First ...
Absolute favortism ... somehow, in this case and most cases, I have a problem with that word, "absolute". It connotates "decidedly", "consistantly", and "globally", and regardless of how many places it happens or doesn't happen, it doesn't happen everywhere. Even you can realize and admit to that.
Secondly, being a public school teacher, I am well aware of the laws of what can and cannot happen in public schools. If it is happening in your area - or any US public school area - then it is *also* a reflection of the leaders in that area. And, here's the kicker, as a taxpayer, you, and any other citizen who feels strongly enough, can stand up and do something about it by practicing your First Amendment rights (and that can be done without name-calling, culture-bashing or broad religious/cultural generalizations).
Lastly, as far as this article is concerned, it is a single issue. But since it is placed against a larger - much larger - issue, I could, if the issue itself meant a hell of a lot to me, argue by turning around your same points. (For the record, the issue itself doesn't bother me .. what bothers me is the near-absolute lack of tolerance and the broad generalizations made over and over).
Public schools, in some locales, have set up Islamic prayer rooms. Ask a Christian who prays before class what happens to her.
"in some locales" is the key word here. Depending on how it's handled, I see it as tolerance toward a particular religion, rather than favortism. (Which, strangely enough, is why Europeans came to the "New World", right? For the freedom to practice their religious beliefs without fear of persecution?). Here's the thing. Muslim
must pray at particlar times of the day. It's not a question of whether or not they wish to, it is an order of their belief system that must be obeyed. Like not eating meat during certain times of Lent for Catholics. Now I don't know about other public school districts outside of Hawai'i, but here the schools do not serve meat dishes on those days. I'm not Catholic. I like meat. But I'm not going to cry foul. If it really bugged me, I could petition the courts to make those Catholics bring lunch on those days. If it really bugged me, I could attempt to do something about it. I am afforded that right.
As for the Christian who prays before class - they are also afforded that right. Want to know how to legally pray in public school settings?
Here's the link. For any who feel strongly about prayer in school, take a look at that and pass it on, especially to the leaders of your state. But again, intolerance breeds intolerance as ignorance breed ignorance. If the leaders don't bother to educate themselves, why should others in their area?
Look, I'm not as naive as you might think I am. I know there's a lot of crap out there, religiously and culturally. I know that no one religion is perfect in any way shape or form, historically or by practice. And I know that people have very strong cultural and religious beliefs (as I do). But honestly, is it too much to ask that for one moment in time, everyone just takes a breath and attempts to look at it from a different point of view? That the name-calling and belief-bashing stop, especially when your (speaking generally, not directed at you, Gonz) point is in need of justificaton? I'm not pro anything except Hawai'i and family. I'm not anti-Christian, anti-Judaism, anti-Islam or anti-anti. I'm not arguing for or against any of these issues or arguments, but rather, the way in which the arguing is taking place and the fallacious justifications behind the points are made.
Maybe I am naive afterall.
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