posted on July 10, 2007 05:46:19 PM new
We ALL know how the liberals, the aclu and all who support the supposed 'separation of church and state' would be screaming bloody murder if any Christian tried this in any public school.
Wonder why they're all so quite, and show support/approval of muslims being allowed to do what they would never allow any other religion to do in our public schools now.
Boy...support for the muslim religion in more ways than one from the liberal left. tsk tsk tsk
Yep - keep C.A.I.R happy.
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O'reilly also mentioned that taxpayers are paying for 'foot washes' in [I believe michigan university] because muslims have to wash their feet. What's up with that?
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Muslim prayers in school debated
S.D. elementary at center of dispute
By Helen Gao
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
July 2, 2007
A San Diego public school has become part of a national debate over religion in schools ever since a substitute teacher publicly condemned an Arabic language program that gives Muslim students time for prayer during school hours.
Carver Elementary in Oak Park added Arabic to its curriculum in September when it suddenly absorbed more than 100 students from a defunct charter school that had served mostly Somali Muslims.
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OVERVIEW
Background: The U.S. Department of Education's guidelines say students can pray at public schools during school hours by themselves or with fellow students. However, Šteachers and other public school officials may not lead their classes in prayer, devotional readings from the Bible or other religious activities.
What's happening: A substitute teacher claimed that Carver Elementary School in San Diego was indoctrinating students into Islam, and that a teacher's aide led Muslim children in prayer. An investigation failed to substantiate the claims, but the allegations have thrust Carver into a nationwide debate over prayer in schools.
The future: Carver, which has set aside a 15-minute break to allow time for students to pray, is considering alternative prayer accommodations. Religious and civil rights groups are monitoring developments.
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After subbing at Carver, the teacher claimed that religious indoctrination was taking place and said that a school aide had led Muslim students in prayer.
An investigation by the San Diego Unified School District failed to substantiate the allegations. But critics continue to assail Carver for providing a 15-minute break in the classroom each afternoon to accommodate Muslim students who wish to pray. (Those who don't pray can read or write during that non-instructional time.)
Some say the arrangement at Carver constitutes special treatment for a specific religion that is not extended to other faiths. Others believe it crosses the line into endorsement of religion.
Supporters of Carver say such an accommodation is legal, if not mandatory, under the law. They note the district and others have been sued for not accommodating religious needs on the same level as non-religious needs, such as a medical appointment.
Islam requires its adherents to pray at prescribed times, one of which falls during the school day.
posted on July 10, 2007 06:03:50 PM new
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
College's foot bath plans spark backlash
Project for Muslim students draws accusation U-M Dearborn is giving faith favored treatment.
Karen Bouffard / The Detroit News
Plans to install $25,000 foot baths at the University of Michigan-Dearborn are raising hackles and debate. Here's a look at the issue.
Supporters say: The stations are a step toward inclusion for Muslim students who must wash body parts -- including feet -- five times daily before prayers. Student fees, not tax dollars, are footing the bill.
Critics say: The First Amendment bans government from favoring religion. State universities don't spend money on projects that accommodate one religion, such as bowls of holy water for Catholics.
Source: Detroit News research
Related Articles and Links
Should universities provide foot-washing stations for Muslim students, who must ritually wash before prayers?
DEARBORN -- The University of Michigan-Dearborn plans to spend $25,000 for foot-washing stations, making it easier for Muslim students to practice their religion but sparking questions about the separation of church and state.
The university claims the stations are needed to accommodate Muslim students, who must ritually wash their bodies -- including the feet -- up to five times each day before prayers. But critics hit conservative blogs and radio airwaves Monday to argue public money shouldn't cover the cost.
"Technically, they've got a problem, because it's public money they're using to pay for this," said Hal Downs, president of the Michigan chapter of Washington, D.C.-based Americans United for Separation of Church and State.
"It's one of those issues that we're going to be facing more and more in this community."
The issue may push hot buttons in Metro Detroit -- home to as many as 250,000 Muslims -- but in nearby Ypsilanti, no one raised objections when Eastern Michigan University included a private bathroom with a foot-washing area in a new student union that opened in November, said Glenna Frank Miller, its director.
U-M Dearborn will include the floor-level stations at two bathrooms to be constructed in August at the University Center and Fairlane Center buildings, said Terry Gallagher, spokesman for the university. The units are necessary because some students resorted to washing their feet in sinks.
The university of 8,600 students doesn't track them by religion, Gallagher said.
"This was a reasonable accommodation," he said.
Gallagher argued taxpayer money won't be used for the foot baths because the $100,000 total bill for the bathrooms is underwritten by a fee students pay for building maintenance.
But Downs countered the move appears to violate the establishment clause of the First Amendment, which prohibits governments from favoring religions or subsidizing them.
The Detroit chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union isn't getting involved, arguing the foot baths are secular since non-Muslims could use them, said spokeswoman Rana Elmir.
"If they're going to build more bathrooms, why not build them in a way to accommodate the students?" asked Bilal Dabaja, 22, a political science major and Muslim. "There is a sizable minority of students who are Muslims."
A similar controversy erupted in April in Minnesota, when Minneapolis Community and Technical College officials were bombarded with thousands of angry e-mails after announcing plans to build foot wash stations.
The issue was fueled by criticism from conservative Internet bloggers. In Metro Detroit, Southfield attorney Debbie Schlussel is leading the charge against U-M Dearborn's plans, writing: "Forget about the Constitutionally mandated separation of church and state at least when it comes to mosqueand state."
The Internet has created the fuss at U-M Dearborn, argued Dawud Walid, executive director of the Michigan branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
"To my knowledge, none of the students or staff have made any complaints about the foot-washing area," Walid said.
"This whole thing came to light through some right-wing Islama-phobic bloggers that want to promulgate the idea that the university is being Islama-fied."
At EMU, the idea of a foot-washing station at the student center building came about in focus groups that were held with hundreds of community members invited to participate in the planning process, Frank Miller said.
"This concept of the foot-wash was coming up fairly regularly for student groups who might want to do a meeting or prayer group in the student center," she said. "It's been a lovely touch of appreciation for a prayer ritual that's just a little different than what most of us are used to."
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CNSnews.com
Muslims initially were willing to raise the money to cover the cost, but the Michigan chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union -- often a foe of faith in the public square -- said there was no constitutional reason why the university could not fund the project.
posted on July 11, 2007 11:12:21 PM new
Mingo, you beat me to it.
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There is more to life than increasing its speed. --Mahatma Gandhi
