Rally to support Khalil Gibran International Academy

[PH03N1XM4N]

I am a Christian Agree with the reverend, Arabic is just another language.. there's even bibles that's translated into Arabic. just make sure they teach the correct translation of the Koran because in my country Indonesia they teach how to read the Koran in Arabic, but they don't know what the correct translation or context of what they're reading. God Bless y'all.

[gabrielkbelaid]

I am responding to "pavlopwnsyourface" comments. What evidence do you have, if any, that slavery is a de facto thing in Mauritania, Iran, etc...? And even if so, why should it be associated with Islam? Also, can't we stop associating arab countries with Islam? There's a hughe gap between Islam and what's seen in those countries. Stop following 'Fox News', and perhaps 'CNN'. Pls go to the source and read about Islam. Be educated and get it from the source.

[girl1888888888888]

A message from Islam to Europeans go to v=WWCgNG6xJJs

[pavlopwnsyourface]

I support foreign languages of all kinds being taught in public schools but I am against foreign language oriented schools. I appreciate public officials trying to make the effort to accommodate communities that have a high immigrant population, but making schools that teach in their language almost all the time is detrimental. It ends up segregating those groups of people from the rest of society and could hamper their progress in learning english.

[pavlopwnsyourface]

i'm a left wing individual but this pandering by the left to the muslim agenda is simply sickening. Have we forgotten 9/11?

[konradical]

a good demonstration how both left and right wing people think demonizing a culture makes us safer.

[LothairOfLorraine]

Muslims demonize everything, and the 'Arabic school' is a front for Islamization.

[pavlopwnsyourface]

no, it's just about not allocating public funds to a supposed "multi-cultural" school that focuses on and caters to one culture, and is run by muslims, making it more than likely that this "arab language school" will be run more like a madrassa than a place of learning. Almontaser also has ties to organizations that fund islamic terrorism. Are those good enough reasons for you?

[konradical]

Are you aware that there are a dozen other similar schools in NY, each focused on different languages? Are you also opposed to a tax-funded school that teaches Mandarin? Why do you think Muslims would run the school like a madrassa? What terrorist organization does Almontaser have ties to?

[pavlopwnsyourface]

I think it would be run as a madrassa because the school is almost exclusively run by muslims. Muslims almost always regard the western concept of separation of church and state to be a rebellion of god's law and the koran explicitly encourages the creation of islamic governments and sharia law. Therefore, muslim teachers will feel free to proselytize in the classroom. Islam's values of submission, violence, and oppression and the western values of freedom and equality simply are not compatible.

[konradical]

I see. I'll leave it to a Muslim to address your opinions about their beliefs. So you think Muslims should not be allowed to teach, and Islam, among all religions, should be excised from the United States culture?

[pavlopwnsyourface]

Yeah, that's more or less how I feel. I don't understand why muslims feel the need to settle in western countries rather than live in an islamic nation where sharia law exists such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, or Mauritania (slavery is de facto legal there! how modern!). If muslims want to live in the dark ages over in the middle east, that's fine by me as long as they don't fly planes into our buildings, try to create a worldwide islamic caliphate, or just kill us infidels in general.

[althganur]

bull shit

[JewishVegan]

Would these idiots support divorce of muslim women for not being virgins too?

Completely sick people.

[konradical]

good God, what crawled up your ass? sounds like Michelle Malkin talking out of it.

[JewishVegan]

My point is freedom FROM religion which is hardly what Ms. Malkin's position is.

[konradical]

you're just like her in blurting out nasty comments in complete ignorance. ARABIC IS NOT A RELIGION YOU UTTER MORON.

[Khadijah4peace]

Public schools can and have been formed so as to meet the needs of the community whose tax dollars go for the school.

[StinkingHombre]

Only scum & Communist rabble would support such a thing.

[RblWthACoz]

What a rousing statement. I'm sure your lack of intellectualism and compelling communication has won over many open minds.

[salmakarama]

"I love you when you bow in your mosque, kneel in your temple, pray in your church. For you and I are sons of one religion, and it is the spirit."

