Congrats to Dr. Pipes! Ms.A Non-Responsive. What are "Global Citizens?"
Reader comment on item: Debating the Khalil Gibran International Academy

Submitted by Sofa Sogood (United States), May 16, 2008 at 23:12

Congratulations to Daniel Pipes for an excellent, excellent job of presenting his views in the short amount of time allotted to him, and in handling and countering the abusive caller. Anyone really and honestly listening would have been persuaded to understand the situation for what it is.

Very interesting and to the point was Dr. Pipes quotation from a CAIR leader as having as a goal the promotion of Islamism through education. What else could be the logical conclusion for the reason that that same CAIR presented an award to the educator, Ms. Almontaser, other than the she was assisting in that goal?

There were three other points I found "interesting."

1. The "Intifada NYC" T-Shirt issue was brushed off very quickly.

2. Ms. A's response, or was it a non-response to the question: Do you have an agenda to promote Islam?

Instead of a definite, "No," she went on to state what her agenda is, which included various facets of education and etc., etc.

3. She referred to her hopes for the students to become 21st Century "Global Citizens," of "International Affairs and Diplomacy" ...

Why would American taxpayers fund the education of future "Global Citizens?" Anyway, what on earth is the meaning of "Global Citizens?" Aren't the students "American Citizens?" funded by American taxpayers? For the purpose of American interests?

Do students studying Chinese or Spanish refer to themselves as "future Global Citizens?"

Wouldn't it be more fitting for future "Global Citizens" to be privately funded by private "Globals?"

Since this school is taxpayer funded, and as she stated would receive special funds set aside by the Federal Government for the purpose of Arabic language education -- (presumably to assist in the promotion of American Interests, likely in fields perhaps similar to Intelligence, or Interpretation, etc.), I would think there might have been at least a mention of something like, "hopes for students to assist the United States Government and America...." etc. etc. But there was oddly no mention of America or of the students becoming exemplary American citizens by assisting ... etc. etc.

It seems Ms. Almontaser reveals herself more each time she speaks both by what she says and what she doesn't say.

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