No Hero Here: S.C. High School Student’s Lord’s Prayer Stunt Was Selfish, Not Brave
Jun 7, 2013
by Simon Brown
in Wall of Separation
Bob Dylan once said: “A hero is someone who understands the responsibility that comes with his freedom.” By that standard, a South Carolina high school valedictorian who recited the Lord’s Prayer at his graduation is no hero.
When Liberty High School in Liberty, S.C., held its graduation last week, the ceremony was supposed to be devoid of coercive prayer. According to the Christian News, Pickens County School District decided this year to ban official prayers from events like graduations following multiple complaints by groups concerned about church-state separation.
As valedictorian, Roy Costner IV was tasked with giving a speech at his graduation. His remarks were approved in advance, the News said, but when it came time for Costner to speak he tore up his planned speech and launched into the Lord’s Prayer.
Costner prefaced the prayer with brief remarks, asserting, “Those that we look up to, they have helped carve and mold us into the young adults that we are today. I’m so glad that both of my parents led me to the Lord at a young age. And I think most of you will understand when I say… ‘Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name…’”
https://www.au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/no-hero-here-sc-high-school-student-s-lord-s-prayer-stunt-was-selfish-not
Further in the article is the meat of AU's objection which, I think, speaks to the issue of freedom of religious expression:
= new reply since forum marked as read
As an atheist I would not like it at all. But SCOTUS has more or less blessed (so to speak) this kind of voluntary expression. Again, AFAIK.
In other words, I agree with you wholeheartedly.
I wouldn't like it either.
Last edited Fri Jun 7, 2013, 09:02 PM - Edit history (1)
that the school district muckety-mucks were probably just as happy that he did it, despite their ban, simply by this bit of self-justification for letting it pass:
“The bottom line is, we’re not going to punish students for expressing their religious faiths,” he told Christian News. “He’s a graduate now. There’s nothing we can do about it, even if we wanted to.” (emphasis added)
http://p.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/jun/5/crowd-stunned-after-valedictorian-rips-speech-reci/#ixzz2VZzMyb00
So says The Washington Times anyway, no doubt just as happy about it.
OK, I guess there was some research there.
Only a modicum, though...
But I can't see how they could do anything to him at this point.
I'm a Christian also. 
But, in my opinion, these issues have to be addressed in terms of the Bill of Rights, and not on theological grounds, although we could certainly discuss how we think this stacks up, theology-wise.
Have a great weekend.
EDITED TO ADD: Your sig-line is among my favorite passages of scripture. I wish it were practiced more often. Too often we injure each other and think nothing of it, not considering the damage that's done.
Luke 18
-14
[9] To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: [10] "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. [11] The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men -- robbers, evildoers, adulterers -- or even like this tax collector. [12] I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'
[13] "But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'
[14] "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
One of my favorites. Perhaps the valedictorian should read this a couple times s-l-o-w-l-y.
