On Arabic studies, we're not all speaking the same language [Texas]

Star-Telegram ^ | Bud Kennedy

[Dubya]

On Sunday night, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice joined former President George W. Bush at the Super Bowl.

One night later, only a few miles away, some south Arlington and Mansfield parents delivered a sharp drop-kick to one of Bush's and Rice's dreams.

After 9-11, a federal commission concluded that America's security is at risk in part because so few of us read or understand Arabic.

[Dubya]

Yet this week, when Mansfield school officials explained their plans to start teaching Arabic language and studies in four schools under a Bush-era federal program, they ran into a backlash.

Some parents even cited ... 9-11.

[Dubya]

Mansfield [TX]backs away from Arabic studies program

[Kandy Atz]

Shouldn’t we be pressuring the Middle East to learn English and western culture, that generally appreciates life and freedom?

Just a thought.

[momtothree]

I’m not buying for one minute that the government sees a risk with so few speaking Arabic. If they wanted people speaking it, offer it as a language in middle schools and high schools as an option. Why force it upon kids... some very young. Plus, the entire “culture” part of the language study needs to be really investigated. Are they promoting Islam? Do they take them to mosques as a field trip? Do they recite prayers? This whole program needs to be scrapped IMHO.

[Dubya]

Yes, thats for sure.

[Dubya]

Conservative education activist Donna Garner of Hewitt said the idea “is making everybody very uneasy.”

“I don’t see how they can teach the culture without getting into the Islamic belief system — we don’t want that taught,” she said.

Read more: http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/02/08/2834068/on-arabic-studies-were-not-all.html#ixzz1DTiVrrt5

[max americana]

stop making sense, willya?

[Deaf Smith]

Maybe if they had retitled the Arabic Studies Program as "Know Your Enemy".

[Dubya]

Are they promoting Islam? Do they take them to mosques as a field trip? Do they recite prayers? This whole program needs to be scrapped

YES & YES & YES & you are right.

[Dubya]

Maybe if they had retitled the Arabic Studies Program as "Know Your Enemy".

AND THAT WOULD MAKE IT ALRIGHT?????????????????

[all the best]

In other words it is Bush’s fault.

[Dubya]

In other words it is Bush’s fault.

I don't know and I don't care whose fault it is.
What difference does it make?

[Deaf Smith]

It would be a Elective to replace typing class.

[Dubya]

Have a nice day.

[Reagan69]

Will they also have “Bomb Economics” and “Bomb Shop”?

This is disgusting.

[peyton randolph]

Maybe if they had retitled the Arabic Studies Program as "Know Your Enemy".
********
Wouldn't work because the "enemy" would be defined in the program as the United States.

[tumblindice]

“so few of us read or understand Arabic”

I need to know only 4 words: `Hands on your head.’

[Kakaze]

Stopping this, requires parents enter, in mass and stop these classes during the school day.

Get arrested, get on tv, get the message out, force the administration to go on the record .

[cubreporter]

I wouldn’t allow it. If they teach Arabic then they have to teach all the other languages as well. I’ll determine what my child learns...

[Dubya]

I need to know only 4 words: `Hands on your head

LOL good one.