. The Fourteenth Amendment says, in pertinent part:

"No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."

tHANK YOU jOE, YOU SAID IT WELL. HE COULD HAVE ASKED FOR DIPLOMA EARLIER,

The last week of the year does not celebrate the birth of Jesus, who was born in the Spring, not the Winter. People started to take the week off between Christmas and New Year's day a generation or so ago.

KEN. how is religion being forced onto anyone when another child is saying a prayer.. was the prayer dedicated to this person? no it was him talking his beliefs. do you see the african americans sueing the history teachers when they are talking about slavery in the history books? im sure that they "don't want to hear about it". but they jsut either ignore it or realize it was a way of life. so all i can say is get over yourselves. if you think this is right then move to china you dont need to be an american.

Who is "we"? All Americans or only Christians? Would you be for a atheist student being given equal time to offer an opposing viewpoint to the idea that we need to thank an invisible friend for graduating from high school? Christians can pray whenever they want. What you are no allowed to do is take over our shared secular institutions to use as a platform to indoctrinate children into your cult of delusions. Also "Under God" was not added to the pledge until the McCarthy era of the 1950s.

I'm sure you enjoy saying the pledge to our republic every morning while you're on the toilet wiping your ass with it's constitution.

Dear Lisa:
I think you should pray to or salute whatever you want, whenever you want -- in your house, in your car, in your church (or other house of worship), in the shower, or wherever the mood strikes you.

However, don't tell me, or anyone else, what to pray to or salute because I don't have to believe what you do -- that is what BEING an American is all about. If you are thick-headed enough that you don't know this, then you need a remedial civics class, or a class on basic American history, specifically the Bill of Rights.

If you think prayer belongs in schools and at school functions, than you have the FREEDOM to choose to send your children to PRIVATE schools of whatever religion it is to which you subscribe. If there isn't one near you, you also have the FREEDOME to home school if you so choose. It is NOT the role of public schools to indoctinate any particular mythological beliefs into children. The role of a public education is to teach facts, not to proselytize

No one is "forcing" you to sit through anything. Feel free to get up and stretch your legs for the two measely minutes if it bothers you that much.

"forced to sit through a christian prayer"

Oh, the horror! It's not like it was a two hour service of sacrificing a goat. In the words of the sergeant from "Stripes", "Lighten up, Francis". I'm sick of the perenially offended forcing their views on the majority.

And as RQ said: "how would you feel about going the see you your child graduate and being asked to bow toward Mecca and thank Allah for your child graduating?" I wouldn't bow or thank Allah any more than I'd thank God. But I believe he has the right to say it.

@Gordon K, you said "I wouldn't bow or thank Allah any more than I'd thank God. But I believe he has the right to say it."

So you think the Muslim has the right to use our shared civic institution that all pay taxes to support to offer a prayer to Allah, while not allowing a Christian to do the same? That is what is happening in this case. The majority religion is allowed to use the public school to promote their religion, but minority religious views are not being given the same platform. A public graduation should be a secular ceremony. Many churches honor the graduates in their church. You can't make make those who don't hold the same religious ideas pay for others to promote a religious view they disagree with.

It's not going to hurt that little shit ass to listen to a prayer anymore than it would hurt you to shut the f**k up

You should sue them too Ken. But then get your ass back to work!!!

RQ:
I'm saying that I don't care if someone offers a prayer or invocation, be it any religion, I'm not offended nor should it matter if I am. Maybe they should take turns between faiths, I don't know. What I said was no one is (or should be) forced to participate. If this kid is "traumatized" by it, too bad. It's one lousy prayer, learn to deal with it and get on with your life.

I feel the same way about Christmas trees, the Pledge of Allegiance, etc. I'll take free speech over banning any day. There's no Constitutional right not to be offended.

Gordan K said "I'll take free speech over banning any day. "
But in this case if is not a matter of free speech because only only one viewpoint is being allowed to promote their faith. I think we agree that you either need to allow all religious viewpoints in a public forum, or none. The point in this case is that the school is giving preference to one religious viewpoint over other. That is the problem. Allowing the graduation to turn into a public religious forum where all views can get a hearing is just impractical, so keep is secular and let people promote their religious views on their own time and dollar.

Again, poor Shannon has it backwards.

It is the PRAYING PERSON(s) who should feel free to get up and stretch their collective legs for the portion of the PUBLIC SCHOOL graduation ceremoney during which they feel it is necessary to pray.

You know, the ceremony for which they were apparently unable to pray before, after, nor to themselves silently during, or at ANY OTHER TIME in their apparently empty lives that they MUST proselytize to others.

To Ken; re. “religious bulls**t”

Everyone believes something and it’s all bulls**t. Why not believe in good bulls**t. From the bible; “Love your neighbor as yourself”. That’s some good s**t.

Amen, again. Take it to your churches, people!

so your not a christian,When you and I meet upyonder someday, i'll plead with my GOD to save your SOUL, but by then it WILL BE TO LATE >>>

Why should any citizen have to leave a public ceremony so they don't have to be exposed to a specific religious cults rituals. We have the 1st amendment for situations like this. Take your rituals into your church or home, but you are not allowed to used are shared civic institutions to push your religion, other wise you are picking the pocket of not christian citizens to promote religious dogma.

Again, why should ANYONE be forced to leave the room because christians insist on forcing their religious bulls**t on everyone, in clear violation of federal guidelines on prayer at public school events?

Ken needs to calm down - the fact that he calls another person's beliefs "bulls**t" only proves that people like him are merely hiding behind their twisted version of the Constitution in order to impose their hateful oppression on the rest of us. Amazing how his hate is upheld whereas our attempts to merely pray and demonstrate our faith is constantly knocked down. This country is quickly becoming a joke.

Shannon, since you can't win the argument, you have to resort to saying Ken is hurting your feeling by questioning your beliefs. You are trying to change the subject to divert attention to the fact that holding a Christian prayer to a captive audience at a public ceremony is against the law.

Ken is on a rant. Go Ken! No, I mean GO Ken. Get back to work you Godless slug

Ken: you definitely are angry and I hear you. I am guessing that religion has left a bad taste in your mouth. But we are told we still have the freedom to practice. Jehovah's Witnesses are accused of shoving their religion on others, yet not once were they asked to deliver the prayer. It has been left to the Catholics, Lutherns, Pentecostals, Presbytirans(I know spelling is wrong), but you are right, they would never allow a Jehovah's Witness or a muslim or as in the case of certain areas, voodooists to say the prayer. This tradition needs to end unless they can accomodate everyone. Until then, just sit and quietly respect the others around you. And don't say Amen. By doing so, you show that you are not in agreement of the prayer.

I agree antony, anyone that is offended by either way of thinking has the right to just not listen or leave... All the religions of the world have some good principals and if you can't believe in something better, what can you believe in? I have the right to believe in God, as much as someone has the right not to, but don't tell me I can't believe in my God because it offends you... There is always the possibility you're offending me because of your non-belief, so does that mean I have to switch to your way of thinking and you to mine?? What would we accomplish?

Backwards -- if you want to pray at a PUBLIC SCHOOL SPONSORED EVENT, do so silently to yourself, do it before the ceremony, afterward, or if you really feel strongly about praying aloud DURING a public school graduation, by all means YOU LEAVE THE ROOM.

Neither you NOR ANYONE ELSE has any right to impose any one religious viewpoint on anyone else in such a forum, the Constitution prohibits it and the courts agree.

If you disagree, then you need to either:
1. Go to or send your kids to a private school which teaches the religion you believe.
2. Home school
3. Move to North Korea, or some other country which imposes totalitarian beliefs like you are espousing-- I hear they're hiring for their missile program. Clearly, you don't belong in the United States of America which allows ALL people to be treated equally, and STOPS people from infringing on the freedom of others.

