| WHO ARE THESE FOLKS? ARE THEY STILL ON BOARD? We found the names of these Cosmos Foundation, Inc. board members -- charter operators for the Harmony schools -- not at the Cosmos or Harmony websites in Texas, but half a continent away at GuideStar, on Cosmos Foundation's FY 2008 IRS 990 form: |
| P E Y T O N W O L C O T T |
How we take back our children's education: one person, one question, one school at a time. |
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| Copyright 1999-2011 Peyton Wolcott |
| Just because you can doesn't mean you should. |
| H o w w e t a k e b a c k o u r c h i l d r e n ' s e d u c a t i o n : o n e p e r s o n , o n e q u e s t i o n , o n e s c h o o l a t a t i m e . F o l l o w t h e m o n e y , h o n e y ! |
| Texas Hill Country - Mesquite and Wildflowers Boerne |
| Bringing you the information and tools you need in order to improve public education and lower taxes and spending; during the past two decades of the voucher debate an entire generation has grown up in the public school system. If you don't think this is important look at the Nov. 2008 election where folks voted based on emotions and hope rather than facts. Let's put a stop to the school-to-prison pipeline -- and keep our public schools locally run, strong and free.. |
| July 2011 |
| ONER U CELEPCIKAY |
| MUSTAFA ATIK |
| KADIR ALMUS |
| ELLEN A MACDONAL (sic) (correct spelling "MacDonald") |
| DR. SONER TARIM |
| BILAL AKIN |
| CENGIZHAN KESKIN |
| DR. IBRAHIM SEL |
| TURKS IN TEXAS: Harmony charter schools' & Cosmos Foundation, Inc.'s ties to Turkey |
| The above chart was compiled with information from the Texas Education Agency; see it full size here, |
MORE FACTS:
| SOURCE--Cosmos Foundation, Inc. |
D-Day 2011: Turks in Texas
By Peyton Wolcott
June 8, 2011 - 3:34 a.m.
On June 6 the Texas Senate Education Committee -- the
majority of whose members accepted a total of $15,000
from the Texas Charter School Association's paid
lobbyists -- voted a charter school bill, SB 31, out of
committee, 8-0, with one senator (John Carona) absent.
This is a sincere question: If this is not pay to play, what
is?
Is this what my husband risked his life in Korea and Viet
Nam to protect, the right of lobbyists to hustle cash for
our elected officials' votes?
5th time's a charm
This was the Education Committee chair's 5th attempt (in
4 months) to pass this bill which would give all Texas
charter schools -- including the Turkish-run Cosmos
Foundation/Harmony charter operation -- a Permanent
School Fund guarantee for their construction bonds.
We're not fighting the bill, just asking that 3 simple
fiduciary duty-of-care safeguards be added:
By Peyton Wolcott
June 8, 2011 - 3:34 a.m.
On June 6 the Texas Senate Education Committee -- the
majority of whose members accepted a total of $15,000
from the Texas Charter School Association's paid
lobbyists -- voted a charter school bill, SB 31, out of
committee, 8-0, with one senator (John Carona) absent.
This is a sincere question: If this is not pay to play, what
is?
Is this what my husband risked his life in Korea and Viet
Nam to protect, the right of lobbyists to hustle cash for
our elected officials' votes?
5th time's a charm
This was the Education Committee chair's 5th attempt (in
4 months) to pass this bill which would give all Texas
charter schools -- including the Turkish-run Cosmos
Foundation/Harmony charter operation -- a Permanent
School Fund guarantee for their construction bonds.
We're not fighting the bill, just asking that 3 simple
fiduciary duty-of-care safeguards be added:
| Why so many Turks in Texas? Why was Texas singled out for so much aggressive expansion by the Turks? Is it our robust economy? Our lax charter school regs? With 34 Turkish charter campuses, more than any other state, nothing against the fine Turkish nation--despite its problem with dirty laundry and the recent arrests of 68 journalists--but no one with whom I've spoken can name a comparable French or Irish or Brazilian inroad into US public education. Can you? |
| Texas state senators Florence Shapiro (above) and Dan Patrick (below) spoke eloquently at the Texas senate's wind-down in May 2011 of their passion for charter schools; both have accepted charter school PAC cash. |
- Senate Education
Committee Vice Chair
Dan Patrick - $2,500 from charter
school PAC lobbyist - Voted YES on charter
school bill SB 31
- US citizenship for charter operator board members
(like all ISD trustees) and top administrators. - Names, titles & bios of all board members & top
administrators online (like KIPP already does). - Online check registers (like 70% of all local
school dollars are already).
- Senate Education
Committee Chair
Florence Shapiro - $4,000 from charter
school PAC lobbyist - Authored & voted
YES on charter
school bill SB 31
The House likes the 3 safeguards
House Ways & Means added all 3 of our safeguards before
voting a prior incarnation of this bill out of committee.
