Letter: Textbooks inaccurately depict Islam

Letter: Textbooks inaccurately depict Islam

Angela Casey
St Augustine, FL

Dear Editor:

Parents should be aware of a growing problem in the social studies and history textbooks currently used in St Johns County high schools and throughout the United States; one of the worst being “Pearson’s World History”.

The books have a strong pro-Islamic, anti-Christian bias. They are written in such a way as to deliberately mislead the students about important elements of Islam: the doctrine of jihad, the status of non-Muslims, life under Sharia Law and women’s rights.

Mohammed proclaimed, “I have been ordered to wage war against mankind until they accept that there is no god but Allah and that they believe I am His prophet and accept all revelations spoken through me.” Doctrinal jihad, as described by Islamic fundamentalists, has only one meaning – holy war and violence against any group that Muslims oppose. World History attempts to whitewash the violence inherent in Islam:

“Another duty is jihad, or struggle in God’s service. Jihad is usually a personal duty for Muslims, who focus on overcoming immorality within themselves. At other times, jihad may be interpreted as holy war to defend Islam and the Muslim community, much like the Crusades to defend Christianity. However, just holy war may be declared only by the community, not by an individual Muslim or small group”

From the Koran 9:29, “Make war on those who have received the Scriptures but do not believe in Allah or in the Last Day. They do not forbid what Allah and His Messenger have forbidden. The Christians and Jews do not follow the religion of truth until they submit and pay the poll tax and they are humiliated.” If they do submit and pay the jizya, they must live in oppression as “dhimmi.” They are not allowed to rebuild or repair their churches. Dhimmi can not testify in a Sharia court, criticize Muslims or speak to a Muslim about Christianity. Google the “Treaty of Umar” for a list of restrictions imposed on dhimmi Christians in the seventh century A.D. Similar laws remain on the books of Muslim countries today. While most of these laws are not enforced now, they may be enforced at any time in the future.

World History depicts Islam as tolerant towards Christians and Jews:
“Muslims consider Jews and Christians to be “People of the Book”, spiritually superior to polytheistic idol worshippers. Although there have been exceptions, the people of the Book have historically enjoyed religious freedom in many Muslim societies”

Observant Jews follow the Mosaic Law but they are required to live under the secular laws of their country. Although Israel is nominally a Jewish state, the Government of Israel does not require its citizens to live under Mosaic Law. In contrast, Sharia law is imposed on Muslim and non-Muslim alike in a number of Middle Eastern countries. Muslim citizens of non-Muslim countries often insist on living under Sharia in conflict with the laws of those countries. Honor killings committed in America are examples of Sharia law in conflict with American laws forbidding murder. Sharia law is in conflict with U.S. Constitutional law.

World History equates Sharia Law with the Mosaic Law:
“Similar to Jewish law, the Sharia [law] regulates moral conduct, family life, business practices, government, and other aspects of individual and community life.”

Women have few rights under Sharia law compared to those of men. It is virtual slavery. Women have few career options in Islamic countries. Western women would be outraged if such rules were imposed upon them. The Economic World Forum 2009 Gender Gap report ranked Saudi Arabia 130 out of 134 countries for gender parity. In Saudi Arabia, under Sharia Law, women’s activities are severely restricted. For example, they cannot drive and must have a male guardian who gives permission for marriage, courtship, and the opening of bank accounts.

World History appears oblivious to the plight of women under Islam:
“Women, as wives and mothers, have an honored position in Saudi society.”

World History has 4 paragraphs on Christianity and 38 pages on Islam. The consultants on this textbook, Shabbir Mansuri and Susan Douglass, are associated with the Council for Islamic Education. This organization promotes sanitized inaccurate information about Islam in U.S. schools.

If you have a child in high school, please check your children’s history and social studies textbooks. Read the reports compiled in a “textbook project” on Act for America’s education site. CFNS (Citizens for National Security) has developed a teacher’s guide for corrections to Islam-biased content in Florida’s K-12 textbooks. Contact your child’s teacher and ask them if they are pointing out these errors to their students. These organizations have been labeled as “Islamophobic” because they dare to tell the truth about the “religion of peace.”