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Arab School Principal Says She Regrets Intifada Remarks
The New York Sun ^ | August 7, 2007 | ELIZABETH GREEN

Posted on 08/07/2007 3:00:27 PM PDT by Baladas

The principal of an Arabic-language public school due to open next month is under fire for taking what several Jewish groups are condemning as a soft stance on the violent Palestinian Arab uprising known as the intifada. The principal, Debbie Almontaser, was quoted yesterday interpreting T-shirts that say "Intifada NYC" as not an endorsement of violence but rather "an opportunity for girls to express that they are part of New York City society ... and shaking off oppression." She followed the word's literal Arabic meaning, which is "struggle" or "uprising."

In a statement late yesterday afternoon, Ms. Almontaser backed away from her comments, reported by the New York Post, saying she regretted suggesting the T-shirt slogan was appropriate. "By minimizing the word's historical associations I implied that I condone violence and threats of violence," she said. "That view is anathema to me and the very opposite of my life's work."

Ms. Almontaser has previously led inter-group tolerance lessons for city schoolchildren, and her supporters say her school, the Khalil Gibran International Academy, will bridge differences by teaching a diverse group of students the Arabic language alongside a traditional college preparatory curriculum.

Among the critics to emerge before she released her statement yesterday were several groups that had extended close support to the school, set to open in Brooklyn this September.

"I feel like a fool. I think Abe Foxman should feel like a fool. And certainly Joel Klein if he sponsors it will be a fool," a CUNY board member who had decided to support the school, Jeffrey Wiesenfeld, said

(Excerpt) Read more at nysun.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; US: New York
KEYWORDS: almontaser; cair; cuny; intifada; intifadanyc; islam; khalilgibranacademy; madrassa; muslim; nyc; palestinianarabs; publikskoolz; tshirt
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To: Baladas

Good grief!


21 posted on 08/07/2007 3:25:02 PM PDT by lilylangtree (Veni, Vidi, Vici)
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To: Baladas
"By minimizing the word's historical associations I implied that I condone violence and threats of violence," she said. "That view is anathema to me and the very opposite of my life's work."

"And it is perfectly okay to lie to an infidel like you, since you are too stupid as a nation to survive."

22 posted on 08/07/2007 3:26:17 PM PDT by Old Sarge (This tagline in memory of FReeper 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub)
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To: donna

Don’t worry. According to the left, America is the most oppressive society on earth, so when the Muslims take over, you’ll be better off. You’ll be free of such hassles as putting on makeup, driving cars, or going to the doctor. And you’ll have three new friends for life as your husband takes on new wives.

It will be paradise on earth!


23 posted on 08/07/2007 3:26:17 PM PDT by Our man in washington
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To: TBP
it sounds like a madrassa, with public funds.

Wait until we get school vouchers in place. We'll be funding Madras's all over the country.

24 posted on 08/07/2007 3:28:21 PM PDT by Doe Eyes
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To: Doctor Raoul

Hey, “muslimah”, welcome to the internet, you clueless twerp!

(”Gee, they’re really not supposed to talk about me this way.”)


25 posted on 08/07/2007 3:32:35 PM PDT by elcid1970
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To: Baladas

Liberals, feeling their way through the world guided solely by their emotions, are convinced (subconsciously) that the key to their survival is sucking up to those who want to slit their throats. They suffer, en masse, from the Stockholm Syndrome.


26 posted on 08/07/2007 3:34:36 PM PDT by Spok
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To: DaveLoneRanger; 2Jedismom; Aggie Mama; agrace; Antoninus; arbooz; bboop; BlackElk; blu; Capagrl; ...

ANOTHER REASON TO HOMESCHOOL

This ping list is for the “other” articles of interest to homeschoolers about education and public school. If you want on/off this list, please freepmail me. The main Homeschool Ping List by DaveLoneRanger handles the homeschool-specific articles.Another one!
27 posted on 08/07/2007 3:40:44 PM PDT by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
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To: AliVeritas

She is a Bald-faced LIAR.


28 posted on 08/07/2007 3:42:56 PM PDT by LtKerst (Lt Kerst)
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To: AliVeritas

She is a Bald-faced LIAR.


29 posted on 08/07/2007 3:43:03 PM PDT by LtKerst (Lt Kerst)
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To: AliVeritas

She is a Bald-faced LIAR.


30 posted on 08/07/2007 3:43:06 PM PDT by LtKerst (Lt Kerst)
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To: All

If NYC Bd. of Ed. wants to encourage arabic language learning, it can make arabic a language students can take as their foreign language requirement in high schools in general. Why do they need a whole separate school for this? They don’t. NYC should forget the Arabic School idea. This would go for schools established to promote other foreign languages as well.


31 posted on 08/07/2007 3:45:53 PM PDT by sandbox (Name the enemy// Win the war.)
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To: donna

OMG-that slew me!


32 posted on 08/07/2007 3:52:49 PM PDT by Califreak (Go Hunter!)
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To: Baladas

Mrs. Almont-ass-her ought to be wrapped in a burqua and shipped back to whatever Arab country she came from.


33 posted on 08/07/2007 3:55:22 PM PDT by Palladin (Judge Munley is a nincompoop.)
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To: Revolting cat!
Hola señor


34 posted on 08/07/2007 3:55:57 PM PDT by donna (The United States Constitution and the Koran are mutually exclusive.)
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To: FARS; Founding Father; milford421

Ping


35 posted on 08/07/2007 4:05:54 PM PDT by nw_arizona_granny ( Today is a good day for working on some heavy praying. The world needs God to hear them.)
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To: Baladas

The real story here is that we agree to open up an Arab school and get upset when they act like just like Arabs around the world do. What the F did we expect?

This balkanization by design is a pathetic excuse for reasoned policy.


36 posted on 08/07/2007 4:05:57 PM PDT by DoughtyOne (Victory will never be achieved while defining Conservatism downward, and forsaking it's heritage.)
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To: Baladas

So getting young girls to show tshirts supporting the way arabs treat women is supporting women’s rights.

I happen to know a group of Saudi girls living middle class lives here to escape being over there where their families were very very rich but they were disowned.


37 posted on 08/07/2007 4:09:22 PM PDT by cubswinby100
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To: Baladas
Image hosted by Photobucket.com

38 posted on 08/07/2007 4:14:56 PM PDT by Chode (American Hedonist)
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To: xkaydet65

Page 8 of the Executive Summary of the school clearly states there will be workshops on ISLAM...

Do your friends know of this?


39 posted on 08/07/2007 4:22:31 PM PDT by milford421 (U.N. OUT OF U.S.)
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To: donna

Nope.

We flock to the gun shows, gun stores, and ranges. :)


40 posted on 08/07/2007 4:52:16 PM PDT by Politicalmom (Of the potential GOP front runners, FT has one of the better records on immigration.- NumbersUSA)
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