Jesus Freak at Graduation
I was watching the Today Show before I got out and went to work. They had this chick who was doing some speech for her graduation. She had been kicked off stage by the school authorities for mentioning Jesus and crap.
At first I was down for the cause because I felt she should be able to speak her mind if no one told her not too. But then the truth came out. Apparently the top folks at the school had told her not to talk all that Jesus crap at the graduation. They had even edited out that crap in her speech. And before she spoke, they told her if she did mention that Jesus crap, they would cut off her microphone and end the speech right there. But she went ahead anyway. And they yanked her off. Now she wants to sue.
Her parents were on with her. They said that they got some lawyers together and were going to sue the school. They made it a point to say that they were not suing for monetary gain. Instead, they wanted to set precedent. I probably shouldn’t have a problem with the whole affair, but I do.
I keep hearing people mention “Freedom of Speech.” People seem to believe Freedom of Speech means that you can say whatever you want to say whenever you want to say it. And I guess you can. But people never seem to understand that Freedom of Speech comes with consequences. You can say whatever you want to say whenever, but don’t expect neutral or positive responses all the time. Sometimes opening your mouth will lead to negative reactions.
Let’s say this young girl was giving a presentation at her job. And let’s say her employer told her beforehand not to mention religion or politics in her speech, that mentioning these things could alienate some of their customers. And this young girl decided anyway to start talking about her love for Jesus, and her love for the Republican party, and her hatred of homosexuals. Would you expect this young woman not to be reprehanded, or worse, fired? I would.
Sure, she should have the right to say whatever she wants to say. But she should also learn that she can’t expect to be able to say whatever she wants whenever and not be confronted with negative reprecusssions. There are places where you must conform your speech, your dress, your attitude, your manner. I can wear what ever I want, but I shouldn’t expect certain employers to hire me if I come to interviews in ripped up jeans and dirty white t-shirts.
This young woman was warned to keep her speech religion free, or her microphone would be turned off. They didn’t threaten to sue her, or keep her from her graduation, or even keep her from speaking altogether. She could have given this speech after the graduation, maybe to to a close knit set of friends and family. And I’m sure it would have been well received.
Instead, she decided to give this speech while representing her classmates, the school and the school system. She wasn’t just speaking on her own behalf, she was speaking for her entire class. And she was told to keep her speech neutral, so that she might represent not just the majority, but the one or two in the minority that might be in her class. And instead, she decided to piss on that honor and on her classmates, all because her rights to say whatever she wanted meant more than their right to have a decent graduation. Dumb bitch.
For that, that makes this chick, one ignorant little Jesus Freak.
Recently
Leave a Reply