Islam whitewashed in School text books. - The Firearms Forum

45nut · 03-06-2009, 08:45 AM

American Textbook Council: Islam being whitewashed in American school books

"'What is frustrating is that repeatedly the textbook publishers have been called on their bias on the sunny, doctored view of Islam' but have refused to balance their books." Why? Simple: "publishers are afraid of the Islamist activists. They don't want trouble."

"Critic Says Islamic Extremism Gets Whitewashed in American Textbooks," from Fox News, March 4:

An education expert is warning that some American textbooks present a biased view of Islam and offer a sugarcoated picture of Islamic extremism, a trend that has parents worried about what's being taught in public schools.

In numerous history textbooks, "key subjects like jihad, Islamic law, the status of women are whitewashed," said Gilbert T. Sewall, director of the American Textbook Council, an independent group that reviews history books and other education materials.

Cindy Ross, the mother of a junior high school student in Marin County, Calif., said she couldn't believe her eyes when she read her son's textbook last school year.

"I was very shocked by what I saw, looking through the book," she said — shocked at how Islam was portrayed in her son's seventh grade history text.

"What did strike me was that all the other religions seemed to be lumped together, where there is an inordinate emphasis on Islam specifically," Ross said.

Moreover, this "inordinate emphasis" isn't meant to demonstrate Islam's uniquely intolerant tenets, but rather how wonderful Islam is.

Sewall claims that publishers have been pressured by Islamic activists to portray the religion in the most favorable light, while Islamic terrorism is downplayed or glossed over.

"The picture is incomplete ... and the reason for this is that publishers are afraid of the Islamist activists. They don't want trouble," he told FOX News.

Sewall, who authored a report on how textbooks teach and present Islam, singled out one book that he said failed to explain what the story of the September 11 terrorist attacks.

In a section discussing Islamic fundamentalism, the textbook "World History: The Modern World," published by Prentice Hall, omits direct mention of the 9/11 hijackers' religion, referring to the 19 Islamic fundamentalists as "teams of terrorists."

"On the morning of September 11, 2001," the book reads, "teams of terrorists hijacked four airplanes on the East Coast. Passengers challenged the hijackers on one flight, which they crashed on the way to its target. But one plane plunged in to the Pentagon in Virginia, and two others slammed into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York. More than 2,500 people were killed in the attacks."

In his report on the text, Sewall called the passage "dismaying" in its flatness and brevity. "In terms of content, so much is left unanswered. Who were the teams of terrorists and what did they want do to? What were their political ends? Since 'The Modern World' avoids any hint of the connection between this unnamed terrorism and jihad," he wrote, "why September 11 happened is hard to understand."

But Muslim advocacy groups say students need to learn more about Islam to correct misconceptions and help turn away a wrongheaded focus on extremism.

"It's wrong to show an entire faith community from the lens of a small extremist community, which is really a fringe. It's a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of the Muslim community, and that's not how Muslims want to be framed," said Daisy Khan, executive director of the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

I'm sure they don't, but what does the desire of Muslims to be "framed" in positive terms have to do with reality, facts?

"I think there is an unbalanced portrayal of Islam seen mostly through a political lens, but that is not the reality of who a majority of Muslims are," she told FOX News.

Khan said when it comes to teaching about Islam, "I think the more important issue is American values of tolerance, respect and mutual understanding," which can best be imparted with accurate information about the religion.

In other words, when we encounter Islam's intolerance, say, to Western notions -- "tolerance, respect, and mutual understanding" -- we should rely on those same notions to overlook the fact that Islam does not.

But the content of those religious lessons also has Sewall concerned, particularly on the controversial topic of jihad.

Sewall says the violent aspects of Islamic jihad are glossed over and that it is presented as an internal struggle or a fight for protection in books like "History Alive! The Medieval World and Beyond," published by the Teachers Curriculum Institute.

"Jihad is defined as a struggle within each individual to overcome difficulties and strive to please god. Sometimes it may be a physical struggle for protection against enemies," the book reads, noting that Islam teaches "that Muslims should fulfill jihad with the heart, tongue and hand. Muslims use the heart in their struggle to resist evil."

Well, Duke professor Bruce Lawrence says that jihad -- what all schools of Islamic jurisprudence have determined is offensive warfare to spread Islam -- is basically striving to be "a better student, a better colleague, a better business partner. Above all, to control one's anger"

It's a lesson that Sewall says needs to change.

"What is frustrating is that repeatedly the textbook publishers have been called on their bias on the sunny, doctored view of Islam" but have refused to balance their books, he said.

None of the textbook publishers contacted by FOX News regarding their books responded to requests for statements or interviews.

Parent Cindy Ross told FOX News she is concerned that unpleasant facts are being ignored for the sake of political correctness in her son's textbooks.

"When you are talking about a history textbook, that is supposed to be talking about historical facts and they are talking about jihad in terms of spiritual terms ... I think it would be completely inappropriate for a public school."

