- In the wake of Sept. 11, an increasing number of
California
public school students must attend an intensive three-week course on Islam,
reports http://www.assist-ministries.com/
ASSIST News Service.
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- The course mandates that seventh-graders learn the tenets
of Islam, study the important figures of the faith, wear a robe, adopt
a Muslim name and stage their own jihad. Adding to this apparent hypocrisy,
reports ANS, students must memorize many verses in the Koran, are taught
to pray "in the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful"
and are instructed to chant, "Praise to Allah, Lord of
Creation."
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- "We could never teach Christianity like this,"
one outraged parent told ANS.
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- Elizabeth Christina Lemings, a teacher in the Byron,
Calif., Union School District, was unaware of the course until her
seventh-grade
son brought home the handouts. Obtained by ANS, the handouts include a
history of Islam and the life of Mohammad, its founder. There are 25
Islamic
terms that must be memorized, six Islamic (Arabic) phrases, 20 Islamic
proverbs to learn along with the Five Pillars of Faith and 10 key Islamic
prophets and disciples to be studied.
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- "We can't even mention the name of Jesus in the
public schools," Lemings laments, "but ... they teach Islam as
the true religion, and students are taught about Islam and how to pray
to Allah. Can you imagine the barrage of lawsuits and problems we would
have from the ACLU if Christianity were taught in the public schools, and
if we tried to teach about the contributions of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John
and the Apostle Paul? But when it comes to furthering the Islamic religion
in the public schools, there is not one word from the ACLU, People for
the American Way or anybody else. This is hypocrisy."
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- ANS reports that students are to pretend that they are
Muslims, wear Muslim clothing to school, stage their own jihad via a dice
game and pick out a Muslim name (to replace their own) from a list of
30.
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- When asked what they thought about the course, students
described it as "fun," while others described Islam as "a
pretty culture." Joseph Lemings, 12, told ANS, "the jihad was
like playing a video game."
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- The "fun" description disturbs Elizabeth
Lemings,
who sees the course as a tool, not only to engender sympathy and support
for the Muslim cause, but for recruitment.
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- "This is not just a class of history of examining
culture," she said. "This course is entirely too specific. It
is more about indoctrination."
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- Nancy Castro, principal of Intermediate-Excelsior School
of Byron, told ANS that the Islam course (included within "History
of Culture") reflects California educational standards. Castro
maintains
the course "is not religion, but ancient culture and history. We do
not endorse any religion; we just make students aware." Castro further
emphasized the course textbook is in use throughout California.
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- The textbook used for the Islamic course, "Across
The Centuries," is published by Houghton-Mifflin and has been adopted
by the California school system. In it, according to ANS, Islam is
presented
broadly in a completely positive manner, whereas the limited references
to Christianity are "shown in a negative light, with events such as
the Inquisition, and the Salem witch hunts highlighted in bold, black
type."
ANS notes the portrayal of Islam leaves out word of "the wars,
massacres,
cruelties against Christians and other non-Muslims that Islam has
consistently
perpetrated over the centuries."
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- Asked if there was any response from parents about the
Islam course, Castro told ANS, "Oh, a couple of parents called to
express concerns, three to be exact."
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- http://worldnetdaily.com
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