The First Amendment?
They don’t teach that in this school:
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Some people are outraged after a high school track team is disqualified from competing in state finals because one runner made a religious gesture. In just a few seconds the boys Columbus High School 4 X 100 relay team went from winning the regional meet, heading to state championships to having it all stripped away. How did the “W” so quickly become “DQ”? Well. when the anchor of the relay team crossed the finish line, he won the race, raised his finger to the sky and that gesture caused the winning regional’s relay team to be disqualified.
“It’s a sad deal. I think it’s a travesty. Those kids work hard,” says K.C. Hayes. Hayes’ son Derrick Hayes is the runner who won the race then pointed to God, turning a once in a lifetime opportunity into a huge heartbreak that will likely last his lifetime. “As a team they reached their goal and in an instant it was just gone, over something we think is a non-issue. I guess someone else thinks it is an issue. He just said dad I was pointing at the heavens” says K.C. Hayes.
A judge with the University Interscholastic League or UIL, which enforces the rules for high school athletics, was there at the meet in Kingsville and made the call to disqualify the four member relay team. “For those kids the work they put in, what are we teaching them? Ok you’re going to sacrifice, work hard and do everything it takes and ok it’s just ripped away,” says Hayes.
“It’s a harsh consequence for what some people may deem a small gesture. The rule states no celebratory gestures including raising your arms,” explains Columbus I.S.D. Superintendent Robert O’Connor. According to the UIL the relay team was disqualified for “unsporting conduct”. The UIL also points out, it does not have a rule prohibiting religious expression. “You can do whatever you want to in terms of prayer, kneeling or whatever you want to once you get out of the competition area. You just can’t do it in the competition area. It goes back to the taunting rule. I can’t taunt my opponent,” O’Connor explains.
Taunting?
This goes back to the arch-nemesis of common sense: the zero-tolerance rule.
How hard is it to use judgement? No, the student wasn’t taunting. He was giving thanks.
If he was all, “Thanks God! In your face, chumps! Second place is the first loser,” then yeah. DQ them.
But this is a judge refusing to show judgement because he’s afraid some parent might have his job.
And who suffers for this? The children.
Pitiful.
Hat Tip: The Right Scoop
“no celebratory gestures including raising your arms”
This is so beyond stupid that it’s just bizarre.
You can win, but if it makes you happy you’ll be in biiiiig trouble!
What the hell??!! Whatever happened to “freedom of religion”? And not “raising your arms”? But I bet it would be ok if a Muslim team member bowed on the ground.
In WA, a man can marry a man, and you can smoke pot – But how dare you reference God… Liberal bliss
It is a stupid rule, but it is a rule and the boy knew about it ahead of time, or certainly should have known. That is part of competition. You have to know the rules, and you have to follow the rules. “No celebratory gestures including raising your arms” seems pretty clear that you can’t raise your arms and point to the sky.
It’s awful that we can’t thank GOD for things he does because of certain people , America better start remembering where our Real help comes from. We use to put our trust in Him better start doing it again or our nation is DOOMED!!!!!
Why is everyone so afraid of recognizing God? If he doesn’t exist as so many proclaim, then what’s to worry about? Afraid that he is watching?
I think the judge needs to be disqulified not the team or the students. This is a freedom and should not be penalized because some judge is a non believer. How many students and parents and other people there were expressing themself with gestures.
This is America! Established on Freedom of Liberty, Freedom of Speech & Freedom of Religion. Such a sad thing that in the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA someone can be SO threatened by a gesture of thanks. Have we lost all of our rights just because some do not like what we do?