What would I have done? I probably would have allowed myself to be silenced, unless I got angry. I'll be praying for the lawsuit and for Brittany.
Grace | 06.23.06 - 4:38 am | #

Grace: Would you mind sharing why you would let yourself be silenced? Is it because you think that would be the right thing to do? Is it because you'd be afraid of the consequences? etc.

Thanks for commenting!
Brett Harris | Homepage | 06.23.06 - 9:42 am | #

It makes a bad impression if someone stops in midspeech and never finishes. So, in that very awkward moment, I'd hopefully finish saying what I'd intended, or if that were impossible because of the noise, find a graceful way to leave off. I'm sure the uproar makes a bigger impression than the speech itself. There are several examples of interrupted speeches in the gospels and Acts. There it often ended in a stoning attempt. See Lk 4:24-30; Jn 8:58-59, 10:31-39, 18:20-23; Ac 7:51-60, 17:31-33, 19:28-20:1, 23:1-11, 26:24-29.

The real question you asked, however, is whether to deliberately deviate from the written speech when warned of the consequences. I think I would, just because I don't like "canned" speeches. Whe I heard a rumor of the story yesterday at lunch, I said, "That's not a speech, it's a puppet show!" The idea is silly.

If it's a question of whether to defy authority... it does require justification and proper timing. It requires God's leading. This is why Sheba's rebellion failed (2Sa 20) and Jeroboam's rebellion succeeded (1Ki 11-12).

In the case of content discrimination, a Christian message is more justified than obscenity, etc. for continuing to speak. On the other side, we should never do evil that good may result. (Ro 3:8 ) In fact, in the Acts 23 passage already cited, Paul apologized for reviling the high priest who had ordered him to be slapped for what he said. Never speak evil about the ruler of your people. (Ex 22:28 )

Another option might have been to hint at the topics throughout her speech, while never saying the taboo words... and remarking about why she couldn't. It might have been humorous. It would have been an improvement on the Battleground (WA) convocation given by school board president Sam Kim, who talked about how much better the education would be if this year's bond had passed.

So... if you must, be a prophet. Be creative and appeal to the authorities. Find a mutually beneficial solution. Repent if you are anyway in the wrong. If they won't relent, and you are sure of God's leading, don't be afraid of an authority's disapproval if what you have to say is right. Stand alone and live with the consequences.
Nathan Straub | Homepage | 06.23.06 - 11:33 am | #

This is definitely a difficult question. Was it right for Brittany McComb to defy her authorities or should she have submitted and allowed her message to go unspoken?

I was looking through Acts just now and came to Chapter 5, where the apostles are thrown into jail by the high priest for preaching the gospel. I think there is a very helpful parallel there. In verses 17-21 we have men of God that are thrown into jail and solemnly charged by the authority of the high priest not to speak the gospel. Then during the night, an angel of the Lord comes and opens the prison gates and commands them to go and "speak to the people in the temple the whole message of this life."

Their was no doubt that the temple was under the authority of the high priest, in much the same way that the Clark County School is clearly under the authority of its administrators, yet the apostles were commanded by God to defy this authority and preach the gospel there.

Brittany spoke the gospel with courage even though the authorities of the school told her she could not. Judging by this passage it looks to me like Brittany did what was right. However, I think it would have been wrong, if she had previously given her word to speak only the approved speech, to then break her word. (although there is no reason to assume she did so)

There will definitely be times that we must respectfully disobey authorities, and I pray that if I ever have to God will give me the grace and courage to do it.
Heidi | 06.23.06 - 11:53 am | #

In response to some of those commenting...

I'm having a hard time seeing how Brittany defied her authorities. She has, in America, what we call "The freedom of speech". Which means she has the right to say what she wants to. She earned the spot of valedictorian and as a result should be allowed to say what she wishes. It's not as if she were using all kinds of profanity and vulgarity. She was simply sharing what helped her to get through highschool and trying to let other teens know how she made it. At least, from what I've read and what I can tell, she did nothing illegal. In fact, I see no justification for the school to censor her speech.

If I were Brittany, I would have spoken louder. Who needs a microphone? ;-) If they would have cut my microphone, I would have finished my speech without one. Unless and uproar made it impossible to hear. Then I would have waited till everyone calmed down, and ended with, "God bless you all, and God bless America!"


=D


But maybe that's just me.
Marshall Sherman | Homepage | 06.23.06 - 12:12 pm | #

Well, I think she defied her authorities in the sense that she was under the authority of the school, as was the entire graduation event, and she did not do what they told her to do.

