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February 24, 2007

Fox Readers OK with Anti-Muslim Literature at School

Spyder sent us the most fascinating article yesterday, but I didn't get a chance to talk about it. It begs the question, what are the appropriate limits for free speech, particularly regarding religion, in public schools? The story comes via Fox News, which also ran a survey on the story and has published the comments of its readers online. What they had to say is as shocking and depressing as the story itself.

The story began when a 9th grade teacher in a North Carolina public school invited a representative from the Kamil International Ministries Organization (a Christian group) to come speak to her class. While there, he handed out to the class anti-Muslim literature entitled "Jesus not Muhammad" and "Do Not Marry a Muslim Man," aimed at convincing the children to avoid romantic relationships with Muslims. The father of one of the students who received the material is a non-practicing Muslim who, with his Christian wife, has taught his children to respect all religions. Needless to say, his family was quite offended by the literature, and with good reason.

The literature called Mohammed a "criminal" and said he was "demon possessed." It also compared passages of the Koran with passages in the Bible related to treatment of wives and warned girls, "You may be excited that you found the 'tall, dark, and handsome man' you have been looking for. His sweet words and attention may blind you regarding the power, importance, and influence of his culture and Islamic faith." So far, the father says, the school principal and teacher have merely told him they were honoring a "diversity of opinion" and allowing "freedom of speech." The principal said they thought the material was "inappropriate," but the school encourages "the exchange of ideas."

The father does not see this as a matter of free speech. He sees it as slander of Islam. I have to agree. I don't even think it would be appropriate if someone of the opposite view had been brought in on the same day to rebut the information. Presentations denigrating a religion are entirely inappropriate in the classroom.

My kids are both learning about religions – both ancient and modern – in school. They learn about the rituals, gods, and cultural influences of these religions. I fully support that. Religion has always been a huge factor in human relationships and societies, and it certainly still is today. There is no reason to shy away from that fact. But there is a very big difference between discussing the beliefs, traditions, and histories of various religions and warning people off of religions or calling their leaders "criminal" and "demon possessed."

I'm not afraid of my children being exposed to the debate of controversial issues in the classroom. I think it's healthy and teaches them how to think. But the debate should never sink to one that denigrates the faith of others or presents only one side of a controversial issue. If the teacher felt this information about Islam was so important that the students needed to receive it, the most responsible approach would have been to have offered an after-school presentation of the material – along with a presentation from an authority in the Muslim community – and invite the students and their parents to attend. That way, there would be no captive audience, and the students would have learned valuable lessons about looking at both sides of an issue before coming to a conclusion. A desire to actually educate the students and teach them to think might also have resulted in a post-presentation small group discussion. It could have been a very constructive learning experience. But it should never have occurred in the classroom as it did.

Not surprisingly, many Fox News readers have a different opinion than I do. Their comments are predictable, but depressing. I'm posting quite a few of them because taken together, they create a clear picture of the unfortunate lack of thought and reactionary approach that Fox News fosters:

"The ignorance in America is bewildering, here we actually have a school trying to present an outside opinion, and the presenter is labeled anti-Muslim. For what, quoting the book of Islam to the class?" — Mike (Alaska)

"I have had no interest in Muslim opinions. If schools want to distribute pamphlets highlighting this religion of evil, I call it education. Wars are not won by ignoring facts." — Lance

"Had it been the opposite, with Christianity and Jesus being attacked, there would not have been an outrage and it probably would have not been reported. Where was this man when Christmas was attacked. Where was his outrage when students were forced to read the Koran, yet a Bible can't be brought to school. I am tired of the double standard!" — Kathy

"It seems that it is OK to say what ever you want about Christians, but to tell the truth about Muslims using their own material is wrong. It's time people woke up to what Islam really is." — Lloyd

"Why do we let the Muslim schools in our country teach their children in their schools to be anti-American? They are taught to hate ALL of us and to destroy us. So, why is the case in North Carolina so bad?" — Judy

"Until the fanatical, Islamist Muslim extremists preach/practice TOLERANCE, all’s fair! Our society, including students at every level, needs to learn as much as possible about religious teachings which demand separate status for women, or condone the murder of women who don’t dress appropriately!" — Mike

"The teacher was not wrong. The pamphlets should be distributed world wide." — Leslie

"No, we need more teachers and everyone to speak and shout it out about the truth is Islam and our enemy. We can't go on keeping our heads in the sand. Political correctness insists that we tolerate Islam as a ‘religion of peace’ when the truth is far from that!" — Deborah

"I think the teacher was right and has shown sincere concern with regard to the fears of the 'politically correct' attitude toward Islam in America. Our children are receiving a great many slanted views in most public school systems regarding Islam. The attitude toward women is obvious in Muslim countries. Perhaps the father of this child is not correctly understanding the line between discrimination of race and discernment regarding the culture differences of Christianity and Islam." — Kris

"I'm sure there was opinion injected into the pamphlets as most text books in school. Any second-hand source contains opinion, but the point is the pamphlets included facts and that's what the kids should be shown. It's not slander if its true." — Sarah

"No, I do not think the teacher was wrong to allow distribution of anti-Muslim material. Muslims always distribute anti-Christian and anti- Semitic materials. For them it's a freedom of speech. For the rest of us, its shut up and keep quiet. It is not that there are more evil people, it is that they are more vocal and allowed to distribute their views while the rest of us are being bullied into silence." — AR

"No, I am really tired of the Islamic rants when anyone says anything against them." — Cynthia

"I think the teacher is right. The truth hurts." — Patrick

"If they can find problems with Christians and speak out against us they can take the same. This country was formed on idea of free speech." — Christian

"This country was founded on the Christian belief in God. The Muslims get all bent out of shape over nothing." — John

"I do not think the school district or the teacher involved should be punished, this great country of ours has to stop tucking tail to every Muslim or liberal who dose not agree with our beliefs." — Doyle (Tupman, CA)

And the most disturbing of all:

"No, I think it was a great idea. I am a Social Studies teacher and I believe it's my duty to present the truth about Islam every chance I get. I want my students to know what a violent and misguided religion it is." — Mrs. Earnst (Meade, KS)

Posted by Becky at February 24, 2007 10:44 AM