tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19733180.post8988035286323569127..comments2024-03-24T07:56:33.811-05:00Comments on Allan R. Bevere: Valedictorian Speeches: It's Not About Courage, It's About IntegrityAllan R. Beverehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07903011101108437513noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19733180.post-55311441762215326962013-06-20T22:56:12.868-05:002013-06-20T22:56:12.868-05:00Hum... "Rebellion to Tyrants is Obedience to ...Hum... "Rebellion to Tyrants is Obedience to God." Very appropriate. Very much appropriate.bthomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17247264360824134470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19733180.post-28817943073004131102013-06-10T16:13:21.907-05:002013-06-10T16:13:21.907-05:00On reflection, I agree with the view the kid shoul... On reflection, I agree with the view the kid should have boycotted the podium. Having said that, I still admire that kid.<br /><br /> Can't help it. <br /> <br /><br /> Patricknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19733180.post-12525391141758523362013-06-10T15:20:42.933-05:002013-06-10T15:20:42.933-05:00"To my fellow followers of Jesus, I say get o..."To my fellow followers of Jesus, I say get over your desire to be in charge and in control."<br /><br />I think this bears repeating. This desire, and the oftentimes manipulative ways it's pursued, affect things far beyond this issue. I dare say many a 'church fight' could be traced down to this on one or both sides. And I'm afraid that some Christians have the idea that when dealing with non-Christians, our duty is to be 'in charge and in control', which feeds the desire and harms our witness.Olorynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17042191530693591797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19733180.post-72302318517927648082013-06-10T14:10:52.433-05:002013-06-10T14:10:52.433-05:00Ed,
I agree with your comments about openness and...Ed,<br /><br />I agree with your comments about openness and allowing all voices to speak. The issue here though is different. Ben is right. This is about deception, which makes it a matter of integrity.Allan R. Beverehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07903011101108437513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19733180.post-32373301629298648322013-06-10T14:09:48.477-05:002013-06-10T14:09:48.477-05:00Taylor Burton-Edwards gave me permission to quote ...Taylor Burton-Edwards gave me permission to quote his response to my post he wrote in another forum. It's worth our attention.<br /><br /><i>All public forums have ground rules for the kind of speech expected and acceptable in them. <br /><br />Call it a basic social compact. Or Civics 101. <br /><br />When I agree to address a public forum, I do so understanding what its ground rules are and understanding it is my duty to the leaders of that forum and the people gathered for it to observe them. If I believe I cannot do so in good conscience, I politely decline the invitation. <br /><br />We have ground rules in the kinds of speech we engage in Christian worship, do we not? There are plenty of things we would consider out of bounds for a service of worship. We would not praise Satan, or give extended lectures on microbiology, or offer what might be understood as sexually suggestive images, would we? Any of those things might be "in bounds" in other kinds of public assemblies (such as Satan worship, or a university lecture, or an art museum). <br /><br />The school principal and school board in this case were clear about what was in bounds and what was not for a graduation speech, another kind of public assembly. They were in their rights to do so, both by law and in principle, as they are ultimately responsible for the conduct and outcome of this assembly. <br /><br />It's not a question of persecution. It's not a question of censorship. It's also not a question of "control" over the lives of others, except in the limited circumstances of the specific assembly or forum in question. <br /><br />It's a question of public decorum, and whether we will keep it.<br /><br />Thanks, Allan, for calling this one as you have.</i>Allan R. Beverehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07903011101108437513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19733180.post-55811658838730506802013-06-10T12:15:41.754-05:002013-06-10T12:15:41.754-05:00I think I have to agree with Allan. If you're...I think I have to agree with Allan. If you're engaging in deception or in hiding the full truth in order to have an opportunity to express yourself, this is an integrity issue.Olorynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17042191530693591797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19733180.post-71706760969111365632013-06-10T10:33:49.097-05:002013-06-10T10:33:49.097-05:00I simply disagree with the idea that it is integri...I simply disagree with the idea that it is integrity. It really may be courage, but it depends upon which side you agree with. I practiced infant baptism and still would, but there are plenty of theological arguments for the other side. I am afraid that when we refuse to let that other side express itself, then we lose that side of the complexity of theological voices.Ednoreply@blogger.com