Right-wing PC thuggery & Debbie Almontaser
Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2009 5:59 pmRight-wingers often whine about alleged "political correctness" and the left's alleged hidden hatred for freedom of speech.
Setting aside that the term "PC" seems to mean anything right-wingers don't like, it is useful to remind ourselves that, at best, support for censorship sometimes comes from all over the political spectrum. And some of the loudest complainers about PC are themselves virulent opponents of free speech and academic freedom.
Take the case of Debbie Almontaser. The linked Wikipedia article provides good information and I urge you to read it, but I take the following undisputed facts from an opinion of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit:
What happend to Ms. Almontaser did not happen in a vacuum. Right-wing think tanks and other groups targetted her and KGIA from the get-go. This is shameful.
Note: I just watched HBO's SHOUTING FIRE: STORIES FROM THE EDGE OF FREE SPEECH which discussed what happened to Almontaser and other intriguing cases of suppression of freedom. I highly recommend the program and it's website.
Setting aside that the term "PC" seems to mean anything right-wingers don't like, it is useful to remind ourselves that, at best, support for censorship sometimes comes from all over the political spectrum. And some of the loudest complainers about PC are themselves virulent opponents of free speech and academic freedom.
Take the case of Debbie Almontaser. The linked Wikipedia article provides good information and I urge you to read it, but I take the following undisputed facts from an opinion of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit:
From 2005 to 2007, Almontaser, an Arab-American, has led the development of the
Khalil Gibran International Academy (“KGIA”), a New York City public high school offering
classes in Arab language and culture to foster multicultural understanding and to prepare students
for careers in international affairs and diplomacy. The record reflects that since the New York
City Department of Education (“DOE”) announced its approval of the school in February 2007,
certain groups have claimed that both KGIA and Almontaser are affiliated with radical Islam.
On August 3, 2007, an internet-based group called Stop the Madrasa Coalition issued a press
release alleging that Almontaser was connected to t-shirts bearing the words “Intifada NYC” that
were allegedly sold by a group known as Arab Women Active in the Arts and Media
(“AWAAM”). Although the record indicates that Almontaser is not affiliated with AWAAM,
New York Post reporter Chuck Bennett sought inter alia to interview her about the organization
and its t-shirts. Almontaser wanted to avoid the interview. DOE press officer David Cantor
instructed her to participate, but not to address the t-shirts.
On August 3, 2007, Bennett interviewed Almontaser by telephone with DOE press officer
Melody Meyer on the line. Almontaser told Bennett that she was not connected to AWAAM and
that AWAAM had nothing to do with KGIA. When Bennett questioned her about the meaning
of the Arabic word “intifada,” Almontaser accurately explained that the root of the word means
“shaking off.” She also stated that the word has been associated with violence and the
Palestinian/Israeli conflict and emphasized that she would never affiliate herself with an
organization that condones violence. Meyer interjected only once during the call to emphasize
that Almontaser does not believe in violence. Immediately after the interview, Meyer called
Almontaser to tell her that she did a good job.
The next day, the New York Post ran an article entitled “City Principal is ‘Revolting.’” It
featured a picture of Almontaser with the caption, “Furor: The Pro-violence shirt is being
defended by Principal Debbie Almontaser (above).” The article asserted that “[a]ctivists with
ties to the principal of the city’s controversial new Arabic-themed school are hawking T-shirts
that glorify Palestinian terror” and that Almontaser “downplayed the significance of the T-shirts.”
The district court found that the New York Post correctly attributed to Almontaser her
explanation that the root of the word “intifada” means “shaking off,” that the word has
“develop[ed] a negative connotation due to the uprising in the Palestinian-Israeli areas,” and that
she “[didn’t] believe the intention is to have any of that kind of [violence] in New York City.” It
is undisputed by the parties that the paper incorrectly and misleadingly added the phrase “and
shaking off oppression” to Almontaser’s statement, “I think [the t-shirts are] pretty much an
opportunity for girls to express that they are part of New York City society.”
The New York Post and other media subsequently published stories and letters to the
editor characterizing the statements attributed to Almontaser by the New York Post as a defense
of violence against Israel. Within days, the Deputy Mayor for Education and Community
Development, Dennis Walcott, met with Almontaser on behalf of DOE Chancellor Joel Klein
and insisted on her resignation. Under pressure from DOE officials, Almontaser issued an
apology drafted by the DOE and resigned from her position as KGIA’s acting interim principal.
