A Bronx teacher says in a new lawsuit that her language lesson was lost in translation when she was fired for calling a student "Negro" -- though she claims she was simply using the Spanish word for the color "black" at the time -- the New York Post website reports today (May 24, 2013).
The non-tenured junior high instructor, Petrona Smith, 65, was fired from the bilingual PS 211 in March 2012 after a seventh-grader reported the alleged insult. Smith was also accused of calling her students "failures."
Smith -- who is black and a native of the West Indies -- has been unemployed since her ouster.
"They haven't even accounted for how absurd it is for someone who's black to be using a racial slur to a student," said Shaun Reid, Smith's attorney. "Talk about context! There's a lot of things wrong here."
Friday, May 24, 2013
Church of England to OK Women Bishops in 2015; Conservatives Say the Change Contradicts the Bible
The Church of England published a plan today (May 24, 2013) to approve the ordination of women bishops by 2015, a widely supported reform it just missed passing last November after two decades of divisive debate, the Reuters website reports.
The new plan -- outlined in a document signed by Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and Archbishop of York John Sentamu -- would be presented to the General Synod (the Church legislature) in July to begin the approval process.
The proposal would make allowances for traditionalists who oppose women clergy -- a minority that blocked the reform at the last Synod meeting -- but each diocese will be required to have a bishop willing to ordain women to the priesthood.
The issue pits reformers -- keen to project a more modern and egalitarian image of the church as it struggles with falling congregations in many increasingly secular countries -- against a minority of conservatives who see the change as contradicting the Bible.
The new plan -- outlined in a document signed by Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and Archbishop of York John Sentamu -- would be presented to the General Synod (the Church legislature) in July to begin the approval process.
The proposal would make allowances for traditionalists who oppose women clergy -- a minority that blocked the reform at the last Synod meeting -- but each diocese will be required to have a bishop willing to ordain women to the priesthood.
The issue pits reformers -- keen to project a more modern and egalitarian image of the church as it struggles with falling congregations in many increasingly secular countries -- against a minority of conservatives who see the change as contradicting the Bible.
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Farrakhan in Anti-Semitic Rant at Detroit Church; Rips "Satanic Jews Who Control U.S. Institutions"
A leading national Jewish civil rights group criticized Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan yesterday for making anti-Semitic statements at a Detroit church appearance, and called on a Michigan congressman and other leaders in attendance to condemn the remarks, the Associated Press website reports today (May 23, 2013).
Farrakhan denounced "Satanic Jews" and the "synagogue of Satan" that he said control major U.S. institutions during his speech on May 17 at Fellowship Chapel in Detroit. The Nation of Islam leader also said President Barack Obama has "surrounded himself with Satan... members of the Jewish community."
"It is deeply disappointing that so many Detroit leaders are apparently so willing to turn a blind eye to Farrakhan's anti-Semitism," said Heidi Budaj, regional director of the Anti-Defamation League. "Where are the voices in our community who are willing to stand up and say 'no' to racism and anti-Semitism?"
U.S. Rep. John Conyers, D-Detroit, and Detroit City Councilwoman JoAnn Watson were among those who attended Farrakhan's speech. Neither one has responded to a Detroit Free Press newspaper request for comment on the speech.
Farrakhan denounced "Satanic Jews" and the "synagogue of Satan" that he said control major U.S. institutions during his speech on May 17 at Fellowship Chapel in Detroit. The Nation of Islam leader also said President Barack Obama has "surrounded himself with Satan... members of the Jewish community."
"It is deeply disappointing that so many Detroit leaders are apparently so willing to turn a blind eye to Farrakhan's anti-Semitism," said Heidi Budaj, regional director of the Anti-Defamation League. "Where are the voices in our community who are willing to stand up and say 'no' to racism and anti-Semitism?"
U.S. Rep. John Conyers, D-Detroit, and Detroit City Councilwoman JoAnn Watson were among those who attended Farrakhan's speech. Neither one has responded to a Detroit Free Press newspaper request for comment on the speech.
Women Are Secretly Filmed Naked at West Point; Michael McClendon Faces Charges Due to Filming
A sergeant first class on the staff of the United States Military Academy at West Point has been accused of secretly videotaping several female cadets -- sometimes when they were naked in the bathroom or shower -- the New York Times website reports today (May 23, 2013).
The Army is contacting over a dozen women to alert them that their privacy may have been violated by the suspect, identified as Sergeant First Class (SFC) Michael McClendon, and to offer them support and counseling, officials said. SFC McClendon, of Blakely, Georgia, faces several charges under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, as a result of filming the women while they were naked for the past four years.
The allegations at West Point -- the nation's oldest and most prestigious military academy -- come in the midst of growing outrage in Congress, at the Pentagon, and from President Obama over reports of a huge amount of sexual harassment and assault cases in the armed services in 2012. Women have been enrolled at the two-century-old military institution -- located on a commanding bank of the Hudson River in upstate New York -- for nearly 40 years.