So, while you're free to believe whatever faith you have, your freedom to practice it ENDS when you are imposing it on others against their will, and in this case, the particular violation is beause the imposition is at a government-funded event.

So if I understand you correctly, god lets about 1000 children under 5 years old die every minute around the glob, but he takes the time to intervene in the natural world to help a kid get better grades that he could have gotten naturally on his own. Your gods priorities are messed up.

Grow up RQ - death is a part of life. None of us were promised immortality... and all of us have our hardship. Most of us just man up and face those hardships rather than sit around whining about how God won't make our lives a cake walk. What a meanie he is! You sound like an angry child on the playground.

So when a 5 year old dies its obviously because they didn't man up quick enough. sick.

Shannon, "Grow up" is not an argument. I recognize that there is no reason to believe a god exists. I was simply trying to ask for some evidence for the claim that God intervened to help this kid graduate from high school. There seems to be no evidence that there was an intervention. What is your evidence that God helped this kid in his school work, and that he didn't get good grades without supernatural help?

I disagree with you. Prayer had nothing to do with his graduation. God has higher priorities than that. Graduation comes with hard work or lack thereof. Maybe someone did pray for him, but most likely not. This tradition is simply outdated. We are no longer the religious or christian nation that we were when this country was founded. "In God we trust" has become a taboo phrase. Many courthouses no longer even display it anymore. Times have changed and it is now time to change this tradition.

Really? Is that the best you've got?

I can assure you that my mother wasn't praying for me to finish school and graduate, but instead was making sure I did my homework and studying since I was a little kid.

PRAYER had NOTHING to do with it -- my mother adamantly opposes it. Hard work, determination, and probably some good genes.

AMEN

The stupid. It just burns.

Please, do inform us, how is following the federal guidelines regarding prayer in public school events punishing anyone?

You don't have a right not to be offended, but you do have a right not to have government give give special status to one religious viewpoint over another or anti-religious viewpoint.

Julie J, you are way off base here, and your assertions have no basis in law, nor in the U.S. Constitution, unlike the issue brought to the forefront by this student.

You really prove this student's point in your own argument. If you find it NO DETRIMENT if a student zones out during graduation, presumably you mean during a prayer, then by the same notion, you should find it NO DETRIMENT for a student (or many students) to "zone out" during graduation to silently pray.

You say that this student is ONLY doing it to make a point and get publicity "or whatever." Do you know what is the student's heart? More importantly. the point to be made is Constitutional in nature, and thus is not frivolous by any way, shape or form.

You see, this is NOT intended to "punish the majority" as you claim. This suit is protect the Constitutional rights of the MINORITY. which is precisely what the Constitution is designed to do - it doesn't matter if it one person or one million people, the minority must be protected from whims of the majority.

A religious person may do, say or comment about ANYTHING he or she wishes. A religious person may also pray anywhere and any time the mood strikes EXCEPT not in certain public places such as in a public school or at PUBLIC SCHOOL SPONSORED EVENTS such as gradutation.

You also don't have the right NOT TO BE offended. Check the Constitution, it's not there.

Julie J. You are a fascist. And probably a bigot. But only Jesus knows fo sho.

I bet people like you would be leading the charge to sue the district if the prayer had been a Muslim one instead of a christian one.

The United States of America was founded on Christian Principals. Our founding fathers were fed up with the British view on government trying to limit religious freedoms. This is why when our constitution was written the founding fathers wrote that there be a separation of church and state in order to prevent the government from getting involved in telling the citizens of this country what they have to do regarding religious matters. The ACLU, lawyers and other people continue to force their will on the American people. If you do not want to be part of this Great Country the way the founding fathers intended it to be you are guaranteed the right to leave and live in any other country of your choice. God Bless America

You pray Antony. Leave the thinking to us.

Actually your taxes are HIGHER because of religious tax exemption. That revenue has to come from SOMEWHERE. Religion is FASCISM.

Why bring abortion into a debate about prayer in the public schools? Planned parenthood provides far more services than just abortion counseling, very few planned parenthood facilities, if any actually perform abortions.

there's a difference between paying for planned parenthood and paying for abortion. Federal tax dollar don't pay for abortions, they pay for other vital services planned parenthood provides. Also there is no law that prevents you from having to pay for aspects of the government you don't like - there are laws against showing favoritism to particular religious groups - these laws were pushed ahead by religious groups because after seeing the downfalls of having a state preferred religion many of the original migrants from europe were wise enough to add that protection.

First no tax dollars go to abortion services at Planned Parenthood. Second, your analogy is faulty because you are not being forced to have an abortion or perform an abortion. This student was being forced to take park in a religious ceremony in order to attend a public graduation.

Oh... poor Ken - he doesn't like when one of the tactics he probably hides behind gets used against him. Good point Julie - funny how the distribution of our taxes works huh?

ThePlanned Parenthoods in my area DO NOT perform abortions. However, they DO provide counseling and free or low cost supplies to those who need and use it. I guess each clinic decides whether or not to do abortions. In our area, we have abortion clinics-Planned Parenthood is for those who want to prevent pregnancy. I have gone to PP for over 20 years for my annual check-up because it is easier to get an appointment there than at my normal clinic. Plus, I am low income, so it is more affordable.

Off-topic, but since you brought it up, since 1976, the Hyde Amendment has prevented ANY taxpayer dollars from funding abortion services, including any performed at Planned Parenthood. So, dear Julie J, not only are you off topic, but you're 36 YEARS too late to complain about it, and just generally ill-informed.

So, you can continue to be unhappy, or you can start reading about your government. I know it's considered "elitist" to use "facts" and all, but try it sometime. You might just be surprised what you find.

Julie J, the MISINFORMED fascist. Go listen to Rush Limbaugh and watch your little FOX news (hic) program.

Majority mob rule is not permitted by the U.S. constitution. There are federal guidelines regarding prayer at public school events, the staff of the school decided to circumvent those guidelines by allowing a vote that, of course, the majority would win. Prayer belongs in the church and your homes, you have no right to a captive audience to spread your religious nonsense to.
Why is that so hard for people to understand?

The problem is that the MAJORITY can be WRONG.

The "majority" of the country thought it was OK for white people to own BLACK people in the United States -- they even claimed that GOD HIMSELF, via the "bible," decreed it so.

The "majority" of the country also thought SEGREGATION of the races was OK, and that black people had to ride in the back of the bus, had separate water fountains, and had to enter through the back of a building, lest white people see them going into the same hotel they were in.

The "majority" of the United States also thought it was wrong for white people to marry people of ANY OTHER RACE, and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia claimed GOD HIMSELF separated the races, and if not for the interferance of man, the issue of interracial marriage would never have arisen, so he continued to disallow it - and it was prohibited in most of the country, as the majority ruled.

The "majority" (although technically a minority") decided, that WOMEN were NOT allowed to VOTE in the United States, despite the fact that they were a MAJORITY of the population, but MEN decided, since they made the laws.

Just a FEW examples of how VERY WRONG "the majority" was in ONLY American history in roughly the last 150 years - never mind the world at large, and going back in time.

It's like how we break up monopolies. Or maybe you're for those too, Nashville Bill.

Would you be okay with it if a graduating class decided that a human sacrifice was to be made, and a student was chosen out of a majority vote? I can bet the answer is no, for the same reason that a prayer should have never been said at a school-hosted event. Just because we believe in majority rule doesn't mean that we should ignore minority rights. That is, after all, the idea that this country was really founded on.

The kid has every right to be on the school property during his graduation.
In what way is a "gay lifestyle" being taught by the public schools? If you are referring to teaching tolerance of those who are different then perhaps you need to home school your precious little brats.
You are delusional that everyone resorts to prayer when things get tough, especially an atheist, prayer does nothing.

"Kick this kids ass off the property."
That's very Christian of you.