Look it up, it's by Khalil Gibran.

[joeydee10]

I am far from being prejudice due to working with many Muslim people as well as having as many Muslim firends as well as Jeish friends along with Catholic friends. What I am saying is there is no reason why the Public School should be paying for a school that will not be open to everyone. It will end up being only a school that has Muslim students. After 9/11 how many students /families will place their children in a school like this.

[baburo101]

What part of "Public School" do you not get?

[konradical]

Public schools are established according to the needs of the local communities. The local community is who is speaking in this video, as opposed to people who live in other states who have been the chief organizers and funders of the attacks on the school, to promote their own hatemongering and pro-war agendas.

[StoogeWatcher]

You liberal hypocrite. You know damn well that if it were a Christian school, the ACLU would sue to have it shut down. Then again, that's nothing new to hypocrites like you.

[joeydee10]

There should be no reason that the taxpayers pay for this school. The same way there is a Catholic school and we pay for that you should pay for your own school. If you want to learn about your religion pay for it yourselves.

[konradical]

Ah, the ignorance. Arabic is not a religion.

[SwansonBlvd]

If they really want this school, then they should be able to have it. But I don't want to pay for it. They're obviously not too passionate about it if they're not willing to pay for it themselves.

[konradical]

Dual-language programs have been publicly funded in NY since at least the 70s. Interesting how people are suddenly so concerned with their tax dollars after three decades, when a school teaching Arabic opens.

[tmdrdd]

The "rabbi" in the video is starting to be called "Crazy Rabbi Feinberg" around the protest circles because of his Jekyll and Hyde-type behavior when the cameras are not around.

[kaylakane]

Anyone that condones this school is not at all in tune with America and its values. We speake English not Arabic if you wish for your child to learn Arabic, fine GO TO A PRIVATE SCHOOL. Tax dollars run our public/governent schools. Look at the responses, we hate Jews/Isreal, America dose not hate them. Why should my tax dollars pay for your child to learn YOUR CULTURE-NOT AMERICAS. This is not France, we will hold true to Americas culture.

[luxcretia2]

you are just ignorant, kayla.

[Aegius]

She is right. Our tax dollars shouldn't go to Muslim schools or to schools that teach Arabic as the primary language. They should go to schools that teach primarily in English and toward Americanization of the kids, not Islamization.

[konradical]

Could people at least read a bit on what kind of school this is, before making the same dumb, mistaken comments over and over again? 1. THIS IS NOT AN ISLAMIC SCHOOL, IT'S AN ARABIC SCHOOL. 2. WHERE WERE YOU WHEN THEY OPENED UP A DOZEN OF THESE SCHOOLS IN OTHER LANGUAGES STARTING YEARS AGO, IN OTHER LANGUAGES SUCH AS CHINESE? ARE YOU GOING TO TRY TO STOP THEM, OR ARE YOU JUST HAVING A KNEE-JERK BIGOTED REACTION AGAINST ARAB CULTURE?

[Aegius]

Before you play the race card, you should read what I stated. I don't care if they have an Arabic/Islamic school. Just don't do it with our tax dollars. Of course, if they teach bigotry, that's another matter of concern.

[Aegius]

And BTW, there is NO RIGHT in America to teach Arab culture or to have our tax dollars go to it. Arab cultural traditions aren't what American cultural and political traditions are based upon. Still, just don't get tax dollars and don't teach bigotry or extremism and there won't be any justified complaints. Notice that I DID NOT ACCUSE you of anything and DID NOT PLAY THE RACE CARD.

[konradical]

Sorry, you played the race card the moment you accused a school that teaches ARABIC of teaching ISLAMIZATION. And you reveal your own prejudice when you keep repeating your fear that this Arabic dual-language school will teach "extremism." When there's 65 dual language programs in NY, and the dual-language program has been around for at least three decades, ALL OF A SUDDEN this one little school in a state you don't even live in is a problem for you because it's teaching Arabic.

