That is a really good speach, I wish she could have finished it. :)
~Heidi Bentley | 06.24.06 - 5:58 pm | #

That's a great speech! I love the sentence, "It's unprejudiced, it's mericiful, it's free, it's real, it's huge and it's everlasting." What a great testimony.
Sarah | Homepage | 06.24.06 - 6:15 pm | #

that's amazing. Three cheers for Brittany!!
Jacqui | Homepage | 06.24.06 - 6:39 pm | #

::EDIT::
no, wait...three cheers for GOD!!

(i need to go to bed now--can you tell?)
Jacqui | Homepage | 06.24.06 - 6:40 pm | #

What a beautiful speech! It is a pity she was not allowed to finish it.
adrielle | 06.24.06 - 7:11 pm | #

Wow. That is an incredible speech. It is a shame that she could't finish it.
Kristin | 06.24.06 - 8:33 pm | #

That is an incredible speech. There is no way that it could have been edited and still made sense. I hope that the fact that her free speech was cut will cause people to find out how she would have finished it.
Elizabeth | Homepage | 06.25.06 - 3:50 pm | #

I agree that Brittany had a great speech, it just wasn't right for that situation. Brittany was under the authority of the school, and they have to have guidelines. What if someone believing in Muhammad went up there and started preaching? We would want to silence him too. If she mentioned God and Christ once or twice, talking about how He changed her life that would be fine. But when she starts to elaborate, then there is a problem. She didn't stay by her word to stick to her approved speech. In a sense, it didn't give God glory, she disobeyed the rules, and went against her authority. What will the school authorities think now, if someone tries to tell them about the love of God, and how He changes lives? The possibility is very high that they will remember Brittany, and how she disobeyed her authority and lied, yet says she is a Christian. It did God an ill-favor; I think.
Does anyone agree?

"Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. " Romans 13:1-2
Andrea | 06.26.06 - 9:51 pm | #

Greetings,
After reading Brittany's speech I've concluded that she is a talented writer and that her express purpose for that speech was proselytization. That was an improper use of that forum. I am Christian by the way and I found that speech impositional and irritating.
It is not for us as believers to bludgeon all those around us with our faith. Especially when the audience is captive, as it would be in an auditorium during a graduation.
Brittany overstepped her bounds and the school was right in cutting her off.

Ad Astra Per Aspera,
Kevin
Kevin | 06.29.06 - 9:13 pm | #

I'm so proud of our youth after reading this speech our preacher told us the girl's name today in service and I looked it up. Thanks for maintaining this site. I will revisit often.
erica | 07.02.06 - 11:26 am | #

When I look over this speech, it is nothing more than evangelizing...did she know her speech was out of line by the school district? Had she been warned this was inappropiete? If so, then she deserves whatever punishment she receives. If she truly stands up for God, then she will accept the consequences of her actions gracefully, as did the woman of the sufferage movement, Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King! the all took a stand for the things they felt were worth fighting for.......and they took the punishment that came with it! DO the same here young lady!
Anonymous | 07.12.06 - 4:32 pm | #

This is precisely why Christianity is getting a bad name. No matter how you slice it, what she did was wrong. People were not there for spiritual fellowship or guidance; they were there to see the fruits of their labors for the past twelve years . . . the beginning of a new chapter in life. The young lady used a captive audience to evangelize full well knowing it was inappropriate . . . in essense pulling a fast one.

God does not pull fast ones . . . period. She should be ashamed of herself as should anyone who would condone what amounts to no less than cheap telemarking ploys (how many of us have to suffer through that annoying phone call in the middle of dinner.)

Thank Jesus. Thank God. Say how you couldn't have done it without Him. Save the sermon for Church. This is truly doing His will.
Anonymous | 07.13.06 - 3:51 pm | #

I can see how many individuals such as Andrea or Kevin would disagree with what she said. Andrea even quoted Romans 13:1-2 about being subject to authority.

However even that is questionable, because in our democratic society we as citizens are very much that authority. Another important point when considering Romans in context to this speech is that Federal Law allows graduation speakers to make mention of God and the imporance religion plays in their lifes. Their speeches cannot cross into the realm of proselytizing (inviting people to come to Christ).

While she did come very close to this line, she never formally invited her classmates to accept Christ. She just express what he has done in her life.

As for the statment of what would we do if an individual of another religion talked about how their god played an important role in their life. The answer is we would love on them and in doing so be respectful enough to listen. By doing so this would make us a light in the darkness for them or anyone else watching, so they may see God's greatness.

I also feel the matter of her giving the administation the impression she give the edited speech is a minute point.

I will also end with a passage from Acts.

[Having brought the apostles, they made them appear before the Sanhedrin to be questined by the high priest. "We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name," he said. "Yet you have filled jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man's blood." Peter and the other apostles replied: "We must obey God rather than men!"] Acts 5:27-29
Jeremy | 07.25.06 - 12:30 am | #

Brittany's speech was very well written and was very close to proselytising; however, she did not ask her audience to accept Jesus Christ as their saviour. She merely attributed her success to Jesus instead of some abstact idea. She gave her reason for her success and justified it with examples. Her speech would have made no sense had she not done so, and she would have not exemplified her valedictorian status either.

The American Civil Liberties Union is being hypocritical in condemning Ms. McCombs when they would turn around and praise a Muslim for the same thing. (Watch the movie Skokie with Danny Kaye to exemplify what I mean. It was a real event.) She was not endorsing the School Districts ideologies nor was she required to do so.

Way to go Brittany. No matter what the politically correct ACLU hipocrites say, your speech is constitutionally protected even if the big wig liberal judges disagree. It just makes them even more incompetant in their positions.
Michael | 08.05.06 - 12:52 pm | #

She was censored because, in the opinion of the school authorities, she crossed the line into proselytizing which was against school rules. We may not all agree that this was proselytizing but the school rules are applied equally to other religions. It was a mandatory school event under which school rules have authority. The rules were consistent with constitutional case law which allow schools to limit student speech. Conservative judges have decided that school speech does not have the same protections as speech for adults. Students are perceived by the court as requiring adult supervision. I can't say that I disagree with the court.

She is a very articulate and talented young woman, but she shouldn't be wasting the taxpayers money on defending her lawsuit. She has been given far more media access than most people ever get. She can't honestly claim that her free speech rights have been denied.

Maintaining order and discipline in the schools is required to provide an education to all. Students need freedom, but that freedom must be within limits so that all can learn. I think that the school administration did an excellent job of setting reasonable limits in this situation. I applaud them.
George | 08.09.06 - 7:05 pm | #

Her speech I found it very interesting and creative by the way she expressed her feelings but when she started complementing the influence of God in her life, well from there I kind of started losing my approval. The moment she started talking about Christ well did she not think how many people she was offending like the Jews. Just an example but did she not think of the people who felt offended. yes she was being cheered on but it was just as the microphone was pulled that she was gooing into the quoting of the Bibble
Norma L | 11.15.06 - 9:41 am | #

She promised to read the edited version.

She lied.

That makes her a liar.
Frank | 03.20.08 - 1:52 pm | #