After proselytizing at graduation, did a Kentucky student deserve his diploma? (Livestream) 

Religion is the original MLM corporation. Tax the church.

Just imagine the backlash if this guy got up and started talking about any other religion besides the one that's the most popular in this country? The Christians would be up in arms about it!

Remember when that girl gave the pledge of allegiance at her graduation and she said one nation under Allah and everyone lost their shit.

Yes, he should get his diploma, but as others have said, it's pretty disturbing this guy is his high schools valedictorian, and has the apparent critical thinking skills of a lemming.

I was that arrogant kid at my graduation. My views have changed 180 degrees.

He’s a selfish, entitled child. If we’re lucky, he’ll grow up and realize that his personal beliefs aren’t universal truths. I’m not holding my breath. 😂

Jesus admonished: do your religious fluff at home. It is NOT a spectator sport

What truth? I'm waiting. Have been 50 years now! I hear my mother brag of how prayer works, but she still sees medical Drs, and then praises God after they healed her, etc. still waiting

He should have been made an example of. This religious stuff is poisonous and should be treated as such.

At any point they could have cut his mic off. They didn't, they approve.

So Mr. Christian broke the 9th commandment while proselytizing. That tracks.

I'm Buddhist and just imagining the reactions if I went up there and suggested anyone who is struggling just try following the 8-fold path, and that actually IS a secular life philosophy 😖

I'd have stood up and booed. I'm tired of these people given so much leeway to inflict their nonsense on others.

He was Not repentant at All-- and is still oblivious to the harm his actions cause. I get conflicted about these situations, because allowing one slippery manuever invites More...

he is entitled to his opinion. give him his diploma. KEEP HIM AWAY FROM ANY OFFICE of public service.

The student *DELIBERATELY* went *OFF-SCRIPT,* deviating from what he had originally written, to proselytise to his fellow students. Those students "cheered" him. That in itself was the wrong reaction! They should've *DEMANDED* that he stick to what he had written. The school board had approved his original speech and said there should be "repercussions' for going off-script. Those repercussions should be *SEVERE!*

"So, before I give my speech I just wanted to tell everyone that I'm better than them because I believe in magic. OKAY!! let's get started" Crowd: I AM better than everyone Parents before the speech: Make sure you tell everyone how much better we are than them

"It's ok for me to break the rules, cuz JEEZUS." A lot of really bad shit has gone down based on this very idea.

Never in my life did i think that it would cause so much anger and hatred to say you don't believe in god.

And they all call it persecution.

He is part of the problem. Should the admins let him get away with it, then they are as well.

How many kids have gone off script with Progressive messages and faced backlash? Those kids should sue if this one gets away with it.

He made the speech all about himself. Excellent point!

My high school was so sure the valedictorian and salutatorian, me, would tell the truth about things that had happened at school that they changed the rules and picked the speakers from the top 5 graduates and conveniently picked the two who were teacher's kids and liked how things had been run at the school. The principal then had to explain why most of the graduates turned their backs to the speeches (I never got my diploma but it is just a piece of paper what matters is the official transcripts they send to colleges and that sort of thing and they could not, legally, deny that I graduated.).

He should have been forced to keep a public apology to every other religion on every social media platform for a year before receiving his diploma. Teach him that actions have consequences

I graduated highschool in Kentucky in 1995. Our class president gave a speech. The whole thing was about Jesus. No one batted an eye. I guess not much has changed.

I don't get why they want to shove their beliefs down our throats!

Betcha the kid goes to an admin's church. They knew him and knew what he would do.

Imagine this kid drives home after graduation at twice the speed limit. The coppers pull him over and he says, "It's OK. I answer to a higher power."

A non-Christian wouldn't have even been allowed to give a personal thanks to their deity like he was allowed. Or if they were they'd have been boo'd off the stage in seconds. The part that's dangerous is these kinds of people GENUINELY believe they ARE the oppressed minority and that they are so SO the one true faith that they HAVE to force everyone to convert "for their own good" and sadly from what I've seen these types don't tend to change unless it blows up in their face somehow, and even then most will double down and use it to 'confirm' their horrid beliefs... he genuinely thinks that even though he knowingly broke the rules that he knows would not be upheld equally in the first place, that he was morally right in doing so and making his non-Christian classmates feel unwelcome...

