Being Cultured

Here I am again. It's certainly has been a busy couple of weeks- but I've also been straining to find a topic that I wanted to tackle and the news, certainly, always seems to give me just that.

One of the stories that fell into the shadows this week was a story from New York, where a new public Jr. High School opened up. What made it so unique? It will be offering Arabic classes as well as classes to introduce Middle Eastern Culture. And ironically, that is what makes up the entire news story- well that and the fact that there are an uprising of people protesting and claiming that it will be a school breeching future terrorists!

My initial reaction was simply, "are you kidding me?!" No; I am not appalled by the classes the school is offering. In fact; I think that it's a splendid idea! I am appalled by the fact that people are protesting. Deborah Howard, one of the curriculum founders happens to be Jewish and stated that she would be far from endorsing a program that gave kids the gateway to terrorism and extreme islamic beliefs. The school itself, the Khalil Gibran International Academy, was named after a Christian Lebonese poet and will be offering classes that will teach skills in technology and multi-cultural appreciation.

One woman stated that she thought it would be a great opportunity for her son, that he would do well in a career, making a good living and be open minded by going to the school, but she soon pulled her son from the school not wanting him to be in the middle of the politics. A woman opposing the school declared it was a "madrassa" being paid with public tax dollars. A madrassa, as I understand it- is the word used to refer to an Islamic Religious School. I am perplexed at the utter ignorance and rejection in a community who would rather hold on to their fears of extreme Islam, and not embrace the simplicity of opening their minds to language and culture.

Granted, New York is the ground zero of 9/11 and Radical Islamists have threatened destruction to the United States, but the religion of Islam itself rejects harm to those that are innocent. In correspondence this past week, I was reminded that leaders of Islam should speak louder to remind the world they are against the terrorism so predominantly featured. But then again, those who have spoken out, I don't think have been heard loud enough. People would rather attach themselves to fear and preconcieved notions. It is sad that my fellow Americans, who live in the freest country in the world, would rather reject a multi-cultural society and refuse to become better educated about the world they often forget is out there.

There are so many misconceptions about the world we live in. I find it interesting that the United States does not truly encourage a multi-lingual society. In European and Asian countries it is expected to know more than one language. Most know anywhere from 2-5 languages. A close friend of mine, who grew up in a Asian based home, in the U.S., is fluent in 4 languages. Another friend from Turkmenistan knows 5 languages. I have another from Guatemala who knows 3 fluently and studies a 4th and 5th. I myself hope to become tri-lingual. Arabic is spoken by much of the Middle East, whether secular or religious. And it is not even the primary language in some our top "enemy" countries.

For example; did you know that in Iran, Arabic is NOT the official language- it is Pharsi, which has eastern influence. In Afghanistan, Dari is a predominant languange. And, Afghanistan along with Pakistan are not "middle eastern countries," but rather more part of the Asian continent. As I continue to educated myself, I am learning that many of these countries are really, just as diverse as the western front. Russian, Mongolian, Chinese, European influence all exist in these Middle Eastern Countries. Is it really that bad to culture our selves as well?

As far as the Arabic Language is concerned- I have learned that "jihad" does not mean "holy war"- as the Al Queda network would have us believe. But rather the word means "to struggle." I heard one American Islamic woman say in an interview that it is her "jihad," her "struggle" to maintain her faith in Allah in a world that rejects her. She means no harm to anyone who disagrees with her. The truth is, in Christianity, there is phrase that follows a similar suite- "carrying our cross" or "my cross to bear." Christianity hasn't always beens shiny either. I wouldn't consider the Inquisition or the Crusades its "glory days." Every religion has nasty extremists. But learning about the cultures those religions exist in does not garuntee a generation raised to impliment terrorism.

In returning the orginally mentioned school- I don't think it's a bad idea for it's curriculum to include Arabic and I don't think it's a bad idea at all for Americans to educate themselves on the cultural differences of "the world out there."