The Islamic charter school in Minnesota that I wrote about in Human Events today is not the only one. Back in August Patrick Poole wrote about several such schools in Ohio.
Where is all the concern for the Establishment Clause that we see regarding Christians and publicly-funded schools? Where is the consistency? Where is the ACLU?
Ohio ACLU Contact
contact@acluohio.org
I do not see how a school that is entirely religious -- for in a Muslim school, "Islam" is to be found in every subject, and in the entire school day's activities -- and not merely in a single class on "theology" -- can be supported by public funds. Nor can I understand why the ACLU thinks it can continue to ignore this.
On the other hand, given the mental makeup of those who now run the ACLU, it is likely that if the ACLU were to take the case, those running it would puruse it half-heartedly, not with anything like the enthusiasm that they stand up for the "rights" of those they think are, in that idiotically-named "war on terror," being not prosecuted but persecuted.
Is the ACLU necessary? Are there not others, or should there not be established, a group that will be like the ACLU once was, or at least thought it should attempt ideally to be, many decades ago?
Islam is a wonderful 'religion of peace' a religion like Christianity or Judaism UNTIL they set up a publicly funded Islamic school - then suddenly its a 'culture', an 'ethnicity' - above all Arabic language and culture.
Hugh,
As the FPM article states, one reason why the Ohio ACLU has done nothing about these charter schools is that they gave their annual "Freedom Flame" award to CAIR-OH and Ahmad Al-Akhras in 2003. Al-Akhras and his crew run the two charter schools in Columbus. Al-Akhras also served on the ACLU-OH board up until he fled the country in January.
The board chairman of Westside Academy (the newest Islamic charter school), terror apologist Abukar Arman, is the current CAIR-Columbus president and a CAIR-OH state board member. He was also the "facilities director" of International Academy, because the Ohio State Auditor busted their crew for illegally having lucrative consultant contracts with the school. They disbanded their partnership and gave themselves new job titles, such as Arman's "facilities director" position.
ACLU - Ahmad's Civil Liberties Union.
The ACLU considers Islam a religion of the oppressed and the oppressed can do as they please if it irks the establishment. Christmas trees or menorahs or (worst of all!) crosses would do irreparable harm to the minority religions in the US by making them feel like "outsiders". In the US Islam is a minority religion and minorities of any stripe get special protection from the ACLU.
By "minority religion" I mean the overwhelming number of Americans are NOT Islamic. The ACLU would view it as no less benign than Buddhism or Sikhism, etc.
In addition, Islam is considered a culture and so these schools fit very well into the multicultural agenda of the ACLU and similar groups. Islam wears two hats and the ACLU likes both of them.
Like a friend of mine and I were talking about this morning, anything they can do to destroy what this country stood for is their goal in life.
Poetcomic1 makes an excellent point above:
"Islam is a wonderful 'religion of peace' a religion like Christianity or Judaism UNTIL they set up a publicly funded Islamic school - then suddenly its a 'culture', an 'ethnicity' - above all Arabic language and culture."
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I believe that Islam uses the vehicle of religion to promote itself. It's also political and governmental in nature.
The world must wake up and ban islam altogether.
What is going on here? This is of course a clear violation of separation of church and state. There have been public schools that have sent children home if they were found wearing a cross on a neckless, or carrying a bible in their nap sack,not saying the Pledge Allegence in public schools because of "under god" in it, sports teams not allowed to pray before games, Etc. and yet the ACLU looks the other way. The ACLU wants to secularize every public school in the nation, so why are they ignoring this? Could it be that Christians are easily pushed over by the ACLU but challenging the Islamic religion makes them a bit skiddish because of its aggressive ideology?
Is there anyone out there in the legal community challenging the use of public funds in support of Islamic schools?
Patrick Poole? Really?
It's hard to believe anyone takes seriously anything that racist xenophobe writes.
Mackie hits the nail on the head! It is fear related. Just like with Feminist, its safe if you attack ghosts and phantoms, but true evil is very dangerous to attack.
The ACLU types are afraid and with good reason, although they wouldn't likely ever admit it. It is best to ridicule and cause them shame for their inaction. The macho feminists are very susceptable to this approach.
Hugh and others,
The ACLU is NOT needed to stop these schools.
ANY Ohioan and/or Minnesotan taxpayer has legal standing. Attorneys fees can be awarded if you prevail and there doesn't seem to be any doubt that a challenger to BOTH these projects would fail.
And if you want to really take charge, screw the attorneys and go the pro se' route ( that is , walk into the nearest federal court and tell them to show you how to file a damn lawsuit, fill out the forms and "enter history"....
Mr. Spencer,
Where is the ACLU?
Against Christian Liberties Union?
Why would they care about this?
make that "would win" above.
I know I know.
Spell check and post preview is my friend.
USorThem;
GREAT POST!
It's hard to believe anyone takes seriously anything that racist xenophobe writes.
Posted by: joseph@plunderbund.com at March 13, 2008 12:04 PM
Welcome aboard. We could always use another leftist, Obama-supportin, nutroot here for entertainment purposes.
I see on your blog you chose to offset Reverand Wright's recent sermonal rant with examples of poor behavior in the past by others.
Where do you guys get your playbook from?
Joseph said, "It's hard to believe anyone takes seriously anything that racist xenophobe writes."
Joseph,
it's even harder to take someone seriously when they allege that Islam (or being a Muslim) is a race.
You must have also missed the fact that Poole's website has a link right on the frontpage to another organization that is obviously fearful of his racist and xenophobic ideas.
I'm sure the guys at Terror Frre Somalia are also just horrified by his "obvious hatred of all Muslims and non-whites" (sic).
http://terrorfreesomalia.blogspot.com/
Typical fearmongering libs. No facts and lots of hot air.
Having attended Catholic schools as a kid, I can attest to the fact that those schools were one of the great institutions of America. They educated millions of immigrants to be good, loyal citizens of the United States. The Nuns glorified America, the founding fathers, and the principles of the American revolution, besides equiping students with a solid education in the liberal arts, and they did it without a nickel of public funding.
Does Ohio really think a Muslim school is going to give them the same return on their investment?
If anything, these schools will promote disrespect for everything American, and I doubt the students will get anything near the education we got in Catholic schools.