Brittany McComb Valedictorian Speech
Uploaded by: RutherfordInstitute
Video Description:
During the spring of 2006, graduating senior Brittany McComb was chosen to give the valedictory speech at Foothill High School in Henderson, Nev., by virtue of achieving the highest GPA in the school. After composing her remarks, she submitted them to school administrators according to standard district policy. School administrators, with the advice of their district legal counsel, censored her speech, deleting all three Bible references, several references to "the Lord" and the only mention of the word "Christ."
On Thursday, June 15, 2006, McComb delivered her commencement address to over 400 fellow students, families and staff. However, believing that the district's censorship of her speech amounted to a violation of her right to free speech, she attempted to deliver the original version of her remarks i
n which she shares her personal beliefs about the role that her Christian beliefs played in her success. When school officials found her to be straying from the approved text, they unplugged her microphone, thus ending the address. Despite extensive jeers from the audience over the school officials
' actions, McComb was not permitted to finish giving her valedictory speech. In filing suit against Foothill High School officials, Rutherford Institute attorneys stated, "Brittany's stellar academic performance qualified and entitled her to address her classmates at graduation in her own words, yet
the Defendants sought to censor her speech, coerce her into giving a different speech in violation of her conscience, and interfere with and censor the delivery of her speech, all based upon her religious belief and viewpoint." Visit www.rutherford.org for more information.
Tags for this video: Censorship Christian Faith Free Graduation McComb Speech Valedictorian
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| Comments for this video on YouTube |
| If you don't want ... ( 1 month ago by CaseyE28) |
| If you don't want to hear it then don't listen. She has the write to free speech just as much you have the right to post your comments. |
| I think people go ... ( 1 month ago by CaseyE28) |
| I think people go overboard on the whole being offended thing. I believe in God and Jesus and the bible. I have friends of other religions and atheists, agnostics, etc. and I've always managed not to offend anyone. I will share my beliefs at times but not push it on anyone. People have to decide for their selves. While I respect other people's rights and beliefs, I expect the same in return. I don't put up with being disrespected because of my beliefs. |
| I understand why ... ( 1 month ago by CaseyE28) |
| I understand why someone may have a problem with a "christian" because of the "christian" being judgemental or a hippocrite or whatever. If you judge me as being that way because others are then you are just as guilty as them. |
| The thing is that ... ( 1 month ago by CaseyE28) |
| The thing is that she had the right to say what she wanted. Even if she was a muslim or other religion she would have had the same right to speak even if I didn't agree with what she said. |
| In a way I agree ... ( 1 month ago by CaseyE28) |
| In a way I agree with you and in a way I don't. It would be just as wrong for people to through coke cans, bottles, etc. at her if she was a Muslim. I always thought Seperation of Church and State as far as school goes is that the School can not endorse any specific beliefs. However, you can not stop individuals for expressing themselves. The thing that makes this nation so great is the freedom we have. I don't like any form of censorship even if I don't agree with what someone is saying. |
| The thing of it is, ... ( 1 month ago by KaseyAkira) |
| The thing of it is, people cannot simply accept someone else's personal beliefs being preached at them. Here in Malaysia, we have Christians, Catholics, Muslims, Buddhist, Taoist, and Hindus. Separation between church and state here has to be at a Nazi level to make sure no one offends anyone else. My wife is a kindergarten teacher - she wanted to bring chess pieces to school one day to show the kids, but wasn't allowed because the King piece had a cross on the top of it. |
| They do it because ... ( 1 month ago by HyperSonic9000) |
| They do it because not every Religion gets the same kind of treatment by society. Whether you do the same or not is not the case. It's the majority that poses the real threat. The majority would most likely boo the Satanist for thanking the devil for their blessings and gifts in life up on that podium. The troublesome factor here is the way our country behaves towards particular Religions or belief systems over others. They're taking the necessary precaution I think. |
| Plus, there's "free ... ( 1 month ago by HyperSonic9000) |
