Purveyors of fear and paranoia, part ii
A New Hampshire group dedicated to fighting Common Core took a break from writing about “the national effort to seize control over curriculum standards” to post a vicious anti-Muslim piece from one of the country’s most notorious Islamophobes.
In their ongoing fight to block the implementation of Common Core curriculum standards in New Hampshire schools, the activists at Stop Common Core New Hampshire regularly post content on their website and Facebook page blasting the initiative.
Earlier this week, a very different message appeared on the group’s Facebook page when the administrator posted a link to an article by Pamela Geller, who has been called “the anti-Muslim movement’s most visible and flamboyant figurehead” by the Southern Poverty Law Center.
‘Walk a Mile in Her Hijab’
The article by Geller, who describes Islam as “the most radical and extreme ideology on the face of the earth,“ ridiculed a student initiative aimed at education and outreach about the Muslim faith that took place at a Chicago-area high school.
"Walk a Mile in Her Hijab” was sponsored by the ten-member Muslim Student Association (six of whom are Muslim) at Vernon Hills High School in Vernon Hills, Illinois. The voluntary event gave non-Muslim female students an opportunity to wear the traditional scarf worn by Muslim women for a day and to gain a better understanding of Islam.
“I think it is a difficult time to be a Muslim student in our high school, in our community, and in America,” the school’s principal told Daily Herald. “I think this is an opportunity for our kids to embrace the Muslim community within the school. For other kids outside of this organization, to understand what it’s like for these girls to walk through our halls in this garment in a way that stands out from other kids. So, I’m proud of them.”
“Cultural jihad,” shot back Geller. “Perhaps dressing as a Yezidi slave at a Muslim slave auction would give them ‘a better understanding of the Muslim faith,’ “ she wrote. “Or dressing as American teens Amina Said, Sarah Said, Noor Almaleki, Aqsa Parvez, Zainab Shafia, Jessica Mokdad — all honor murdered — would give them ‘a better understanding of the Muslim faith.’ “
“Such stupidity and ignorance is without peer. Cultural jihad…” Geller continued. ”There is nothing in their curriculum that teaches about the misogyny, creed apartheid, gender apartheid, FGM, Islamic Jew-hatred, or all incitement to violence and murder of the unbeliever taught in the Quran and Islamic texts.”
The reaction
Reactions from the Stop Common Core visitors who read the article varied. Some thanked the administrator. “Great job educating us people on what’s going on IN TOTALITY in the school systems,” one wrote. “Yah! This nonsense really readies our fine young people for the workplace. NOT!”
“You can’t even talk about God in public schools, we have holiday trees, holiday concerts, colleges are banning anything patriotic or Christian,” another wrote, “but Americans are supposed to allow the public schools to teach about Islam, the Koran & any other controversial topics??!!”
Others complained that the article was off-topic and inappropriate. “As much I don’t want common core,” one disgruntled reader wrote, “this page was suppose to focus on the movement. But if your going to turn it into a hate page against cultures or religion. Then we have a major issue with this sites intention. [sic]”
"What makes you think this was about a negative situation?” the page administrator flippantly responded. “Maybe for some, this is positive?”
"This headline is a clue > Chicago High School: Dress Up as a Muslima Event Sponsored by Terror-Tied Muslim Group MSA,” he replied.
Another reader applauded the "Walk a Mile in Her Hijab” initiative. “This strategy is a common strategy used by schools everywhere to gain acceptance of what some students do not understand,” she explained. “Relax people this is not hate. I so agree there are controversies and the school should teach a rounded view. Isn’t that what education should do? Teaching a rounded view allows one to think for themselves.”