But I agree that she should have been allowed the right to speak whatever she chose, so long as it was not obscene or profane etc.
Heidi | 06.23.06 - 12:21 pm | #

First let me say: Sherman, I think you hit right on the head. So did Ben Shipiro.
Secondly: I don’t think there is any doubt that Brittany did the right thing to disregard the wishes of her authorities. First from a technical standpoint: This is, after all, a public school. It thus follows that public opinions should be expressed there as well. I believe that she was obeying God rather than men; she sacrificed the praise of man for the glory of God. She did as all should do who claim the name of Christ: Make our number one objective the glory of God and the spreading of his kingdom through speech and action.
Thirdly: What would I do? I cannot “boast of the marrow,” but I pray that when that mic is cut, for God to give me the strength to stand straighter as I proclaim His name and as the heathen rage and imagine vain things. As they curse, to bless. As they blaspheme, to pray.
Agent 507 | 06.23.06 - 4:19 pm | #

It is wonderful to hear that some Christian students in the public schools are finding the courage to speak out for Christ. It is also encouraging to note that the crowd booed after the microphone went dead -- not before. Hopefully the administration of a public school does not represent the beliefs of the American public in general.
Elizabeth | Homepage | 06.23.06 - 5:59 pm | #

Although my children are homeschooled we have many friends in government schools. Last year at graduation two young men from our little country church were tied for validictorian. They both gave speeches. One was very canned, but the other was excellent. Daniel centered his speech around John the Baptist and the fact that he lived a life of purpose, and that purpose was to serve God and to be the forerunner for Christ.
In our little community one can still "get away with" mentioning Christ in the schools. But on a lighter, sadder note, one graduate asked after the speech if John the Baptist was a student at the highschool
Laurie | Homepage | 06.26.06 - 6:16 am | #

Very encouraging story. Brittany is a very brave girl for standing up for Christ in a world that's so against Him.
Samantha | Homepage | 06.29.06 - 10:25 am | #

I'm a Christian, but I'm going to play the devil's advocate, and argue why Brittany's action was wrong.

Marshall Sherman, 6 posts above me, stated that America has "what we call 'The freedom of speech'" and that Americans should be able to express themselves in whatever subject matter they please. This is a misunderstanding.

What if a valedictorian spouts words of racism, white-supremacy, homophobic-bigotry, or the classic "fire" in a gymnasium. Those words should be considered wrong because they are against the law, and so is Brittany's references to Christ and the Bible.

Now, Brittany is obviously a well-intentioned, good-natured young girl, but she misunderstands what free speech means in this country. There ARE some things you can't say in a public forum (Brittany was given a school-sponsored forum by a school and therefore, in essence, it was a school-sponsored speech), and according to the first and fourteenth amendment, no level of government (including public schools) shall endorse a particular religion. Her references to the Bible and Christ obviously meant that Brittany was endorsing Christianity, and as a sponsor of the school, the school was endorsing Chrsitianity as a result.

Many of you are using biblical verses and elements of faith to justify Brittany's actions, but it is my sincerest belief that the government and my faith should remain seperate, for one is founded on reason and the other...faith.
John | 07.10.06 - 2:30 pm | #

Give me a break! I was valedictorian and they edited my speech.

It his person wins than someone who's a Satanist will be able to speak about that. Would you like that? Eventually schools will just stop having addresses to prevent that eventuality.

What a crock.
Nasser | 07.15.06 - 9:39 am | #

Your website has one hilarious aspect. The picture you use of Ms. McComb presents a modest vision of her. The same photo on the Las Vegas Review Journal's website shows considerable decolletage, which you guys apparently covered up by painting in a white top, underneath the outer blouse. Wild!
martin kallikak | 07.17.06 - 10:13 am | #

Thank God for girls like her.

Does anyone know if she has a boyfriend? ;)
Paladin | 07.29.06 - 5:58 am | #

Good for you Brittany. How dare they silence you for telling people how the lord changed your life. Why do i get the feeling that if it was any other religion it may not have been such an issue? I think that anyone should be able to talk about their beliefs, no matter what they fallow.
Jessica | 08.21.06 - 4:32 pm | #

You photoshop the image of Brittany to cover up her cleavage, and then mouth off about censorship??

You post a fake picture and think yourselves honest??

Hilarious!
jack black | 11.11.07 - 9:14 am | #

She promised to read the approved version.

She lied.

Isn't lying a sin?
Frank | 03.20.08 - 1:54 pm | #