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Very interesting and informative

Reader comment on item: Opponents Say Arab-Themed School in NYC is a 'Madrassa'

Submitted by There is NO Santa Claus (United States), Sep 19, 2007 at 21:49

I agree with Dr. Pipes that it is perfectly reasonable to teach Arabic in public schools. What sets this school apart and beyond a simple foreign language subject is the teaching of "Arab culture".

If the school were merely teaching Arabic language, I wonder if anyone would have had any objections. It is the additional charter of teaching Arab culture that opens this school to scrutiny on a whole list of concerns starting with traditional church/state separation issues and extending to the teaching of Pan-Arab and Islamist ideologies that Dr. Pipes clearly articulates.

One point was missed on a question that was asked of Dr. Pipes by a caller: Why the sensitivity?

I think somewhere in Dr. Pipes' response, he could have mentioned that the school is in New York City which was badly traumatized by Islamist terror on 9/11. Certainly, this had to play a part in the public concern about the school. If he mentioned it, I didn't notice.

Submitting....

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Reader comments (10) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
if they teach hate, who cares what it is called ? [45 words]Phil GreendSep 23, 2007 23:53109542
If this school was teaching Gibran as Arabic culture... [101 words]CaraSep 30, 2007 22:00109542
madrassa [82 words]jennifer solisSep 21, 2007 01:53109337
Dan's Appearance on Al Jazeera [212 words]RobSep 20, 2007 12:51109281
Why the "Palestinians" are evading investigation of pro-terror network Al-Jazeera's Shireen Abu Aqleh [459 words]MiriMay 11, 2022 07:25109281
Very interesting and informative [161 words]There is NO Santa ClausSep 19, 2007 21:49109238
I'll take your word for it.... [45 words]MontySep 19, 2007 17:19109228
gave me a giggle......... [140 words]jennifer solisSep 21, 2007 00:41109228
Doh!!! [7 words]MontySep 21, 2007 15:14109228
What is really a madrassa v. Kuttab? [115 words]dhimmi no moreSep 19, 2007 17:00109226

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