From Newsday, whose headline temporizes a bit. The school does not merely offer Arabic, it is the Khalil Gibran International Academy, and will be built around Arabic language and culture lessons. Debbie Almontaser, who, according to Newsday, is “fluent in Arabic,” is the school’s designated principal. She says
“I see students who are excited about engaging in international careers, international affairs, wanting to come to our school,”
I wonder how welcome kids looking to learn Arabic to help fight the war on terror in the CIA or the military will be.
“I also see Arab-American students who would want the
opportunity to learn Arabic, to read it and write it and have a better understanding of where their ancestors have come from.”
I would rather have Americans (Arab or otherwise) think of the framers of the Constitution as their anscestors. My sixth sense tells me that students will be focusing more on the Arab and less on the American part of their Arab-American identity, but I will be the first to admit that the facts aren’t in yet.
The Arab-American Family Support Center will be involved. They have receieved a lot of 9/11 funding.
They oppose domestic violence even though, of course, it is all American society’s fault.
Incidents of domestic violence have significantly increased since September 11th in part due to the high level of fear and stress experienced by a community that has been increasingly marginalized, and has been living in constant fear and in an environment of hostility.
Yes, the financials show just how hostile America has been to them.