I definitely remember constantly being told that Christians are persecuted. And that it was a courageous thing to stand up for God, and even sacrificing your self for him was a NOBLE thing!! Now, when I see that, I'm like, seriously? Anybody can worship in their own way. Democrats are NOT trying to take Christians rights away, their literally say EVERYONE should be able their own path. It's always the right wing Republicans who not only want their way, but expect everyone else to live by their rules. They think their freedom also includes not having to hear or even tolerate someone else's freedom of speech, expression, or other belief system. I don't understand how they can justify their ANTI-American threats. My brother is so far down that rabbit hole, and he seems to enjoy finding ways to compare me to an evil snake because of my "woke" minded attitude. Hu, I guess love, compassion, and tolerance towards other people is supposed to be a bad thing???

This kid just peaked. He's not going to go anywhere in life.

If he earned the credits to graduate. He should get his diploma… but the crowd can ignore his speech… people would do that at the Oscar’s…

I'd be booing in the audience

Break the rules and claim victimhood. Rinse and repeat.

"Doesn't mean he has any wisdom" - What a mic drop! So true.

“He’s not Rosa Parks.” 😂😂😂

I taught high school for 25 years.Stunts like this are not unheard of. Short of unplugging the microphone and yanking the speaker with a very long crook, what is the school to do? Th admin and the board of education have egg on face. They can’t make too big a fuss, as they still have responsibilities to wards the kid. I hope they can turn this into a lesson about citizenship and good conduct. Once that has been achieved, and the kid is contrite, I’d hope for a public apology. The proselytizing religions, christianity and islam, encourage their fan base to bully others. Meanwhile they complain of persecution! I really wish there was a verse in their storybook where the main character, jesus, said, in just these words, “In public, could you just mind your own business and shut the f*** up”

This kid will be trouble. He's one to keep an eye on, because he seems the kind to run for office someday. (And I do still think he deserves his degree, since he's more than met the requirements.)

If a satanist at the graduation, said go find the "fake satan, that we pretend to worship" would've set off alarm bells across the nation

As a former believer, as I look back on some of the things I used to say I am really embarrassed. I predict he will be embarrassed by his words as well.

I really don't think anyone is going to remember graduation speeches because I don't I was worried about my own life.

Mixed feelings. He still passed his courses and got his credits, but prostlotyzing to a captive audience is unacceptable.

He shouldn't have said what he said, but he did the work in order to graduate.

I would be throwing hands if that had happen at my graduation.

They should have interrupted his speech and made him apologize or he should have been made to apologize at the end of his speech. If there were after graduation activities, he should have been told he was not allowed to do those last activities. It would have been actually illegal to not give him his diploma, but I'm not sure that just a little conversation with the principal was not enough.

"Bland in the best possible way." 😂 So true.

Delay his diploma for a year. He still thinks he was justified and morally correct, while acknowledging that he broke the rules.

He shouldn't have his diploma revoked, that's a very severe punishment for something that while distasteful isn't really that crazy. I say this as an atheist, and someone who has an active disdain for Christianity and realistically most organized religions. I've had multiple people pull stunts like this at my graduations, usually for political reasons. They're young, let them make their brash and dumb decisions while they still have the time to make them.

I wonder what the outcome would have been if instead of praising Jesus he had said " free Palestine or be queer do crime"?

As long as he gets nowhere near public office, any position of authority or children, fine. Hopefully there were graduates there capable of critical thinking.

In the usual way, another example of religious proselytizing in a setting where it has no context

Billions of people on the planet, and this kid thinks he knows it all!

I would have shouted “Prove It!, I’m graduating too so that excuse is off the table.”

