Roane County High School , Kingston , Tennessee Principal, Jody McLeod Has it Right
This is a statement that was read over the PA system at the football game at Roane County High School , Kingston , Tennessee , by school Principal, Jody McLeod
"It has always been the custom at Roane County High School football games, to say a prayer and play the National Anthem, to honor God and Country."
Due to a recent ruling by the Supreme Court, I am told that saying a Prayer is a violation of Federal Case Law. As I understand the law at this time, I can use this public facility to approve of sexual perversion and call it "an alternate lifestyle," and if someone is offended, that's OK.
I can use it to condone sexual promiscuity, by dispensing condoms and calling it, "safe sex." If someone is offended, that's OK.
I can even use this public facility to present the merits of killing an unborn baby as a "viable! means of birth control." If someone is offended, no problem...
I can designate a school day as "Earth Day" and involve students in activities to worship religiously and praise the goddess "Mother Earth" and call it "ecology."
I can use literature, videos and presentations in the classroom that depicts people with strong, traditional Christian convictions as "simple minded" and "ignorant" and call it "enlightenment."
However, if anyone uses this facility to honor GOD and to ask HIM to Bless this event with safety and good sportsmanship, then Federal Case Law is violated.
This appears to be inconsistent at best, and at worst,diabolical .
Apparently, we are to be tolerant of everything and anyone, except GOD and HIS Commandments.
Nevertheless, as a school principal, I frequently ask staff and students to abide by rules with which they do not necessarily agree. For me to do otherwise would be inconsistent at best, and at worst, hypocritical... I suffer from that affliction enough unintentionally. I certainly do not need to add an intentional transgression.
For this reason, I shall "Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's," and refrain from praying at this time.
" However, if you, as an individual, feel inspired to honor, praise and thank GOD and ask HIM,in the name of JESUS, to Bless this event, please feel free to do so. As far as I know, that's not against the law----yet."
One by one, the people in the stands bowed their heads, held hands with one another and began to pray.
They prayed in the stands. They prayed in the team huddles. They prayed at the concession stand and they prayed in the Announcer's Box!
The only place they didn't pray was in the Supreme Court of the United States of America- the Seat of "Justice" in the "one nation, under GOD."
Somehow, Kingston , Tennessee Remembered what so many have forgotten. We are given the Freedom OF Religion, not the Freedom FROM Religion. Praise GOD that HIS remnant remains!
JESUS said, "If you are ashamed of ME before men, then I will be ashamed of you before MY FATHER."
"It has always been the custom at Roane County High School football games, to say a prayer and play the National Anthem, to honor God and Country."
Due to a recent ruling by the Supreme Court, I am told that saying a Prayer is a violation of Federal Case Law. As I understand the law at this time, I can use this public facility to approve of sexual perversion and call it "an alternate lifestyle," and if someone is offended, that's OK.
I can use it to condone sexual promiscuity, by dispensing condoms and calling it, "safe sex." If someone is offended, that's OK.
I can even use this public facility to present the merits of killing an unborn baby as a "viable! means of birth control." If someone is offended, no problem...
I can designate a school day as "Earth Day" and involve students in activities to worship religiously and praise the goddess "Mother Earth" and call it "ecology."
I can use literature, videos and presentations in the classroom that depicts people with strong, traditional Christian convictions as "simple minded" and "ignorant" and call it "enlightenment."
However, if anyone uses this facility to honor GOD and to ask HIM to Bless this event with safety and good sportsmanship, then Federal Case Law is violated.
This appears to be inconsistent at best, and at worst,diabolical .
Apparently, we are to be tolerant of everything and anyone, except GOD and HIS Commandments.
Nevertheless, as a school principal, I frequently ask staff and students to abide by rules with which they do not necessarily agree. For me to do otherwise would be inconsistent at best, and at worst, hypocritical... I suffer from that affliction enough unintentionally. I certainly do not need to add an intentional transgression.
For this reason, I shall "Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's," and refrain from praying at this time.
" However, if you, as an individual, feel inspired to honor, praise and thank GOD and ask HIM,in the name of JESUS, to Bless this event, please feel free to do so. As far as I know, that's not against the law----yet."
One by one, the people in the stands bowed their heads, held hands with one another and began to pray.
They prayed in the stands. They prayed in the team huddles. They prayed at the concession stand and they prayed in the Announcer's Box!
