Some public schools and universities are granting Muslim requests for prayer times, prayer rooms and ritual foot baths, prompting a debate on whether Islam is being given preferential treatment over other religions.
The University of Michigan at Dearborn is planning to build foot baths for Muslim students who wash their feet before prayer. An elementary school in San Diego created an extra recess period for Muslim pupils to pray.
At George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., Muslim students using a "meditation space" laid out Muslim prayer rugs and separated men and women in accordance with their Islamic beliefs.
See link - http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-07-25-muslim-special-treatment-from-schools_N.htm
Question - What are your thougts ?
2007-07-26 14:32:26 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Government
Actually yes they are.
For instance, at Carver Elementary School in San Diego they have went as far as to set up a special Prayer Room for muslim children to pray in. They allow them to take breaks several times a day for prayer sessions, and even have a teacher leading them in prayer. This is at a PUBLIC school, not private school.
http://forums.military.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/672198221/m/8270012631001?r=5140032631001
2007-07-26 14:44:12 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
They are not getting "special treatment" because they are not being allowed to do things that any other religion cannot do.
The schools are granting concessions and scheduling breaks to accommodate their religious needs where the schools had or were going to have a break anyway.
Because if you're going to have a 15 minute break -- and it matters to one group when it happens but doesn't matter to any other group when it happens -- then it does not harm to accommodate them. And in the San Diego case, any other religion can pray at the same time -- no special treatment.
As for George Mason -- the students are using a space already set aside for spiritual practice. And the separation is not being forced by the school, it's entirely the choice of the practitioners.
As for UMich-Dearborn, that's arguably an unconstitutional use of public funds to pay for religious accommodation that no other religions is getting. But I haven't checked the facts of that case, so I don't know the details to do a proper analysis. But consider that in Dearborn, the Arabic/Muslim population is over 30% of the total student population.
2007-07-26 21:36:29 · answer #2 · answered by coragryph 7 · 6⤊ 1⤋
The school in San Diego has had the prayer removed. I think the Christians be right in there next to them, and the Jewish, along with every other group that wants to pray.
2007-07-26 21:38:06 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I don't care. I'm not going to froth at the mouth because Muslims are getting cessions for their religious beliefs, just like how Christians get Christmas and Easter off and some schools provide kosher meals for their Jewish students.
2007-07-26 21:36:38 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
This is absolutely not special treatment! Do you think "Christians" get special treatment when time is taken out of school for Christmas, Thanksgiving, or Easter break. Or what about the funds and times that are spent on decorating and celebrating these holidays on public school property? Who is it bothering to allow these students to practice their religion?
2007-07-26 21:45:42 · answer #5 · answered by Grits 2 · 3⤊ 2⤋
I'm confused. We can't take Bibles into the schools, but foot baths for Muslim prayer time is OK? Am I missing something here?
2007-07-26 21:39:15 · answer #6 · answered by wyllow 6 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Absolutely! Pretty much every religion EXCEPT Christianity is given special treatment. The A.C.L.U. (funny acronym considering they're the organization without A CLU E - get it? LMAO Okay, I'll laugh to myself) has consistently fought against the interests of Christians, and fought FOR the interests of other religions. Isn't that the definition of discrimination?
Cracks me up! In our quest to be "fair" to everyone, we always seem to exclude someone else. Can't wait to hear the ACLU come to the defense of illegal immigrants (I'm sure they already are I just don't think my blood pressure could take it.) considering they aren't AMERICANS. Come to think of it, why even call yourself the AMERICAN Civil Liberties Union if you're going to come to the defense of people who aren't even Americans?
They should change it to Against Christian Liberty Union. There, that fits! If they did do you think there would be much of an outcry? I rest my case.
2007-07-26 21:48:36 · answer #7 · answered by Carl M 2 · 4⤊ 2⤋
I think it's a bit much. I have no problem with school children and adults enrolled in education practicing religion, but (and not to be sarcastic) can't they just use a hose to wash their feet. It would cost the school six bucks at KMart and be less controversial.
2007-07-26 21:36:49 · answer #8 · answered by CHARITY G 7 · 4⤊ 2⤋
This is not special treatment. Christians have had allowances for thier faith for decades.
2007-07-26 21:52:53 · answer #9 · answered by Sageandscholar 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I believe they are, but only because we are "tolerant" of people's beliefs, practices, etc. Is it wrong? Absolutely. If concessions are made for Muslims, then we better make concessions for Christians, Jews, Buddhists, etc or make no concessions at all.
2007-07-26 21:38:58 · answer #10 · answered by nomad74 3 · 3⤊ 2⤋