But if you say the phrase "Who the hell knows?" in a graduation speech, you don't get your diploma. (2012)

He should have to pay a small fine he showed a speech that was approved then chose to be stuipd the dean shouldve gotten up right after his speech and called him out and explain that he decided to go rogue in his speech that was not approved. .. of course he used jesus as a excuse to do wrong.. kinda like people were burned &drowned in name of christianity and lets not forget indigenous children stolen from their homes and parents.and chikdren sexually abused in name of religious leaders and look at all the hate christianity has done in the ladt five years....sighhhh

He is not part of the school administration or staff. He is an American and entitled to his opinions.

These 'christians" are narcisstic about thier faith.

Yes, he should get his diploma. However, he definitely needs some critical thinking skills. Hopefully, the school will choose better for future speakers.

His meeting with the principle to provide an explanation, received his diploma and get a talking to was the education he missed in all 4 years at high school. He still doesn’t get it.

This kid is now in an internal hell of his own making. He demonstrated that if his objective is more important than anything else…it is okay to bait and switch. His moral compass is unfortunately problematic which will only make it more and more difficult for him as he matures. He has given himself permission to lie, cheat, and steal…”if you say racah to your neighbor, you are in danger of hell fire”…just saying…it is this internal motivation to deceive that is the problem here.

Obviously he didn't learn anything. So either the school is that bad or he didn't do the work.

"First of all I would like to thank my Lord and Savior, Satan, King of the flies and Prince of Lies. If something is lacking in your life, make a deal with the devil at the crossroads and you'll find success."

Seriously, what would possess someone to give a a speach about religion ar your graduation ? It says a lot about his parents and the school itself up till this point. They're seriously need to be a separation between church and state and that this country is too deeply fixated with Christianity and inserting it into every aspect of life.

At my high school he might have had his ass kicked for this bullshit. Definitely would have walked out on him and already been looking for the admin. It would be stopped one way or another immediately

"Look at me, how special I am!!" (Thumps chest)

He did represent Christianity accurately. When he struggles to find a job, he can just pray about it. Maybe all the non-Christian students he shamed that day can advise him soon.

If he met the academic requirements, the question is moot. He gets the diploma.

As KY voter, thank you for recognizing that the problem is largely rural. The democrats always take Lexington and Louisville. Also, fun fact, we've actually had a lot of democratic governors in the history of the state, but for some reason everything else gets taken by the republicans. I will say, if you support coal (or say you do), you will absolutely take everything east of Lexington. That said, we're trying. The democratic party has consistently run the most lukewarm candidates for senate and the house. Maybe we can at least get rid of Andy Barr this November? Although he's not even the worst we've sent to Washington by a long shot

To answer the question posed by the title, did he meet the requirements for graduation? Then yes. Period. And unless you can point to some provision about "not embarrassing administrators," no penalty, not even "a talking to," is justified. They should have just issued a statement saying the text was unapproved and otherwise taken the L. Noting first that all your references to "arrogance" and rudeness and the like are not drawn from anything he said but from your projections onto him, I would point to the fact that at the graduation ceremony of the Idaho Fine Arts Academy on May 23, graduating student Annabelle Jenkins protested the removal of books from the school library by refusing to shake the principal's hand, instead offering him a copy of one of them and dropping it at his feet when he refused to take it. I haven't seen any reports of penalties, but the school district slammed the protest, saying it “overshadowed the celebratory occasion,” essentially echoing the complaints you made about the subject of this video. Was she rude, arrogant? Should she be punished, at least "given a talking to?" If not, why not? And no, the defense that it wasn't in front of the whole school is unavailing: She showed the book to the audience before offering it to the principal and had a TikTok of it, which she obviously had to have prearranged. Meanwhile, students have been suspended or denied diplomas for taking part in nonviolent protests again the genocide in Gaza. Was that okay? I mean, they did more than maybe embarrass administrators, they "disrupted" the campus or "the educational process," which translates to "they irritated the administration." Or is protest or civil disobedience only acceptable when it is invisible or can be easily ignored? *Edited with footnote:* I'm far less disturbed with what he said than the cheering response of the audience.

Does anyone get the actual diploma at graduation? I thought it was just a place holder and everyone got the actual diploma after.