I guess he has a right to sue, however, the probability of him winning is slim. He may even find himself praying that he wins the lawsuit before it is thrown out of court.

Ok Jake, first, homosexualality or being gay is not a lifestyle any more than heterosexuality is a lifestyle. You also don't HAVE to like homosexuals.

However, here's the rub: The Constitution of the United States protects minorities from hostile majorities. No where in that precious document, however, does it guarantee you (or anyone else for that matter) the right NOT TO BE offended. Go ahead, look it up, you won't find it anywhere in the Constitution.

Wow. A fascist and a bigot rolled into one. Let me guess, we should kill all the Mexicans too, right?

Jake, I totally agree with you! This world is so screwed up now. We got gays whining we dont teach their lifestyle in schools and we cant say a simple prayer!

It's actually BEYOND against the law, it's unconstitutional -- which means it's downright UN-AMERICAN to force someone to believe someone else's religion.

This Christianity thing is sounding more like COMMUNISM!

Mike - Christianity is more like NAZISM.

So, can the rest of the kids be free from liberal indoctrination, sex education indoctrination etc.? It's called freedom of religion, not freedom FROM religion.

The very basic concept of separation of church and state embraces the idea of freedom from religion where the government is involved. It's unconstitutional, plain and simple.

And everyone who's criticizing this kid for suing...it's an issue of standing. He has standing to sue to the Freedom from Religion Foundation is using him as the named Plaintiff. Additionally, this isn't an issue of recovering monetary rewards. They refused to listen to letters from the Freedom from Religion Foundation's staff attorney and went through with their unconstitutional actions, leaving no alternative but to sue to prevent them from continuing to violate federal law.

but not having a religion exercises the same right of religion. His religion is called "atheist". He still has the right to practice not having a particular religion.

Hey Beth, I share your sentiments wholeheartedly. I had to drag my son from being forced fed religious crap during his music class. And yes, the ignorant music teacher didn't think that she was doing anything wrong. It was brutal i tell you. These religious freaks are nasty ass backwards thinking idiots. They feel that it's their right to violate your space as a non believer, and when you fight back, these fools are quite eager to claim victim status.

Brenda obviously you don't know much about a atheist. It is NOT a religion. They don't believe in a higher being. They just believe in themselves.

Atheism is no more a religion than not collecting stamps is a hobby. Misguided, you are.

Deb: I DO know about atheism- my grandfather was one. He didn't believe in God, therefore his "practiced" religion was atheism. When asked what his relilion was, he always replied"atheism". They practice this belief AS their religion. But, thank you for trying to educate me.

If atheism is a religion . . .
• Not believing in Santa Claus is also a religion.
• Unemployment is a job.
• Not collecting stamps is a hobby.
• Not playing tennis is a sport.
• Abstinence is a sexual activity.
• An empty bowl is a meal.
• Silence is a noise.
• Remaining silent is a speech.
• Not fighting is an act of violence.
• Bald is a hair color.
• Silence is a language (and remaining perfectly still is a sign language).
• Nudity is a costume.
• Cleanliness is a stain.
• Being a teetotaler is a type of alcoholism and not taking drugs is a type of addiction.
• Empty can be a content.
• 0km/h is a velocity.
• 0 g has a mass
• 0 is a positive number.

If atheism is a religion . . .

• 0 is a negative number.
• Sanity is a mental illness.
• Being dead is an illness.
• Being healthy is a disease
• Jewish humor is always self-praising.
• Empty space is matter.
• Clear is a color.
• Vacuum is a smell.
• Anarchy is structured government
• Not watching the Stupid Bowl makes you a fan of hockey.
• Not watching the Stupid cup makes you a fan of boxing.
• Not watching boxing matches makes you a fan of archery.
• Having never cared much for politics, and having never read Mein Kampf, your lack of a criticism of that work makes you a Nazi.

A friend of mine made sense when he asked how, with so many varied descriptions of gods, how could he choose one?
If atheism is a religion . . .
• Having never cared much for gender politics, your lack of criticism of traditional gender roles makes you a chauvinist.
• "Nothing" can have a volume.
• Darkness has a wavelength (see Discworld, where Dark is faster than Light because although Light is fast, Dark can always get out of its way in time).
• Outer space is a planet.
• "Nowhere" is a place.
• "Nobody" is a person.
• "Nobody" is a public office position.
• "Nothing" is an object.
• DC has a frequency.
• A blank sheet of paper is the Communist Manifesto
• A stone has an IQ
• War is Peace
• Freedom is Slavery
• Ignorance is Strength (or knowledge)
• Not kicking cats is animal abuse
• Not doing drugs means you're an addict
• Cremation is a fashion statement
• Death is a way of life
• Pedestrians should be ticketed for driving their cars too far under the speed limit.
• Cremation is a fashion statement
• Disinterest in cats equals zoophilia.
• What's the opposite of religion and what would you call someone who has no religion?
• To be is not to be
• Absence is presence and you can never be lonely for anyone ever again because they are always with you.
• Bears are still Catholic, and the Pope still craps in the woods.

This is not about being traumatized by the prayer but the fact the the district allowed the prayer in the first place, defiantly violating the federal guidelines by allowing the students to "vote" on it.

Ah, but there's the problem. The kid who was forced to hear about one religion's god in a public school forum at an official school function is actually right, and has the law, the courts, and the CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES on his side for that subject.

Meanwhile, the other students, who MIGHT be offended that another student is a non-believer, that's fine and dandy, and they are entitled to their believes. Here's the problem. There IS no statute, no court ruling, and NO provision in the U.S. Constitution which guarantees ANY of them the right NOT TO BE offended. Check it out yourself, you won't find it there.

Please show me where they acknowledged god, jesus or christianity in our constitution. FYI, the dating format of the document is NOT an official recognition.

"Prayer is not a ritual. It s communication with our father in heaven."
Communication takes 2 people. Prayer is talking to an imaginary friend, or otherwise known as mental illness.

You are a young person with much to learn. I sincerely wish that you can overcome your ignorance. Please try to educate yourself about the Constitution and religions.

true, prayer is a freedom of speech that we have with our Heavenly Father. However, they have made it a ritual by the way they use it at this ceremony. Prayer is a personal thing between you and God, public prayer at your place of worship is fine, because you are in agreement. However, when turned into a ritual, it is no longer in agreement. The same thing happend in Jesus' day with the religious leaders of his time. Jesus himself pointed that out. He just chose to disassociate himself from those people. We need to do so also. As stated before, if he was THAT offended, he could have skipped the ceremony or just sat quietly and not said Amen, which would be saying that he did not agree with the prayer. If I don't agree with a prayer, I do not say amen.

Prayer is very much a ritual.

What if you have faith, but not in a heavenly father, but in an earth goddess?

Would those prayers have been acceptable to you at the graduation ceremony in lieu of you ceremony? It doesn't take much to look around you and see the magic that is the earth, now does it?

The Constitutional protection of religious freedom in this country was specifically to to ensure that the state did not endorse nor establish one religion over another. The courts have consistently ruled throughout American history that this also means that endorsement of one religion in the public schools is in violation of that part of the U.S. Constitution.

In the 1950's congress added "under god" to the pledge and adopted "in god we trust" as the national motto, the morals of this nation have been on a downhill slide ever since.

It's amazing ... up until the Civil War our country was fine with slavery ... and up until the 1960's we were fine with racial segregation ... then you start letting people interpret the Constitution in ways that don't favor the majority, and mercy, just look at the trouble it causes ...

The beginning of time? The fact that you mention Lord and Savior and church indicates to me that you're practicing some Christian denomination. You do realize that your faith is only about 2,000 years old, and is basically a "johnny-come-lately" faith since the earth has existed for roughly 4.5 BILLION years, though exact estimates are imprecise, so give or take a half billion years or so.

