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NEA-linked article says not to “suggest any group is responsible“ for 9-11 attacks 8/21/2002
On the eve of the first anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attack on the United States, the National Education Association (NEA) Web site links to an article that advises teachers not to "suggest any group is responsible" for that horrific massacre on American soil. Instead, the article says, teachers should present to their pupils the values of tolerance and diversity.
"It takes a very peculiar mentality to imagine that the main lessons to be drawn from the September 11 attack on America are affirmation of Islam and repentance for racism," said Concerned Women for America's Vice President for Government Relations Michael Schwartz. "Normal people would think about things like love of our country and gratitude for the freedom and progress whose symbols were attacked by the forces of fanaticism. But for the NEA, it's hug a thug and blame America first."
The NEA Health Information Network Web site links to a detailed list of "Tips for Parents and School Regarding the Anniversary of 9/11," prepared by Professor Brian Lippincott of John F. Kennedy University in Orinda, California. Lippincott says, "Blaming is especially difficult in terrorist situations because someone is at fault. … We have no reason to believe that the attacks on our country were part of an organized plan of any other country. The terrorists acted independently without the sanctions of any nation."
Oh really? We know that all of the 19 terrorists who hijacked American airliners and crashed them in to the World Trade Center and Pentagon were of Middle Eastern descent. We know that certain verses of the Koran clearly advocate the death of "infidels"—namely Jews, Christians and other non-Muslims who reject Islam. We know that Osama bin Laden—head of the terrorist network Al Qaeda—refers to America as "The Great Satan" who must be destroyed. And what of the Arab nations that cheered the 9-11 attacks?
Does this mean that all Americans of Middle Eastern descent are guilty by association? Of course not. Is that to say everyone who practices Islam is a terrorist in waiting? God forbid! But the fact remains we were attacked by fanatical Islamic terrorists of Middle Eastern descent.
Further, Lippincott advises: "Do not encourage or allow random blaming; but understand that self-blame may be a way for students to feel 'in control' (something different they 'could have done' or 'could do' in the future). Be careful to ensure students (e.g., Arab-American students) do not assume blame in order to make classmates feel better."
Lippincott seems to suggest a moral equivalency when he cites the "internment of Japanese Americans after Pearl Harbor and backlash against Arab Americans during the Gulf War" as "obvious examples" of "American intolerance." He writes, "Teachers can do lessons in class … and encourage … children to suggest better choices that Americans can make at this time."
"Rather than creating lesson plans to help public school students become proficient with anything as mundane as the 'Three R's,' the left-wing NEA is touting 'lesson plans' for teachers and parents to help students 'Remember September 11,'" Concerned Women for America's Chief Counsel Jan LaRue said. "The overriding theme—avoiding America's historical tendency for 'intolerance,' and blaming anyone other than Americans."
The NEA is the nation's largest teachers' union, claiming 2.7 million members. It has come under fire for its decidedly liberal agenda. Most recently, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ordered the NEA and its state affiliates to stop violating the religious rights of members who were forced to undergo annual written procedures so their dues would not fund the union's political causes with which they disagreed. The teachers, who categorized themselves as "religious objectors," objected to the union's pro-abortion and pro-homosexual agenda and interference with parental rights.
The NEA's curriculum, under the heading "Remembering September 11," includes the topic "Facing Personal Feelings," designed to help students understand their feelings. "Facts About Terrorism and War" is designed to help students "recognize people help people during all types of emergencies."
Several teachers have said they will avoid the NEA curriculum and tell the "truth" about the terrorists and their religious background.
"My lesson plans will not skirt the issues," James McGrath Morris, a high-school teacher from Virginia, told The Washington Times. Morris said he will try to explain the 9-11 attacks by tracing the rivalry among Islam, Judaism and Christianity—noting that the terrorists were Muslim. "These are all aspects of the facts."
Whitney Finn, a middle-school teacher from Connecticut, said: "I want to prepare them for the truth, and the only way to do that is to keep talking to them and making sure they have the correct information about what happened that day."
For another example of moral equivalency in school curricula, click http://www.pbs.org/americaresponds/tolerance.html.
After many objections, the NEA claimed it removed the link to Lippincott's article. However, at the time of this posting, the link had not been removed.
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