Why is racism taught in our schools?

Submitted by Tyer Mathaowny (United States), Apr 14, 2005 at 14:51

I am a college student in Arizona, so I am not far from the fight in Scottsdals schools against a World Religions book that has been taken from use because it teaches the Islamic religion. I know that most people posting here are conservative and probably think that since I am a young girl I must be naive in the ways of politics--in fact, I am not. I study political views and rights because I feel that to live in this world I have to know how to use the laws and such.
First, I would like it if anyone who wants to talk with me about this would e-mail me at mathaowny@yahoo.com. I will not argue with you, but I will ask that you listen as I listen to you. I have neither the need or the energy to start a fight, but it would be nice if everyone could see both sides of the coin instead of confining themselves to ignorance, or at least try to.
The book in question has a non-biased view on other religions, including the Islamic religion. I don't know why anybody would let someone come into a school and protest that their child was getting a round view of the world. I believe that fear is the only reason that anyone would stop the school from teaching an alternate religion-- especially if they do not protest any other religion than that of Islam. After all, a World Religions book teaches many religions, so why not protest them all? I cannot believe that someone would be that racist to protest one of the base religions of the world.
I don't often battle for the side of religion, so it is a wonder that I am doing so now-- but then again, I discriminate against no one for their beliefs. And what if there are children in that classroom with Islamic backgrounds? They might want to learn the roots of their own religion and who are we to stop them? The First Amandmant states that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..." meaning that religion is both a freedom and right in the United States. Taking this book of the shelves is a clear violation of the Constitution and also a proclamation of fear.
I think that the only thing that this will accomplish is hate, fear and ignorance. If you edit education, you end up with ignorance, and if you end up with ignorance, then what?
What will the United States become without freedom?

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