Queer Conservative tipped to me off to the latest ruling from bizarro world (a.k.a the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals) allowing Islam to be taught in depth in public schools. Continuing our "first amendment extremism" here at Malcontent, I'm an ardent opponent of prayer or religious instruction in public schools. The Ninth Circuit, however, has discovered a force more powerful than the first amendment; multiculturalism!
A Contra Costa County school was educating seventh-graders about Islam, not indoctrinating them, in role-playing sessions in which students used Muslim names and recited language from prayers, a federal appeals court ruled Thursday. (emphasis added)
There is a fine line between introducing religious instruction in public schools and simply teaching our children about world culture in various social studies courses. Reading the instructional materials involved in these courses over at Michelle Malkin, this crosses the line, re-crosses it, then crosses it again for good measure.
Here's how I divine the good intentions of a school. Various Christian denominations are different. Growing up Catholic, I know my former religion has plenty of odd little prayers and rituals not practiced by the various Protestant derivations of Christianity. Would any public school teacher sit children down and have them reciting a Catholic prayer for the cultural value? After the inevitable lawsuit, would any court in the nation uphold it?
I know the answer to that. You know the answer to that. We all know the answer to that.
I do so laugh at this.
What will be funny is that the Ninth Circuit will AGAIN discover that saying "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance constitutes state sponsorship of religion and must be exterminated, but reciting prayers to Allah as a class requirement does not.
Posted by: North Dallas Thirty | November 22, 2005 at 06:43 PM