No, Jay, the Toe Tapping Will Have To Go

Frankly, I'm torn on the issue.

While I disagree with obnoxious people who try to turn events into their own religious ceremonies in sneaky ways (such as songs)
I do take advantage of my right to change the wording of the songs (which usually stands out.)

There hasn't been an event yet where someone hasn't approached me afterward looking for camaraderie against "the obnoxious ones."

It has proven to be an effective way to meet mentally health people.

Dear Rev. Lynn:

How do you interpret this small bit of God's word? I am especially interested in the thrones, dominions, rulers, and authorities. Colossians 1:16
"For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him."

Thank you for you input....

The wonderful and interesting thing is that a graduation speech extolling Charles Darwin, Bertrand Russell or Steven Weinberg, atheist scientists all, would be totally allowed, since it would be referring to science, not religion.

The sad fact is that all this strife over graduation speeches is directly attributable to the fact that we maintain socialist public schools that not only manage to offend everybody, but that also can't teach the kids, and that at great expense.

Time to privatize all schools, so parents can vote with their feet if they don't like religious ceremonies in schools. Statism ruins everything.

I agree with Jimbino. A person should be able to send their children to the school of their choice if that school is accredited for the basic curriculum established by the State the school is in.

Schools have children a large part of their time. Within established laws of the State, people should have the right (Bill of Rights) to pass on their religion to their children. This is nearly impossible with a public school monopoly on their education.

Jimbino: "The sad fact is that all this strife over graduation speeches is directly attributable to the fact that we maintain socialist public schools that not only manage to offend everybody, but that also can't teach the kids, and that at great expense. Time to privatize all schools, so parents can vote with their feet if they don't like religious ceremonies in schools. Statism ruins everything."

The only thing wrong with that statement is that it is completely false. We maintain public schools (like we maintain public police and fire departments, utilties, libraries, courts, and armed forces) because they are part of the public square and are best managed for our common interest rather than some stockholders' net profit. There is no evidence anywhere that students receive any better education in private religious schools (especially charter schools) than public schools. The only thing statism ruins is false religious claims and the religious wars against science, education, and diversity.

The truth: As we can see the more secular we have become, the LESS the religious corruption and degradation of this society. Things are getting better not worse.