This is NOT about diversity - it is about intolerance and Shar'ia creep
For as much as the Left crowes about those of us on the Right being intolerant, often it is those for whom we are to be tolerant of are the ones that are intolerant. Or, to put it bluntly, are the ones waging cultural jihad.
Too often, in the name of diversity and tolerance, our society excuses intolerance under the rubric of "cultural differences". Too often, when their intolerance is seen, all kinds of excuses are given - all in the name of diversity as we see here.
Note: like many of the other posts here at the 'Grok, we see this intolerance among and from Muslims in Minnesota:
A St. Cloud State University student in a teacher-training program at Technical High School left the school in late April because he says he feared for the safety of his service dog.
The school district calls it a misunderstanding, and officials there say they hoped Tyler Hurd, a 23-year-old junior from Mahtomedi who aspires to teach special education, would continue his training in the district.
Hurd said a student threatened to kill his service dog named Emmitt. The black lab is trained to protect Hurd when he has seizures.
A "misunderstanding"? Threatening a service dog is a "misunderstanding"? This is an expensive, highly trained animal that goes far beyond the monniker of "pet". Answer me this - what "nativist" would ever threaten a dog? To be mean to the dog? To threaten a dog?
The dog has a pouch on his side that assists those who stop to help Hurd.
“We came up with a solution because I felt threatened by it," Hurd said.
Threatened is not a word I would use here. Not only was the dog put at risk, but so was Hurd. In cases like this, often the person is not able to participate in life as fully as when the dog is able to assist. Thus, not only the dog was threatened but Hurd' livelihood was as well.
Why?
Kate Steffens, dean of the college of education at St. Cloud State, and Tech assistant principal Lori Lockhart met Thursday.
The Muslim faith, which is the dominant faith of Somali immigrants, forbids the touching of dogs.
That in and of itself ("..., forbids the touching of dogs...."), I have no problem with at all. If that is part of their faith, so be it. But...
Things didn't go as well at Tech, Hurd said. Students there taunted his dog, and he finally felt he had to leave after he was told a student made a threat. Hurd met with Lockhart but said he did not feel comfortable continuing.
The word of the day is, children, intimidation. Let's not just "talk it out", let's not just partake of spirited debate, let's not use the legal system. Instead, learn that you can get your own way by simply threatening to beat the crap out of anyone (or what they hold dear) who does not exhibit the proper amount of dhimmitude by dint of showing weakness. After all, we can make fun of Christians, Jews, Bhuddists, Hindus, Jains, Catholics, animalists, and the rest - but not Muslims.
My angst comes, however, when that faith starts to impose itself on others and expecting demanding that others follow its strictures. I might even be "ok" if it was done in a debate and left at that, but when it is done in a violent fashion, no. There should be NO reason for any faith to threaten someone who does not believe in that faith with harm just because they do not believe the same way.
Ask yourself this: if I demanded that as a matter of MY faith, that all students (as this is a school, right) participate in a morning prayer, would the diviners of diversity say "hey, it's a cultural thing, sure thing pal!").
Oh, yeah - already lost that argument (and no, I will not threaten violence just because I cannot get my own way).
Yet here?
“I think it was a misunderstanding where we didn't really prepare either side for possible implications," Espe said.
Oh, so Mr. Hurd should have been told "sure, come here and student teach! Oh, by the way, some of your students will want to kill your dog." After all, that would prevent the "misunderstanding", right? Put the burden on those that are already here...first. After all, we have to make allowances for everyone coming here - we have to be inclusive of all faiths and cultural values!
And, pray tell, how would they have "prepared" the Muslim kids so as to be willing to be "kumbaya" oriented? Or did they even try.
“We certainly welcome (Hurd) in our district, and we hope we can get this all resolved so he feels welcome and his dog is welcome," Espe said.
Can you say "CYA" mode? Sure, let's now put the burden of Hurd to make nice. We've all seen this in the past to make the victim appear to hold a grudge.
Er, and the Muslim students? What was done on that side of the ledger?
“I think this is part of the growth process when we become more diverse," Steffens said.
No, this is not about diversity. This has NOTHING to do with diversity. Espe's and Steffens' statement of miscommunication and diversity are the actions of people who do not wish to offend those that are doing the offending.
Where are the strong words of peace and understanding aimed at the Muslim students? After all, Hurd depends on that dog on coming in and doing a job. One does not threaten students as a student teacher.
Gary Loch, who is the diversity coordinator for the district, said the situation was an unfortunate case of miscommunication.
Miscommunication? Yes, but not the way Mr. Loch thinks.
Some might think that I have been overly harsh. Ask yourself - if you found yourself in another country, as a student, would you be doing a similar thing?
I think not. The more we make excuses for this kind of behavior, the more of the same behavior we will get. Consider it the analogy of Rudy Giuliani's "broken window" of stopping bad behavior - stop the little behaviors cold, and those committing the little behaviors never go on to do the larger ones.
Would that be nice with this Shar'ia creep - stopping it? When will we rise up to be intolerant of intolerance?
Remember, it is not just here that Shar'ia law is being forced upon an unwilling population:
Iraqi singers, actors and artists are fleeing the country after dozens have been killed by Islamic radicals determined to eradicate all culture associated with the West.
...
According to the Iraqi Artists' Association, at least 115 singers and 65 actors have been killed since the US-led invasion, as well as 60 painters. But the terror campaign has escalated in recent months as both Shia and Sunni extremists grow ever bolder in enforcing religious restrictions on the citizens of Iraq....
...
Culture was encouraged during Saddam Hussein's regime, but no longer. Abu Nur, an Islamic Army spokesman, said: 'Acting, theatre and television encourage bad behaviour and irreligious attitudes. They promote customs that affect the morality of our traditional society.'
Being dead tends to keep one from exhibiting a religious attitude, too....
