Track team member gestures to God, feels wrath of school rules

[Boing]

Parents should sue, no?



An index finger pointed skyward can mean a lot of things. "Hey, I hurt my finger," or "Shut up for a second," or maybe, "Look at that weird bat." All of which would have been acceptable during a Texas high school state-meet track qualifier, but gesturing with a finger heavenward to acknowledge God, well, that simply can’t happen. Unless you want your team disqualified, which was what happened at Columbus High’s recent 4x10-meter relay squad. Anchor Derrick Hayes crossed the finish line and pointed upward to pay homage to the coach upstairs, thus violating a school rule against excessive celebration. The team was barred from taking part in the state championships. [Source]

[h=2]That was until Junior sprinter Derrick Hayes pointed to the sky. Hayes's father, K.C., said that his son made a gesture of thanks to God, but raising a hand to the sky is considered excessive celebration according to the state scholastic rules. And with that, the team was disqualified.[/h]"It was a reaction," . "You're brought up your whole life that God gives you good things, you're blessed."
Many interviewed around town said that this was a violation of freedom of religion rights. Columbus High School said that religious gestures are not banned, but they must be done off of the competition field or court.

https://now.msn.com/track-team-finger-point-leads-to-disqualification-of-derrick-hayes

 

[Maurice Boscorelli]

More political correct bull crap if you ask me.

 

[BEER]

Geez they are getting out of control.

 

[socialstrat]

More political correct bull crap if you ask me.

Doesn't seem like political correctness to me so much as more of this reactionary zero tolerance bullshit. If I'm understanding it correctly, he wasn't banned for making a religious gesture but for "excessive celebration." Either way, stupid.

 

[Shiek]

Fine, you wanna do that, then ban the muslim prayer rooms that are cropping up all over the place.

 

[Al Bumin]

Doesn't seem like political correctness to me so much as more of this reactionary zero tolerance bullshit. If I'm understanding it correctly, he wasn't banned for making a religious gesture but for "excessive celebration." Either way, stupid.

He was banned for pointing upwards with his finger. Call it what you want it was still dumb to ban a winner for being young and not thinking correctly.

 

[Trolling]

It could've been worse.

 

[socialstrat]

He was banned for pointing upwards with his finger. Call it what you want it was still dumb to ban a winner for being young and not thinking correctly.

That's why I said either way it's stupid. But ascertaining whether it was for a 'religious gesture' or for 'excessive celebration' helps to know what we should be pissed about - e.g., banning muslim prayer rooms.

 

[Outlaw]

That's why I said either way it's stupid. But ascertaining whether it was for a 'religious gesture' or for 'excessive celebration' helps to know what we should be pissed about - e.g., banning muslim prayer rooms.

Let's just let it hang and wait for the final report. looking forward to the second POV.

 

[oldguyzer]

As usual, being politically correct and "fair to all" really means "we know we are the majority and we don't give a damn about the minorities but we have to pretend we do so we'll impose some bullshit rules to appear sensitive". What if he had crossed himself? Or instead of using that finger, used the middle one? Just dumb reactions...

 

[Cardinal Fang]

God had nothing to do with how well or bad he performed. He's too busy with other things than to worry about what some healthy kid does at a track meet.

 

[meist]

Idiot deserves it for believing in that religious crap, ban all religions -- they're just fables.

 

[oldguyzer]

Idiot deserves it for believing in that religious crap, ban all religions -- they're just fables.

Wrong use of the word "fable".

- Grammar Police :biggrin2:

 

[Cardinal Fang]

Idiot deserves it for believing in that religious crap, ban all religions -- they're just fables.

While I'd like to agree with you I'm pretty sure when an escort says "Oh God" with me she means it. :biggrin2:

 

[oldguyzer]

While I'd like to agree with you I'm pretty sure when an escort says "Oh God" with me she means it. :biggrin2:

Depends whether she means it in a positive or negative way...

 

[-b]

Does anybody remember the Olympics and the Runners who won the
Gold, Silver, and maybe the Bronze raised their hands for Black Power....

There is more things to worry about in the school system than raising your hand....

 

[God]

God had nothing to do with how well or bad he performed. He's too busy with other things than to worry about what some healthy kid does at a track meet.

Got that right.