Originally Published on The Miami Herald
Prior to 1954, many schools were segregated because of fear and a lack of understanding. Nearly 60 years after the Supreme Court’s Brown v. Board of Education decision we find ourselves in a similar situation with the parents in the Volusia County School District who are pushing to remove chapters on Islam from a history book because, as they see it, Islam is a religion that calls for America’s destruction.
Again, we see that a majority is scared of learning about a minority because of irrational fears.
Let me set the record straight: Islam is a religion of peace and advocates peace. The terrorists who committed the 9/11 atrocities do not represent Islam, and nowhere is the destruction of America a tenet of Islam.
I believe that the best way to get over this “Islamophobia” is through education. Depriving our students of knowledge of Islam, Christianity, Judaism and other religions will only further validate stereotypes rather than promote coexistence and understanding. Let us learn from history and not repeat the same ignorant mistakes.
This is clear nonsense. I have read all of the Islamic “Trinity”, the Koran, the Hadith and the Sirah of Muhammad. And have read widely around the subject (both critical and Islam-supportive). I also follow it closely in the daily media and blogs (by no means all Islam-critical). And the sum of all that is that Islam is clearly NOT a religion of peace, either in its documents, or in its practice. Osama bin Laden was well versed in Islam and his justification for carrying out 911, one would have trouble faulting. I have seen some of the excerpts of the books that were to be used in the Volusia County school, and they indeed paint a one-sided picture of Islam. It’s absolutely correct to be concerned about Islam, not at all irrational.
Dear Forse, I do not in which blogs you have been. Many blogs maybe Islamic in name but not Islamic in either teachings/practice. Islam literally means ‘peace’. Mecca is referred to as the ‘city of peace’. Muslims salutations ‘salaam’ means ‘peace upon you’. Muhammad -peace be on him- the prophet of Islam has named a ‘mercy to the whole of the universe’. Muslims salutations in Paradise will again be Salam i.e peace. One of the names of Allah is As Salaam i.e Peace. Muslims have been instructed in the Quran ‘not to create disorder in the earth’ and to obey those in Authority i.e teachings of peace. They have been taught that to love one’s country – whether adopted or not – is part of one’s faith. They been taught that its is obligatory upon them to recognise the prophets of Christianity, Judaism and other religions be it Jesus, Moses, Abraham, Buddha, Krishna, Laotze etc and to send peace upon them, otherwise they are not true Muslims. I agree with you that there are deviant groups today in Islam but these are not practicing the true teachings of Islam, rather they are tarnishing its beautiful and resplendent face. As Ahmadiyya Muslims we strive our foremost to practise the above teachings of Islam and our motto is ‘Love for All and Hatred for None’.
Why is it ok to teach Islam but nothing on other religions equally, and the pledge of allegiance is illegal because of the word GOD? And now Muslim only swimming, if there was a Christian only swim CAIR would have a stroke being so offended. I have no problem with legal immigration, my grandfather’s family came from Poland and even dropped the ski off their name to be more American. But seems to me Islam want’s everyone else to change their ways so as not to offend them. Anything I do anywhere that may offend any persons religion as long as it’s legal is not my problem, it is their problem.
I can see where you are coming from, and I certainly agree there is a value to being able to express your opinion.
But that does not mean one should go out of their way to be offensive and vulgar either. I support freedom of speech and freedom of criticism wholeheartedly, especially criticism of Islam, even especially because I am a Muslim. The best ideas are those that can withstand the test of offense, and you are FAR from being offensive.
All that said there is no need to be vulger in criticism. That is just rude and does not lead to conducive thought and creates division.
Just like supprting BLM does not mean you hate Police officers, encouraging civil discourse does not mean you wish to limit free speech.
Also where the hell are you getting the “Why is it ok to teach Islam but nothing on other religions equally, and the pledge of allegiance is illegal because of the word GOD? ”
firstly the Quran says: “O ye who believe, obey Allah and obey the Prophet and obey those in authority from among you” (4:60)
The holy prophet said, Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa) said,
“You should listen to and obey your ruler, even if you [despise him]” (Bukhari)
“He who is not grateful to his people can never be truly grateful to God.”
“Whoso obeys the ruler obeys me, and whoso disobeys the ruler disobeys me”
On multiple occasions my mosque has pledged alligence to the flag, and our missionaries have always said “Loyalty to ones country is a practice of faith,”
I don’t know where you are getting your “Islam” from, but it sounds like a bad used car dealership.