Virginia parents shut down school over Arabic calligraphy homework

[LebaneseDude 6,146]

9 minutes ago, SubRosa said:

It was just an example because most American Christians think that God and Allah mean two different things. That is probably where this outrage is coming from. Their kids are writing about "foreign god". 

O yah. They're one and the same.

I don't think this outrage is misplaced though. That phrase is only used by those who practice Islam and it is essentially their slogan.

It's entirely inappropriate.

[Melech 9,900]

I think this controversy comes from islamophobia. Nothing would have happened if it were in Latin letters. 

 

Though I think religious phrases shouldn't have a place in public schools. But I don't think this is the main reason controversy happened

[lego 44,165]

6 minutes ago, LebaneseDude said:

O yah. They're one and the same.

I don't think this outrage is misplaced though. That phrase is only used by those who practice Islam.

It's entirely inappropriate.

 

It's true the teacher could've used other example like some Arabic poetry, but it's probably just most common/most popular example of calligraphy and @Morphine Prince said it was religious assignment so idk...  One thing is sure, it would not convert their children if they write it down for homework.  

 

[MJHolland 12,725]

9 minutes ago, SubRosa said:

 

But that's part of the Bible in Arabic. Ignore what is underlined, pretend you don't see the red line, I'm talking about the text, if it would be written as calligraphy. The text from Christian holy book in Arabic shouldn't be a problem among Christian Americans. So why is it an issue?

 

 

 

Yeah I know. It can be made as calligraphy. It was just an example because most American Christians think that God and Allah mean two different things. That is probably where this outrage is coming from. Their kids are writing about "foreign god". 

Buddy, the kids were forced to write "Allah is the one true god and Muhammad is his last prophet". That's not acceptable in America. We have separation of church and state.

I understand that religious indoctrination was not the goal of the teacher, of course. However, that does not excuse the fact that a religious phrase was forced upon students. This is not a matter of Christianity v. Islam. If the kids had to write a bible verse it would be equally outrageous. 

Sometimes I feel like you argue just for the sake of arguing. You know kids shouldn't be forced to endorse a religion in public school...

10 minutes ago, CustomGueseppi said:

This is no big deal. The parents are retarded

It's 2k15 we don't say that word anymore tyvm 

[lego 44,165]

3 minutes ago, Simon said:

I think this controversy comes from islamophobia. Nothing would have happened if it were in Latin letters. 

 

 

That's exactly what it is. 

[LebaneseDude 6,146]

3 minutes ago, SubRosa said:

 

It's true the teacher could've used other example like some Arabic poetry, but it's probably just most common/most popular example of calligraphy and @Morphine Prince said it was religious asigment so idk...  One thing is sure, it would not convert their children if they write it down for homework.  

 

The claims are stupid, but that's entirely beside the point.

You don't make kids write "There is no god but God, Mohammad is the Prophet of God" without them knowing what it means.

[LebaneseDude 6,146]

3 minutes ago, SubRosa said:

 

That's exactly what it is. 

What if it is? Again, that's entirely beside the point.

It's like making non-English speaking Muslims write "Jesus is your savior" in an effort to teach them English.

Would that be acceptable? Or would we call the Muslim parents "Christianophobes".

Restrain yourselves.

[lego 44,165]

2 minutes ago, LebaneseDude said:

The claims are stupid, but that's entirely beside the point.

You don't make kids write "There is no god but God, Mohammad is the Prophet of God" without them knowing what it means.

 

 After a teacher at a Virginia school handed out a standard homework assignment on Islam, such an angry backlash flooded in that it prompted officials to close every single school in the county as a safety precaution.

"While there has been no specific threat of harm to students, schools and school offices will be closed Friday, December 18, 2015," Augusta County Schools said. Extracurricular activities were shut down Thursday 

The homework assignment aimed to give students "an idea of the artistic complexity of calligraphy."

