What should I have said?

[Pembo]

I teach at a small Catholic school in a small predominately white town. Today at lunch someone innocently asked if people watched the inauguration. Two of the teachers said "why? to watch that terrorist get sworn in?"

The two continued on about how "he" (they wouldn't say his name) has terrorist ties and never said his middle name until yesterday.

I did speak up and ask if because his middle name is Hussein that makes him a terrorist? The one teacher said no but "he" has terrorist ties. I then pointed out that President Obama is named for his father and that many people in that part of the world have the name Hussein. The other teacher then chimes in with why didn't "he" use his middle name during the campaign and I commented that most people don't use their middle names. Then one of them asked me why "he" used his middle name during the swearing in. My response was that I thought it was proper to state your full name. The response I got was that the chief justice was pointing out that "he" was a terrorist.

At that point I reminded myself that one can't win an arguement with the closed minded. DH says the comments are veiled racism.

It sickens me to think these women are teaching impressionable 5th and 6th graders.

I am not typically a person who looks for conflict or discusses politics or religion. But this really fired me up...What would you have said???

 

[brockash]

Oh my It's very sad that such ignorant ppl. are teaching, of all things. I'm sorry you have to work with them. I think you did the right thing for standing up to the ignorance; and you're correct there's not much you can do for the close minded.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

Never wrestle with a pig; you both get dirty and the pig likes it.

 

[freckles and boo]

Why argue with the clueless? It is an exercise in futility.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

Never wrestle with a pig; you both get dirty and the pig likes it.

Oh, I was going to say that!

 

[jrsmom]

Ignorance is bliss. I sure wouldn't want someone with such a lack of knowledge teaching my child.

 

[lustergirl]

I was standing in line at a local supermarket and this was the older lady spouting off about how our new president was a muslim with terrorist ties. She was going by his muslim middle name- Hussein. I believe he is of a protestant background like baptist perhaps. My son has a muslim middle name and he is no terrorist as well. Some people are so close minded but you can't change the world just make sure you are doing the right thing.

 

[castleview]

I teach at a small Catholic school in a small predominately white town. Today at lunch someone innocently asked if people watched the inauguration. Two of the teachers said "why? to watch that terrorist get sworn in?"

The two continued on about how "he" (they wouldn't say his name) has terrorist ties and never said his middle name until yesterday.

I did speak up and ask if because his middle name is Hussein that makes him a terrorist? The one teacher said no but "he" has terrorist ties. I then pointed out that President Obama is named for his father and that many people in that part of the world have the name Hussein. The other teacher then chimes in with why didn't "he" use his middle name during the campaign and I commented that most people don't use their middle names. Then one of them asked me why "he" used his middle name during the swearing in. My response was that I thought it was proper to state your full name. The response I got was that the chief justice was pointing out that "he" was a terrorist.

At that point I reminded myself that one can't win an arguement with the closed minded. DH says the comments are veiled racism.

It sickens me to think these women are teaching impressionable 5th and 6th graders.

I am not typically a person who looks for conflict or discusses politics or religion. But this really fired me up...What would you have said???

They TEACH!

I guess the only thing you could say is "Alrighty... )

I live in a small, predominately white town...that's no excuse for such ignorant people. Just be happy you're not as dumb as these women.

 

[Uncle Remus]

Critical thinkin', the other national deficit.

 

[okeydokey]

I think you did the right thing by calling them on their stupidity, but some people just won't give up their ignorance. I guess you just need to let it go.

 

[Tink888]

I wouldn't have let it bother me. Just read some of the threads on the boards. Everyone has opinions and they're entitled to them. I don't think President Obama is a terrorist by any stretch of the imagination but he did know Ayers and Ayers did engage in terrorist acts and unfortunately there are a lot of people who associate the name Hussein with terrorism, ridiculous as it is.

Now, if these teachers were sharing their opinions with their students, then I'd have a problem.

 

[Jennasis]

You did fine. I would have kept quiet and silently chewed the insides of mouth to bits in anguish. There is no reasoning with idiots.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Well everyone is entitled to their own opinion so I don't have a problem with it. If they were telling the kids these things then I would be very mad. I think that adults can have a conversation and have their own thoughts on the topic. Not everyone has to agree.

 

[C.Ann]

I teach at a small Catholic school in a small predominately white town. Today at lunch someone innocently asked if people watched the inauguration. Two of the teachers said "why? to watch that terrorist get sworn in?"

The two continued on about how "he" (they wouldn't say his name) has terrorist ties and never said his middle name until yesterday.

I did speak up and ask if because his middle name is Hussein that makes him a terrorist? The one teacher said no but "he" has terrorist ties. I then pointed out that President Obama is named for his father and that many people in that part of the world have the name Hussein. The other teacher then chimes in with why didn't "he" use his middle name during the campaign and I commented that most people don't use their middle names. Then one of them asked me why "he" used his middle name during the swearing in. My response was that I thought it was proper to state your full name. The response I got was that the chief justice was pointing out that "he" was a terrorist.

At that point I reminded myself that one can't win an arguement with the closed minded. DH says the comments are veiled racism.

It sickens me to think these women are teaching impressionable 5th and 6th graders.

I am not typically a person who looks for conflict or discusses politics or religion. But this really fired me up...What would you have said???

--------------
I would have told them that I didn't care to listen to their ignorant views - and would have also expressed concern that they not share their racism and ignorance with the children they are teaching..

 

[beckmrk04]

DH says the comments are veiled racism.

It's not really all that veiled, IMO.

And I would have told her that my middle name is Hussein.

 

[tinatark]

I don't like him, didn't vote for him, and am counting the days til the term is over, but have defended him against people who said he was a terrorist, isn't a citizen, etc... but - those teachers have the right to their opinions of him, whether they are true or not - much like the MANY who think the sun rises and sets upon him.

 

[beckmrk04]

I don't like him, didn't vote for him, and am counting the days til the term is over, but have defended him against people who said he was a terrorist, isn't a citizen, etc... but - those teachers have the right to their opinions of him, whether they are true or not - much like the MANY who think the sun rises and sets upon him.

Yep. That "freedom of speech" thing is a double edged sword because there's no exception for ignorance...

But, at least we have that freedom, even if we have to put up with ignorance!!

 

[snarlingcoyote]

I believe he is of a protestant background like baptist perhaps.

He's a member of a United Church of Christ Church, which is an Evangelical Protestant denomination. They've historically been extremely mission minded, into the whole "Do unto others" good works thing and descend from the Congregationalists.

 

[Stacerita]

And I would have told her that my middle name is Hussein.

Don't argue with the ignorant. Its not a fair fight.

 

[MelanieC]

OMG that is horrible. I'd be upset if they were teaching my children.