[transplant99]

Originally Posted by MarchHare

Nobody in this thread is complaining about over-hearing religious people engaged in prayer. It's not the fact that Damon would be subjected to hearing religious speech that is his complaint. The issue is that public prayer cannot come from a representative of the government. You have failed in this thread, time and again, to understand the reasoning behind his complaint. No reasonable person is offended by the mere idea of prayer or even hearing other people audibly praying in public. The complaint is that it would be unconstitutional for a public school to explicitly or implicitly endorse a religious belief by reciting an incantation at a graduation ceremony.

From his letter/posting explaining things.

My reasoning behind it is that it's emotionally stressing on anyone who isn't Christian

Either we disagree on what he means when he says this or you didnt read things the same way I did.

Did I ever post in this thread (or anywhere else) that religious people don't have the right to free speech and freedom of religion?

No...did I say you did? Im pointing out that he would be "exposed" to praying (since someone wants to play semantics with the word subject to) one way or the other and there is nothing anyone could do about it.

I just think this kid made a very poor choice in doing what he did. Only he knows if it will all be worth it when all is said and done and I hope it all works out for him. A little common sense and a little compromise and none of this has to happen though...not sure that is even debateable..

You and others see it differently which is fine and I respect that. I doubt many respect at all what I am saying however which is quite obvious with many of the claims made in this very thread.

Why is it not wise? Contacting the ACLU is brilliant. Carrying out a constitutional complaint, seeking redress, and getting legal representation for it is brilliant for a 17 year old. Something tells me that every college he applies to will see that on his application and see he has dared to do something most 17 year olds would not and that he has carried out what he said he would do in an intelligent and logical manner. Standing up for his own civil liberties and seeking professional recourse is one more reason why he would probably get into a better college than many of his peers (aside from the fact that it seems some of them don't know the rules of English grammar, according to the Facebook group).

Higher level colleges in the U.S. love this stuff on applications. They don't admit based on SAT scores alone but evidence of personal accomplishments and determination

Perhaps....but perhaps not. Depends on the school and the admissions people I would guess. Thats even if he is going to college...not sure I read that anywhere one way or the other.

One thing is certain he certainly has gotten the attention of the organized atheist movement and that alone could lead to big things for him.