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Questioning motives? Aref Assaf
July 18, 2007
Update Read Aramica's response click here
 Aramica, the
award-winning biweekly and bilingual newspaper, has a potentially
controversial
feature story. The Brooklyn, NY-based newspaper casts serious doubts on the principal of
a yet to be opened school in Brooklyn to be known
as the Khalil Gibran International Academy (KGIA). The school is one
of about 40 publicly funded schools to be opened this fall and this one
will use Arabic to teach in half of its classes. Many
groups have come out
against the school (teaching terrorism xenophobia, etc.) But it appears
that the KGIA will finally open. According to Aramica, some in the community are
questioning the school’s principal Debbie Almontaser about her relations
with the extremist Zionist group, the Anti Defamation League, ADL.
Noticeably, the
paper did not publish any comments from the accused and no statement
is made as to whether an attempt was ever made.
Aramica is in favor of the school and has advocated for its need to
serve the community. However, Aramica's argument is against the
principal and is based on a statement by ADL supporting the creation of
the school and especially the appointment of Ms. Almontasser as its
headmaster. Here is a relevant quote from the article: "There are
growing concerns among Arab American community members about Almontaser
due to information that only came to light recently. What could she
possible have done to anger members of her own community? how about
betray them by working with a Zionist organization." (Page
4,
Aramica, June 29-July 11, 2007)
I do not know Ms. Almontasser nor do I like anything about
the ADL. My disgust for their ethos, uttering and polices is
unfathomable and unyielding. But I strongly feel the accusation of
”sleeping with the enemy" touted by the paper are not
substantiated. Only circumstantial 'proof' is demonstrated. Before
we condemn a leader of our own, further
independent scrutiny and a second look are warranted.
Suffice it to say that irrespective of Ms. Almontasser's motives,
intentions, or shortcomings, she will be paid to do her job as
headmaster. Hers is not volunteer-based community activism. But
can or should a person be truthful to their community and culture and
also receive proper compensation for their efforts? Why do we have to
always be so conspiracy-ridden to always doubt the motives and
intentions of those who want to move us forward?
If we object to the support of ADL whether solicited or not, should we
not also refuse the financial aid the school will receive from the
Melinda and Bill Gates Foundation? (Bill Gates who according to some is a secular
/ closet Jew, was the co-founder
of Microsoft and he has donated millions of dollars to Israel and other
Jewish causes - Aramica does not raise or question this matter.)
Moreover, should we as Muslims not work with the ACLU, the prominent
national civil rights organization because it endorses gay marriages? If our
moral compass is so truly flawless, should we even open a school in
America, the main supporter of Israel and the chief reason we so
conveniently employ every time we attempt to explain our failed present
and past history?
Can any Arab or Muslim organization receive public support or funding
if it denies or ignores the political discourse in which we are a weak
part? While we cannot choose our enemies, should we refuse the help of
‘friends’? Have we not learned from the successes of our enemies in
their abilities to Americanize their issues and make them mainstream?
Are we so politically and economically strong a community that we can
dictate the course of public policy?
Take the example of AAF's initiative to
establish an
Arab Heritage Commission in NJ. While we have received the
support of many Arab and Muslim organizations, we have also received
endorsements from Individuals, municipal councils, churches and even a
cautious nod from the NJ Offices of the ADL. Are we now in cahoots
with the ADL? Should Aramica investigate our intentions and dealings
with the ADL? While we welcome the investigation, we say it aloud that
most of the endorsements we received for the creation of the Arab
Heritage Commission came in unsolicited and some were made in the
context of
articles interviews with various people
which the paper
covering our project felt relevant.
Let me also state for the record
that, in 2005, I too sat on the same table as the head of the NJ
office of ADL. The meeting was part of then Senator Jon Corzine's Task
Force on Civil Rights and Social Justice, of which I was a member. I was
joined by three other Arab Americans from NJ, well-known for their
activism. We discussed ways to combat discrimination, hate crimes, and
promote ethnic diversity. Imagine what would be the response of the
Governor if we said that we refuse to sit on the same table with a known
Zionist organization. Not only will we be excluded from the Task Force
but all the issues we came to promote will be also excluded. If we cry
discrimination, we cannot do the same onto others.
While I utterly scorn the very idea that our community's needs and
issues must pass the Jewish test (I have so stated in the
Merhi case), I also will admit that our political clout remains in
a state of infancy. Any attempt at building institutions to serve
our community will be viewed by the other side as a potential threat.
After all, American Jews, minuscule in their numbers compared to
the national population, achieved their successes because for the last
two years they were not engaged in bringing down promising leaders. They
were invested in building institutions (not personality cults)
through which they impacted the national discourse on the separation of
church and state, civil and religion rights and above all support for
the State of Israel.
It is rather naive and politically
immature to for anyone to sensationalize normal practices
occurring in the conduct of public policy. To say that we as Arab
Americans must never work or collaborate with Jewish groups
(irrespective of their leanings) is political
lynching of the worst kind because it is self inflicted, and worse, it will
render our issues beyond mainstream America. If the ADL is so engaged in and committed to fighting bias in schools, why not join them by also
making anti-Arab bias a racial crime? Why not confront Jewish bias
against Arabs and Islam head-on by providing alternative venues for
dialogue and mutual respect? Where is our anti-bias curriculum to offer
to public schools? The ADL has a monopoly over what constitutes a
bias or a hate crime.