[SwansonBlvd]

How dare you contradict me. This supposed school is just a cover, no doubt, for a pack of Islamic terrorists who are no doubt planning another 9/11. They must be stopped. I don't need to know the facts to know the truth.

[donusdeus]

"I don't need to know the facts to know the truth." ....just...wow... re-read that and get back to me

[Aegius]

I don't mind stating it: You're a race-baiter on an endless quest for things to complain about. What's next? Not enough Arabs/Muslims winning the Oscars or Emmys? Not enough Arabs/Muslims on stupid TV shows? I asked simple questions and NOT make assumptions and you call me a bigot for it. You're the one playing the race card here, not me or others.

[Aegius]

I didn't accuse the school of anything. My statements were CONDITIONAL, not declarative. They are "if... then..." statements. I don't have a prob. with dual language programs in schools, as long as they are PRIVATELY funded only and bigotry and extremism aren't taught. I DID NOT ACCUSE such as the case in these schools. Don't put words into my mouth.

[konradical]

YOUR WORDS: "Our tax dollars shouldn't go to Muslim schools or to schools that teach Arabic as the primary language. They should go to schools that teach primarily in English and toward Americanization of the kids, not Islamization." YOUR CONFUSION. Amazingly, you even now can't grasp the difference between Arabic and Islam. And you still haven't offered a single reason why you keep associating Arabic with "bigotry and extremism", apart from your being a bigot yourself.

[Aegius]

Yes, I stand by my words. I made no confusion of Arabic or Islamic, but merely stated that our tax dollars shouldn't go to either form of institution, same applies to Catholic schools, Jewish schools, Protestant schools, Greek schools, Persian schools, etc.

[Rivka1961]

Moving and enlightening video. Looks like case of mass hysteria and we all know why. We can heal the pain, we're Americans! Give education a chance.

[iammick66]

Are you blocking me too?

[konradical]

no, I just have a life and it's fun to watch anti-Muslim commenters like you display their own knee-jerk paranoia.

[KUTHADULLA]

the school should be made without a doubt! for all the people who think this is a special accomidation for arabs, its not when there is a korean school opening up in flushing...also being funded by tax dollars.

[smoketnt]

I have no problem with Arab schools... in the middle east, and this isn't the goddamn middle east.

[konradical]

I'll leave this comment up for a while just as another example of the low level of respect for other people consistently shown by opponents of the school.

[smoketnt]

Wait, am I missing something? This is a Arab language, Muslim school, that is FUNDED BY TAXPAYERS. If it's private funded everyone can wear funny hats and teach class in pig latin for all I care. Should all religions demand their own public schools? Scientology? Satanism? You tell me.

[konradical]

YES, YOU ARE MISSING SOMETHING: A CLUE. If you'd read the widely published, undisputed facts about the school, you would know that THIS IS NOT A MUSLIM SCHOOL. IT IS NOT A RELIGIOUS SCHOOL. IT IS A DUAL-LANGUAGE SCHOOL that TEACHES ARABIC, ONE OF **65** DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAMS IN NYC SCHOOLS TEACHING SPANISH, FRENCH, CHINESE AND HAITIAN CREOLE.

Ignorance + Fear = Hysteria

[smoketnt]

"described by the Thomas More Law Center as nothing more than a thinly disguised incubator for Islamist radicalization that will immerse its students in Islamic culture, with three fundamentalist Islamist imams on its Board of Advisors, as well as other promoters with connections to militant Islamic organizations"

My bad.

[konradical]

no, my bad. I tried to shame a Christianist into reasoning using facts instead of opinions and you've shown how foolish that was by quoting someone else's opinion wholesale.

[smoketnt]

Explain to me how I am a "Christianist". Tell me something about me that not even I am aware of.

[konradical]

I'm not using the term very seriously, but identify a Christianist as the Christian version of an Islamist, someone who thinks anything he identifies with the other religion needs to be expelled or wiped out. Your confused Islamophobia and Arabophobia, i.e. "I have no problem with Arab schools...in the middle east, and this isn't the goddamn Middle East" shows you believe the U.S. can only be home to English speaking Christians.

