On Mon, 12 May 2008 16:19:38 -0600, FurPaw
wrote:
[...]
"On the other side, we have a student at Tech HS whose faith considers
dogs unclean and is asserting his right to education in an institution
without dogs. This not only affects student teachers; any student with
a sight or hearing disability may use a dog for assistance and might
want to also attend Tech HS.
"But when rights collide, as they did here, whose rights did they
choose to uphold first?"
http://hotair.com/archives/2008/05/1...out-of-school/
"Shame, shame on Technical High School for buckling under to thugs and
abandoning their responsibilities in such a cowardly manner."
Ditto.
It looked to me like the Muslim student who took offense at the
dog was a jerk, just using his religion/culture as an excuse to
act like an asshole. Jerks come in all faiths and colors.
Yes, they do.
And I, unlike so many others, enjoy pointing out when those jerks
happen to be Muslims, too.
The above quote makes it look like the school officials sided
with the offending student and sent Hurd away. The article that
your link referenced said that Hurd was uncomfortable when he
heard that a student had threatened his dog and chose to leave;
it did not say that the school officials sided with the Muslim
student.
I think there's more to the so-called "misunderstanding" than school
officials are willing to admit to.
The school officials missed a good opportunity for teaching
negotiation, compromise, mutual understanding.
Yes, they certainly did.
No doubt they
didn't handle the situation well; they could have done a better
job preparing the students for the presence of a service dog and
helping them find ways to be in its presence without violating
their religious or cultural principles. But it does not appear
that they "[buckled] under to thugs" and sent Hurd packing.
I think the answer lies somewhere in the following statement:
"Espe said the school's investigation determined the student did not
make a direct threat."
here's how the investigation probably went:
"Mr. Somali student, did you threaten to kill Mr Hurd's dog."
"No, I didn't."
Case closed.
But presenting the story as though the school officials simply
backed the Muslim student sounds like a distortion that was
intended to amplify the discord and confirm and increase
prejudice against the Somalis.
You're entitled to your opinion, of course, but I think the school did
exactly that, and then when the story became pubic, they tried to
cover their asses, like typical bureaucrats are wont to do.
Do I blame all Muslims for this?
Of course not.
Many of them (according to Hurd) were quite friendly towards the dog
(even though they still refused to touch the dog with their bare
hands, which is their right).
But I choose to believe Hurd here.
And that the school did nothing about it.
YMMV.
--
Handsome "Jack" Morrison
The best commencement speech you'll never hear.
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/...821,full.story
Reality-based community comes out in support of religious extremism, provided it's the extremism
of the religious Left.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0508/10126.html
The top ten list of things envirinomentalists need to learn (pay attention, Bozoman!).
http://depletedcranium.com/?p=368
The nanny state, explained.
http://hotair.com/archives/2008/04/2...ate-explained/
The total witlessness of Obama apologists.
http://rightwingnuthouse.com/archive...ma-apologists/
Moment of Truth in Iraq: How a New 'Greatest Generation' of American Soldiers is Turning Defeat and Disaster
into Victory and Hope, by Michael Yon.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/pro...283155&s=books
http://www2.nysun.com/article/75405
A book that *every* American should read (and NYT #1 bestseller): Liberal Fascism, by Jonah Goldberg.
http://www.amazon.com/Liberal-Fascis.../dp/0385511841