Tuesday, September 20, 2005
Why is the Federal Government providing $145,000 to propagandize for Islam?
Boston Globe: Grant helps college teach Islamic diversity
The goal is to broaden understanding of Islam so students feel less threatened by it and its followers -- and to erase those negative stereotypes they might have about Muslims.
''We don't have the most privileged students," Mitchell said. ''Some of them are going through life with certain attitudes."
If that prejudice persists, he said, it could lead those students to make poor decisions in the way they vote for president, spend tax dollars, or raise their kids.
Nearly two dozen faculty members from across the college will attend five seminars during the next two years so they can learn to teach about pluralism in Islam. The faculty seminars will focus on four Islamic societies: Egypt, India, Indonesia, and Saudi Arabia.
''Within each of these Islamic societies, as in Christianity, there is a whole spectrum of faith and political ideals," Mitchell said.
At the same time, the college is introducing beginning courses in Arabic, and will eventually add four other courses that will help students understand the religious and political differences that exist within Islam in various countries.
''It's the fastest-growing religion in the world," Mitchell said. ''It can be more progressive than Christianity in its treatment of women."...
Oh really?
Look, there's nothing wrong with teaching about Islam and learning Arabic. That's as it should be. Islam is diverse. That's true. But this article makes it clear that this is not learning for learning's sake, it's teaching for a political purpose. It's propaganda. Christian students undoubtedly get disrespected for their faith, especially here in the Commonwealth. Are the Feds going to pony up some dough to teach tolerance toward Christians? Is the college going to dedicate resources to that? I doubt it.
Teach the subject and let the chips fall. If it turns out that a study of the societies in question shows that Islamic societies are not so tolerant, democratic, free, or progressive toward women, will the instructors let that stand, or will they guide things so that a "proper" conclusion is come to? What if it's found that a rise in the population of "moderate" Muslims coincides with a rise in the incidence of good old-fashioned 1930's anti-Semitism, as Britain is in the process of finding out? Will students face the uncomfortable truth, or will that truth be sanitized and excused as just a reaction to persecution?
Study is good, but judging from these quotes, I wouldn't trust the teachers. Where is the federal oversight?
Finally, will the study of Islam in Indonesia include reading articles like this:
Indonesian radicals in aggressive mode
The attackers set fire to the women’s dormitory and knock- ed down a gate fronting the Ahmadiyah complex as its followers looked on helplessly. Some 300 policemen were on guard but failed to prevent the attack.
Shortly after, Emilia Renita, 38, a Shia Muslim in Jakarta started receiving threatening messages on her mobile phone saying: "Shias are deviant. Their blood is halal."
"I was shocked. I am Muslim and yet I am threatened. What more for those who are non-Muslims?" she said.
The surge in radicalism was partly triggered by 11 decrees issued in July by the official Council of Indonesian Ulamas (MUI) which banned the Ahmadiyah, liberalism, pluralism and secularism as anti-Islam...
I think the college faculty is about to learn to teach the wrong people about pluralism...it's not college students that have the real problem.
(hat tip: Miss Kelley)
Update: A quote from the article as it appears in the Lowell Sun reveals the political agenda even more starkly:
Tell that to...well, you get the point.
Our tax dollars hard at work. Probably funded by the State Department. Arghhh.
Do Globe reporters question anything anymore?
Did the reporter at least raise an eyebrow at the statement that Islam "can be more progressive than Christianity in its treatment of women"?
I guess this is another attempt to educate those of us in the deluded masses. Are re-education camps for demented conservatives on the 'to do' list of the liberal left? I no longer trust anyone who uses the term diversity. It now means accepting any philosphy, regardless whether it enriches or diminishes the unique American culture.