Since September 11, the public has been lectured repeatedly that the United States is at war with terrorists who have hijacked the Islamic faith, not with Muslims, and that Arab and Muslim Americans must be treated with tolerance and respect. This is good advice, although most Americans already live by the Golden Rule.
But there are those who have little tolerance and respect for the rights of others. And I'm not talking about the obvious hate-mongers, such as neo-Nazis, the Ku Klux Klan, and the skinheads — all of which are well known, detestable enemies of democracy. No, I'm talking about the intolerance of the Left, which professes to support civil liberties. Here are some worthy examples:
The Sacramento Bee reports that the American Civil Liberties Union is demanding that Breen Elementary School in Rocklin, California, remove a "God Bless America" sign from its property, which the school displayed in response to the terrorist atrocities of September 11. The ACLU claims that the words broadcast a "hurtful, divisive message." "By displaying a religious message, the Breen Elementary School is dividing its young students along religious lines." At least for now, Breen's principal has not buckled to the pressure, announcing that he has no intention of removing the message from school grounds.
The ACLU also tried recently to stop the Commonwealth of Virginia from implementing its minute of silence policy for public-school students. The pupils can use the time for quiet reflection, meditation, or — and here's the supposed rub — silent prayer. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit upheld the state law. A few weeks ago, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to intervene. Chief Justice William Rehnquist, speaking for the Court, wrote, in part, that "There is no allegation that Virginia schoolteachers have used the minute of silence, or any other occasion, to lead students in collective prayer." God forbid if they had.
A few weeks ago, the Madison, Wisconsin, school board banned the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance and the singing of the Star-Spangled Banner from its classrooms. The AP reports that proponents of the ban argued that the pledge's phrase — "one nation, under God" — is inappropriately religious, and the national anthem's lyrics are militaristic. Public pressure forced the school board to reverse course. However, prior to reciting the pledge or singing the anthem, students must first be informed that their participation is voluntary. We wouldn't want to offend anybody.
The Boy Scouts of America, a private organization, determined that the appointment of openly gay scout leaders violates its mission and purpose. The Supreme Court upheld the Boy Scouts' right to freedom of association under the First Amendment. Now, the group is the target of a well-orchestrated campaign to ban it from the public square — particularly from public schools. Just a few days ago, the Seattle Times reported that "Garfield High School's Outdoor Education program has broken away from the Boy Scouts because its student leaders object to a Boy Scout policy that bans openly gay leaders and members."
Did you know that the ROTC is prohibited from appearing on numerous college campuses? In New York alone, the ROTC is banned from Columbia University, New York University, and the City University of New York. Harvard University chased the ROTC off campus thirty-two years ago. The September 11 attacks have prodded 900 alumni to petition Harvard to reinstate the corps, but to no avail — yet.
And then there's the case of a Jewish elementary-school teacher who was removed from her second-grade classroom the other day by the liberal New York City schools chancellor Harold Levy. Apparently, parents, most of whom are Arab Americans, complained that she made anti-Arab comments. According to the New York Post, one of the parents complained that the teacher "told our kids she went to Israel and that Palestinian children threw rocks at her." The teacher said, "I do remember saying, 'terrorism is unusual to us, but this is how everyday life is in Israel." "I didn't teach anti-Arab. I taught antiterrorism." The Board of Education is now investigating the teacher. Gee, I wonder if truth is a defense to political correctness?
Yes, we need tolerance in America. So, when will the Left practice it?
But there are those who have little tolerance and respect for the rights of others. And I'm not talking about the obvious hate-mongers, such as neo-Nazis, the Ku Klux Klan, and the skinheads — all of which are well known, detestable enemies of democracy. No, I'm talking about the intolerance of the Left, which professes to support civil liberties. Here are some worthy examples:
The Sacramento Bee reports that the American Civil Liberties Union is demanding that Breen Elementary School in Rocklin, California, remove a "God Bless America" sign from its property, which the school displayed in response to the terrorist atrocities of September 11. The ACLU claims that the words broadcast a "hurtful, divisive message." "By displaying a religious message, the Breen Elementary School is dividing its young students along religious lines." At least for now, Breen's principal has not buckled to the pressure, announcing that he has no intention of removing the message from school grounds.
The ACLU also tried recently to stop the Commonwealth of Virginia from implementing its minute of silence policy for public-school students. The pupils can use the time for quiet reflection, meditation, or — and here's the supposed rub — silent prayer. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit upheld the state law. A few weeks ago, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to intervene. Chief Justice William Rehnquist, speaking for the Court, wrote, in part, that "There is no allegation that Virginia schoolteachers have used the minute of silence, or any other occasion, to lead students in collective prayer." God forbid if they had.
A few weeks ago, the Madison, Wisconsin, school board banned the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance and the singing of the Star-Spangled Banner from its classrooms. The AP reports that proponents of the ban argued that the pledge's phrase — "one nation, under God" — is inappropriately religious, and the national anthem's lyrics are militaristic. Public pressure forced the school board to reverse course. However, prior to reciting the pledge or singing the anthem, students must first be informed that their participation is voluntary. We wouldn't want to offend anybody.
The Boy Scouts of America, a private organization, determined that the appointment of openly gay scout leaders violates its mission and purpose. The Supreme Court upheld the Boy Scouts' right to freedom of association under the First Amendment. Now, the group is the target of a well-orchestrated campaign to ban it from the public square — particularly from public schools. Just a few days ago, the Seattle Times reported that "Garfield High School's Outdoor Education program has broken away from the Boy Scouts because its student leaders object to a Boy Scout policy that bans openly gay leaders and members."
Did you know that the ROTC is prohibited from appearing on numerous college campuses? In New York alone, the ROTC is banned from Columbia University, New York University, and the City University of New York. Harvard University chased the ROTC off campus thirty-two years ago. The September 11 attacks have prodded 900 alumni to petition Harvard to reinstate the corps, but to no avail — yet.
And then there's the case of a Jewish elementary-school teacher who was removed from her second-grade classroom the other day by the liberal New York City schools chancellor Harold Levy. Apparently, parents, most of whom are Arab Americans, complained that she made anti-Arab comments. According to the New York Post, one of the parents complained that the teacher "told our kids she went to Israel and that Palestinian children threw rocks at her." The teacher said, "I do remember saying, 'terrorism is unusual to us, but this is how everyday life is in Israel." "I didn't teach anti-Arab. I taught antiterrorism." The Board of Education is now investigating the teacher. Gee, I wonder if truth is a defense to political correctness?
Yes, we need tolerance in America. So, when will the Left practice it?
