The Khalil Gibran International Academy (KGIA) opens today in New York City as the first Arabic/English language public school in the country. Though the KGIA is one of many dual-language schools in the New York City public school system, the KGIA is (unsurprisingly) the only one that has generated controversy. Critics of the school have presented the following argument: Arabic = Muslim = al-Qaeda. Many view the school's opening - despite an aggressive campaign by Islamophobes and white supremacists - as a significant victory in the battle against racism in the U.S. KABOBfest has compiled the following timeline leading up to the milestone:
2/07 - New York City Department of Education announces the opening of 40 new public schools in the coming Fall. Among the 40 is the KGIA, which will offer lessons in Arabic and on Arab culture in addition to the regular public school curriculum.
5/07 - The KGIA is originally set to open in a Brooklyn elementary school, but moved elsewhere in Brooklyn. The Department of Education insists that the move is logistical, though much speculations points to security concerns due to potential hatemongers and racists against the school.
6/07 - A handful of residents of New York City found the Stop the Madrassa coalition to fight against the planned opening of the school. The group argues that the school will be a breeding ground for Muslim terrorism because lessons will be provided on Arabic and Arab culture (i.e., Arab = Muslim = al-Qaeda). The group quickly attracts the attention of Islamophobes and white supremacists, who join the group's Board. Among the new Board members is Daniel Pipes, one of the most notorious anti-Arab and anti-Muslim racists in the U.S. Pipes, who has expressed support for the U.S.'s internment of Japanese during World War II, is similarly opposed to the "increased stature" and "enfranchisement" of American Muslims.
The Coalition's Treasurer is David Yerushalmi, an Israeli settler and Jewish white supremacist in the occupied Palestinian West Bank (which is in direct contravention of the Fourth Geneva Convention). Yerushalmi believes that it should be "a felony punishable by 20 years in prison to knowingly act in furtherance of, or to support the, adherence to Islam." He also finds something inherent in Blacks that causes them to kill, and credits the founding fathers for prohibiting women and slaves from voting.
8/10/07 - Debbie Almontaser, the slated principal of the KGIA, is forced to resign after claiming that the word "intifada" means "shaking up." Previously, the Arab Women Active in Art and Media distributed t-shirts with the slogan "Intifada NYC." Almontaser was associated with the group because she is an Arab Woman and because she has an office next to that of the group. In fact, "intifada" does mean "shaking up."
The Stop the Madrassa Coalition insists that Almontaser is a terrorist supporter because she is Muslim. However, she has a long record of interfaith dialogue and public service. Almontaser has been profiled on Voice of America as an accomplished Muslim American twice. Her son spent several months on rescue efforts at ground zero as a member of the Army National Guard. Four of her nephews and cousins have served in the United States military in Iraq.
8/13/07 - Danielle Salzberg, a Jewish-American woman, is selected to replace Almontaser as principal. Salzberg has been involved in planning the school since February.
8/28/07 - The Friends of Gibran Council (FGC) issues a statement denouncing the use of Gibran's name for a school that teaches Arabic language and Arab culture. FGC was presumably formed sometime in July or August with the sole purpose of denouncing the use of Gibran's name in the KGIA. Of the group's nine members, two are on the Board of the Stop the Madrassa coalition. These same two are the only names that appear as contacts on the FGC statement. The FGC's central argument is that "Gibran, although a great artist and poet and fluent in Arabic, was not an Arab." However, Gibran himself did not align himself with this extremist and fringe idea (that Lebanese are not Arabs), and considered himself an Arab. Gibran fought for a united Syria, was a leading voice for a united Arab front against Ottoman rule, and contributed to and later founded Arab periodicals.
9/4/07 - The KGIA opens its doors to a nearly full enrollment of 57 students, leaving only three unfilled spots.
2/07 - New York City Department of Education announces the opening of 40 new public schools in the coming Fall. Among the 40 is the KGIA, which will offer lessons in Arabic and on Arab culture in addition to the regular public school curriculum.
5/07 - The KGIA is originally set to open in a Brooklyn elementary school, but moved elsewhere in Brooklyn. The Department of Education insists that the move is logistical, though much speculations points to security concerns due to potential hatemongers and racists against the school.
6/07 - A handful of residents of New York City found the Stop the Madrassa coalition to fight against the planned opening of the school. The group argues that the school will be a breeding ground for Muslim terrorism because lessons will be provided on Arabic and Arab culture (i.e., Arab = Muslim = al-Qaeda). The group quickly attracts the attention of Islamophobes and white supremacists, who join the group's Board. Among the new Board members is Daniel Pipes, one of the most notorious anti-Arab and anti-Muslim racists in the U.S. Pipes, who has expressed support for the U.S.'s internment of Japanese during World War II, is similarly opposed to the "increased stature" and "enfranchisement" of American Muslims.
The Coalition's Treasurer is David Yerushalmi, an Israeli settler and Jewish white supremacist in the occupied Palestinian West Bank (which is in direct contravention of the Fourth Geneva Convention). Yerushalmi believes that it should be "a felony punishable by 20 years in prison to knowingly act in furtherance of, or to support the, adherence to Islam." He also finds something inherent in Blacks that causes them to kill, and credits the founding fathers for prohibiting women and slaves from voting.
8/10/07 - Debbie Almontaser, the slated principal of the KGIA, is forced to resign after claiming that the word "intifada" means "shaking up." Previously, the Arab Women Active in Art and Media distributed t-shirts with the slogan "Intifada NYC." Almontaser was associated with the group because she is an Arab Woman and because she has an office next to that of the group. In fact, "intifada" does mean "shaking up."
The Stop the Madrassa Coalition insists that Almontaser is a terrorist supporter because she is Muslim. However, she has a long record of interfaith dialogue and public service. Almontaser has been profiled on Voice of America as an accomplished Muslim American twice. Her son spent several months on rescue efforts at ground zero as a member of the Army National Guard. Four of her nephews and cousins have served in the United States military in Iraq.
8/13/07 - Danielle Salzberg, a Jewish-American woman, is selected to replace Almontaser as principal. Salzberg has been involved in planning the school since February.
8/28/07 - The Friends of Gibran Council (FGC) issues a statement denouncing the use of Gibran's name for a school that teaches Arabic language and Arab culture. FGC was presumably formed sometime in July or August with the sole purpose of denouncing the use of Gibran's name in the KGIA. Of the group's nine members, two are on the Board of the Stop the Madrassa coalition. These same two are the only names that appear as contacts on the FGC statement. The FGC's central argument is that "Gibran, although a great artist and poet and fluent in Arabic, was not an Arab." However, Gibran himself did not align himself with this extremist and fringe idea (that Lebanese are not Arabs), and considered himself an Arab. Gibran fought for a united Syria, was a leading voice for a united Arab front against Ottoman rule, and contributed to and later founded Arab periodicals.
9/4/07 - The KGIA opens its doors to a nearly full enrollment of 57 students, leaving only three unfilled spots.
2 comments:
Any news on how the first day of school was for the kids?
MaShAllah
You know this school really does not benefit Arabic Kids. They can always study Arabic in the Masjid. This school is know led by Jews to produce spys for the USA and to translate all the information they are collecting from spying on Arabic conversations. I would not want my kids in it. Also it will be the perfect target for people that hate Arabs. Anytime there is a terrorist attack it will be a security risk for those kids.
Allah Yastur
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