("Tales from the Classroom" is a feature posted occasionally here at this blog. All tales are true and present matters about which I have personal knowledge. The following tale relates the story of something that happened on March 25, 2014.
Yesterday, I showed a DVD copy of
Fitna to my American Government homeschool class as part of our study of the First Amendment. Jaws dropped, and, although I had intended that the showing of
Fitna should consume less than half the class period, the discussion continued for the remainder of the class time we had. I made a point of explaining that the word "Islam" means submission —
not peace (an incorrect definition which we hear time and time again).
Both parents and students participated in the discussion that ensued after a few moments of stunned silence upon the conclusion of the film. One parent, who grew up in Lebanon, provided valuable information about shari'a. After all, she knows a lot of that information firsthand.
Overall, however, I was amazed that so few parents, quite informed about most current events of all types, were unaware of
the beheading of Drummer Lee Rigby on the streets of London on May 22, 2013!
I typically show
Fitna to particular classes, which I teach on a rotating basis according to a four-year culce: World History and American Government. To preface the film, I always tell the class a bit about Geert Wilders and some of the events portrayed in the film; I also share with the class some recent current events related to the worldwide jihad. After the film, I sent the students a followup link — this year,
Hiding in Plain Sight: Jihadi Activism on Twitter (dated March 24, 2014).
Fitna:
