The media smear campaign that forced Debbie Almontaser to resign as principal of the Khalil Gibran International Academy was led by a group called Stop the Madrassa.
Stop the madrassa from what? From teaching teenagers their daily algebra lessons in Arabic?
The term madrassa means school. Nothing more, nothing less. In fact it’s a shame Almontaser resigned when she did. We missed out on seeing a bunch a xenophobic New Yorkers march around in a circle chanting Stop the school! Stop the school!
Say what you will about the Khalil Gibran Academy, but do your homework before you rally the masses. The words jihad, intifada, and madrassa may sound scary, but their meanings are completely benign.
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Almontaser appears to disagree with you.
On her previous “benign” definition of the word intifada, she now says, “By minimizing the word’s historical associations I implied that I condone violence and threats of violence.”
Go protest her.
Posted by Anonymous | August 12, 2007, 9:43 pmHer lawyer probably told her to say that, dude. Its just like any public figure forced to retract reasonable statements because of ignorant public outcry – Jimmy Carter?
Posted by Anonymous | August 13, 2007, 1:21 amAs an aside, we ran a story back in November in which we covered a Brooklyn family of Arab-Americans who all signed up to serve in the Marines – all of whom did at least one tour in Iraq. Several now serve in the NYPD.
The name of these US patriots?
Al-Montaser.
Posted by NOX | August 13, 2007, 1:28 am“She got a question, she’s not all that media-savvy maybe, and she tried to explain a word rather than just condemn,” [Bloomberg] said. “But I think she felt that she had become the focus of — rather than having the school the focus — so today she submitted her resignation, which is nice of her to do.
Apparently trying to explain something to a public unfamiliar with Arabic is her mistake – She seems to have forgotten than Americans don’t listen, preferring instead to condemn out-of-hand to feed the media frenzy. Good thing she was ‘nice enough’ to resign, especially since she really didn’t do anything wrong as far as i can tell
Posted by Anonymous | August 13, 2007, 1:28 amAs another aside, while intifada means literally “shaking off”, it is also acceptable to ascribe to it the meaning “overthrow”. Or to “rise up”.
Interestingly, a film came out in 2001 called “Uprising”.
It was the story of an oppressed people, herded into ethnic ghettos and routinely murdered or collectively punished because of their ethnicity. They built tunnels between buildings, distributed smuggled arms and plotted in secret an armed rebellion.
This uprising was in Warsaw 1943. So, this was a “good” uprising. This was an “intifada” that became celebrated as an act of courage against racist soldiers from another country.
Wonder if selling that DVD is banned in Brooklyn…? I mean, if “uprising” is such a terrifying word….
Posted by nox | August 13, 2007, 1:41 amNox,
As another aside, while intifada means literally “shaking off”, it is also acceptable to ascribe to it the meaning “overthrow”. Or to “rise up”.
And what is it that Arabs are truing to “overthrow” in New York? What do they want to “shake off” in New York? What is it Arabs feel they need to rise up against, in New York?
You damn her with your defense of her.
Posted by programmer craig | August 13, 2007, 9:51 am“What is it Arabs feel they need to rise up against, in New York?”
Ignorance, Craig, ignorance…..
Posted by Nox | August 13, 2007, 11:46 pmArabs want to combat ignorance? Are you even serious? If it wasn’t for ignorance, you guys wouldn’t have any “education” system at all, would you?
Hey, here’s an idea, you could hire an insane guy in a Mickey Mouse suit to yell at small children. That should do the trick.
Posted by programmer craig | August 14, 2007, 1:02 am“If it wasn’t for ignorance, you guys wouldn’t have any ‘education’ system at all…”
Unlike the enlightened state version you seem to have received….
Tell me, was “Racism” a 4th Grade elective, or a 5th? Or was it a part of the kindly US Marine Corps recruitment officer visit… the one where he hands out flyers showing the bodies of raped and incinerated Iraqi teenagers???
Posted by Lowfields | August 14, 2007, 6:10 am“If it wasn’t for ignorance, you guys wouldn’t have any ‘education’ system at all…”
In your case, Craig, we accept we have failed on all fronts….
Posted by NOX | August 14, 2007, 6:11 amOh, yes, Americans are notr only ignorant, but racist. Again, completely unlike Arabs
Keep telling yourselves that. I’m sure it makes you feel much better about your miserable lots in life.
Posted by programmer craig | August 14, 2007, 10:50 am“I’m sure it makes you feel much better about your miserable lots in life.”
Just repeat that yourself the next time you’re filling out a comment box on a website whose target audience is an ethnicity you hate and that talks about a culture you despise….
Fulfilment seems a long way off for you… unless “programming” is more rewarding that it sounds, of course.
Posted by NOX | August 15, 2007, 12:31 amFirst up, awesome article! I’ve got a small question nagging me, I really enjoy the layout of your site and tried to install the same design on my WP site. Yet, there is some kind of strange php error in the sidebar. Do you have any hints, what settings are you using? Please PM me on Twitter @LettersnWords or via e-mail.
Posted by Copywriting | March 17, 2010, 3:16 am