There are MANY religions that existed for thousands of years before Christianity ever came to bear, and even more when religion didn't hold a place in daily life -- to many, it still doesn't, and never will.

Brown you portray Christrians as victims. When atheists have been persecuted throughout history. In a 1970s' Psychology Today survey, Nazi's were more well liked than Atheist's. Get your facts straight!

FYI, prayer is permitted in public schools, it just cant be lead by teachers or forced on anyone who doesn't want to hear it. Not everyone clings to the bronze-age mythology called christianity.

"our founding fathers dedicated this country to God"
This is a dishonest lie. Our founding fathers were inspired by the enlightenment and created a secular liberal democracy. The only mention of religion in our constitution is to limit religion and ensure no religious test for public office.

The Constitution guarantees we all equally share the freedom of liberty. Your liberty ends when you encroach on the liberty of others. You do not have the liberty to worship on taxpayer property. That is an infringement on the liberty of atheists and others of different religions.

Hey Shirley, you are allowed to pray to your invisible zombie father in the sky. No one's stopping you. Just do it on your own turf, fool. Oh yes, and you do eat his flesh in church don't you. So, how is this any different than the highway flesh eating black zombie fool who was shot to death recently in Florida?

Actually, Shirley Carter, you're quite mistaken. the Preamble to the United States Constitution makes no mention of dedicating our Republic to any "god", Here's the exact quote, for your perusal:

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

If anything, it sounds like our founding fathers establishing this country based on"

Justice
Liberty
and dedicated the country to the people (note the use of the words "to ourselves and our Posterity")

No mention of any particular god, or even god for that matter. Imagine that. What heathens!

Now, you're free to embrace whatever "god" mythology you may choose, but don't think you can impose that 'god" or those beliefs upon anyone else. Whatever "judgment" in which you believe is just on you and others like you.

Ditto. RQ. So many people must be sleeping through their History classes.

So I can come into your church and preach atheism? and if your church stops me, they're breaking the law?

The majority had every right to get together and pray BEFORE the graduation ceremony, no one would have stopped them or even objected to it. What they did was force their religious nonsense on everyone by making it a part of the graduation ceremony, violating the rights of those in attendance of those who were not christian.

The school administration had no right to allow a vote on something that is against federal guidelines regarding prayer at public school events.

So if children in a school all vote to have a class period where they just smoke crack, all a sudden the federal drug laws no longer apply?

A majority vote is no excuse for violating a person's constitutional protections. Ever hear of "majority rule, minority rights"? Yeah, that's what our country was founded on.

and it looks like because of the stupidity of the people running this school, we'll all have to pay his way.

Are you serious? The people who flew planes into the buildings on 9/11 did it in the name of their god. What we need is fewer religious zealots trying to force their religion on the rest of society, not more!

Religion was the reason 9/11 happened in the first place.

Ditto....

You are being paid too much. You suck. Get to work.

Reading your numerous posts-I've spent about 2 hours on this story myself, I can't say that you have gotten much work done. I feel your anger, but spending the afternoon arguing didn't get you anywhere. Everyone has their beliefs and stated them, but it didn't change anything, May peace rest upon you at the end of the day. I would hate to hear that your health suffered over this.

@Barb "This is a country where majority rules"

Your opinion is wrong. By this same logic you could argue that slaves should have just put their tales between their legs and took it, because the majority in our country were for slavery, and as a minority, the slave should just accept it. Also students who want to pray can pray, the law only forbids it if its being organized by a public employee. The school could have easily had a minute of introspection, which the religious people could use to pray quietly to themselves.

AMEN, and Praise God to the last part of your comment!!!

But his rights were violated. It's not a matter of opinion at all, it's a matter of whether or not the prayer violated his Constitutional rights. The Constitution prevents school-hosted events to sponsor a prayer or other religious act. And sure, this country believes in the concept of majority rule. However, it also believes in the concept of minority rights.

Saying that he should have skipped the ceremony is ridiculous. He has every right to participate in the graduation ceremony; he was in the graduating class for crying out loud. It's not his responsibility to leave a school event because the school can't follow a simple federal guideline. It's the school's responsibility to ensure that federal guidelines aren't broken in the first place.

There's no portion of the Constitution that guarantees that your choice will be president. The Constitution merely gives you the right to influence who becomes president or a congress member through voting. Trying to compare the two is preposterous.

The first amendment rights of the students who wanted a prayer wouldn't have been violated if they hadn't been allowed to pray during the ceremony. They could have held a prayer group before the ceremony with anyone who wanted to join in. A lot of graduating classes do this anyway because of the Constitutional reasons. I know that my graduating class held a prayer group before the ceremony. No pressure was placed on people to attend, and the school didn't sponsor it in any way.

Blasphemy is a victimless crime.

Go to another school REALLY? Our public school system is not there to promote religious nonsense, it is there to give the students a real education. If you want your brats to be taught religion send them to church or home school them, just don't expect anyone's tax dollars to support that nonsense.

But God was not in class. Like usual, he was left out. But all of a sudden he is being introduced at graduation. Why? It just doesn't make sense. He's not allowed to be taught about in a public school, you have to go to a private or christian school if you want to be taught about him, but now he suddenly appears or is acknowledged at graduation? I am Christian and find this practice out of date and rather inappropriate.

Your post is evidence of the problems that plague schools that allow religion to be taught in the classrooms. Either way, the Constitution doesn't allow schools to endorse any religion at all. If this was a story about a Muslim prayer being said in a public school, then I'm sure you would be blowing a gasket or two about how inappropriate it is.

Also, what the Hell are you talking about with regards to the "rebel flag"? Are you talking about the Confederate one? If so, then I understand why you seem to lack coherency and any higher brain functions.

"I bellieve this is a country of the majority"
Not is cases where the Constitution protects the minority from the mob rule of the majority, and the 1st amendment protect religious minorities from having the government give preference to the majority religious viewpoint over the minority religious viewpoint. Allowing the public platform to promote the majorities religions prayer, and not allow equal time in that public ceremony for opposing religious views is unconstitutional.

Do you realize that part of that freedom of religion included religions that were not christian. While England embraced the Catholic Church there was a religion called Druidism being practiced. Many people left Wales specifically to come over to the New World to practice Druidism. You would be surprised to find out how many of our founding fathers were Druids. I was. They believed in God, however, they did not believe in him the same as the Catholic Church, so in Wales, they were deemed "unchristian". Jehovah's Witnesses definitely believe in God(Jehovah is his name) and yet some consider them unchristian. Many of their children have been expelled for saying a silent, private prayer before a meal. They weren't forcing their prayer or belief on anyone. Yet, they were bullied. Then graduation comes along and they have to sit politely and listen to a prayer from one of their tormentors. And their tormentor NEVER heard the Witness child's prayer-it was never forced on him, yet the Witness child is now forced to listen to this person's public prayer. Not very fair. But life isn't fair. These children endure without suing and just move along with their lives and SILENTLY pray for their tormentors to be forgiven by God, because they do not know what they are doing.

Damn, you people are stupid, this is not a theocracy where you get to force people to adhere to your religious ideals. Perhaps you are the one who needs to leave if you don't like the fact that you cannot force your religious bulls**t on everyone.

"Hear in the USA" some people could spend a little less time praying, and a little more learning how to spell.

The fact is, you don't get to decide what ANYONE believes in this country. And for crying out loud, if you graduated from one of our schools, then I say they REALLY need to be focused on education and not religion. Good LORD, I'd be embarrassed if that was the best I could do.

But that is not freedom of religion. Yes, we have freedom to believe and to speak about our beliefs, but it is not right to force it upon others. Why have they never had a Jehovah's Witness up on that stage exercising his right? There are more Jehovah's Witnesses around you than you realize because they are peace-loving people who tolerate the injustice around them.

