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tomm2thumbs

(13,297 posts)

13. I think the actual message was the issue, not the writing style

Fri Dec 18, 2015, 01:01 AM

Dec 2015

Having everyone in the class write '“there is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah" probably wasn't the most thought-out plan for a lesson on calligraphy.

To me, it would be akin to having the class write "Jesus Christ is the son of our Lord God and Savior"... in a Bible-styled script, and frankly, I don't think it would stand up to muster either.

For what it's worth, the uproar about closing the school over this issue does go a bit far, but no doubt the crazies who have voiced their anger have done so in a way that must have been taken as threatening and serious enough for a cool-off period.

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Schools Closed in Virginia District After Uproar Over Arabic Calligraphy Lesson [View all] 47of74 Dec 2015 OP

Christ! We're not going to die from global warming or Isis or whatever. We'll die from stupidity BlueJazz Dec 2015 #1

Damn right. 47of74 Dec 2015 #3

If stupidity were suddenly fatal starting tonight, the US population... 3catwoman3 Dec 2015 #6

Amen! montana_hazeleyes Dec 2015 #30

Yup, Ms. Yertle Dec 2015 #58

And god forbid anybody should be caught using Arabic numerals tularetom Dec 2015 #2

LOL w0nderer Dec 2015 #21

Makes my hair hurt even thinking of adding and subtracting using Roman numerals. yellowcanine Dec 2015 #72

Oh, oh. Back to Roman numerals, it is. NV Whino Dec 2015 #4

Didn't someone pronounce the last Superbowl as... 3catwoman3 Dec 2015 #7

My favorite Superbowl cartoon from 2005 is louis-t Dec 2015 #49

I would not want my child 840high Dec 2015 #11

Why not? starroute Dec 2015 #26

Would you want your kids to write Jesus Christ is the one true God in a public school? yeoman6987 Dec 2015 #27

"Allah" is just the Arabic word for "God" starroute Dec 2015 #50

Yes I would object yeoman6987 Dec 2015 #51

"Hopefully the teacher is reprimanded or fired at least." yellowcanine Dec 2015 #56

I am a teacher. Lol. Sorry I have more invested in this. Our school would not tolerate blatant yeoman6987 Dec 2015 #67

How would you react if I asked your 840high Dec 2015 #32

Unless your child can read cynzke Dec 2015 #34

They weren't writing a recipe for falafel EL34x4 Dec 2015 #41

The teachers were trying to teach in a creative way. yellowcanine Dec 2015 #57

This wasn't a stained-glass window that "might" contain a cross. EL34x4 Dec 2015 #61

Now you are grasping. yellowcanine Dec 2015 #65

Let's have a lesson in writing "Jesus is God". 840high Dec 2015 #69

You got it. ty 840high Dec 2015 #68

I would assume that there is a lot more one can write in Arabic besides LiberalElite Dec 2015 #78

American "exceptionalism" (whatever the hell that really is) is going... 3catwoman3 Dec 2015 #5

You realize in World History, you have to teach about the rise and spread of Islam Feeling the Bern Dec 2015 #8

.... here 840high Dec 2015 #12

So? I had my AP students read the Koran. Feeling the Bern Dec 2015 #14

This just in.... Fed up in NJ Dec 2015 #9

This country is an Islamophobic shithole mwrguy Dec 2015 #10

I think the actual message was the issue, not the writing style tomm2thumbs Dec 2015 #13

Thank you. Fully agree. 840high Dec 2015 #15

Match to gasoline truthisfreedom Dec 2015 #16

Yeah really. You'd think they would have seen it coming. hollowdweller Dec 2015 #18

I would guess the most complex calligraphy is almost always religious in content. bigmonkey Dec 2015 #29

Actually, in the case of Arabic calligraphy, I think that honor goes to a Tughra Coventina Dec 2015 #40

Well, in that case, it was a poor choice on the instructor's part. bigmonkey Dec 2015 #70

Legally irrelevant. Xithras Dec 2015 #76

I think you've got the point. mahatmakanejeeves Dec 2015 #37

If the writing was presented in context as Arabic belief, how is it different than "Paradise Lost"? adigal Dec 2015 #42

Don't bring up facts that might get in the way of outrage. Throd Dec 2015 #47

Maybe but the lesson was also about the decorations on mosques. yellowcanine Dec 2015 #54

It was not translated though. All the students knew was that it was a faith yellowcanine Dec 2015 #52

It's the same message as is on the Taliban and ISIS flags. Xithras Dec 2015 #77

Please... Blue_Tires Dec 2015 #53

I agree. It's like having students practice cursive by copying Bible quotes. Xithras Dec 2015 #75

Arabic calligraphy is pretty cool Mosby Dec 2015 #17

No more algebra should be allowed either. roody Dec 2015 #19

I'm For That RobinA Dec 2015 #35

I'm sure everyone here would be cool if we taught students Latin Kurska Dec 2015 #20

Well I dunno 47of74 Dec 2015 #24

Cancel the Chess Club too! McKim Dec 2015 #22

Will we have to change our numbering system? Turbineguy Dec 2015 #23

30 would present a number of problems. 47of74 Dec 2015 #25

Allah be Praised. I invented the zero! Thunderbeast Dec 2015 #28

Actually, they stole it from the Hindus dhol82 Dec 2015 #38

They didn't steal it, the Hindus had no copyright on it. And the Hindus still have it. yellowcanine Dec 2015 #71

Acculturation is not stealing. LanternWaste Dec 2015 #73

To state that it was their original discovery is not acculturation dhol82 Dec 2015 #74

We better stop using American money. montana_hazeleyes Dec 2015 #31

Isn't this how you keep from getting your head chopped off when ISIS comes to town. ileus Dec 2015 #33

But Why Not RobinA Dec 2015 #36

Of COURSE there would have been a peep Ms. Yertle Dec 2015 #59

I'm Not Sure RobinA Dec 2015 #63

In the age of the Internet Ms. Yertle Dec 2015 #64

There has been a backlash against the bigotry BlueCollar Dec 2015 #39

We constantly teach Christian material in public schools...constantly adigal Dec 2015 #43

The difference is Ms. Yertle Dec 2015 #60

a religous "statement of faith" has no place in public schools rollin74 Dec 2015 #44

Youll have to throw out a lot of literature! roody Dec 2015 #48

NO MORE ARABIC NUMERALS!! WE MUST RETURN TO ROMAN NUMERALS! NurseJackie Dec 2015 #45

Arabs don't use Arabic numerals. EL34x4 Dec 2015 #62

Cool! NurseJackie Dec 2015 #66

"Why do we have to learn about Mohammed" ashling Dec 2015 #46

Then there's this ashling Dec 2015 #55