open letter to Davis about mandatory muslim course

ACLJ ^ | 20 Jan 2002 | ACLJ

[patriot5186]

To: Governor Gray Davis
To: Mrs. Delaine Eastin, State Superintendent of Public Instruction

It has come to our attention that the Byron Union School District ('BUSD') has instituted a mandatory course in Islam for its seventh grade students, which has led to a number of complaints by parents about violations of the parents' and their children's First Amendment freedoms.

We are alarmed that this course forces students to participate in Muslim worship, including:

-Mandatory prayer "in the name of Allah the Compassionate the Merciful" and chanting praise to "Allah, Lord of Creation"
-requiring students to dress up as Muslims and take a Muslim name
-urging students to stage a Jihad

We understand that it is perfectly acceptable for schools to teach about religion-- including the teachings of Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. But it crosses constitutional lines for public schools to require students to attend a course that violates their religious beliefs!

The American Center for Law and Justice has already sent a demand letter to the Byron Union School District urging them to allow students to "opt out" of the course if it violates their religious beliefs. We respectfully urge you to do the same for this and other school districts statewide.

[patriot5186]

Click ACLJ link above to add your name to open letter to Gray Davis protesting the mandatory course in Islam in Byron, CA

[FrogMom]

Oh HELL no! The rats squawk about separation of church and state and erase all mentions of God from public eye. And then do this??

Open letter? Nope! The lawyer would have been there the next day!

[randog]

Lemme get this right--students can 'opt out', but the school can still teach/preach Islam?

[FrogMom]

Geez, pat, this steams me like nothing has for a VERY long time. I'd have injunctions and law-suits flying like they were coming from a rotary crap machine.

[upchuck]

Oh, geese, a bunch more sheeple that can't spell   H O M E S C H O O L I N G

Shame you couldn't work in the phrase, "Government Schools."

[patriot5186]

You're right - and have a right to be mad. The more direct approach from those families involved and their legal counsel would be better! The ACLJ is a non profit legal group that handles many cases just like this. Check out their site.

[patriot5186]

home schooling would be the solution to those who can afford it and make the commitment. But that doesn't mean our public taxes should support this abuse.

[patriot5186]

Also check out other discussions on this site.

[TomGuy]

Curiously interesting:
Marin County, home of the infamous Johnny Taliban Walker is just across the bay from Contra Costa County, location of Bryon Union School District, Bryon, CA.

[Right_in_Virginia]

"-urging students to stage a Jihad:

PLEASE! Can someone explain why an American school would do this?

[hedgetrimmer]

Homeschooling is not the answer for everyone.

[John H K]

I have a deep suspicion that the degree to which students are actually WORSHIPPING, and many other aspects of this story, are exaggerated and overhyped, and if you actually saw the classes it would be far less upsetting.

Newsmax is incapable of reporting anything without hyperbole and they've been the main source.

[Thorondir]

Christianity has unquestionably built the most just, fair, healthy, advanced and forgiving civilization on the face of the earth, and all the mohammedans offer is a quick violent trip back to the brutality of the seventh century, with cruelty, oppression and murder for women and all non-muslims. Violence, hatred, xenophobia and calls for our murder are all in the Koran. It is a book of hate and murder, with a few misleading side bars for peace thrown in so they can quote them to us stupid outsider infidels (it helps them if we smile and close our eyes before they murder us).

There are two kinds of Muslims:
1) Those who follow the Koran now, and try to oppress and kill everyone else.
2) Those who quietly support the first group while helping to lull us to sleep.

It's time to wake up and get as serious about our survival as the Mohammedans are about our destruction.

[patriot5186]

You may want to follow this fellow freeper who lives in Byron and knows a boy in the class and is taking action.