This is scary stuff, and sadly this is very typical of the brainwashing and biased political instruction that goes on in public schools every day!
Excerpts from the lesson plan:
During coverage of the terrorist attacks, many news organizations showed video footage of Palestinians celebrating the terrorist attacks. Sentiment against the Palestinians--and Arab people more generally--increased as a result of this reporting, though at the time it was unclear who was responsible for the attacks [WHAT?!?!?], or how widespread such celebrations were in the Middle East.
Ask students to brainstorm a list of descriptors that come to mind when they hear the word "terrorist." Ask students to share their ideas (verbally, or anonymously by collecting papers and reading aloud). Note how many times "Arab," "Middle East," or "Muslim" get mentioned. Ask students if they think this characterization is fair. [Well, gee...considering this is a lesson about 9/11 and ALL of the terrorists involved in 9/11 were ARABS and MUSLIMS I would say that characterization is fair and accurate!] How does it compare to the characterization of Japanese-Americans and German-Americans during World War II?
Examine how the media portrays people of Arab descent, through an analysis of movies like The Seige, True Lies, and the upcoming Tom Clancy thriller, The Sum of All Fears [uh...wasn't this about russians or nazis or something?]. Students may be interested in the following article: The Seige: Hollywood Now Plays Cowboys and Arabs http://www.library.cornell.edu/colldev/mideast/arbholl.htm [Silence of the Lambs is ok because it was about a WHITE MALE, though. Have your kids watch that instead, it is much more PC.]
Share this article posted online from MSNBC: "Arab-Americans feel a backlash" http://www.msnbc.com/news/628515.asp This article details hate crimes against Arab-Americans in the wake of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. Is there any connection between media portrayals of Arabs in movies and other popular entertainment, and the crimes committed against Arab-American citizens? Ask students to discuss this.
Ask students to brainstorm a list of ways that citizens can eradicate ethnic stereotypes in their communities (possibilities include exhibits, ethnic festivals, film series, social events at places of worship, etc.). What things can be done locally? At the national level? Choose one or more of these ideas to implement as a class or in partnership with a community organization.