Wisconsin Pastor Alvin Dupree has encountered controversy after the Christian minister referenced his faith in a speech to graduates of Appleton North High School.
Dupree, who was elected to the Appleton school board in 2017, gave an address at the school's class of 2019 commencement ceremony this month.
"For me, my source of strength is my faith and my relationship with Jesus Christ," Dupree said, according to the Appleton Post-Crescent. "It sounds like I got some believers in this room, if you're here, you believe in that, go ahead and clap your hands."
He later added, "Never succumb to the pressure of being politically correct," and ended his speech by modifying the language supplied by the school.
"Now, it was typed out to say 'Best wishes,'" he said. "But I'm changing their script to what I would say: 'God bless.'"
The Freedom From Religion Foundation told Fox 11 News that it received numerous complaints from students and parents about the speech.
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14 comments:
And thus on display the arrogance and ignorance of Christian privilege.
Way to go robbing those graduating by telling those that were different, that this was not their day.
This was not in a Church, this was not a revival. This was a graduation.
Appropriate time and place folks, and a little tact go a long way.
This preacher made this NOT about those who worked hard and were graduating, but made it about him and his religious agenda... I am sure that everyone can agree with that. Not appropriate. How horrid to rob graduates of their day, and the memory of that day to forward your own agenda. Shameful.
Should this man never be asked back? Certainly not... but, the school system asked a Preacher to speak... what did they think he was gonna do? Did they think he wouldn't do something like this? Did they think he'd have some new and inspiring ideas to share? Did they think he would have a message that was neutral and all inclusive? OF COURSE NOT, guaranteed he would do something like this. If I was in Vegas I'd bet all my money on he was gonna do this! He strolled on up there like the Manchurian Candidate and let off some bombs.
Better decisions should have been.
Too bad. You atheists will just have to live with it.
Too bad. Get over it, or don't.
2:06 are you off your meds?
@ June 26, 2019 at 2:25 PM & June 26, 2019 at 2:26 PM
There you have it folks. The "decent", "compassionate", "GOOD" Christians.
You having a religious perspective or even a population majority doesn't give you a pass to act inappropriately.
I rest my case.
STFU u ATHIEST POS.
Athiets equal empty hell rats.
Be careful riding your bike on those roads a lot of hills and turns. I will never go back. Just saying.
Good. I hope that the stupid outraged people wet their pants and had tantrums.
1 Corinthians 2:14 ESV / 5
The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.
so we have no state sponsered church.
they invite a man of GOD and they did not expect to hear..all hail satan...no his heart belongs to jesus and his salvation
but free speech to atheist is ok as long as your beliefs are stiffled...go pack sand
5:59 Well said!
Graduations should be free of any indoctrination.
@ June 26, 2019 at 5:59 PM
That's the point made here in the first place. They asked a preacher to speak there for a graduation, because he's on the school board. What did they think would happen?
They didn't ask him for a sermon, or a religious dissertation. They asked him to speak with ALL of the graduating class, just like everyone else does.
Time and place, and what's appropriate. You don't stand up in the middle of a movie at the theater and start a sermon or ask everyone to bow in prayer. That is not free speech, that is interrupting what a group of people are involved in to forward your own agenda.
If you were at work, and giving sales projections to your peers and employers, giving a religious speech wouldn't be exercising free speech... it would be out of place an inappropriate. Again this would be a selfishly motivated forwarding of your own agenda.
That's the point. Time and place. It's not o.k. to smuggle your own agenda into somewhere it wasn't asked for or does not belong.
Imagine, for a moment, if and atheist got on stage and used that time to do something similar to what the preacher did. Not only would you be insulted, but you would agree that it was inappropriate. In either scenario I don't think the speaker is acting maliciously, but still inappropriately and rightfully so it should be pointed out and corrected. This isn't a free speech issue, it's an acting appropriately and with tact issue.
Time and place folks. This isn't some sort of persecution, this is a GLARING example of how a religious majority exerts it's privilege, and in doing so marginalizes and demonizes those not of it's ilk. ABSOLUTELY inappropriate for a graduation.
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