When Brooks Hamby learned that he was his class’s salutatorian and would be giving a speech at graduation, school officials gave him one condition: He could not mention his faith at any point during the ceremony.
Fortunately, Brooks knew his rights – and cared about his faith – enough to stand up to the illegal policy. This is what he said during his speech, from TheBlaze:
“In coming before you today, I presented three drafts of my speech, all of them denied on account of my desire to share with you my personal thoughts and inspiration to you: my Christian faith,” Hamby said. “In life, you will be told, ‘No.’ In life you will be told to do things that you have no desire to do. In life, you will be asked to do things that violate your conscience and desire to do what is right.”
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As the crowd started to murmur, Hamby gave his advice: “No man or woman has ever truly succeeded or been fulfilled on the account of living for others and not standing on what they knew in their heart was right or good.”
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He then quoted from “the biggest best-selling book of all-time in history” — the Bible.
Brooks has learned at an early age what many people never do: The only way to beat oppression is to stand up to it.
We admire this teen for taking such a brave stand and hope his example will inspire others to do the same.