Rhode Island Teen Atheist Gets $40K Scholarship

[rug]

By COLLEEN CURRY
Feb. 20, 2012

A Rhode Island teenager who battled her high school over the display of a prayer banner has received a $40,000-plus scholarship from those who supported her efforts.

Jessica Ahlquist, 16, won a court battle in January to have the prayer sign removed from Cranston High School West, a decision that outraged many in her school and community.

The battle began in July 2010 when Ahlquist informed the local chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union about a mural addressed to "Our Heavenly Father" that was displayed in the auditorium of her school. Ahlquist claimed in her lawsuit, filed through the American Civil Liberties Union, that the banner made her feel "ostracized and out of place."

The mural has been in the school since 1963, and a school committee said it was "historical" and "artistic."

http://abcnews.go.com/US/rhode-island-teen-atheist-40k-scholarship/story?id=15751701#.T0PU1fl2MuE

Video at link.

[MarkCharles]

1. TERRIFIC !!!! Let's hope she can

get out of town, go to a good school!

[rug]

2. Providence College is nearby.

[MarkCharles]

8. A Catholic college?

She's not too far from U. Mass Dartmouth, and within 50 miles of about 50 colleges and universities, from Brown to Harvard several state colleges, in RI, CT, MA.

[railsback]

3. I love how the word 'atheist' is thrown in there.

She defended the Constitution. 'Nuff said.

[Lint Head]

4. There are "historical" and "artistic" atheists too.

[EgaLitE]

5. What about Brown?

Brown is in Rhode Island too. She is clearly a strong, intelligent young woman, and she deserves to get in.

[The Doctor.]

6. What I found most interesting about this episode;

Was how it revealed the vicious hatred of these supposed 'Christians'.

I'm sick of these animals taking advantage of the security and resources civilization affords them. They should be removed from all forms of discourse and policy and shunned by all civilized people everywhere. Fights like these bring their true nature into the light where we can see how truly wretched and disgusting their attitudes are.

Unfortunately, they tell each-other that such horrible thoughts and impulses are 'right' and 'good'. They reinforce each-other's behavior and are bound and determined to wage war on civilization itself in the name of 'morality'.

[EgaLitE]

7. What about Brown?

Brown is in Rhode Island too. She is clearly a strong, intelligent young woman, and she deserves to get in.

[E_Pluribus_Unitarian]

10. The Ahlquist family's Unitarian minister gives his perspectives on this, and on humanism...

Rev. James Ford talks about his Providence RI congregation's support of the Ahlquist

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/monkeymind/2012/02/one-world-at-a-time-a-meditation-on-unitarian-universalism-rational-religion-the-great-humanist-way.html

[2ndAmForComputers]

11. Exceedingly good news. Recommended.

Such displays of a community rallying up around an abused member to stand up against abuse fill my heart with joy.

I know this infuriates all the right people.