Tuesday February 27, 2007
A teacher at Enloe High School in Wake County, N.C., invited a representative of the Kamil International Ministries Organization to address a class. At this time, the representative handed out literature that promoted Christianity while attacking Islam and Muslims. Does this sound like something appropriate for an official school lecture?
"First of all, it slanders, things like, Mohammed is a 'criminal,' is 'demon possessed' ... that just made my blood boil," said Triaq Butte, whose daughter, Saira, participated in a ninth grade orientation seminar... Butte is a non-practicing Muslim; he said his wife is Christian and his children are taught to accept and respect all religions. "So for a person like me to feel like that — I've never been to a mosque — to feel like that … for me to feel such hideous attacks, they were not just pointing out failures or weaknesses in Islam or Muslims, they were just attacking." ...
Among the materials handed out was a pamphlet called "Jesus not Muhammad," as well as one entitled, "Do Not Marry a Muslim Man." The latter pamphlet compares parts of the Koran with those of the Bible...
It warns women not to be lured into marrying a Muslim, even for his "dark good looks, education, financial means, and the interest he shows in you."
"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," the pamphlet says. "Because in the United States, we have freedom of religion, he may agree that you can remain a Christian and you may think there will be no problem with such a marriage. But do not be fooled and become a victim of his religion, Islam, which has very oppressive rules regarding women's status and rights. Such marriages will never be out of trouble."
Source: Fox News
The principal has acknowledged that the presentation was "inappropriate," but also seems to insist that the school is dedicated to the "exchange of ideas" — as if bigotry and hate were merely an "idea" that should be exchanged in school. Free speech is important, of course, but schools have an obligation not to become platforms for bigots to practice their craft and increase their numbers. There also isn't any "free speech" protection for government officials to invite someone to promote their religion to other people's children.
It's difficult to imagine that the teacher had absolutely no idea what would happen, but even if they did they must be held responsible for what happened — and for not stopping things as soon as it was clear what was going on. This teacher, and arguably the entire school, fell down on their responsibility to the students by favoring a bigoted version of Christianity.
Representatives of Muslim organizations ask what a Muslim student must have felt sitting there, but what about other non-Christians? The message being sent wasn't simply that Islam was disfavored and Muslims are inferior, but that Christianity is favored and Christians are superior. How should Jewish, Buddhist, or atheist students react to such a situation? Do these students need to be told that Christianity is favored by their school and teacher? Do they need to wonder if perhaps they will be next for denigration after they are finished with Islam?
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