I can't believe this!

[monarchsfan16]

I'm taking World Literature for English this year, so today we were learning about Sumerians and Babylonians-the ancient people in the Middle East. My teacher was telling us all about all that those people did for civilization.
He then came right out and said that we shouldn't be asking why the Middle East people hate us, and that those that attacked us on 9/11 aren't evil ! I can't believe he said that. He said that we owe them big time for all they contributed to our society and that this was part of their payback.
I never knew the murder of thousands was what that culture deserved for providing us with sciences, writing and religion . And I have to wonder what is wrong with this teacher of mine.

 

[mrsv98]

Well, if he said it exactly as you said, he was out of line. However, he is right in many respects. Ancient Muslim scholars did make enormous contributions to civilization, they basically saved all the knowledge accumulated during the Dark Ages (that is very simplified).

Perhaps what he meant was that the vast majority of Middle Easterns are not the extremists who perpetuated the attacks on us and on many others around the world. They are no more "ordinary" Middle Eastern people than KKK members are "ordinary" Americans.

As for saying the attacks were payback, that is just ridiculous and I would certainly bring it to the attention of your Dean/Head of Dept/Principal.

 

[Microcell]

He is rewriting history if you ask me! You should have told them that those that terrorize because they believe Isreal should be theirs, actually left the area they must have now because they couldn't get anything to grow, the Jews took it on and made the fertile crescent useful again and now they want it back. What is causing so much horror right now is a case of sour grapes!

 

[monarchsfan16]

Originally posted by mrsv98
Well, if he said it exactly as you said, he was out of line. However, he is right in many respects. Ancient Muslim scholars did make enormous contributions to civilization, they basically saved all the knowledge accumulated during the Dark Ages (that is very simplified).

Perhaps what he meant was that the vast majority of Middle Easterns are not the extremists who perpetuated the attacks on us and on many others around the world. They are no more "ordinary" Middle Eastern people than KKK members are "ordinary" Americans.

As for saying the attacks were payback, that is just ridiculous and I would certainly bring it to the attention of your Dean/Head of Dept/Principal.

He came right out and said that not every Middle Eastern person was responsible but those that were are not evil, they're just trying to get what we owe them. And trust me I would bring it to the attention of higher ups, but in dealing with them in the past I've discovered they are just as far off their rockers as this one is.

Microcell, there's no way I could have said anything arguing what he was saying. He tries to preach to us. Yesterday he was trying to convert us all to Democrats, and today he was bringing up this garbage.

 

[Crankyshank]

Originally posted by mrsv98
Well, if he said it exactly as you said, he was out of line. However, he is right in many respects. Ancient Muslim scholars did make enormous contributions to civilization, they basically saved all the knowledge accumulated during the Dark Ages (that is very simplified).

Perhaps what he meant was that the vast majority of Middle Easterns are not the extremists who perpetuated the attacks on us and on many others around the world. They are no more "ordinary" Middle Eastern people than KKK members are "ordinary" Americans.

As for saying the attacks were payback, that is just ridiculous and I would certainly bring it to the attention of your Dean/Head of Dept/Principal.

ITA In addition, Islam has greatly influenced quite a bit of world art and architecture. The Middle East has made a large contribute to the development of western civilization and that should never be discounted.

And I agree, if your teacher did specifixally state that 9/11 was a payback for those gifts, then I would definitely bring it to the attention of the Principal or the schoolboard

 

[monarchsfan16]

Originally posted by Crankyshank
ITA In addition, Islam has greatly influenced quite a bit of world art and architecture. The Middle East has made a large contribute to the development of western civilization and that should never be discounted.

I absolutely would not discount the contributions of their society to civilization. WHile I'll admit I didn't learn much about these contributions until last night, I certainly am not discounting it. I just do not see how 9/11 is payback for all they did to us. I think that just the fact that he said that, even in the context of what they did for us was really wrong.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Ancient Muslim scholars and artists (and modern ones too) have made great contributions to the world. Middle Eastern music is incredible, as is their artwork, buildings etc.

However, those who attacked on 9/11 were not scholars, artists, or even regular guys...they were not part of a recognized military, they were not "freedom fighters". They were terrorists. Plain and simple and for your teacher to tell a class full of people who for all he knows could have lost a parent, or loved one on 9/11 was WAY out of line.

 

[gallaj0]

Mathematics, architecture, science, music, and all that the people of the Middle East have given to the world were gifts for the enlightenment of all people, not items for sale to the U.S. with the price of human lives.

He demeans and devalues their gifts by considering them as such.

Tell him that if it will bring my wife's best friend back, I'll be glad to give him my old Algebra book, and a one way plane ticket to Iraq, and he can tell them no thanks from me.

 

[notyetretired]

Not that it really changes things, but the ancient Sumerians and Babylonians are not the same race of people as the arabs living in the region today. There have been so many invading tribes passing through that area that few, if any, of the current residents could trace their ancestry back to the ancient civilizations responsible for those contributions.

While it could be said we owe a debt of gratitude to those ancient people, that doesn't in any way condone the mass murder of innocent civilians by the modern-day people who happen to be the latest round of invaders who inhabit the area of land that the original contributors were driven from so long ago.

 

[Rock'n Robin]

As a HS teacher I think you should report this to the administration. I would not go alone though; were any of your classmates similarly offended? If you go alone and nothing happens you may be targeted by this teacher for tougher treatment.
It is NOT our job as teachers to convert kids to any political opinions. I will discuss the election with kids during class breaks but I would never try to make them vote the way I am--I hear comments against my own opinion all the time and just don't pay attention.
This has nothing to do with appreciating the contributions of those cultures. Those people were terrorists, plain and simple. He needs to shut up or be shut up. If he was at my school I'd be storming over there and having a chat.
Robin M.