The only place they didn't pray was in the Supreme Court of the United States of America- the Seat of "Justice" in the "one nation, under GOD."
Somehow, Kingston , Tennessee Remembered what so many have forgotten. We are given the Freedom OF Religion, not the Freedom FROM Religion. Praise GOD that HIS remnant remains!
JESUS said, "If you are ashamed of ME before men, then I will be ashamed of you before MY FATHER."
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Comment by Burns— 2007/12/11 @ 10:48 AM — (Reply)
We need more Jody McLeods- - - and take back this wonderful free country.
Comment by B & G Nesteroke— 2007/12/11 @ 09:49 PM — (Reply)
Lets elect Jody for President 2008!!!
Comment by ole'crab— 2008/07/17 @ 07:37 PM — (Reply)
God Bless you and your school!!!! More people should follow your lead.
Comment by colleen fulton— 2008/10/17 @ 11:00 AM — (Reply)
I truly applaud this woman for finding a way to keep God where He needs to be!!! God Bless her always!!!
Comment by Pat— 2008/12/02 @ 01:11 PM — (Reply)
I do NOT endorse this lady. I cannot agree with the backdoor attempts to promote a particular religion
to a captive audience (children, no less), especially from a bully pulpit of authority at a public school funded with public money.
A very conservative southern judge, when presented with examinable and cross-examinable evidence regarding whether "intelligent design"
should be taught as an alternative to evolution, had to conclude in the negative, or else shame both his soul and his judgeship!
The proponents of ID sounded very much like this principal with their vocal half-truths and twisted concepts of reality;
that is, until this honest judge of their own ilk became utterly disgusted with their disengenuous and ridiculously flawed
arguments, and had no choice but to throw out the dishonest case they presented! Those who vocalized long and loud ,in a very
similar way to this principal, dared not show up in court to defend there sadly flawed arguments, not when fair play was required!! I maintain that any God
worth claiming (or worshipping), must first and foremost respect honesty and consistency as the cardinal virtue, for if He/She/It did not,
what sense could anyone attribute to qualities used in defining "Him".? I am ashamed that people refuse to see the real issues behind this gal's venomous,
or at best, uninformed, spoutings. SHe is not a master at a religious school, but a public one. SHe shames our system
and is insulting the intelligence of the Un-ashamed she has touched so tenderly! Folks, love and favor your religions all
you want and practice your excellent moral values always and anywhere, but if you will kindly refrain from trying to legitimize it in a public school
after the courts have ruled it inconsistent with the laws and intent of our nation (which, quite ironically, and in your favor, are clearly founded on
Christian principles!), I, and our courts, will appreciate it! I do believe our founders were wise to see, that in governing a free people, it is wiser to do so
under laws not based on particular ideologies, but on principles of logic, honesty, and truth. Do not EVER believe, friends, that allegience to the former
will gaurantee yourself a finer society, no matter how self-assured you may be on a majority bandwagon! What evolved in Nazi
Germany from devotion to a particular idealogy became required allegiance to it! Then, that same ideology,, which at first appeared as
a wonderful advance to society, became a demon in its own right. On the other hand, if an honest German (or Christian German) followed the honest judgment
of his or her heart (as I do with this issue), and failed to ride on the majority bandwagon, what happened? But in accordance
with the emailer, such people should have been ashamed and publically humiliated with out-of-context and emotion based statements like the righteous
principal sayeth!
It might surprise the reader to know that I adore the teachings of Jesus Christ, insofar as I know and understand those teachings. I
find they are logical and wonderfully insightful of human nature, and yes, great basis for laws and behavior in general. As for
the popular notion of "God"....I very much dislike the notion as I understand it; but if the entity "himself" is real, and truly and truly has the qualities
that are ascribed to "Him", then my dislike for "Him" could better be called a passionate hatred!
so fellow Americans, are you ashamed to pass this email along
with a contrary point of view, or does freedom of speech belong
only to certain of us who ride popular wagons?
John Dimmick
Sent: Friday, February 06, 2009 1:59 PM
To: John Buechler ; Brandt, Terry ; Mark Ford ; prs519@hotmail.com ; Terry Skrabanek ; Doug and Lisa Goucher
Subject: Tennessee Football---NOT a joke
I also verified this email on Snopes, which deemed it "True".