Perhaps you haven't heard of this thing called the First Amendment, and a concept called freedom of religion. No, that doesn't just apply to Christian sects, it applies to all religions.

If you want to go somewhere that is a true Theocracy, then might I suggest Iran? Or perhaps Vatican City if you want a less extreme example.

agreed.

Being allowed to pray isn't the issue - it's whether or not that prayer is appropriate in a public school, which isn't supposed to implicitly or explicitly endorse any religion whatsoever. The students who wanted to pray should have simply organized a prayer group before the ceremony or prayed silently to themselves. The school could have even initiated a moment of silence for people to reflect upon their own personal beliefs, for instance.

what is with using the twin towers as an argument for belief in god? The people who flew the planes into the towers REALLY believed in god.

Or you could go to a place where religion is allowed to dictate the law - like Iran.

Your right RQ...they believed in their GOD....The GOD that took their leader and that if they don't get the non-believers to submit, then they are to kill them. I fail to see how the Christian belief is in any way similar. Read the Bible and the Medinan chapters of the Qur'an and tell me the similarities. You then would be smarter with your comments.

"Your right RQ...they believed in their GOD"
Their is no "thiers" and "ours". The fact is that there are also many American citizens who are Muslim, and many other faiths. The prayer given at this graduation was a sectarian Christian prayer, where everyone was told to stand and remove their hats in reverence to the Jesus. This was totally over the line in a secular public school ceremony.

Young adults are more equipped to understand these sorts of things than you may think. There are many resources available to us now that weren't around when I assume you were growing up. The internet, many more publications that we have more access to, and more accessible transportation to meet with mentors (religious and secular) to name a few. The point being, you can't assume something of the young adults of today that may have been true twenty or thirty years in the past. There's simply been too much change.

Justabeliever, you do not see the similarities between the school prayer and Muslim terrorists, who "if they don't get the non-believers to submit, then they are to kill them." Yet many of the Christians here espouse that the the non-believer plaintiff here should submit, or leave his own graduation ceremony. Scary parallel there ....

Whether or not he'd pray to someone if his life was in immediate danger is not the issue. There's no time when it's excusable to violate anyone's Constitutional rights, even if the majority believes they can. That's why we even have a Constitution.

I have to agree with all the comments about the 'whiney kids' and the 'just wait until you get out in the real world kid' comments. The issue in reality is this, at least for me. If this makes it into a law suit (more than likely) the taxpayer gets hit yet again. The taxpayer pays for the judicial system where I live, I guess it's the same across the rest of country. Secondly, where are this snot nosed little crybaby brat's parents or parent during all this?

actually it'll be an open and shut case, easy victory. Its not like this is the first time this happens. The sad part is the inability of schools to follow the law ends up costing us, the tax payer.

The law is clear. If the school district doesn't want a lawsuit, they should obey the law.

Whether or not the person in question is a whiny crybaby doesn't really matter. The law exists to protect people. If the law is broken, then those who violate it must be punished, even if it costs taxpayers money. If you start letting schools off the hook just because taxpayers will have to foot the bill, then that sets a precedence that will encourage other public schools who have an administration that is devoutly religious to incorporate religious teachings in their classrooms. I'm certain that you wouldn't like it if a Muslim teacher decided to read from the Quran at the start of your child's classes, so it shouldn't be hard for you to imagine what that would be like to those of us who don't share your particular ideology.

apparently protecting our countries constitution makes you an idiot these days.... or is it only okay to defend the constitution when it agrees with you, your highness?

this isn't about being offended, its about breaking the law. The school broke the law - the establishment clause is there for a good reason and the kid did the right thing.

Amen

Ditto on Unicorns. The kid should not have to miss his Baccalaureate because some people insist on prayer. Authority led prayer is not legal in our country. I am a devout Christian, but I have never felt like it was necessary to lead a prayer in a public school. I taught my daughter to pray silently. How would you feel if a Muslim child had wanted to lead a prayer to Allah? Or if a Catholic child wanted to pray the rosary? Or an Evangelical decided to speak in tongues (their prayer language)? Seriously...what is so hard about just having the ceremony and letting the families who want to pray with their kids, do so on their own time?

None of your examples violate the Constitution. However, endorsing a particular religion in a school event does.

At one point the establishment clause was valued by Christians, now-a-days they're too stupid to remember why they added it to the constitution in the first place.

Um...the values we share as Christians are also some of the same values the Jewish faith uses. This country was founded on freedom FROM religious oppression and persecution. I am a devout Christian, but I could not disagree with you more. The beauty of this country is that we are FREE to worship as we choose. And I for one will NEVER ride the coattails of religious freedom while oppressing others who choose a different course.

That's a highly publicized myth. Most of the founding fathers were deists, and championed separation of church and state (not just one way, but both ways). In any case, he's allowed to hate on any religion of his choice as long as their rights aren't violated in any way. That's kind of what our Constitution protects. Considering the school had no right to allow the prayer to be said during a school event and the students had no right to recite the prayer aloud during said event, it's obvious whose rights were violated here.

If you don't agree with what the Constitution says on the matter, then I suggest you move to a country that endorses government and religion intermingling. Like, say, Iran.

its not their rights to have a faculty led prayer in school. It's against the first amendment. Its happened time and time again, and the courts always rule that it's against the law.

Those of you here who believe that the consitution provides for seperation of church and state need to read it. No were in the consitution does that phrase appear. I carry a copy of the constitution with me at all times and when I hear this argument I simply take it out and ask the person to show me that phrase. The air goes out of them when they are unable to do so. Does anyone here no were that phrase even came from. Well I will tell you It came from a speach Thomas Jefferson made to the Bishops of Canteberry when they asked him if he believed a government should have an official religion in order to protect the moral fiber of its citizens, which they believed as most of England. Thomas Jefferson replied that to maintain freedom there needed to be a seperation of church and state. People have taken that phrase ever since and inserted in the constituion were it does not appear. Our founding fathers did not advocate Freedom from religion but freedom of religion. They simply did not want the government saying which church you had to belong to which is what was happing in Europe at the time. The consitution allows for these students to have the right to a prayer if they want as well as the other student the right not to pray if he so chooses. That is what happened here so in no way is this against the constituion on any law. No one forced him to pray and he did not have to participate in the prayer which he didn't this is the essence of the first adminment Freedom Of Religion.

@Donna Brown

However, the school is subsidized by the government, which means that it must adhere to the Establishment Clause. The Establishment Clause and the Free Exercise Clause are essentially the term "separation of church and state" epitomized in the Constitution. Read both clauses and tell me that it's not.

In any case, by endorsing one particular sect of Christianity at the graduation ceremony, they were, in essence, telling their students which religion to adhere to. If the students wanted to exercise their right to pray, then they should have organized a prayer group before the ceremony so that no one's right to religious freedom would be violated.

DOnnaBrown, read some of the Suprem Court case law interpreting and applying the Constitution. The document doesn;t say a word about cars, telephones, or TVs either, but ...

outlawing belief would be a mistake. Its thought police, the better thing is to make your arguments and hopefully a few will realize there is little reason to believe in god. The trend is on our side, no need to force anything on anyone.

You can't abolish what people believe, Kevin. All you can do is give people the freedom to choose their own faith or lack thereof. It's wrong for any religion to try to legislate THEIR beliefs and it's wrong for Atheists and Agnostics to try to legislate against religion. The laws we have make sense and would work if people would stop arguing and fighting about it. We have a separation of church and state for a reason. And if everyone would just appreciate the fact that they have the right to their religion of choice and stop trying to make others believe what THEY believe, we might just all get along.

