Valedictorian's Speech About Christ Prompts Controversy

[Qacer]

Jesus gives you A+++++

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

Wolfson High School valedictorian Shannon Spaulding made the comments in front of a large crowd of proud parents, friends and classmates.

Some members of the audience said Spaulding picked the wrong forum to share her beliefs, while others applauded her courageous message.

The valedictorian's speech was about Jesus Christ and suggested those who don't believe would go to hell.

"I want to tell you that Jesus Christ can give you eternal life in heaven," Spaulding said before the crowd. "If we die with that sin on our souls, we will immediately be pulled down to hell to pay the eternal price for our sins ourselves."

For 17 minutes, Spaulding's speech went on, making religious references to Bible scriptures that were often followed with applause.

"Like the Geico Insurance slogan -- so easy a caveman can do it. Letting Jesus take care of our sin problem is so easy a child can do it," said Spaulding.

However, there were some in the audience who said they were uncomfortable during the speech and felt the comments were inappropriate.
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"It was not the right forum. We were all sent there to have a joyous occasion and not a religious revival," said Samantha, who was at the event to see her sister graduate.

School superintendent Joseph Wise issued a statement after the graduation ceremony, stating he deeply regretted that "the student exercised her time in her valedictorian speech in a manner that was offensive and insensitive to some."

Spaulding told Channel 4 she was not aware of the controversy and stands behind everything she said.

"I was not trying to force anything on anybody. I just wanted to tell them something I knew was important to me and wanted to have them a chance to hear," Spaulding said.

While some were uncomfortable about her message, there were others who felt it was very appropriate speech.

"I think that was the most important thing to her, and I think she had the right to say it. She succeeded in becoming valedictorian, and that was her right," said attendee Carileen Bollinger.

 

[Brainonska511]

What an idiot. You don't use a commencement speech to spout your beliefs - it is not the time or the place.

 

[PottedMeat]

Sure, she can say whatever she wants but if I were there my opinion of her would go way down.

 

[michaels]

Can people not find other things to get all worked up over? Maybe if we had more morality and respect in schools kids wouldn't be worthless shitheads nowadays.

 

[effowe]

What kind of valedictorian speech is that? There is a time and place to preach, a public high school graduation is not one of them.

 

[Gunslinger08]

The only people who appreciate an out of place evangelical speech are already Christians. Dumb move.

 

[TallBill]

I would have got up and walked out.

 

[Qacer]

Did you guys see the survey results on the page? Over 50% think that her speech was not offensive. Geez. I don't mind freedom of speech, but just don't shove religion down my throat. (I'm Christian, by the way).

 

[grrl]

No one in the audience laughed?

 

[thecoolnessrune]

I dont get all the fuss... again.. Everyone wants to fuss about something. If hearing those words "Jesus saves" causes you to melt or something then sure, it shouldn't be allowed. But comon people, no one died, no heads assploded, no one bled out the ears after hearing it. They are WORDS. Do you people have nothing else to bitch about than something someone else says? It's her speech. Let her say whatever the heck she wants. If you are so traumatized by the words that it might cause permanent scarring to what brain you have, then leave. That simple.

EDIT: Let me say that I am someone who believes in free speech. If someone got up and said that all black people need to die, then I would simply choose to ignore him. I don't care if he says it, and he has that right to. Someone can call me n****, f*****, p****, whatever, I don't care. They have that right and I have the decision not to listen.

 

[sandorski]

That would suck.

 

[LongCoolMother]

Although I think a valedictorian speech that mentions God, and perhaps how her spirituality has helped her with her achievements, would be more than acceptable and perhaps appropriate depending on the person :thumbsup:.... This girl has gone overboard imo. It's one thing to acknowledge and appreciate the importance of your spirituality during a speech like this, but it is another to try to actively try to spread those beliefs onto others-- especially in the manner that she has done (mentioning of hell etc.).

I guess similar to the way US Presidents frequently mention God in public speeches, because America has traditionally been a Christian country. People don't mind this. But it would be way over the line if the President all of a sudden started condemning people to hell and trying to spread his beliefs. :thumbsdown:

Does anyone agree with me?

 

[jpeyton]

Originally posted by: thecoolnessrune
I dont get all the fuss... again.. Everyone wants to fuss about something. If hearing those words "Jesus saves" causes you to melt or something then sure, it shouldn't be allowed. But comon people, no one died, no heads assploded, no one bled out the ears after hearing it. They are WORDS. Do you people have nothing else to bitch about than something someone else says? It's her speech. Let her say whatever the heck she wants. If you are so traumatized by the words that it might cause permanent scarring to what brain you have, then leave. That simple.

Separation of church and state. It was a public high school.

The uproar about this is notable, but nothing compared to the uproar that would have been if she made a speech proclaiming Islam as the path to salvation.

I would have personally walked out than be force fed any religious BS during a graduation ceremony at a public school.

 

[RallyMaster]

I have no problem with Christians until they speak openly about their beliefs. I wouldn't have said anything but that's just pure flamebait.

 

[yankeesfan]

She worked hard enough for valedictorian, so let her say what she wants. She's probably had to hide her true beliefs in class to prevent her grades from being lowered by some radical atheist teachers, anyway.

