In
God We Trust hereby bestows "The Cup of Wrath" on Boulder High School Principal Bud Jenkins ... for not only sanctioning
but applauding the September 27, 2007 school walkout by members of the Boulder High School "Student Workers Club."
This motley crew of teenagers wanted to protest merely having to listen to the voluntary recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance
by their classmates.
Principal Jenkins stood by as a minimum of a dozen of his students
deliberately disrupted class, marched outside and held a press conference to protest the Pledge of Allegiance and the words
"under God". Student Emma Martens declared, "We didn't think it was fair for the whole school to have to
listen to (the pledge). It's almost religious oppression."
With no regard for his
duty to keep order at his school or to defend the Constitutionally-protected religious freedom of Boulder High's faculty
or students, Principal Jenkins then proceeded to praise the protesters for disrupting the school day and insulting their colleagues.
He declared to the media that he was proud of them for "standing up for their beliefs" and that he would not seek
disciplinary action against them. "Good for the kids. I'm proud that they follow the democratic process of telling
the community about ideas they disagree with," Jenkins declared, with complete disregard for the religious tradition
that undergirds our country's democratic process.
Principal Jenkins' complete abrogation
of his responsibilities as an educator, his callous disregard for our nation's religious heritage and his zealous defense
of anti-religious bigotry reflect terribly on himself, his school, his town and his profession.
For not acknowledging that he and his students are "Under God" whether they like it or not, Principal Bud Jenkins
has earned himself a full draught from the Cup of Wrath.