On October 16, 2007, Almontaser applied for the position of permanent principal of
KGIA. Two days later, The New York Times reported that Cantor, speaking on behalf of
Chancellor Klein, stated that Almontaser “would not be placed as principal at the school.” The
office conducting the first level of review for the position forwarded Almontaser’s application to
Hiring Manager Rosemary Stuart with the notation that it was not recommended. Stuart did not
forward Almontaser’s application for the next level of review.
Khalil Gibran International Academy (“KGIA”), a New York City public high school offering
classes in Arab language and culture to foster multicultural understanding and to prepare students
for careers in international affairs and diplomacy. The record reflects that since the New York
City Department of Education (“DOE”) announced its approval of the school in February 2007,
certain groups have claimed that both KGIA and Almontaser are affiliated with radical Islam.
On August 3, 2007, an internet-based group called Stop the Madrasa Coalition issued a press
release alleging that Almontaser was connected to t-shirts bearing the words “Intifada NYC” that
were allegedly sold by a group known as Arab Women Active in the Arts and Media
(“AWAAM”). Although the record indicates that Almontaser is not affiliated with AWAAM,
New York Post reporter Chuck Bennett sought inter alia to interview her about the organization
and its t-shirts. Almontaser wanted to avoid the interview. DOE press officer David Cantor
instructed her to participate, but not to address the t-shirts.
On August 3, 2007, Bennett interviewed Almontaser by telephone with DOE press officer
Melody Meyer on the line. Almontaser told Bennett that she was not connected to AWAAM and
that AWAAM had nothing to do with KGIA. When Bennett questioned her about the meaning
of the Arabic word “intifada,” Almontaser accurately explained that the root of the word means
“shaking off.” She also stated that the word has been associated with violence and the
Palestinian/Israeli conflict and emphasized that she would never affiliate herself with an
organization that condones violence. Meyer interjected only once during the call to emphasize
that Almontaser does not believe in violence. Immediately after the interview, Meyer called
Almontaser to tell her that she did a good job.
The next day, the New York Post ran an article entitled “City Principal is ‘Revolting.’” It
featured a picture of Almontaser with the caption, “Furor: The Pro-violence shirt is being
defended by Principal Debbie Almontaser (above).” The article asserted that “[a]ctivists with
ties to the principal of the city’s controversial new Arabic-themed school are hawking T-shirts
that glorify Palestinian terror” and that Almontaser “downplayed the significance of the T-shirts.”
The district court found that the New York Post correctly attributed to Almontaser her
explanation that the root of the word “intifada” means “shaking off,” that the word has
“develop[ed] a negative connotation due to the uprising in the Palestinian-Israeli areas,” and that
she “[didn’t] believe the intention is to have any of that kind of [violence] in New York City.” It
is undisputed by the parties that the paper incorrectly and misleadingly added the phrase “and
shaking off oppression” to Almontaser’s statement, “I think [the t-shirts are] pretty much an
opportunity for girls to express that they are part of New York City society.”
The New York Post and other media subsequently published stories and letters to the
editor characterizing the statements attributed to Almontaser by the New York Post as a defense
of violence against Israel. Within days, the Deputy Mayor for Education and Community
Development, Dennis Walcott, met with Almontaser on behalf of DOE Chancellor Joel Klein
and insisted on her resignation. Under pressure from DOE officials, Almontaser issued an
apology drafted by the DOE and resigned from her position as KGIA’s acting interim principal.
On October 16, 2007, Almontaser applied for the position of permanent principal of
KGIA. Two days later, The New York Times reported that Cantor, speaking on behalf of
Chancellor Klein, stated that Almontaser “would not be placed as principal at the school.” The
office conducting the first level of review for the position forwarded Almontaser’s application to
Hiring Manager Rosemary Stuart with the notation that it was not recommended. Stuart did not
forward Almontaser’s application for the next level of review.
What happend to Ms. Almontaser did not happen in a vacuum. Right-wing think tanks and other groups targetted her and KGIA from the get-go. This is shameful.
Note: I just watched HBO's SHOUTING FIRE: STORIES FROM THE EDGE OF FREE SPEECH which discussed what happened to Almontaser and other intriguing cases of suppression of freedom. I highly recommend the program and it's website.
I thought that was the intent of American Christianity?