After 'hate-crime' melee, calm eludes Quaker school

[struggle4progress]

Guilford College tries to reaffirm its values after an alleged attack on three Palestinian students.
By Alexandra Marks | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor

GREENSBORO, N.C. - Like the banners condemning hate and the chalked peace signs on sidewalks, the makeshift scarecrow that stands on the tree-lined Guilford College campus is a testament to the trauma gripping this small Quaker school, as well its determination to heal.

With a mop for hair and a cardboard-box face, the scarecrow wears a sign inviting students to "Write the definition of community." Pinned to the corkboard hanging around its neck are scraps of paper with words like "Tolerance," "Accepting of all," and "Well-being."

The community scarecrow, as it's called, was erected last week by students after at least five members of the school's football team were accused of attacking three Palestinian students. According to court documents, the players allegedly beat the students with feet, fists, and brass knuckles, while calling them "terrorists" and racial epithets.

This coming week, the FBI and local prosecutors will begin interviewing football players. They'll also interview the three alleged victims ...

http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0129/p02s01-ussc.html

[etherealtruth]

1. The "positive" thing here ...

Has been the horror expressed by a great number of the student body and the Quaker community.

Unfortunately, I envision this behavior being explained or excused at a different school. The students and faculty seem to be genuinely seeking an answer to the question, "How did this happen here and how can we prevent this from ever happening again?"

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. The MSM has done its job well

making sure that the average American doesn't learn much about Islam by not reporting or underreporting the statements made by American Muslims condemning terrorism and the interfaith conferences that have been held to try and reach out to people of multiple faiths.

Here's the telling paragraph from the article:

National hate-crime experts contend the fact that such an alleged attack could take place at a school like Guilford – voted by Newsweek as the "hottest for social conscience" in 2006 – is a reflection of how deeply distrust of Islam now permeates the United States. For data, they point to polls, such as one done by CBS last April. It found that 45 percent of Americans now have a negative view of Islam – more than 9 percentage points higher than in the tense months following the 9/11 attacks. And a Washington Post poll found that the number of Americans who believe Islam stokes violence has more than doubled – from 14 percent in January 2002 to 33 percent in March 2006.



There have even been times here at DU where posters have (hopefully) innocently posted anti-Islamic propaganda as "proof" that Islam is a barbaric religion. I have done my best to correct this misinformation by citing reliable sources, be it on the Qur'an or Muslim lifestyles in general. Sadly, sometimes my responses have not been answered, so I'm not sure whether the original poster looked at my citations or not.

[struggle4progress]

3. The media makes sure Americans don't know much about anything:

not only Islam but a lot of other topics are covered in a dishonest and superficial manner.

As far as posting at DU goes, certainly the majority of my posts go unanswered, and it's hard to know how much real attention posts get.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. Oh, I don't worry about the regular posts going unanswered

but when someone makes a statement that is not factual about Islam and then challenges others to prove them wrong and it is done, it is rather surprising not to see a reply.

[Evoman]

5. I read your post and link..and found it quite interesting.

I think that the majority of posts like this one aren't very debatable, thats why they have a lower response number. Its not that nobody read it, its just that there is nothing much to talk about.