Boy has religion screwed you up! Sadly, you are not the only one to feel this way. If you took the time to read the Bible on your own without a religion influencing you, you would feel differently about God himself. Most religions do not teach the truth about him, and that is what you need to learn on your own, then find a religion that supports your beliefs. You would be surprised with what you come up with. I wish you the best. And no offense, I will pray for you. You deserve to get to know God and his loving ways without all the lies that have been taught about him.

I am amazed by your comment....I cant fathom a good response because it would waste brain time. Any who.....enjoy what is left when I am gone and and "MY BAD" isn't going to work. Ok...its killing me...what amazing thing do you believe in?

they should have just said that there would be a few minutes for introspection, and the religious people could pray on their own during those few minutes, and the non-religious could use the time for reflection. This is why its so silly - the school should have known better, and now the tax payer is going to have to foot the bill for their stupidity.

That day will come when he returns and after I am gone! Enjoy what you ask for and what is left.

I have to disagree with you. According to the book of Revelation, the time will be coming soon when religion(represented by the harlot) will be killed. Right now the kings(governments) and the merchants(commerce today) love and support her. But the Bible says they will turn on her and leave her devastated and naked. They will kill her. Meaning, even in this country, it will be against the law to practice any religion. It happened already in this country in 1914 when certain religious people were thrown in prision until well after the war because they would not go to war and kill their "brothers and sisters" in opposing countries. The same thing happened during WW2 in Europe. Some of those people were killed for their beliefs. And it is still happening in other parts of the world. Just because it doesn't make news headlines, doesn't mean it isn't happening. Christians will become a thing of the past. Just how many people will be prepared for it? Things are going to change and the change will be rapid. Not all will be able to handle it. And worst of all, the law system will not help them. Sad days are approaching.

Amen.

Are you by chance a Jehovah's Witness or a Mormon? I feel the same way. Why would I want a religious leader from a religion I don't believe in praying in my behalf? Yet, I sat there silently and let it pass and moved along with the ceremony.

When these no ball judges settle the suit, then when this idiot go's to jail, they
will give him a bible. Enough of this stupid stuff. If you don't want to pray then
don't!!!

@sickofrealitystuff, where in the heck does jail enter into this? There's no criminal action, only a civil suit. It's pretty clear the judge wil 'settle' it by deciding in the plaintiff's favor, in accordance with well-settled law the knuckleheads at the school knew about in advance.

"God is the reason you wake up in the mornings and lay your head down at night"
Evidence please? The natural world is evidence for the natural world. The claim you know the cause requires evidence.

RQ....Can you touch or see oxygen? How about where the lab was where the first tree seed was created? Who knew that a tree would create oxygen and that we needed oxygen to survive. You cant see or touch it, but yet you believe that it is because its in a book that it is. Is my belief any different? You say Natural World and wanting evidence...Well I want evidence of anyone winning those 1000.00 giveaways on a receipt, but I don't have it. Either way...I just keep playing them because I have faith...similar to the faith that it sound like you have that he is not real. As I have said before...we do the same thing, but if I am wrong, I lose nothing, but if I am right....you lose everything.

RQ: the evidence of God is all around you. There is no way any of this could have happened by chance. My husband is not a religious man, I however, am religious, but he has pointed out to me the THEORY of evolution, not the FACT of evolution.

Ok...I will bite....if your Agnostic....can you explain your beliefs? I mean if you don't believe in anything, can you explain anything? This is a serious question, so please answer.

Just a Believer

Agnostics don't know if there is a god or not. Atheists are certain there isn't. Christians and other religious people are certain there is.

Agnostics, like everyone else, may believe in a great many other things. They just explain the world in a way that doesn't include or exclude god. Some agnostics even attend or even lead religious events -- they may agree with everything except whether god exists.

As an agnostic I appreciate your not automatically lumping us in with atheists.

What's the problem - a little thing in the constitution called the establishment clause. You should know, it was put their by Christians, and it protects the religious just as much as it protects the non-religious.

you start off good, but then after explaining how its not okay to force your religion on others you speculate that there should be exceptions to that rule in some cases.

CHRISTIANITY IS NOT A RELIGION! You only force it on people when you make them pray. Other than that...its just listening to an unwanted commercial in between the show that you are watching. If you play muslim music at a stop sign that I have to stop for too, can I complain that I am offended by your music and have it banned from that intersection? No...that would be stupid! I would just wait my turn an go on...or maybe I should sue you....I hear a money maker.....

Thomas Jefferson said "But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods, or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." I think in addition to "hurting you physically or mentally", you need to add "financially". Using a civic institution to promote a religious viewpoint that you don't agree with is "picking your pocket" because it is asking other to pay taxes to promote one religious viewpoint, and not allowing the same platform for other god claims (or opposition to those claims) to be promoted. It does me no harm for other people to share their religious view, as long as they don't ask me to pay for them to promote their religion. That is what is happening when a student co-opts a public ceremony to promote their religion.

I agree with you on this -- people do not look at the argument from this type of lens. At what point do you decide who is offended -- and what constitutes fairness? If I find that my religious belief is part of my personal identity (that it is how I define who I am) are you not offending me by not allowing my personal expression. Am I not being minimized by those that do not have the same beliefs as me? For those that do not believe in prayer in school -- and advocate -- that you can pray at home -- or to yourself quietly. Could I not state that you just need not to listen -- to put on ear buds or read a book?

Of course he didn't "come up with it" on his own, he learned it from others. You could use the same argument to brush aside religion. Why did they want to pray? They're just 18 years old, they're just kids who have been molded by what their parents and others have taught them about religion, I doubt they came up with it on their own.

And some of us believe in the constitution... get over it.

Perhaps when you mature you may begin to realize that a secular nation guarantees your right to worship your Lord. If you prefer to live in a theocratic country, you will soon find that you will not be able to worship Jesus as you might prefer.

Your right again Robert....we owe most of America to China and they prosecute Jesus Believers....Oh no.....I feel that when this is all over...it will be YOU who will not get what you prefer by staying this way....But that comes from a believer...if your right, I have wasted NOTHING....but if I am right...you gain NOTHING! Enjoy your fight...because its a lot harder than mine!

Sorry Frank
The Constitution guarantees that we all have equal freedom to enjoy our liberty. That means your liberty ends before it infringes on mine. Public schools are built by taxpayers to educate children, not to worship your characterization of what God is.

So Robert...is this lawsuit that is going to cost MY tax money not infringing on my rights? If I am forced to listen to his name being called and his accomplishments, then he should have to listen to my prayer if HE SO DESIRES! If not, then wear some headphones or ear plugs and move on. I should sue him for making me have to read his complaint.

Just a Believer

The reason why this lawsuit will cost your tax money is because the school district stupidly broke the basic laws of this country. This student and his supporters gave the district every chance to avoid a lawsuit. Any of the school board members could have organized a non-governmental prayer service before or after the ceremony. Instead they choose to create a problem and waste your tax dollars on a lawsuit they will loose.

Well said. More people need to actually read the constitution and they may be able to understand what it actually says. It actually amazes me that people who claim not to belive in god and say it is nonsense and just talking to yourself are so offended when someone does it. How can you be offended by something you believe does not exist. Maybe deep down it scares you a little that you might find out someday that you are wrong and will be held accountable and you don't want to be reminded of it.

According to the long line of Supreme Court opinions (caselaw) on the matter, government-endorsed / sponsored prayer (such as that sanctioned by a taxpayer-funded public school) does indeed constitute the establishment of religion.

So can I say look how you want to look in your own house and not outside because your tattoos or piercings offend me? I think not. How about drive in your own yard like an idiot....not on my shared road. You think that this is an issue....wait until we move to these realms. Its coming, so don't cry when I sue you for your offensive body odor that I am forced to smell at work or annoying laugh that I am forced to hear at a party! You play with that separation of church and state...show that to me in the Constitution!

