Removing Islam display surrenders to ignorance

[rug]

Aug. 27, 2013 4:44 PM
Charles C. Haynes

Back to school means back to culture wars for Minneha Core Knowledge Elementary School in Wichita, Kan.

On the very first day of school, someone snapped a photo of a bulletin board display in the hallway featuring the Five Pillars of Islam and then posted it on Facebook.

“This is a school that banned all forms of Christian prayer,” said the caption under the photo. “This can not stand.”

The Islam display went viral migrating from the “Prepare to Take America Back” page on Facebook to like-minded pages and websites. Islamophobia is a cottage industry on the Internet.

http://www.thenorthwestern.com/article/20130828/OSH0602/308280171/Removing-Islam-display-surrenders-to-ignorance?odyssey=tab%7Cmostpopular%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE

[Niceguy1]

1. not ignorance but the law

The 10 comandments aren't allowed and neither should the 5 pillars

[rug]

2. The law prohibits prayer in school. It does not prohibit education in school.

[cbayer]

3. It was an educational tool and the school teaches about religion in a historic context.

Kids need to know that. Ignorance breeds bigotry and they need to know that there are different groups of believers and no-believers.

[Niceguy1]

4. it still shouldn't have been there

The 10 commanments posted in the same time exact way would not be tolerated.

[cbayer]

5. They have a picture of the Last Supper as part of a display about the Renaissance.

Do you think that would be a problem?

[Niceguy1]

6. maybe....but you can't pretend

That people wouldn't be having a fit if the 10 comandments were posted the same way.

There would be threads of outrage..... I am smelling a double standard here.

[cbayer]

7. I'm seeing the opposite. I think the Islam display was targeted unfairly.

Schools need to be able to teach about religion, imo.

If there is a double standard, it is that this display was taken down and the Last Supper was not.

[Niceguy1]

8. teach yes...about all of them

But in an enviroment where you can't do christmas to have a bulliten board up on the first day of school where there is no context is a but over the line..... and I know for a fact that it wouldnt be tolerated here at du if it wasn't islam.

[cbayer]

9. Well, we've had these discussions before and there is general consensus.

If the display is promoting a religion, then people generally feel it should be removed.

If the display is part of an educational program, then people generally feel it is ok.

I think that in this country, at this time, the more kids learn about religions not their own, the better.

I guess I'm not clear on what you are saying. Are you saying that DU members will get upset about things that appear to cross the line for judaism or christianity, but not for islam?

[Niceguy1]

10. for some, yes.

I am not phobic, in fact I have studied islam a bit. But it is not unheard of for some progressives to cut islam more slack than the other religions, there are even threads here debating that.


My point is we need to be consistant.....

[cbayer]

11. I see what you are saying.

I think that there may be more leeway given to issues around Islam because, at least in the US, they are often the most targeted by discrimination and hate.

But I agree overall, that there needs to be absolute consistency.

[LostOne4Ever]

15. No

Its the tendency for progressives to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. To stand up for the oppressed and oppose the oppressive.

Currently, in this country, Islam and muslims are facing an incredible amount of persecution and hate from the right and the ignorant. So it only makes sense that it appears that the left is hypersensitive when it comes to issues of Islam. Conversely, the overwhelming source of these stereotypes and bigotry is coming from conservative Christianity. So it appears that the left is overly hostile to Christianity.

EVEN FURTHER, the left is championing the rights of another oppressed group in us atheists. A significant section of which includes anti-theists. This combined with a commitment to secularism only further adds to the false impression of the left being hostile to Christianity.

However, if we were all transported toward Egypt things would change. We would be there defending the coptic Christians and women's rights causing us to appear anti-muslim to those wanting to promote Islamic fundamentalism.

The things that define us liberals is progressive economics, egalitarianism, internationalism, and social libertarianism. Realizing this, it is easy to see why we take the positions we do. But it also makes it easy for the right to try and pervert this or distort the overly zealous on our side to make the false case that we favor islam in some fashion.

When in fact, we are doing what we always do. Standing up for the voiceless and the weak in our society. Something I am proud to support in every way.

[LostOne4Ever]

14. I call bull

The people here at DU know the difference between promoting a religion and teaching about a religion.

It could be Buddhist, hindu, Pastafarian, etc.

[LostOne4Ever]

13. People are having a fit over this

Sooooo they are being treated the same way.

No double standard.

[LostOne4Ever]

12. Yes it would (nt)