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel -- who is to deliver the commencement address at West Point on Saturday (May 25) -- was briefed on the case yesterday. Pentagon officials described him as being "concerned and disturbed" by the allegations.
The Army is contacting over a dozen women to alert them that their privacy may have been violated by the suspect, identified as Sergeant First Class (SFC) Michael McClendon, and to offer them support and counseling, officials said. SFC McClendon, of Blakely, Georgia, faces several charges under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, as a result of filming the women while they were naked for the past four years.
The allegations at West Point -- the nation's oldest and most prestigious military academy -- come in the midst of growing outrage in Congress, at the Pentagon, and from President Obama over reports of a huge amount of sexual harassment and assault cases in the armed services in 2012. Women have been enrolled at the two-century-old military institution -- located on a commanding bank of the Hudson River in upstate New York -- for nearly 40 years.
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel -- who is to deliver the commencement address at West Point on Saturday (May 25) -- was briefed on the case yesterday. Pentagon officials described him as being "concerned and disturbed" by the allegations.
US Senate Panel Votes 15-3 to Arm Syrian Rebels; Is 1st Time US Endorsed Mil. Action against Assad
A U.S. Senate panel voted on May 21 to provide weapons to rebels battling the forces of Syrian President Bashar Assad -- the first time lawmakers have endorsed the aggressive U.S. military step of arming the opposition in the two-year-old Syrian civil war -- the Creeping Sharia website reports today (May 23, 2013).
With much caution, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted 15-3 for a bill that would provide lethal assistance and military training to rebel groups in Syria, and would slap sanctions on any nation that sells oil or transfers arms to the Assad regime such as Iran and Russia.
The measure also establishes a $250 million fund to aid in the transition if and when Assad is overthrown.
Only three senators opposed the legislation: Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., a potential presidential candidate in 2016, and Democratic Sens. Tom Udall of New Mexico and Chris Murphy of Connecticut.
With much caution, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted 15-3 for a bill that would provide lethal assistance and military training to rebel groups in Syria, and would slap sanctions on any nation that sells oil or transfers arms to the Assad regime such as Iran and Russia.
The measure also establishes a $250 million fund to aid in the transition if and when Assad is overthrown.
Only three senators opposed the legislation: Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., a potential presidential candidate in 2016, and Democratic Sens. Tom Udall of New Mexico and Chris Murphy of Connecticut.
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Turkey Is Building $100M Mosque in Maryland; Will Be Largest Islamic Architecture Site in West
The Islamist government of Turkey is building a 15-acre, $100 million mega-mosque in Lanham, Maryland, the Clarion Project website reports today (May 22, 2013). Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan visited the site on May 15 in a ceremony that was attended by leaders of two groups linked to the U.S. Muslim Brotherhood.
The state of Maryland was officially represented at the event by its Secretary of State John McDonough.
The mega-mosque is called the Turkish American Culture and Civilization Center, and it is expected to become the largest and most striking example of Islamic architecture in the western hemisphere when it is finished in 2014.
On May 15, Prime Minister Erdogan spoke to hundreds of people at the construction site and said he would come back for the opening ceremony next year. Since taking office in 2003, Erdogan has been implementing his Islamist agenda, slowly but steadily changing Turkey from a secular democracy to an Islamist nation. The mosque being built in Maryland conveys Erdogan's desire to increase the Islamist influence in America.
The state of Maryland was officially represented at the event by its Secretary of State John McDonough.
The mega-mosque is called the Turkish American Culture and Civilization Center, and it is expected to become the largest and most striking example of Islamic architecture in the western hemisphere when it is finished in 2014.
On May 15, Prime Minister Erdogan spoke to hundreds of people at the construction site and said he would come back for the opening ceremony next year. Since taking office in 2003, Erdogan has been implementing his Islamist agenda, slowly but steadily changing Turkey from a secular democracy to an Islamist nation. The mosque being built in Maryland conveys Erdogan's desire to increase the Islamist influence in America.
Misdemeanor Charges to Be Lodged on 3 Students; Students Carved a Swastika on Jewish Girl's Locker
Police in East Lansing, Michigan are seeking malicious destruction of property charges against three high school students after a Jewish classmate found a swastika carved into her locker, the Christian Broadcast Network website reports today (May 22, 2013).
East Lansing police told the Lansing State Journal newspaper that the department, school administrators, and the girl's family agreed the best way to handle the incident was for the three classmates to be charged with the misdemeanor.
The Ingham County prosecutor's office plans to review the case and determine what charges might be brought.
School officials -- not wanting to be specific -- say "appropriate disciplinary actions" have been taken against the three students.
East Lansing police told the Lansing State Journal newspaper that the department, school administrators, and the girl's family agreed the best way to handle the incident was for the three classmates to be charged with the misdemeanor.
The Ingham County prosecutor's office plans to review the case and determine what charges might be brought.
School officials -- not wanting to be specific -- say "appropriate disciplinary actions" have been taken against the three students.
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