An Internet hub with domestic and international news, analysis, original reporting, and popular features from the left, center, indies, centrists, moderates, and right
Accommodating Muslim Students
Some on the right think we’re going too far (though what they wish for the gander, they certainly don’t want to apply to the goose).
opinions powered by SendLove.to
10 Responses to “Accommodating Muslim Students”
Oh, why did I read the frc thing? I feel icky now (as reading stuff that refuses to be moderate in tone often does to me). I tend to agree with your post on it; there were a few things that were questionable, but nothing that out and out set off my radar.
In fact, one would think that people who care about the same things the frc does would want the muslims to get this stuff so they later could argue the fairness aspect, of “prayer for thee” and and all.
bellisaurius you let curiosity get the best of you eh? I didn’t read the FRC thing, because I knew it would add absolutely nothing. these are the same people who didn’t seem to have a problem with interrupting a senate prayer…as long as it was a Hindu one.
I tend to agree with you, David, on the issue. In general any accommodation made for Christians should be made for any other religious people as long as they are numerous enough. It’s unfortunate that Muslim faith requires 5 prayers a day, but a public school couldn’t specifically adapt to that without compromising the non-endorsement of religion. Friday is also the Muslim holy day, but students must still attend school.
off topic: The google ads are involuntarily hilarious sometimes, this is the one this thread links to:
As long as accommodations are made equally to all groups, then I have no problems.
Absolutely under no circumstances should we accommodate muslims
I have no problem whatsoever with accomodation in principle. In practice, however, I can foresee problems. With the pressure on for schools to teach more and the children to learn more, accomodating all the religions could cut seriously into class time.
Beyond a certain point, the religious will have to do some accomodating of their own, it seems to me. Where that point is, I have no clear idea. But a school calendar is a school calendar and a class schedule is a class schedule – for everyone. Permitted abseteeism should require some make-up work, at least.
1950′s America – Absolutely under no circumstances should we accommodate
muslimsColoreds.1938 Detroit KKK – Absolutely under no circumstances should we accommodate
muslimsJews.Hank Greenberg threatens to break Babes homer record.
1920′s America – Absolutely under no circumstances should we accommodate
muslimsCatholics.Laura your tolerance is quite impressive.(LOL)
I think that what’s hacking a lot of people off is that groups like the ACLU has been fighting Christian prayer in schools for decades and now appear to be conspicuously silent. Many Christians I know have come to terms with the fact that public schools have been effectively denominated as religion free zones, save for extracurricular activities.
Further, there indeed seems to be a reflexive move to a much more accommodating attitude with regards to Muslims, not only in schools, but in places that are devoid of any religious connection.
I personally have no problem with the free practice of religion. However, I would rather see public schools separated from any religious activity, Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Wiccan, whatever.
And the fact that the (rather odious) FRC has been agitating for accommodation doesn’t really negate the feeling that Muslims might be getting special treatment. Some of us don’t want any religion accommodated in public. That’s not anti-Muslim or anti-religion, but a fair, rational solution to the issue of religious plurality.
But when the ACLU seems to be employing a double standard, it doesn’t really bolster it’s standing. (Disclosure: I am a supporter of the ACLU, but like everything, don’t always agree with everything the group does).
The Islamic holy book was found in a toilet at Pace’s lower Manhattan campus by a teacher on Oct. 13. A student discovered another book in a toilet on Nov. 21, police said.
Muslim activists had called on Pace University to crack down on hate crimes after the incidents. As a result, the university said it would offer sensitivity training to its students.
WE are terrified of the Muslims. Lets face it. We all are. I wonder how many of you fear Christians the same way you fear Muslims.??
When you dig thru all the double talk. The right thing to do talk. The fair thing to do talk. The Bottom line is:
We are afraid of Muslims and their religion.
Period.
You know you would be laughing and shaking your head in disbelief if we replaced the Koran with the Bible and the “Muslim” with “Christian” in this story.
I don’t think it’s correct to say that Christian children are forbidden to practice their religion in school. No one would stop a child from saying grace at lunchtime, I don’t think. It’s a question of school sponsored official religious practices, and that’s a big difference.
I would rather see religious practices kept out of regular school days altogether, in order to avoid accusations of favoritism or pressuring those who don’t belong to any faith grouping at all..
That’s not to say that Christmas pageants could not be used to educate all children about Christiani practicws or a presesentation about Jewish or Muslim holidays could not do the same. Familiarity with a variety of cultures and religions can only enrich.
The special problem presented by Muslim children rises from their requitements for specific prayer times. Orthodox Jews also pray at designated times, but they have mosty responded by sending their children to yeshivas. In contrast, Christians can pray at any time, so they have fewer conflicts with class schefuling.
Common sense is sorely missing from the debates about religion and schcools It’s only a common sense approach that will be able to resolve this situation, however.
The ACLU, by pursuing extreme positions causes a lot of resentment and IMO unnecessary strife. I would note that their cases concerning religious matters are not strictly anti-Christian. They have (or still may be) defended Evangelicals who are barred by local ordinances from preaching in certain areas pf Las Vegas, for example.
The ACLU could also ue a good dose of common sense in their legal battles, Because they tread into controversial areas without moderation, they often cause more problems than they solve. They are not the devil, however, and can oftem be respected for defending those whom no one else would defend.
Somebody, I partially agree with you, but I don’t think that it should matter in terms of the issue at hand. Yes certainly people are far more afraid of Muslim ire than they are afraid of Christian ire, and whether it’s a comfortable fact or not, there is a reason for that. A lot of the “respect” given to Muslim issues (like canceling a theater production because it featured the head of Mohamed, never mind it also featured the head of a bunch of others, Jesus included) is actually fear, not respect. Partially because of this there need to be strict guidelines about the accommodations given to religions in places like schools or college campuses. Muslims need to be given not one iota more OR less accommodation than anyone else. Not less, because that would be discrimination, and not more, because that would create suspicion that it was fear-driven and create resentment amongst others.