 

[sandorski]

Originally posted by: LongCoolMother
Although I think a valedictorian speech that mentions God, and perhaps how her spirituality has helped her with her achievements, would be more than acceptable and perhaps appropriate depending on the person.... This girl has gone overboard imo. It's one thing to acknowledge and appreciate the importance of your spirituality during a speech like this, but it is another to try to actively try to spread those beliefs onto others-- especially in the manner that she has done (mentioning of hell etc.).

Does anyone agree with me?

Agree.

 

[thecoolnessrune]

Originally posted by: jpeyton

Originally posted by: thecoolnessrune
I dont get all the fuss... again.. Everyone wants to fuss about something. If hearing those words "Jesus saves" causes you to melt or something then sure, it shouldn't be allowed. But comon people, no one died, no heads assploded, no one bled out the ears after hearing it. They are WORDS. Do you people have nothing else to bitch about than something someone else says? It's her speech. Let her say whatever the heck she wants. If you are so traumatized by the words that it might cause permanent scarring to what brain you have, then leave. That simple.

Separation of church and state. It was a public high school.

The uproar about this is notable, but nothing compared to the uproar that would have been if she made a speech proclaiming Islam as the path to salvation.

I would have personally walked out than be force fed any religious BS during a graduation ceremony at a public school.

Of course the original meaning to that was to keep the state out of the church, not the church out of the state. This wasn't a public school matter. It was a student giving a speech. No different than those people who get on a box and shout the world is gonna end. They are on a public sidewalk aren't they?

People need to get a thicker skin and quit whining everytime they hear something they don't like.

 

[JulesMaximus]

She should have fscking known better. I blame her idiot parents.

 

[sandorski]

Originally posted by: yankeesfan
She worked hard enough for valedictorian, so let her say what she wants. She's probably had to hide her true beliefs in class to prevent her grades from being lowered by some radical atheist teachers, anyway.

She already said it, so no one is going to stop her. We all ar just saying that it's extremely poor taste and inappropriate to the occasion.

 

[silverpig]

Originally posted by: thecoolnessrune
I dont get all the fuss... again.. Everyone wants to fuss about something. If hearing those words "Jesus saves" causes you to melt or something then sure, it shouldn't be allowed. But comon people, no one died, no heads assploded, no one bled out the ears after hearing it. They are WORDS. Do you people have nothing else to bitch about than something someone else says? It's her speech. Let her say whatever the heck she wants. If you are so traumatized by the words that it might cause permanent scarring to what brain you have, then leave. That simple.

It's just a bad speech. Imagine someone giving a valedictorian speech about farming:

"Now, there are a few main types of farms, dairy farms, where you keep cows to produce milk... now the carrots, those you should plant in a row... and when fall comes around that's when it's especially important to make sure you..."

or maybe one like:

"So my friend and I were walking in the mall yesterday, and we like, totally saw the cutest boots! So I says to her I says: Annie, aren't those just the cutest boots you've ever seen? ..."

or heaven forbid she actually say something like:

"The only true way to salvation is to follow the teachings of Guru Nanak of the Khalsa..."

It's just a dumb speech made in the wrong forum and shows poor judgement.

 

[jpeyton]

Originally posted by: yankeesfan
She worked hard enough for valedictorian, so let her say what she wants. She's probably had to hide her true beliefs in class to prevent her grades from being lowered by some radical atheist teachers, anyway.

They would probably lower her grades if she used "because Jesus said so" as an answer for a question.

Or if she said the universe was created in 7 days in her science class.

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

She kind of screwed the next Val.

Every speech from here out will have to be submitted and approved before commencment.

 

[yankeesfan]

Originally posted by: sandorski

Originally posted by: yankeesfan
She worked hard enough for valedictorian, so let her say what she wants. She's probably had to hide her true beliefs in class to prevent her grades from being lowered by some radical atheist teachers, anyway.

She already said it, so no one is going to stop her. We all ar just saying that it's extremely poor taste and inappropriate to the occasion.

I suppose that's true. No one wants to hear that they're going to hell on graduation day, a traditionally enjoyable time.

 

[Dedpuhl]

If this were a muslim giving a 20 minute speech about Mohammad, then there would be outrage.

Preach in your fscking church. Don't tread on me (or them)...

 

[TallBill]

Originally posted by: LongCoolMother
Although I think a valedictorian speech that mentions God, and perhaps how her spirituality has helped her with her achievements, would be more than acceptable and perhaps appropriate depending on the person :thumbsup:.... This girl has gone overboard imo. It's one thing to acknowledge and appreciate the importance of your spirituality during a speech like this, but it is another to try to actively try to spread those beliefs onto others-- especially in the manner that she has done (mentioning of hell etc.).

I guess similar to the way US Presidents frequently mention God in public speeches, because America has traditionally been a Christian country. People don't mind this. But it would be way over the line if the President all of a sudden started condemning people to hell and trying to spread his beliefs. :thumbsdown:

Does anyone agree with me?

I get your point, and it makes sense, but I still cant agree because no god exists.

Plus 17 minutes is entirely to long for a graduating speach anwyways. I don't get why this is newsworthy though. She's already graduated so its not like they can do anything to her.