You are religious and you are Christian. I want to share my faith and tell the girl if she does not have anything other to say than "I want to share my faith with you" then I want to tell her No thanks, please SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP! I DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT! NOT INTERESTED!!!!!! I don' want to be preached to at a public event!

Not only that, at such a time, with so many young people around, I don't want her spreading her cult ideas and tempting the young and innocent into a life of evil!!!!!

If she wants to preach, go to church!

I just want to point out that similar tactics were used in Iraq to Christianize the American Army there complete with evangelical peer pressure tactics and, well, let's say, unlimited access to free Christian Literature!


I don't want to have anything to do with a holy war!

It's not just in Iraq; there's a concerted effort to spread fundamentalism throughout our military. Purportedly, the the Air Force Academy is rife with it. I'm afraid Pogo's famous line is once again too true.

Not in My Name!

And shot at the Ark!

Cheryl, it's called separation of Church and State, and it's in our Constitution. It's not a group of people oppressing that girl, it's the documents that define and govern our nation.

There's a time and place for everything. Graduation isn't the time or place. A speech at graduation isn't supposed to be all about HER anyway.

Not to mention the protection of state funding the school gets.

My child is also giving a commencement speech at a public school, but that does not mean she is being allowed to say anything she could come up with ( can only imagine what that would look like!!) Does this mean her freedom of speech is being violated?

It is for the protection of everyone's rights that's personal beliefs are not the subject of public addresses, plus they are careful to abide by those documents mentioned above, or risk losing their funding.

Hadn't thought of that. I got the impression sharing her faith wasn't her whole speech but just a few lines of it. Oh well, I have more important things to worry about as the top I wanted to wear to the Arlo show Sat is missing & I fear it is forever. Mike had gotten it for me for Christmas. I could re-order another one from Jessica London but it wouldn't get here in time for the show. I had already planned out what I was gonna wear to the show before Mike ever passed. Sigh...

Sue is much nicer than I am and I appreciate that! However, I just want to point out that I am displaying the kind of emotion in my lack of faith as I have patiently tolerated from those with faith for years (that is why I did it!). I have decided I will not put up with it anymore! I will not tolerate that Christian intolerance (or any revelation you choose) is to be politely ignored anymore!

I'm not intolerant & consider myself to be very tolerant. Because of a few zealous types sadly, all Christians get labeled as intolerant. I'm probably a rare right winger cuz I love 60's & 70's type stuff and stuff like tye dye & peace signs etc.

Symbolism......form without content is filled with emptiness......

I didn't say all Christians I said all people of faith are intolerant! You got to admit that the whole basis of religious faith is to be intolerant of those who don't share that faith. It is kind of part of the code that it is a them or us scenario! Religion, is by definition, intolerant. If it makes you feel better I see a lot of people who wear tye dye and like 60's and 70's stuff who are intolerant! In fact, I am intolerant when it comes to religion! You know matbe it is like that amazing grace song in some way,

I once was tolerant
but now I am found

Larry made me pee my pants from laughin' so much.

At least over there I never had to hear God save the Queen! Can't wait for Oz to become a Republic! She (the Queen, and I have nothing against her, oh except fox hunting) is on our five dollar note but all the other notes have different famous men and women on them and they are all different pretty colors. I think it's time U.S. money got more colorful and all the God and seeing eye stuff should be taken off it.

Lets not forget Hils is doing her best too, to convince the world that my beloved birthland is no longer being run by the worst Prez in the history of these United States. I'm proud to be an American now! oops! Didn't Michelle get in trouble for saying that! OH! And what about those bare arms! It was alright for Jackie wasn't it! Of course a black woman just shouldn't be showing all that skin! We know their reputation! GIVE ME (and Michelle) A BREAK!

More wars have been fought and people murdered raped burned at the stake etc etc in the name of religion, and they all think they are right.
I know some religious people who are caring etc but mention things like homosexuality and they turn nasty..............how many young people have taken ther lives because of God fearing members of one religion or other. And yes they make it look bad for those who believe but are genuinly caring people.

The Bible was written with stories to frighten and control the MASSES (or Sheeple as I like to call them) as far as I'm concerned.

On Sunday night my Daughter was here cooking dinner for Mother's Day. After dinner we watched the TV show Merlin. I told my daughter the MediEVIL times give me the creeps! She said "You were probably a witch and got burned at the stake!" She meant it as a compliment of course!
I think my Beloved was kidding when he gave a little smile and said "Yeah that would be right!"

AS far as I'm concerned Dave and Cheryl have the right to say anything they like (unlike people like Cindy Sheehan, for the last eight years,how many times did SHE get cuffed and dragged away!)

Bring your own God or not, isn't that what this place is suppose to be about? Free speech too.

My new President and my fairly new Prime Minister are both Christians but they don't preach to me.

I do look forward to the day tho, when every candidate running for the top job doesn't feel that they need to yell "God Bless America"

Well I've said my piece, Good Night and Good Luck.

While Ms Cali was not making a grad speech, this is relative.

And relatively tolerant, compared to the Inquisition.