No, I have not been bought off
by the Zionists, nor have I lost grasp of who our friends or foes are. But I'm a realist,
and in this system of ours, to demonstrate our own mutual respect for
others, we must accept them on the table. For long, we have been outside
mainstream America. If we do not engage ourselves, we will
be then called racist and no public entity will be able to
support our programs. But if our project is privately funded, such as a
church or mosque school, where the government has no direct
authority, we can exclude anyone we so deem. The school project is a
publicly funded one and many other groups will and can have a say on
what we will do with public funds and space.
Aramica, which continues to feature relevant topics of great interest to
our community, must be thanked for covering the story. We hope
readers of Aramica will send in their thoughts. Above all, we very much hope to
hear from the accused, Ms. Almontasser.
Aref Assaf
If you have not read the Aramica story, please click below:
http://www.viewda.com/webpaper/aramica/
Here is an article by opponents of the school:
Khalil Gibran School - A Jihad Grows in Brooklyn
Here is an article by the New York Times:
"A New School Plans to Teach Half of Classes Using Arabic"
By GOOTMAN
New York Times
Feb 13, 2007
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/13/nyregion/13schools.html
The New York City school system will open its first public school
dedicated to teaching the Arabic language and culture in September, with
half of its classes eventually taught in Arabic, officials said
yesterday.
The school, the Khalil Gibran International Academy, is one of 40 new
schools that the Department of Education is opening for the 2007-8
school year. It will serve grades 6 to 12 and will be in Brooklyn,
although a specific location has not been determined.
Debbie Almontaser, a 15-year veteran of the school system who is the
driving force behind the school and will be its principal, said that
ideally, the school would serve an equal mix of students with
backgrounds in Arabic language and culture and those without such
backgrounds.
"We are wholeheartedly looking to attract as many diverse students as
possible, because we really want to give them the opportunity to expand
their horizons and be global citizens," said Ms. Almontaser, who
emigrated from Yemen when she was 3 and is fluent in Arabic.
"I see students who are excited about engaging in international careers,
international affairs, wanting to come to our school. And I also see
Arab-American students who would want the opportunity to learn Arabic,
to read it and write it and have a better understanding of where their
ancestors have come from."
Next year, Ms. Almontaser said, the school, which is named after a
Lebanese poet and philosopher, will have only sixth graders. It will
grow year by year, and will eventually serve 500 to 600 students; by the
third year, she said, she hoped that half of the school's classes would
be taught in Arabic and half in English.
The school is opening in partnership with New Visions for Public
Schools, a nonprofit group that has helped create dozens of small new
schools in recent years, and the Arab-American Family Support Center, a
Brooklyn social service agency that will provide the Arabic language
instruction next year, as well as other programs. It will benefit from
donations from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which has helped
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg create many other small schools.
Half of the 40 new schools the department will open in September were
announced last month and the others were announced yesterday. The
schools include 10 middle schools, 3 elementary schools, a
kindergarten-through-eighth-grade school, 12 schools for grades 6 to 12,
nine high schools and five transfer schools for students who struggled
elsewhere.
Many of the schools will be located in buildings of schools that are
being closed for poor performance.
Copyright 2007 The New York Times Company
If you have not read the Aramica story, please click below:
http://www.viewda.com/webpaper/aramica/
Here is an article by opponents of the school:
Khalil Gibran School - A Jihad Grows in Brooklyn
Here is an article by the New York times:
A New School Plans to Teach Half of Classes Using Arabic
By ELISSA GOOTMAN
New York Times
Feb 13, 2007
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/13/nyregion/13schools.html
The New York City school system will open its first public school dedicated to
teaching the Arabic language and culture in September, with half of its classes
eventually taught in Arabic, officials said yesterday.
The school, the Khalil Gibran International Academy, is one of 40 new schools
that the Department of Education is opening for the 2007-8 school year. It will
serve grades 6 to 12 and will be in Brooklyn, although a specific location has
not been determined.
Debbie Almontaser, a 15-year veteran of the school system who is the driving
force behind the school and will be its principal, said that ideally, the school
would serve an equal mix of students with backgrounds in Arabic language and
culture and those without such backgrounds.
"We are wholeheartedly looking to attract as many diverse students as possible,
because we really want to give them the opportunity to expand their horizons and
be global citizens," said Ms. Almontaser, who emigrated from Yemen when she was
3 and is fluent in Arabic.
"I see students who are excited about engaging in international careers,
international affairs, wanting to come to our school. And I also see
Arab-American students who would want the opportunity to learn Arabic, to read
it and write it and have a better understanding of where their ancestors have
come from."
Next year, Ms. Almontaser said, the school, which is named after a Lebanese poet
and philosopher, will have only sixth graders. It will grow year by year, and
will eventually serve 500 to 600 students; by the third year, she said, she
hoped that half of the school's classes would be taught in Arabic and half in
English.
The school is opening in partnership with New Visions for Public Schools, a
nonprofit group that has helped create dozens of small new schools in recent
years, and the Arab-American Family Support Center, a Brooklyn social service
agency that will provide the Arabic language instruction next year, as well as
other programs. It will benefit from donations from the Bill and Melinda Gates
Foundation, which has helped Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg create many other small
schools.
Half of the 40 new schools the department will open in September were announced
last month and the others were announced yesterday. The schools include 10
middle schools, 3 elementary schools, a kindergarten-through-eighth-grade
school, 12 schools for grades 6 to 12, nine high schools and five transfer
schools for students who struggled elsewhere.
Many of the schools will be located in buildings of schools that are being
closed for poor performance.
Copyright 2007 The New York Times Company
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