I FIND IT INTERESTING THAT A HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL CAN SEE THE PROBLEM, BUT NOT OUR SOCIETY. IF I OFFENDED ANYONE BY THIS, I REALLY DON'T APOLOGIZE. (Verified on snopes.com--j)
This is a statement that was read over the PA system at the football game at Roane County High School , Kingston , Tennessee , by school Principal, Jody McLeod
"It has always been the custom at Roane County High School football games, to say a prayer and play the National Anthem, to honor=2 0God and Country."
Due to a recent ruling by the Supreme Court, I am told that saying a Prayer is a violation of Federal Case Law. As I understand the law at this time, I can use this public facility to approve of sexual perversion and call it "an alternate lifestyle," and if someone is offended, that's OK.
I can use it to condone sexual promiscuity, by dispensing condoms and calling it, "safe sex." If someone is offended, that's OK.
I can even use this public facility to present the merits of killing an unborn baby as a "viable" means of birth control." If someone is offended, no problem...
I can designate a school day as "Earth Day" and involve students in activities to worship religiously and praise the goddess "Mother Earth" and call it "ecology.."
I can use literature, videos and presentations in the classroom that depicts people with strong, traditional Christian convictions as "simple minded" and "ignorant" and call it "enlightenment."
However, if anyone uses this facility to honor GOD and to ask HIM to Bless this event with safety and good sportsmanship, then Federal Case Law is violated.
This appears to be inconsistent at best, and at worst, diabolical . Apparently, we are to be tolerant of everything and anyone, except GOD and HIS C ommandments.
Nevertheless, as a school principal, I frequently ask staff and students to abide by rules with which they do not necessarily agree. For me to do otherwise would be inconsistent at best, and at worst, hypocritical... I suffer from that affliction enough unintentionally. I certainly do not need to add an intentional
transgression.
For this reason, I shall "Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's," and refrain from praying at this time.
" However, if you feel inspired to honor, praise and thank GOD and ask HIM,in the name of JESUS, to Bless this event, please feel free to do so As far as I know, that's not against the law----yet."
One by one, the people in the stands bowed their heads, held hands with one another and began to pray.
They prayed in the stands. They prayed in the team huddles. They prayed at the concession stand and they prayed in the Announcer's Box!
The only place they didn't pray was in the Supreme Court of the United States of America- the Seat of "Justice" in the "one nation, under GOD."
Somehow, Kingston , Tennessee Remembered what so many have forgotten. We are given the Freedom OF Religion, not the Freedom FROM Religion. Praise GOD that HIS remnant remains!
JESUS said, "If you are ashamed of ME before men, then I will be ashamed of you before MY FATHER."
If you are not ashamed, pass this on .
I'm not one bit ashamed to pass this on, Are you?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Comment by per— 2009/02/07 @ 06:30 AM — (Reply)
1st of all... Jody is a man.
I attend Roane County High School. Sadly, Jody isn't the principal anymore. He is an amazing man. I was there for the speech, even though I was too young to really remember it. I'm really glad to see that it has been kept alive. Praise the Lord!
Comment by Jran— 2009/04/27 @ 04:11 PM — (Reply)
Comment by jim— 2009/04/27 @ 04:53 PM — (Reply)
I sat and stewed over this email for the past three days wondering how and if I should reply. Those of you on this email list that know me, understand me to be a liberal and a radical in terms of changes needed in this country. I will warn you not to read further in this email if you find the verbiage of the principal to be accurate.
I am offended, not because it promotes Christianity, I have no beef with the Christian ideals, but because it fails to recognize the need for tolerance of others' beliefs and cultures. This is the "land of the free"..."Give us your tired, your poor, your broken-hearted"...and if I may elaborate in my own words, "We will give them freedom, liberty and the opportunity for happiness". For years, this country was fueled by ignorance, promoting and supporting slavery, racism and intolerance, both of races, cultures AND RELIGIONS. A man might be persecuted for believing in an alternate God or was ridiculed because of his sexuality. Langston Hughes, one of America's best and brightest poets of the 20th century, was black, gay and Christian, yet he had to fight to go to school and could not get a grade in English better than a "B", all because he was "colored". So he pushed back against the grain to change intolerable laws and regulations. He asked people through poetry to tolerate different ideals. This mentality has been hard earned by many through the years. Hmmmm....
