When I first
read it, I thought ‘they’ve got to be joking’! Because the word ‘hell’ was
used in a graduation speech last May, an Oklahoma high school valedictorian has
had her diploma held for ransom.
Kaitlin Nootbaar (above at her graduation), who maintained a 4.0 GPA at Prague High School
was told by school officials that because she used the word ‘hell’ in her
speech, she would not receive the diploma until she wrote an apology. Who this
was supposed to assuage, they didn’t say. Nor does it appear anyone was
offended by her remark. So whose feathers got ruffled and how will this make amends?
In her
remarks to the assembly, which had been inspired by a comparable speech from
"Eclipse: The Twilight Saga", Ms. Nootbaar described how annoying it
was to be constantly asked what she wants to do after graduation. She then responded
"How the hell do I know? I've changed my mind so many times."
In the version she submitted
to the school for approval, "hell" was "heck." But at graduation,
"hell" was the word that came out. And now, the school valedictorian
is being chastised by school officials for simply stating how she felt.
What the
hell?
Why was it
so offensive, especially in the context with which she used it? Did she offend
God by simply stating she didn’t know what ‘the hell’ she would do after
graduation? Is saying hell considered blasphemous? Did a large segment of the audience gasp and walk out, or try to shout her down? Do you, the reader, feel offended, distressed and, maybe a little less faithful
because she used a common word to indicate being a teen who is perplexed due to no clear picture
of her future? How can people in the 21st century be so narrow-minded,
easily offended, and ignorant?
Naturally the school
declined to comment on the matter, Prague schools Superintendent Rick Martin
stating it was “confidential and we cannot publicly say anything about
it," in a release to TV station KFOR.
For Rick Martin,
I have this to ask, ‘Who the hell do you think you are?’
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