There used to be a time in this country when the phrase “God Bless America” was a sign of patriotism and one that showed how we wished for protection and prosperity.
In the modern age the term God can offend a lot of people, those who feel that they do not believe there is a God wish to not be subjected to the word because it personally affects their own morals.
That is why a high school student in Florida is being reprimanded for uttering the phrase after he concluded the morning announcements for the institution.
The atheist students of the high school took it upon themselves to reach out to the American Humanist Association, who then sent a letter saying that the student was wrong for his actions.
The letter reads, “It is inappropriate and unlawful for a public school to start the school day with an official statement over the intercom stating, ‘God Bless America,’ for such a statement affirms God-belief, validates a theistic worldview and is invidious toward atheists and other nonbelievers.”
The organization said the student broke the law for mentioning the term “God” in a public address system. They went on to say, “The daily validation of the religious views of God-believers resigns atheists to second-class citizens. Because attendance is mandatory, the students have no way of avoiding this daily message either.”
The high school Principal of Yulee High school in Florida then sent a follow up letter where stating,
“Thank you for bringing this matter to my attention. I want to point out that the statement “God Bless America, keep us safe” that was made last week on the morning announcements was not approved by school Administration nor was it in the scripted announcements. The student on his own accord made the statement. I have called the student in this morning and directed him that at no time is he to add or take away from announcements that have been pre-approved and that if he did it again, he would no longer have the privilege of making the morning announcements. I am disappointed that the students who filed the complaint did not do so with me first, as I would have addressed it immediately. Once again, thank you for bringing this concern to my attention. It is our desire and intention to respect the beliefs and constitutional freedoms of all our students at Yulee High School,” assuring that such behavior will not be repeated in the future.