[smoketnt]

I believe U.S. public schools should teach English primarily, any other language should be an elective like French or German are. And no religion has any place in a public school, not Christianity or any other. Private schools can do whatever they want.

[iammick66]

This school is nothing more than a ruse for extremists. I almost wish there were 2 territories in the US. The stupid liberals could be in one and the thinking people in the other. Then while we're protecting ourselves, you'll allow all your enemies to take over then kill you.

[iammick66]

If that's true kon, then why aren't they be open to questions that were directed towards them? Seems to me they have something to hide.

[zjschneider]

This country was created under the ideal that all men were created equal.

If you Christian assholes can demand Christian schools, I don't see why Muslims, or even Satanists, can't have their own schools.

Just because they have different beliefs than you doesn't mean you are superior to them.

[konradical]

I'd prefer that commenters avoid profanity or personal insults. No matter how wrong someone may be, you demean your own point of view when you throw around obscenities.

[zjschneider]

I wish people like you would die suffocating on your own fecal matter.

[ssing45]

Are you afraid of the truth? Is that why none of my comments have been allowed to appear here?

[iammick66]

Come on now ssing45. You should know how this works on youtube. Cowards always say what they want then block their detractors. Especially if their detractors say something that will prove what they are saying is false.

[ssing45]

None of my postings are appearing?? Is that also part of the radical islamic agenda?

[konradical]

No, I just don't check my comments every five minutes, but extreme paranoia is definitely part of your agenda.

[StoogeWatcher]

Probably. "Secularists" aren't against religion, just Christianity.

[ssing45]

I demand a Polish school as my sons have lost touch with their Polish heritage, which is, in fact, quite rich and diverse. Also, I want the school to teach Polish. Should I strap on a bomb in order to get the appropriate attention? It is not a racist mindset that opposes this school. It is just sensible. This sort of forced diversity, in that it is offered to placate and not educate, is a waste of time, money, and youth.

[StoogeWatcher]

You liberals are all hypocrites. You slander Christians and call them fanatics if they ask for after-school Bible clubs and voluntarily pray. Yet you say nothing about Muslims getting prayer rooms in public schools. If you Dumbocrats want the White House in 2008, maybe you should stop the anti-Christian bigotry!

[zjschneider]

Let's see. How many fucking "Bible Clubs" are open in the US? A fuckton. How often do you see any public place for Muslims or other people of different faiths to go to and worship? Yeah, I doubt you've seen any outside of the television. What the problem with Christians is, is that Christians would FORCE prayer.

I'd rather be a Dumbocrat than an ignorant dickweasel such as yourself.

[Aegius]

Are the privately or publicly funded?

[konradical]

READ. THINK.

[almashawiz]

way'ta go sara...ur awesome u spoke fr all of us(arabs) we love u...;)mwahz!!

[Yousrraa56]

ya i know thats why i took this video and post it up on my blog..thanks

[veronesedissident]

Muslims (Africans) and Jews (Asians) have NO place anywhere in the White Western Europeans World.

[konradical]

And there you have it -- the racist mindset fueling the opposition to this school.

[gorynna]

And the potato scrubbing peasants your ancestors were probably weren't welcome either, yet lo and behold, there they are.

[konradical]

not even sure who this racist is targeting...but what does it matter?

[ssing45]

My ancestors, and the ancestors of the great majority of Americans, do not have schools dedicated to them. Where's the NY Polish School (we could call it the Jerzy Kozonski school) or the NY Italian School (we could call it the Pope Paul Academy) and least we forget, the Norweigan School (let's call it Sonja Heine Skates America).

[ssing45]

Should I call your ancestors goat fu*&ing? That is just hate speech. Similar to yours of potato scrubbing. If you give it you will get it. Respectful give and take is much more conducive to intelligent conversation than name calling.

[Yousrraa56]

omg that my sister with the white scarf

[konradical]

You should be very proud of her. She gave a great speech and showed how pitiful all the anti-school haters are.

[ssing45]

Tell your sister that our children do not need re-education, merely education. They do not need to be dragged into this cultural war against America.