| Plus, there's "free speech" and then there's "free speech". One could just as simply argue the case that they deserve to talk about Nazism up on that podium because of freedom of speech. It's a hard line to draw because you don't know where to end it. It could be risky because it may just cross over into dangerous territory. You have to understand that it's not the easiest thing to tackle. Freedom of speech is still a debatable and controversial subject. They had to make some kind of law atm. |
| Hell, it's not just ... ( 1 month ago by HyperSonic9000) |
| Hell, it's not just a political issue, it's philosophical. Debates still go on about freedom of speech and what to do about it. So I can understand any decision via ethics whether it be for or against Religious podium talk, because they had to make SOME kind of decision. Even if it might be the wrong one. |
| This matter seems ... ( 1 month ago by awakenedinseattle) |
| This matter seems pretty clear to me on constitutional grounds: the government should not promote religion, but it should also not prohibit its free expression by those who hold to it. Although I do not think it would be right for an employed representative of the school to promote a religious opinion, I do think it would have been right for this young woman--who is not employed by the school--to have been allowed to express herself freely. And I think the decision to silence her was wrong. |
| so much for freedom. ( 1 month ago by jvmalum) |
| so much for freedom. |
| Replace "Jesus" ... ( 1 month ago by jedum1) |
| Replace "Jesus" with Satin. Would it have been okay to silence her mic then? |
| Jedum1 wrote: " ... ( 1 month ago by awakenedinseattle) |
| Jedum1 wrote: "Replace 'Jesus' with 'Satan.' Would it have been okay to silence her mic then?" Not in my opinion. She should have been allowed to express herself freely, no matter how popular or unpopular her spiritual convictions might be. That's what "free speech" really means. |
| Hey, I'm an atheist ... ( 1 month ago by dannypantsgm) |
| Hey, I'm an atheist. But if I were sitting in the audience I would have simply tuned out when she started mentioning religion. Its not the school's right to tune her out for me. I'll do that my fucking self! Seriously though, that is fucked up. Blatant free speech violation. Hope she kicked ass in court. |
| The definition ... ( 1 month ago by HyperSonic9000) |
| The definition wasn't meant ad verbatim, which is why the Supreme Court has had plenty of cases in the past regarding it. It may seem simple on the surface, but in reality, it's not as simple as saying "It's freedom of Religion, end of discussion". If that were true, all cases like this would cease to exist. It's a vague definition, and maybe it needs to be revised; but ATM it seems to be favorable on a Nationwide scale that this thing be prohibited. |
| I am no advocate of ... ( 1 month ago by lfil28) |
| I am no advocate of censorship whatsoever. However, this girl is really really stupid. I can't believe she's a valedictorian. They should reexamine the curriculum. Only fundies would get up at a highschool speech and preach their beliefs to everyone. They do it to their children all the time. |
| I'd guess they ... ( 1 month ago by lfil28) |
| I'd guess they shouldn't have cut the mic. Let the fool speak all she wants, and let the fools in the audience cheer. She has freedom of speech. The school isn't promoting religion by letting her speak. |
| Its funny though ... ( 1 month ago by lfil28) |
| Its funny though that Fundies have a problem with censorship when it is their number one tool that they use to spread their beliefs. Most videos on youtube that argue against evolution and promote creationism HAVE THE COMMENTS DISABLED. They only post other christian comments. They don't allow email, nothing. Thats just how they role. |
| Jesus Nazarethton, ... ( 3 weeks ago by paulsuckow) |
| Jesus Nazarethton, i believe |
| Heaven forbid she ... ( 3 weeks ago by Coowallsky) |
| Heaven forbid she be allowed to express her beliefs. |
| And she should. ( 3 weeks ago by lfil28) |
| And she should. |
| I have a question ... ( 2 weeks ago by lfil28) |
| I have a question for you smarmy Christians... What if a valedictorian got up there and went on and on about Satan and how he/she worships "him". Would you still be all like "let her express her self or thats not right to cut the mic". Thats what I thought. Hypocrites. |
| That was not right ... ( 6 days ago by spiller1975) |
| That was not right to cut her mic |
| if you support that ... ( 3 days ago by FU0C0) |
| if you support that person's rights...then you'd just be christian and not a smarmy christian. However, unfortunately, there are a huge number of christians who deserve that adjective |
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