It'll be interesting to see what his beliefs are in 4 years away from mommy and daddy

I live in Kenton County and OMG its a different breed of Kentuckians here in this area. I keep a distance for sure

Every one should get their diploma it was earned ,it was paid for

No one should denied their diploma for work they did. If he passed then that is his diploma. Now if there was things like recommendations or other extra things those things could be denied.

A pretty lukewarm Clack working hard in that otherwise dismissive audience.

I mean you can't take his diploma, but someone could have just shut off the mic and told him to move along.

They'll go with a guitar where there's a captive audience - planes, trains, etc.

So did the officials cut him off like they would have, had he talked about gay stuff?

Do I agree with what he said? No but he deserves his diploma. I think people that say otherwise underestimate how important a high school diploma is in the US. You cannot get into college, trade school, etc. You will have a lot of problems getting a job. Did he say something he should not have in the wrong place at the wrong time? Yes it was not the place and the school should talk future speakers to discourage this in this happening again. I do not, however, wish a lifetime of poverty and life challenges on this kid just because he said something stupid in high school. Kids say stupid things and learn so let the kid learn but do not punish him the rest of his life.

It wouldn't surprise me that he is just one of those kids that don't have to study to get good grades. It could explain the dismissiveness of others struggles.

Yooooo, my alma mater! Lol, definitely not surprised. Lotta the kids drink the Kool-Aid. It's a weird, suburbs on the edge of "country" type area. Lotta ppl wearing fox shirts and gym shorts with boots who think they're "southern" despite living in suburbia lol

He should get a generic GED certificate.

What about those who believe in their right to freedom from religion?

We shall abandon this cult

Just a reality check, has anyone ever had to actually show their diploma at a job interview? Even people who don't have one will just say they have one and it's okay. Nobody actually checks.

I attended a chorus concert in the winter for the local public elementary school. It was, for some reason, held at a church. The show was introduced by the pastor of the church, during which he encouraged everyone to attend the church, announced the church's event schedule, and told us "Jesus is the reason for the season" and various other Christian platitudes. This was in NC. I am wondering if this violates any laws, or if the rules are different due to it being held at a church instead of on school grounds. Does anyone know the answer to this? It was the offical concert, and there were no others that parents could attend except this one.

Sue the student

Matthew 6:5. If he wants to pray, let him do it at home or church. If an Atheist or Pagan did something similar, they would definitely have been punished. And I'm a Christian saying this.

They earned and paid for their diploma I don’t understand this option on the part of school admins

Now Tornado has hit South Africa. gAd has no right to bother Humans like this.

I'm going to insist on referring to their deity as the deity of pastries.

The kid did meet the requirements to receive his diploma. Other than that he’s taking advantage of a captive audience and therefore an arrogant jerk.

Omg, this reminds me of the movie Saved. Such a “funny because it’s true”, movie.

A quote from a Jimmy Stewart movie(Fool's Parade) that I wrote down just to share with the channel! 'God uses the good ones, and the bad ones use God!' God being whatever nebulous concept or nothing at all! Love the channel!

I wonder how drop-outs feel with guys like Micah around. High school is hard and I've had peers that never got to graduate in 2010. Both of my parents were also high school drop-outs, so him just running his mouth like that. That's just really irritating!

To answer your question yes, but that was tacky tacky tacky. We were taught your religion and your politics were yours keep it home or private. That was when we trusted people. I miss 8years ago.

Yes, Hemant, the student earned his high school diploma, and he should be given his high school diploma. Just because he turns out to be an high school graduate who is also just a a first class jerk, doesn’t change the fact that he still earned his diploma fair and square. Flip it around - if a student’s parents enroll him in a Catholic high school, and a student earns his/her high school diploma but the school requires all students to be baptized and confirmed as Catholics, should he/she be denied a diploma after legitimately earning it? No. It would be just like an employee on the job trying to proselytize his co-worker - can he be legally denied his pay? No. Can he be fired for such evangelism? I don’t know. I think a better response by the school would have been to have the student publish a publick apology in the local paper.

I am wrong? I thought that no one receives the actual diploma during the ceremony.

Cmon parents...sad