A Missouri high school principal who garnered thunderous applause and a starring role in a viral video for a commencement speech in which he repeatedly invoked God in ways to dodge First Amendment objections has atheists seeing red.
Lebanon High School Principal Kevin Lowery can be seen on a 3-minute YouTube clip reminding graduates that the nation’s motto of “In God We Trust” can be found on U.S. currency and in Francis Scott Key’s original version of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Lowery also wryly noted during the May 23 commencement that even though “God is reflected in the very fabric” of the nation, it would be inappropriate to mention The Almighty at a secular ceremony.
“So while it would not be politically correct for us to have an official prayer this evening, I would like for us to have a moment of silence in honor of tonight’s graduates,” Lowery told students. “Thank you. And just in case you’re interested, during my moment of silence, I gave thanks to God for these great students, their parents, their teachers and for this community.”
Thunderous applause followed Lowery’s statement and the video was closing in on 100,000 views.
“If you were “offended” by this..I’d have to ask you HOW you could be offended by someone praying for nothing but wonderful things for this student!” wrote one commenter. “He wasn’t asking anyone to join a church, a religion or to leave one…he simply asked that they would be protected and blessed.”
But dozens of others commenting on the video blasted Lowery, as did Dave Muscato, a spokesman for American Atheists.
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SOURCE: Joshua Rhett Miller
FoxNews.com
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