"Here is the shahada, the Islamic statement of faith, written in Arabic. In the space below, try copying it by hand. This should give you an idea of the artistic complexity of calligraphy."

 

It was just a homework and they knew what it means, it was some parents who had problem with it, they saw it as attempt to convert their children.

[LebaneseDude 6,146]

3 minutes ago, SubRosa said:

 

It was just a homework and they knew what it means, it was some parents who had problem with it, they saw it as attempt to convert their children.

Are the kids supposed to know what a shahada is?

The statement chosen is incredibly inappropriate. Stop trying to defend it.

There's a difference between teaching them Islamic culture and making them write that phrase.

And I call bullshit on the "statement of faith". It's more like a "statement of religious intolerance"

[lego 44,165]

9 minutes ago, LebaneseDude said:

What if it is? Again, that's entirely beside the point.

It's like making non-English speaking Muslims write "Jesus is your savior" in an effort to teach them English.

English is not the language of Christianity. I don't know is it Latin, Hebrew or Greek, depends which denomination you ask. But if the Christianity is taught and there are basics like that testimony of faith and artistic way of writing it, I don't see the issue? Wouldn't you all say how muslims are intolerant if they would refuse to write something from the Bible? 

 

6 minutes ago, LebaneseDude said:

Are the kids supposed to know what a shahada is?

The statement chosen is incredibly inappropriate. Stop trying to defend it.

There's a difference between teaching them Islamic culture and making them write that phrase.

And I call bullshit on the "statement of faith". It's more like a "statement of religious intolerance"

It's written in the article, they are studying Islam of course they know basics like that.

That last thing could be said about Christianity too or any other religion. Your feelings about Islam are irrelevant in this topic.

[Katharine Hepburn 4,607]

5 minutes ago, LebaneseDude said:

Are the kids supposed to know what a shahada is?

The statement chosen is incredibly inappropriate. Stop trying to defend it.

There's a difference between teaching them Islamic culture and making them write that phrase.

And I call bullshit on the "statement of faith". It's more like a "statement of religious intolerance"

If they're learning about Islam I'm fairly sure the 5 pillars of Islam is one of your first lessons. 

[LebaneseDude 6,146]

4 minutes ago, SubRosa said:

English is not the language of Christianity. I don't know is it Latin, Hebrew or Greek, depends which denomination you ask. But if the Christianity is taught and there are basics like that testimony of faith and artistic way of writing it, I don't see the issue? Wouldn't you all say how muslims are intolerant if they would refuse to write something from the Bible? 

 

It's written in the article, they are studying Islam of course they know the basics like that.

That last think could be said about Christianity too or any other religion. Your feelings are irrelevant in this topic.

But I thought Arabic isn't the language of Islam.

At least that's what I was always told growing up in Lebanon being force fed that language. 

Your arguments make are entirely irrelevant. People teaching Christianity in English should not make people write "Jesus is your savior" no matter what.

This is the exact same thing that's happening here and is entirely disrespectful.

You're also making the false assumption that people taking that class know what they're writing.

I took Roman History. Doesn't make me understand Latin.

 

[Melech 9,900]

14 minutes ago, SubRosa said:

 

That's exactly what it is. 

Actually I forgot too add "if it's in Latin letters and not Islam related"

[Luiz 4,253]

here should be an opt out option if they're going to teach religious stuff like this especially with the separation of church and state. bring something home like that to christian parents and they will view it as disrespect to the religion they are teaching their kids. its silly but we need to respect religious beliefs and all that crap  

 

shutting down the school was pointless lol depriving other kids of a day at school(i doubt they mind tho) isnt the way to go.

[Melech 9,900]

Just now, LebaneseDude said:

But I thought Arabic isn't the language of Islam.

At least that's what I was always told growing up in Lebanon being force fed that language. 

 

Well, language is such a thing. I don't know much about it in Islam, but for example Hebrew is the language of Judaism, but still gentiles speaking it. Though, Hebrew gets mainly associated with Jews.