Link to article: here

chuckmanley83 · 03-06-2009, 08:57 AM

These kind of things really worry me. If there's one place where bias should be removed, it should be textbooks.

bcj1755 · 03-06-2009, 10:17 AM

I generally don't care what religion a person is, but now these a**holes are starting to piss me off! Ever since Barry got "elected" the Muslims have been screaming and clamoring for special treatment. I don't get any kind of special treatment because of my religion, Jews don't get any special treatment because of their religion, Buddists don't get any special treatment because of their religion, so WHY SHOULD MUSLIMS?!

artabr · 03-06-2009, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bcj1755

I generally don't care what religion a person is, but now these a**holes are starting to piss me off! Ever since Barry got "elected" the Muslims have been screaming and clamoring for special treatment. I don't get any kind of special treatment because of my religion, Jews don't get any special treatment because of their religion, Buddists don't get any special treatment because of their religion, so WHY SHOULD MUSLIMS?!

This has been a long time in coming. Look at the hell Europe is going through and has been through.
I do have to say that Europe bares partial responsible by continuing to give in to this c**p. We're starting a trip down the same road with the same predictable results.

Art

4EvrLearning · 03-06-2009, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by artabr

This has been a long time in coming. Look at the hell Europe is going through and has been through.
I do have to say that Europe bares partial responsible by continuing to give in to this c**p. We're starting a trip down the same road with the same predictable results.

Art

I agree, Art. And this textbook information isn't entirely new; I read about the specific books mentioned at least a year ago or more.

Once again, I recommend subscribing to ACT! For America's newsletters/alerts. They are totally on top of this kind of thing, and are trying to help us PREVENT (or at least slow down) what's happened in Europe, from happening in the US.

As far as "radical" or "extremists" go...that's a whole other issue. If a Muslim reads and believes the Koran/Quran, which blatantly teaches death for infidels (non-Muslims), then we are right to be very concerned, for isn't that pretty "extreme" in itself?

YouTube is full of video news footage of riots in the streets in England; undercover footage taken at a British Mosque where the Imam was calling for death to infidels, etc., as well as protests here in the US. These videos make me shudder.

As Americans, this kind of thinking is so foreign to us that it's hard to grasp. But we MUST know the minds and intents of this growing population on our soil. If we'll listen carefully, we'll hear their message, and it's not one of peaceful co-existence.

Let me just say that for years I wanted to believe that we could reason, negotiate, come to a common ground, or at least "live and let live"...but I've seen too many indicators that have made me realize that's not possible, for it takes all parties to want that.

Lastly, if you're not familiar with Geert Wilders, look him up, too!

delta13soultaker · 03-06-2009, 07:47 PM

If you studied religions ad nauseum you would likely see that all religions are whitewashed in school text books.

Bruce FLinch · 03-06-2009, 09:11 PM

It's all part of the Socialization of our Youth.