Your right...only the offended matters. So at lunch...if the atheist hears it...can it be banned then from lunch? Or maybe the student should eat lunch in the Christian section. I say bring back segregation....not for race, but for religious belief. Then no one can be offended!

I do concur!

The point is the government (school) cannot impose any particular religious beliefs on any classes.

Wrong. there are numerous coutries where atheists are in the majority, and many mor with no official religion - such as America, where Christianty is not the official religion; therefore teh GOvernment cannot endorse it by officially sponsoring a Christian prayer at one of its public schools. many commenters here do not seem to grasp teh difference bewteen one or more students exercising their individual religious rights (to pray or wear a hat0 and the school officilas endorsing a particular religion.

if it's a government-run restaurant, yes.

If you can't see the difference between government endorsed prayer at a publicly funded event, and private citizens praying to themselves in a private restaurant, then you are beyond help.

You who do not want to live under the United States Constitution that guarantees me the freedom from the State ramming your religion - or any other - down my throat, please move. Iraq is a lovely theocracy, I'm sure they' welcome you.

thank you I total agree with you.

The difference is the creations is a supernatural religious theology (not science), and evolution is based on empirical evidence, and testable predictions. Government endorsement of religion is prohibited by the constitution. Science is not.

These are not church services; it's a public high school graduation. One of the great things about Amnerica is freedo of religion, and knowing that our government cannot endorse any religion over others - which is what happens when you lallow a public school administration to endorse Christian prayer over any and all others. You;re welcome to leave America and go to a thecracy such as Iraq's, where you may listen to all teh government-sponsored prayer you like.

How about those who want to live in a theocracy move to Iran.

Thank you

Is that the christian bible, the torah, the qur'an, the egyption book of the dead, which one? oh and if its the christian bible is it the new king james, american standard, new internation, or really any of the many MANY various versions and translations of the bible that by no means could have been deluded or altered through misinterpretations or straight up lies over the years.

Your religion does not give you the right to break the law. The student and The Freedom From Religion Foundation filed a lawsuit because the school broke the law in allowing this prayer to take place. It has nothing to do with what religion you belong to or the lack there of. I'm a full believer in gun rights, but am I going to send my kid to school with a gun and say that they should be aloud to since its what I believe in, no because its against the law. This country founded on God that you all seem so eager to protect in the name of god is the one who created the law. So frankly if you want to break the law fine you will however be subject to the consequences of those laws the country you love created. If you are unwilling to follow the law then you should be getting out of the country not the atheists.

What part of the US Government found student votes to be unconstitutionally do you not understand. This isn't a question of bias or opinion this is a question of law. A law that was broken. If you don't like the law set forth by your own government then you can leave.

I just want to know how a high school graduation is a government event? I have a choice to attend or not to attend. Its not like they wont give me my diploma for non-attendance. It is OFFERED by the school as a celebration. The plan is gone over and there is a practice, where as the person offended can voice his or her disapproval. I say get rid of the graduation all together and let the student body chose a celebration. That way the Christians can have their offensive prayer and the non-believers can have their celebration. Better yet....send out a vote to the taxpayers....I mean...they are paying for it anyways. By the way.....who do Atheist pray to? I agree on one point....if you don't want to sit through the wiccan, satanic, etc prayer...then allot the time that I need to show up so I don't have to hear it and that goes for the prayer as well. I would love to see the turn out. Brainstorming....maybe two or more different graduations? The Constitution was brought forth by believers...are they bad for their belief as well? And for the record....Christianity is not a religion!

I bleiev the U.S. Constituion prohibts government from endorsing or establishing any religion over any others.
the ape thing? Noticce how fewere people are born with wisdom teeth, and how viruses and bacteria mutate? And the big bang wasn't just "chemicals;" and many theories around it postulatethe universe is still expanding. I also believe in science; I encourage you to read a book, or tune in to TLC or Natgeo to address some of your questions. "Morgan Freeman's Through the Wormhole" is an excellent show. And let me know when your area's population shifts and you & your kids / grandkids have to sit through Muslim or Wiccan prayers at comenecment - sounds like you;re cool with that, right?

Just A Believer - you replied to me above; "I just want to know how a high school graduation is a government event? " Seriously? A ceremony held by and at a public - eg taxpayer-funded, government-run - school? You are correct to the extent that the students - WITHOUT the administration - may hold their own religious ceremony, which I understand many do. And what I bleiev in is immaterial; what matters is teh Consitution protects you from having the government endorse or espouse my religious (or non-religious) views at a public, taxpayer-funded ceremony.

Well if my belief is correct...then I nor my family wont have to sit through due to the second coming. Also...if I were to have an engagement that were to have either or both of those....I CAN CHOOSE NOT TO ATTEND or at least not at that time. I do disagree with your establishment of religion...I do believe that the President endorsed a muslim event on the White House lawn some time ago and that seemed to be acceptable. I watch Natgeo quite often and fail to see your point. As for your big bang theory...please explain your hypothesis....provide me some books that I can read so that I can see your scientific beliefs.

Aren't agnostics those that do believe there is a God but they do not believe in any one particular religion and an atheist who does not believe in God period.

Agnostics do not believe in anything. Atheists just don't believe in God.

Have you ever read the Consitution? "The Establishment Clause is the part of the 1st Amendment that says Congress shall make no law "respecting an establishment of religion." This is a very crucial part of the American Constitution. It prohibits the government from establishing a state religion or denomination and from directing people in what they must believe. Without the Establishment Clause, the government could choose a state religion and force everyone to participate in it. It could also punish anyone who didn't adhere to its chosen faith."

Read more: http://www.revolutionary-war-and-beyond.com/1st-amendment.html#ixzz1wUMSAIlk

CHRISTIANITY IS NOT A RELIGION first of all and believing is not a crime as is non-believing. You can Constitution me all day long, but believing in God is not establishing A religion due to so many religions having their own version of GOD! There was not force for any non-believers to be there any more than believers. The programs events were posted prior to the event, so there is no excuse for complaining. No one was punished any more that I am being punished for believing now.

Your right that the debate really isn't about religion, it isn't however about the power of "one" as you call it. Its about the fact the school broke the law as put forth by the UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT. Are you an anarchist? Do you think the law is just there to be ignored? Because from how I see it if any organization breaks the law whether it be public schools, churches, atheist protesters, or more frequently christian protesters, then they need to be held accountable for their crime.

Eve, This is not just about someone saying a prayer, and somebody not liking it. Then our shared civic public institution favors and organizes a Christian prayer, it goes beyond an individual simply having the freedom to their own religious practice. They are not only making all taxpayers pay for the promotion of their religion, but in this case since only the Christian view was allowed, it becomes an issue of the government giving a forum to one religious viewpoint, but excluding other religions, or those who oppose religion to make their case in the same forum. Turning a graduation into a forum for a religious debate would simply turn into a circus, so the best solution is to keep public ceremonies secular. A moment of silence for individual reflection is usually not a problem under the law.

Lee said "it's come to this: people are so intolerant that they cannot even listen to another point of view or belief, being offended by it instead to just realizing that there are different points of views and beliefs. "

The point is the only one viewpoint (the Christian viewpoint) is being endorsed by the school and allowed in the ceremony. Is it really practical to open up the graduation to be a forum for all religious views to be heard or debated?

John, if you weren't so ignorant, you would know that swearing to god is not a requirement in court. You can ask for an alternate oath that does not mention god.

Funny the US government says that PUBLIC, you know meaning open to all religions and beliefs, are not aloud to hold student votes on matters such as this because they are unconstitutional. This is a bunch of atheists conspiring to stop the spread of religion. This is the US government which as I understand it is made up of many different religious beliefs the MAJORITY BEING CHRISTIAN. Funny how this MAJORITY found it UNCONSTITUTIONAL to allow things like this to happen. Your christian based government with those crazy ideas fairness. Who would have thought?!