Christians have come a long way.

http://www.latimes.com/news/la-me-missc ... ?track=rss

Carrie Prejean's role as an ambassador as Miss California has been in question since she expressed her views on gay marriage.

Miss California USA organizers say Carrie Prejean hijacked the event to spread her views on marriage.

By Carla Hall
May 12, 2009
Ever since Miss California Carrie Prejean declared onstage last month at the Miss USA Pageant that she believed gay people should not have the right to marry, she has battled her critics in TV interviews, been championed by groups opposed to same-sex marriage and pretty much eclipsed the woman who beat her to become the reigning Miss USA.
(Does anyone even remember what state the winner was from?)

See Controversial Video on Largest Christian Social Network

www.tangle.com/MissCalifornia

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Hall of Shame

A list of companies that undermine traditional family values.

www.timothyplan.com


But that's nothing compared to what Prejean did to the Miss California organization. She hijacked it, the organizers said, for her own message.

"Up to now, we've just been riding along as a passenger on this runaway train," Keith Lewis, co-executive director of the Miss California USA pageant, said Monday morning at a news conference at the Peninsula Hotel in Beverly Hills. "But that ends today."

And with that, the organizers labeled her a rogue Miss California and, well, ostracized her. They don't have the authority to dethrone her. That power lies only with Donald Trump, the owner of the Miss Universe and Miss USA pageant system. He is scheduled to weigh in on the brouhaha today at a news conference in New York.


Instead the organizers installed the Miss California first runner-up as a kind of shadow Miss California. Tami Farrell, a gleamy-eyed, long-haired blond in a short one-shouldered dress, beamed and took her place on the dais when she was introduced as the "official Beauty of California ambassador" by Shanna Moakler, executive director of the state pageant.

The controversy began nearly a month ago, when Prejean was asked about her views on same-sex marriage during the nationally televised Miss USA pageant. Although she said she believed people were entitled to do as they liked, she said marriage should only be recognized as an institution between a man and a woman.

Prejean lost the pageant (she was runner-up to Miss North Carolina, Kristen Dalton). But her statement quickly became fodder for the ongoing culture war over same-sex marriage. Gay-rights activists criticized her, while her backers said she was being unfairly attacked.

Yes, there's also some controversy over recently revealed semi-naked photos of Prejean (clad in panties, her arm draped strategically over her chest with nary a nipple in sight) and chortling over a breast enhancement job the local pageant helped finance. ("The majority of women who are titleholders have breast implants . . . I didn't think breast implants were shocking," Moakler said, chuckling.)

But pageant officials said that when Prejean became the darling of the anti-same-sex-marriage movement, she began shirking her duties as Miss California. They say she missed appearances, including the filming of a public service announcement the pageant put together featuring former and current Miss USA, Miss California and Miss California Teen winners speaking about the beauty and diversity of the people of California. Organizers said she was generally unreachable by pageant officials -- technically a breach of her contract, they said.

"Up to now, it's been very difficult to get in touch with her," Moakler said. Asked if she had Prejean's cellphone number, Moakler added: "We do. She doesn't answer her phone. Her pastor does."

And that wasn't all. Pageant officials said their sponsors have been getting hate mail because of Prejean's stand.

They had nothing but scorn for the National Organization for Marriage, a group opposed to same-sex marriage that used in one of its commercials video of Prejean's now infamous pageant answer.

"Shame. Shame, shame, shame," Lewis said. "Shame for taking this young woman and exploiting her to further your own agenda."

Prejean's backers insist she is being unfairly vilified by pageant organizers for a viewpoint that is far from extreme (California voters last year approved Proposition 8, which banned same-sex marriage).

Officials with the National Organization for Marriage say Prejean is not a paid spokeswoman. She did attend the Washington, D.C., news conference at which the group unveiled the ad featuring her Miss USA pageant clip. And she lent her voice to a recorded call the organization used to thank supporters and solicit contributions.

"Carrie has always been a spokesperson for herself. She believes what we believe," said Brian Brown, the group's executive director. "We're proud of her. . . . She's standing up for marriage and against the bullying we heard at this press conference today."

Quite a maelstrom for a 21-year-old (going on 22) at a Christian college, whose goal was to become a Victoria's Secret model. Prejean, although invited, did not attend the Beverly Hills news conference. She reportedly was on a plane for New York.

In this post-beauty pageant era, none of these women get much national recognition unless they go astray in some carnal or substance-abusing way -- which makes Carrie Prejean even more unusual.

In this case, her real recognition is over a stand on an issue. It's not the message the California pageant had in mind. "You have to understand we never want to take away a girl's beliefs or her voice," Lewis said. "But when you wear the title that says 'I represent everyone,' you can't then polarize the people you represent."

Pageant officials say all would be forgiven if she came back and returned to the business of beauty -- attending red-carpet events, charity gatherings, appearances for sponsors.

"We just need to get back to business," Lewis said. "We want her to fulfill her contract."

Really now? I'm glad I was able to be of assistance.
Which comment or observation had this effect? I mean I'd like to know so that if I ever pass a line of ladies waiting to use a crowded restroom, I could avoid causing a problem by relating the same information outloud.......or not.

You must take great measures Larry, to never allow your powerful gift to fall into the wrong hands......