On May 21, 2010, the State of Texas adopted a resolution for a new social studies curriculum. The
changes implemented were multifarious, but one of the primary effects was a shift toward a more
objective presentation of both Christianity and Islam. According to the resolution, the former imbalance
was a favorable view of Islam and a critical view of Christianity. The resolution referenced “politically-
correct whitewashes of Islamic culture and stigmas on Christian civilization.” The resolution maintained
that the Texas social studies curriculum watered down Islamic practices of Jihad, slavery, and oppression
of women, while denouncing the Roman Catholic crusades of the Middle Ages.
In the October 22nd edition of The Daily Cougar last year, Mai Tran expressed her opinion of the
resolution, saying “As a native resident, it is clear that Texas is already succumbing to the lunacy of ultra-
conservative principles.”
I take issue with Tran’s opinion on two points. First, the resolution passed was not a promotion of
conservatism but of objectivity. According to the resolution, the issue at hand was a diluted, glazed
over presentation of Islam, but a brutally factual (and possibly negative) portrayal of Christianity. The
purpose of the resolution was to make certain that the real truth about Islam and Christianity were both
taught.
Second, I would contend that “ultra-conservative” principles are anything but lunacy, but are in fact vital
to the freedom and security we enjoy as Americans.
As of 10 a.m. this morning, 5, 902 Americans have been killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation
New Dawn, and Operation Enduring Freedom combined. We are those whose freedom they died to
protect, and it is important that we honor their sacrifice by making an effort to understand why they
died and are dying each day.
Our men and women fight and die because of a worldview, an ideology, which dictates that every
person has a right to life and a right to freedom. Naturally, to stand up for this worldview means war
with those who hold an opposite and irreconcilable worldview – that of radical Islam, which views the
deaths of 2,977 Americans on September 11, 2001, as an event to be celebrated. Osama Bin Laden
himself expressed the disparity of views perfectly: “We love death. The U.S. loves life. That is the
difference between us two.”
This is why the “ultra-conservative” principles that led to the Texas social studies resolution are so vital
– they fight the same battles as our soldiers, but instead of in the desert, they fight it in the minds of our
youth, teaching them that each person is entitled to freedom and to life. The war on terror in which we
are engaged is a war of ideologies. The resolution passed is important because it protects against the
promotion of Islam. In no way should Islam be wholly excluded from the social studies curriculum, but if
we allow our own educational system to give quarter to or even promote the ideas of the religion that
spawned terrorism while denouncing the Christianity that founded our nation on principles of freedom,
the war on terror will be over, and we will have lost, conquered from within.
Daniel Cooney, Sophomore, Mechanical Engineering, [email protected].
Radical Islam did not spawn terrorism. Wikipedia mentions over 100 definitions of Terrorism, but this one fits the bill: "Terrorism is the systematic use of terror especially as a means of coercion." It is religion-neutral, and just because in recent years radical Islamists with no value for human life have taken to killing people in mass acts of murder does not mean that they are the sole purveyors of terrorism.
You have a good point. Radical Islam did not spawn ALL terrorism, and I don't mean to imply that it did. However, a great deal of the terrorism we encounter today is carried out by radical Muslims. Radical Islam did spawn the terrorism with which we are at war.
no, our unprincipled foreign policy spawned the war on terror. 94% of terrorism isn't even committed by muslims. check your facts
http://www.loonwatch.com/2010/01/not-all-terroris…
Don't reply to your own artilces. . . bad bad bad. . .
“Slay the unbelievers wherever you find them.” Koran 2:191
“Make war on the infidels living in your neighborhood.” Koran 9:123
“When opportunity arises, kill the infidels wherever you catch them.” Koran 9:5
“Any religion other than Islam is not acceptable.” Koran 3:85
“The Jews and the Christians are perverts; fight them.” Koran 9:30
“Maim and crucify the infidels if they criticize Islam” Koran 5:33
“The infidels are unclean; do not let them into a mosque.” Koran 9:28
“Punish the unbelievers with garments of fire, hooked iron rods, boiling water; melt their skin and bellies.” Koran 22:19
“Do not hanker for peace with the infidels; behead them when you catch them.” Koran 47:4
“The unbelievers are stupid; urge the Muslims to fight them.” Koran 8:65
“Muslims must not take the infidels as friends.” Koran 3:28
“Terrorize and behead those who believe in scriptures other than the Qur’an.” Koran 8:12
“Muslims must muster all weapons to terrorize the infidels.” Koran 8:60
Yeah, who would ever in there right minds confuse them for terrorist?
Awesome Article……..Don't Forget your roots America …… Learn from the current situation in Europe
What terrorism?
http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/index.html#Attacks
Muslims never revise history. So what's the problem?
http://www.jihadwatch.org/2009/07/documentary-blames-the...