03-06-2009, 08:45 AM	#1
45nut Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 3,428	Islam whitewashed in School text books. American Textbook Council: Islam being whitewashed in American school books "'What is frustrating is that repeatedly the textbook publishers have been called on their bias on the sunny, doctored view of Islam' but have refused to balance their books." Why? Simple: "publishers are afraid of the Islamist activists. They don't want trouble." "Critic Says Islamic Extremism Gets Whitewashed in American Textbooks," from Fox News, March 4: An education expert is warning that some American textbooks present a biased view of Islam and offer a sugarcoated picture of Islamic extremism, a trend that has parents worried about what's being taught in public schools. In numerous history textbooks, "key subjects like jihad, Islamic law, the status of women are whitewashed," said Gilbert T. Sewall, director of the American Textbook Council, an independent group that reviews history books and other education materials. Cindy Ross, the mother of a junior high school student in Marin County, Calif., said she couldn't believe her eyes when she read her son's textbook last school year. "I was very shocked by what I saw, looking through the book," she said — shocked at how Islam was portrayed in her son's seventh grade history text. "What did strike me was that all the other religions seemed to be lumped together, where there is an inordinate emphasis on Islam specifically," Ross said. Moreover, this "inordinate emphasis" isn't meant to demonstrate Islam's uniquely intolerant tenets, but rather how wonderful Islam is. Sewall claims that publishers have been pressured by Islamic activists to portray the religion in the most favorable light, while Islamic terrorism is downplayed or glossed over. "The picture is incomplete ... and the reason for this is that publishers are afraid of the Islamist activists. They don't want trouble," he told FOX News. Sewall, who authored a report on how textbooks teach and present Islam, singled out one book that he said failed to explain what the story of the September 11 terrorist attacks. In a section discussing Islamic fundamentalism, the textbook "World History: The Modern World," published by Prentice Hall, omits direct mention of the 9/11 hijackers' religion, referring to the 19 Islamic fundamentalists as "teams of terrorists." "On the morning of September 11, 2001," the book reads, "teams of terrorists hijacked four airplanes on the East Coast. Passengers challenged the hijackers on one flight, which they crashed on the way to its target. But one plane plunged in to the Pentagon in Virginia, and two others slammed into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York. More than 2,500 people were killed in the attacks." In his report on the text, Sewall called the passage "dismaying" in its flatness and brevity. "In terms of content, so much is left unanswered. Who were the teams of terrorists and what did they want do to? What were their political ends? Since 'The Modern World' avoids any hint of the connection between this unnamed terrorism and jihad," he wrote, "why September 11 happened is hard to understand." But Muslim advocacy groups say students need to learn more about Islam to correct misconceptions and help turn away a wrongheaded focus on extremism. "It's wrong to show an entire faith community from the lens of a small extremist community, which is really a fringe. It's a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of the Muslim community, and that's not how Muslims want to be framed," said Daisy Khan, executive director of the American Society for Muslim Advancement. I'm sure they don't, but what does the desire of Muslims to be "framed" in positive terms have to do with reality, facts? "I think there is an unbalanced portrayal of Islam seen mostly through a political lens, but that is not the reality of who a majority of Muslims are," she told FOX News. Khan said when it comes to teaching about Islam, "I think the more important issue is American values of tolerance, respect and mutual understanding," which can best be imparted with accurate information about the religion. In other words, when we encounter Islam's intolerance, say, to Western notions -- "tolerance, respect, and mutual understanding" -- we should rely on those same notions to overlook the fact that Islam does not. But the content of those religious lessons also has Sewall concerned, particularly on the controversial topic of jihad. Sewall says the violent aspects of Islamic jihad are glossed over and that it is presented as an internal struggle or a fight for protection in books like "History Alive! The Medieval World and Beyond," published by the Teachers Curriculum Institute. "Jihad is defined as a struggle within each individual to overcome difficulties and strive to please god. Sometimes it may be a physical struggle for protection against enemies," the book reads, noting that Islam teaches "that Muslims should fulfill jihad with the heart, tongue and hand. Muslims use the heart in their struggle to resist evil." Well, Duke professor Bruce Lawrence says that jihad -- what all schools of Islamic jurisprudence have determined is offensive warfare to spread Islam -- is basically striving to be "a better student, a better colleague, a better business partner. Above all, to control one's anger" It's a lesson that Sewall says needs to change. "What is frustrating is that repeatedly the textbook publishers have been called on their bias on the sunny, doctored view of Islam" but have refused to balance their books, he said. None of the textbook publishers contacted by FOX News regarding their books responded to requests for statements or interviews. Parent Cindy Ross told FOX News she is concerned that unpleasant facts are being ignored for the sake of political correctness in her son's textbooks. "When you are talking about a history textbook, that is supposed to be talking about historical facts and they are talking about jihad in terms of spiritual terms ... I think it would be completely inappropriate for a public school." Link to article: here __________________ A gun is a tool, Marian; no better or no worse than any other tool: an axe, a shovel or anything. A gun is as good or as bad as the man using it. Remember that. Shane Nemo me impune lacesset We recall the case of the Shoshone war band which showed up complete with one 30-30 rifle per man the week after Pearl Harbor, and simply wanted to have the enemy pointed out to them. "We hear there's a war going on and we want to go fight it." Jeff Cooper *KCCO* --> Last edited by 45nut; 03-06-2009 at 08:47 AM..

03-06-2009, 08:57 AM	#2
chuckmanley83 Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 10	Re: Islam whitewashed in School text books. These kind of things really worry me. If there's one place where bias should be removed, it should be textbooks. __________________ Military.com 5.11 Tactical

03-06-2009, 10:17 AM	#3
bcj1755 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: A wretched hive of scum and villiany Posts: 4,357	Re: Islam whitewashed in School text books. I generally don't care what religion a person is, but now these a**holes are starting to piss me off! Ever since Barry got "elected" the Muslims have been screaming and clamoring for special treatment. I don't get any kind of special treatment because of my religion, Jews don't get any special treatment because of their religion, Buddists don't get any special treatment because of their religion, so WHY SHOULD MUSLIMS?! __________________ History is much like an endless waltz. The three beats of war, peace, and revolution continue on forever. Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges - Cicero If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen. - Samuel Adams

03-06-2009, 07:47 PM	#6
delta13soultaker Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Depends on Uncle Sam's whim every 3 yrs. Posts: 2,948	Re: Islam whitewashed in School text books. If you studied religions ad nauseum you would likely see that all religions are whitewashed in school text books. __________________ Never say die! "A nation who forgets its defenders is soon forgotten itself." "A good shot must necessarily be a good man since the essence of good marksmanship is self-control and self-control is the essential quality of a good man." – Theodore Roosevelt

03-06-2009, 09:11 PM	#7
Bruce FLinch Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Bay Point, Kali..aka Gun Point Posts: 5,016	Re: Islam whitewashed in School text books. It's all part of the Socialization of our Youth. __________________ A bad day @ the Range, is better than a good day @ work.