You're right, Anna. Geez, next thing you know those pesky Blacks and Mexicans will be wanting to use our restrooms and drinking fountains ... and then you women will want to vote and do men's jobs & stuff... just learn our place and stay in it, willya? We're the majority, ewwhat we say, goes - screw that Constituion thing!

Ok this is where I get a little confused. Science creates things that you use on a daily basis. Medicines, technologies, etc. and you accept these things without complaint our concern about this crazy thing that happens to help people and disprove a lot of crazy theories like the world is flat, however when this evil thing science says that the universe started in a completely different way than that of a all mighty creator willing it to be so science is now wrong. The world can only be 6000 years old because the bible says its so. You can't pick and choose which facts to believe and which FACTS not to. It just makes you look unbelievably ignorant. Now as an atheist I'll make this claim. I don't believe in god, but its more believable that a higher being would create the universe using the big bang as a catalyst in a planned long term spread of creation. I don't believe this, but it's better than the worlds only 6000 years old.

Geoff, if you read in Genesis (first book in bible) about creation, God said and showed He created all things with age. Hence adult or already fully developed. Adam was created with age ( grown man) not baby, the birds of the air with age, not eggs but flying, the oceans with salts and minerals, ect. with age, mountains already formed with age, not lacking, everything God created works in harmony with each other. Fish couldn't have survived unless God created the salt water and living organisms, minerals, rocks, salt deposits, sand, trees, etc wtih age. So to say that we are only about 6,000 years old is correct, BUT to say God created everything without age or completely and fully developed would be wrong. God could have created the mountains and oceans to be 10 trillion years old if that is what it took to immediately sustain the life he created with age.
TRUTH IS SCIENTISTS STILL CANT AGREE ON THE AGE OF THE WORLD WITHIN A 100 MILLION YEARS. THERE IS NO PROOF BEYOND THEIR ASSUMPTIONS OF HYPOTHESIS.

GEOFF, one last thought for you. If scientist use the very rocks or minerals that God created with age at the time of the worlds creation ( as it says Adam and animals, etc. was created with age) then wouldn't the scientist be basing their carbon dating on something that wasn't the actual timeline? Scientist also conclude that if their reasoning for the big bang or evolution is off for more than 100 years that they would be infact completely off by hundreds of millions. Scary right. So which seems crazier to believe in? A God that has been proven to work all things in accordance with each other on this earth out of millions of stars or planets or a few men that are scientifically guessing withing a couple of hundred million years and admitting it could be flawed.
Besides, If I was wrong and our God is not real what would happen to me when I die? Nothing. I would no longer exist anywhere. What would happen to you if you are wrong and God does exist? Eternal pain, suffering, and nashing of teeth for all eternity. All because we don't choose the free Gift from Jesus and try to do our best to not sin and do good deeds and spread His word. The choice is obvious to those who would truly open their hearts to him. God Bless you and I truly hope the best for you. Thanks for listening to my thoughts.

Geoff. Don't even bother. It's like hitting your head with a hammer. These nonthinking morons have been fed this crap from birth.

You do realize that "In God We Trust" was added in the 50's or declaring something under god is actually a writer's trick to express everything contained within a certain border. It's fancy talk, but then again you probably wouldn't know anything about literary prose and I'm just rambling at this point.

@ geoff,
coins have contained the phrase "in god we trust" since 1861 (it is believed the phrase comes from the fourth stanza of the star spangled banner). it was added to paper money in 1957 and "under god" was added to the pledge of allegiance in 1954 both in response to the "godless communists"...as for your assertion that it's a writers trick, i've not seen that claim supported anywhere. planting a flag in god's name was used by the conquistadors to take land from the natives....

Lovely. You are a jingoist. A nonsensical rant from a blithering idiot who is more misinformed than a fox news watcher. DERP :P

OK, forget separation of church & state - even though you ignore all teh Supreme Court cases supporting the concept. Read teh Establishment Clause of the First Amendment - "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion..."The establishment clause is "[t]he First Amendment provision that prohibits the federal and state governments from establishing an official religion, or from favoring or disfavoring one view of religion over another." Garner, Bryan A. (June 2009). Black's Law Dictionary (9th ed.). Thomson West. ISBN 978-0-314-19949-2.

The Declaration of Independence mentions "Nature and Nature's God" not the jealous, inconsistent one of the bible.

I agree....my kids are home schooled because of this. I just cant understand why atheists and all other non-believers are complaining....I mean....I help pay for your kids to attend school and have the right to complain!

i know an atheist family who home schools their kids because they don't want them exposed to religious beliefs. personally i find it disgusting on both sides. if we can't learn to find some common ground (and there is some) we'll end up like the middle east. every religion, including atheism, talks about taking care of the poor and down trodden...about treating others like you would like to be treated, etc...for me it's enough that jesus said there are "many rooms in my father's house"...

Because, rainbow cadet, taxpayer-funded schools are supposed to be "non-religious."

they may KNOW (not no) more than others about the bible, but they know very little about common courtesy or respecting others. no one said the atheist had to pray...what i don't understand is why atheists can't even accept the time as a moment of meditation or silence...(i have spent the last 3 years working for a humanist/atheist group and really the whining about what other people do is petty.)

Yes Geoff my Comment covers ALL OF THE ABOVE not more and One than Another. They ALL lead to the SAME Result. Just look at all the Wars overseas and WHAT they are about. for the last 100 or more years the WARS have been related to RELIGION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

All I can say is wow...now create a voodoo doll of yourself and poke it until the pain goes away. Also that separation deal is over played and I might add....not in any legal document, so cry the victim card somewhere else....we have enough of alleged God victims here.

actually gatekeeper it is a DISESTABLISHMENT clause...it means the government is not allowed to officially recognize one religion over another - simply stated it means no official state religion (many countries have a state religion, i.e the british have the church of england, many countries are officially catholic, etc).

separation came later when the protestants got all uppity when the catholics started pouring in from ireland and italy in the mid to late 1800s. they were afraid that catholicism would be taught in school instead of protestantism.

God help you! Why do you care?! Get a life! You are a typical liberal

Do you do the same with all that offends you? I mean...if my music offends you coming from my vehicle at a red light, do you not drive? Or if my prayer offends you at a restaurant, do you not go there anymore? If these things are true...I do hope so, because I will pray and play Jesus music everywhere I go just to laugh at the fact that God has that much influence on your life...You are almost to a believer....now if you would follow God as strong as you appear to loath him, you would probably be a pretty influential person. I am still having a hard time taking you serious though...The Dark Gatekeeper...lol lol lol

DERP :P

no, they took corporal punishment out of schools and replaced it with the unbridled "self-esteem" movement and the children went wild...it has nothing to do with taking prayer out of the classroom.

they "took prayer out of schools" decades ago; I see no cause & effect correlation to kids going wild. Where do you live that you're not allowed to pray over your food? The Consitution protects your right to do so, just as it protects my right and yours not to have the Government endorse any particualr religion, Do you want Uncle Sam telling you you have to thank Allah - or Satan - or the Flying Spaghetti Monster - for your food? Do whatever you want, believe what you want, pary and give thanks all you want; just don't do it with taxpayer dollars or infringe on my rights while you do.

Do they not teach civics in your area? what a horrible hateful attitude!

So, necxt year they need to add in equal time for the Wiccans, Bufdhists, Muslims, Satanists, and so forth and so on ...

I was not aware of any constitutional issues regarding graduation caps and gowns.

Disbarred on what grounds? Bringing a suit to enforce the Constitution? And I'll bet dollars to donuts the "kid" gets his costs from the district - if indeed the attroney does not handle teh case pro bono (free). The kid is a courageus citizen seeking to protect his - and all of our- rights not to have Government endorse ANY religion. if he goes to law school, this should be on his resume. He'll get hired.