I love the sentence about "Sexual Perversion being an alternate lifestyle". Wow, talk about judgemental. In other words, being homosexual is a "sexual perversion". Interesting? My sister had several friends at her wedding, who follow this alternate lifestyle, and come to think of it, they were some of the nicest people I have ever met. They took the time to ask me about my wife and child and to support my sister's marriage to a man without hesitation, judgement or degradation. They believed whole-heartedly in the sanctity of marriage, yet unless they can go to California, Oregon or Mass, they're unable to follow the same path. To me, homosexuality is the new racism in our country. Do people honestly believe that someone would "choose to be gay", knowing full well what trials and tribulations will ensue? I have taught 7th and 8th graders, who have come out of the closet to me...you don't make that decision if it isn't in your gene makeup in the seventh grade. Most people who pass judgement on homosexuality have never befriended a homosexual or spoken to them at length about the subject, because it is so taboo. Make it a point to communicate with someone who "follows the lifestyle", and before you judge them, listen to them. Perhaps, you may feel enlightened.
Being an educator, I get to see kids in school on a regular basis, so I see kids in their academic confines. Allow me to reiterate some current data: teen pregnancy rates are at on the rise again; studies show that one in four teenage kids have an STD; and kids are not being taught about sexual "issues" at home. Schools are expected to act as "parents" in many facets of life. National studies show that parents expect teachers to be an extension of them in terms of educating their offspring, so why wouldn't schools talk about sex? If you don't think kids see it on a daily basis, hear about it regularly, and are pressured by their peers to experiment, it's time to wake up. I don't care how Christian the kid is, how well schooled they are by their parents, and what the expectations are levied at home, you are not around your child 24-7 and they WILL be exposed to opportunities for sex. Why can't schools help educate them on safety? It's not encouraging the act to pass out condoms; in fact schools spend more time preaching abstinence and awareness, and NEVER promote having sex. However, we are realists and understand that one can't take the "real" out of "reality".
Abortion is a topic used for debate practice, as is gun control, euthanasia, and animal testing. I HAVE NEVER BEEN IN A SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT WHERE ABORTION HAS BEEN PROMOTED! Students are allowed to share their views on said issues for both sides. Some people will have a difference of opinion, and that's okay. Personally, as a male, I don't think I have the right to tell a woman what she has to do with her body for nine months, nor do I have a right to tell her she must maintain her pregnancy after she has been raped by a man with HIV. I know a woman, who faced this very dilemma. She was advised by a physician to abort for fear of health related issues. I don't blame her and how can you? It's easy for us to pass judgement as most of us have never been in her shoes.
Problem with Earth Day? Seriously? A day where everyone tries to make a conscious effort to save our planet and people have a problem with that. I love that the term worship is used to describe Earth Day in this email. Again, I am in a school setting daily, and every earth day, school's just ask their kids to be aware of the destruction of the earth, so we can prevent its annihilation. I have never heard the word worship used on earth day in a school setting, nor have I seen a prayer sent mother earth's way. Hmmm...the holiday seems sensible to me. Let's see, focusing on saving the earth, so that it will still be here to allow prayer hundreds of years from now. That's doesn't seem so bad.
And lastly, "ignorant and simple minded" videos and books that basically degrade Christianity in school settings? Seriously, that's ignorance at its height and that's assinine. Take a look at American public school curriculums. Eighty percent of all literature in American public schools uses references to the Bible in a positive light. We read The Crucible, Old Man and the Sea (which praises the life of Christ), The Scarlet Letter and To Kill a Mockingbird. So what if we read, Siddhartha, Bless Me Ultima, Night and The Stranger. It's called experiencing other cultures and religious views in the hopes that it will make one ask some questions to soldify one's understanding of one's own faith or perhaps learn what another global citizen might believe. Half of coexisting stems from understanding one's brothers. I find that people who balk at texts that question religion, usually are too insecure in their own beliefs to find the value in the read. I tried to get a school board to pass a creative writing text called Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg. She is a Buddhist writer, but the book is about finding inspiration to write creatively. The book is used in nearly every college setting across the country and hundreds of high school classes that promote a rigorous curriculum. My conservative school district turned it down because it was written by a Buddhist writer....I was floored as I thought I was in an "intelligent community". Let's nix a great learning tool, because we find fault in the writer's philosophical beliefs. Maybe that's why the Middle East hates us so much. It's our way or the highway.
