You ask how low we (Jews) can fall? I feel apolled by your use of epithet “swine” when referring to Daniel Pipes. I think lowest we can fall is when we start calling people with whom we we disagree, “swines”! By doing so, you not only debase his humanity, you also preclude yourself from possibly see his point. A point you entirely missed: For example when you comment this quote: “I don’t recognize the people who committed the attacks as either Arabs or Muslims.” You entirely miss Pipes point: 9/11 and other terrorist attacks on the “infidels” are entirely consistent with the holy texts of Islam: Koran and the Hadiths. Hundreds of passages in these books call specifically for violent holy war against the infidels. They pronounce that every means is justified, including lies, deceptions, and breaking promises. Muhammad himself being a prime example of just such behavior. When Almontaser claims that she does not recognize these terrorist as Muslims she is lying (practicing the “noble” art of “taqui” the (Muslim deception of infidels for the sake of promoting the rule of Allah). She knows very well, that in Islam peace is only made with infidels temporarily, only when the infidel cannot be defeated militarily, and only for the purpose of strengthening the Muslims and preparing for the attack when the time is ripe. Peace with infidels can be broken at any auspicious time.
She knows that one of the last and most poignant sayings of Muhammad, recorded in Koran, is “I have been made victorious with Terror”

So Richard, it OK, if you disagree with someone, but calling them swines and charlatans, forecloses every possibility of honest discussion.

U.S. school stops Hebrew classes for promoting Judaism

The first Hebrew language charter school in the United States was ordered to temporarily suspend Hebrew classes on Wednesday, while officials determine whether teachers are advocating the Jewish faith.

Public Schools are for the public.

And you are arguing that Arab-Americans are not the public? Look, there are all manner of magnet schools in NY dedicated to all manner of disciplines. I am sure there are public schools which offer an enriched Jewish curriculum for those wishing it (though I haven’t researched this to confirm it).

They are for Americans to learn what it is to be American

You seem to have the odd idea that being “American” is somehow divorced from being Arab or Jewish or Russian or Italian or whatever. It is not. Being American incorporates all of our multiple ethnic identities. American would be nothing without this rich ethnic tapestry.

The NY Public Schools once took immigrants and turned them into Americans

Yeah, they sure did. I remember my grandmother telling me that in her NY elementary school (this would’ve been around 1910 or so) they beat students who spoke Yiddish in class. That’s how the NY public schools used to deal with difference–they beat it out of you. I’m proud that today’s NY public schools embrace our differences and attempt to learn from them. Khalil Gibran will make a welcome contribution to ethnic diversity within the public school system. It will make Arab-Americans proud and should make all NYers proud too.

The NY Public Schools once took immigrants and turned them into Americans;now it takes Americans and tries to turn them back into immigrants.

–ellen