JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Sept. 30 (UPI) — A poster with the headline “Jesus Loves You” put up by a student council president candidate at a Florida elementary school has prompted some criticism.
Lexi Hayward, 11, told WJXT-TV in Jacksonville that she just wants to promote her faith. The poster’s full text is “Jesus Loves You; Lexi For Prez.”
“My friends say it’s cool, and they’ll vote for me and stuff,” Lexi said.
So far, officials at Thunderbolt Elementary School in Fleming Island say they are letting the poster stay up.
“It’s a poster created by a student, not by the school, not by the district,” said Darlene Mahla, a spokeswoman for Clay County. “It doesn’t insult anyone. Again, it’s not inflammatory and it’s not what the law calls school-sponsored speech.”
The school has received at least one anonymous letter from someone who described herself as the mother of a Thunderbolt student. She said that although she is a Christian she finds the poster “scary.”
But most parents waiting outside the school Monday said they have no problems with Lexi’s campaign. One did say she could see some people might find it offensive.
So… is it offensive or not? I find it offensive. If someone would have set up a sign saying “Mohammed loves you, Hamid for Prez” there surely would have been negative reactions. What’s the difference? Religion is religion, whatever belief you have. There is no place in schools for religious superstitions.