For the record, I am an American and a patriot. I love the freedoms this country affords me and my family. My father is a retired Colonel in the army. I tried to enlist in the US Coast Guard when I was 22, so that I might fly search and rescue helicopters in the support of our freedoms and liberties, but I was told by a recruiter that since I was white and a male, not to bother. You see it was in 1992 at the height of affirmative action, so I was "not needed". I could of been truly upset, but I elected "to serve" my country in another capacity. I joined Teach for America and went to Los Angeles after the LA Riots to teach the underpriviledged, and to give them the same opportunity afforded to me. I took great pride in that and to this day believe I am serving America as an educator.
So, my request: the next time you get an email, and send it off to your entire address book, be sure to take out those who might be offended by its ignorance, its arrogance and its narrowmindedness as I believe in the freedom of thought and expression.
Comment by — 2009/07/05 @ 02:38 PM — (Reply)
"be sure to take out those who might be offended by its ignorance, its arrogance and its narrowmindedness as I believe in the freedom of thought and expression"
I assume that means of course that what you've opined was not ignorant, nor arrogant, nor narrow-minded. Please. You have an opinion just like the principle and neither one of you are ignorant, arrogant, or narrow-minded.
You lost the high road and any credibility to be a rational person truly interested in freedom of thought and expression with the cheap attack at the end, none-the-less the dismissive tone throughout.
Pathetic!
You should learn to be tolerant of those you don't agree with and confine your counterpoints to facts instead of throwing in the insults and attack verbiage.
Comment by independant— 2009/08/31 @ 10:59 AM — (Reply)
Well said
Comment by Dianne Loriaux— 2009/09/23 @ 02:42 PM — (Reply)
Comment by jim— 2009/07/05 @ 05:09 PM — (Reply)
Comment by riffran— 2009/07/06 @ 02:44 AM — (Reply)
Comment by jim— 2009/07/06 @ 11:40 AM — (Reply)
This Principle is perfectly entitled to open his own religious school and make his own rules as to what is allowed. He can pray at whenever he wants to whom he wants and as long as he wants. People can enroll their children in said school and pray as much as this principle allots. That is the freedoms the Constitution of the United States has provided for him.
Comment by S Deal— 2009/08/28 @ 09:53 AM — (Reply)
How foolish...Christians pay taxes and should not need to additionally pay for private school tuition for freedom of speech...though many Christians do exactly that...pay taxes for public education and additionally pay private school tuitions because so many public school settings are intolerable, out of control...sad, sad.
Comment by Dianne Loriaux— 2009/09/23 @ 02:40 PM — (Reply)
Why on earth is it that nowhere I have looked in the past hour on the Internet regarding this subject that not one person yet has even mentioned the fact that the Supreme Court decision was brought about by a lawsuit instigated by Mormons and Catholics?! All of whom were students or alumni of the school, or their mothers?
This was NOT some baseless Atheistic conspiracy!
The Consitution is a pretty simple document. It says, in essence that the majority might determine what I can and cannot do in public, because it affects the public. But the majority CANNOT tell me what I can and cannot do in private, as long as it does not affect the public.
A public school setting, paid for with taxes from ALL people, of varied religious faiths, is NOT the place for any sort of public prayer.
"And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly." - Jesus of Nazareth
Who better to have the final word?
Enough said.
Comment by Just me...— 2009/09/30 @ 05:28 PM — (Reply)
This is disturbing to me on so many levels. This happened 9 years ago, and "them's still fighting words." Not a lot of progress.
If I had been Jody's boss, here's what would have happened. I'd have had him in my office first thing Monday morning, and I would have told him something along these lines.
Whether I agree with you or not is not part of this conversation. While I can appreciate your passion and your commitment to your convictions, I cannot appreciate your forum....a forum that you have only by virtue of your job here. In this country there are plenty of forums open to you, and you can pursue those.
What you can't do is stand up and insult and condemn people who are contributing to your salary. Further, you can't thumb your nose at your employer. So, next Friday night at the ballgame you're going to use the exact same forum to sincerely apologize.
Please have the script of what you plan to say on my desk by the end of the work day on Wednesday. This gives you time to think through and compose this. If it's satisfactory, nuff said. If not, it gives us time to work together to refine it. If we can't get there together, then I'll write it and you'll read it. If you are still not comfortable then you can resign and find a place to work where you are not conflicted.
Comment by aswijg— 2009/10/18 @ 01:15 PM — (Reply)