SB 31 includes a promise that in the event a charter operator
defaults on their construction bond they have to give back the
10% projected savings. On what planet? If a charter operator's
defaulted on their bond, they're not likely to still have the
mythical 10%. So what do we do, send TEA to Turkey to seize
desks and chairs? Like TEA needs more desks? Or more
things to do when we keep cutting their budget?
The $25 billion Permanent School Fund -- interest from which
funds free textbooks for all Texas students -- still exists after a
century and a half because many people have taken good care
of it. Even the high-dollar charter lobbyist who wanted to talk
with us agreed the 3 safeguards are reasonable. Why then isn't
the Senate?
House Ways & Means added all 3 of our safeguards before
voting a prior incarnation of this bill out of committee.
SB 31 includes a promise that in the event a charter operator
defaults on their construction bond they have to give back the
10% projected savings. On what planet? If a charter operator's
defaulted on their bond, they're not likely to still have the
mythical 10%. So what do we do, send TEA to Turkey to seize
desks and chairs? Like TEA needs more desks? Or more
things to do when we keep cutting their budget?
The $25 billion Permanent School Fund -- interest from which
funds free textbooks for all Texas students -- still exists after a
century and a half because many people have taken good care
of it. Even the high-dollar charter lobbyist who wanted to talk
with us agreed the 3 safeguards are reasonable. Why then isn't
the Senate?
The Grey Lady visits a Red State
The otherwise xenophobic Manhattan-loving New York Times has taken notice of our
Turkish charter operators all the way down here in Texas; Stephanie Saul's piece
published on D-Day.
Some highlights:
The otherwise xenophobic Manhattan-loving New York Times has taken notice of our
Turkish charter operators all the way down here in Texas; Stephanie Saul's piece
published on D-Day.
Some highlights:
| While educating schoolchildren across Texas, the group has also nurtured a close-knit network of businesses and organizations run by Turkish immigrants. The businesses include not just big contractors like TDM but also a growing assemblage of smaller vendors selling school lunches, uniforms, after-school programs, Web design, teacher training and even special education assessments. Some of the schools’ operators and founders, and many of their suppliers, are followers of Fethullah Gulen, a charismatic Turkish preacher of a moderate brand of Islam whose devotees have built a worldwide religious, social and nationalistic movement in his name. Gulen followers have been involved in starting similar schools around the country — there are about 120 in all, mostly in urban centers in 25 states, one of the largest collections of charter schools in America. |
| An examination by The New York Times of the Harmony Schools in Texas casts light on a different area: the way they spend public money. And it raises questions about whether, ultimately, the schools are using taxpayer dollars to benefit the Gulen movement — by giving business to Gulen followers, or through financial arrangements with local foundations that promote Gulen teachings and Turkish culture. Harmony Schools officials say they scrupulously avoid teaching about religion, and they deny any official connection to the Gulen movement. |
| Records show that virtually all recent construction and renovation work has been done by Turkish-owned contractors. Several established local companies said they had lost out even after bidding several hundred thousand dollars lower. “It kind of boils my blood a little bit, all the money that was spent, when I know it could have been done for less,” said Deborah Jones, an owner of daj Construction, one of four lower bidders who failed to win a recent contract for a school renovation in the Austin area. Harmony’s history underscores the vast latitude that many charter school systems have been granted to spend public funds. While the degree of oversight varies widely from state to state, the rush to approve charter schools has meant that some barely monitor charter school operations. |
So, again, in the event of a default on their PSF-guaranteed construction bonds, TEA's
going to fly over to Istanbul and seize furniture and equipment? Not so far-fetched a
notion: Many of the original Cosmos Foundation/Harmony charter applicants --
almost all of whom originally hail from Turkey -- have moved away or disappeared
from public notice.
Better to be safe than sorry and include the 3 easy safeguards, friends, for those
charter operators seeking the PSF guarantee: (1) US citizenship for all charter
operator board members (like for ISD trustees) and top administrators; (2) names,
titles & bios of all board members & top admin. posted online (like KIPP is already
doing); and (2) online check registers (like 70% of all ISD dollars already are)..
going to fly over to Istanbul and seize furniture and equipment? Not so far-fetched a
notion: Many of the original Cosmos Foundation/Harmony charter applicants --
almost all of whom originally hail from Turkey -- have moved away or disappeared
from public notice.
Better to be safe than sorry and include the 3 easy safeguards, friends, for those
charter operators seeking the PSF guarantee: (1) US citizenship for all charter
operator board members (like for ISD trustees) and top administrators; (2) names,
titles & bios of all board members & top admin. posted online (like KIPP is already
doing); and (2) online check registers (like 70% of all ISD dollars already are)..
| Harmony official at Texas Lege, May 2011 |
You really must study this New York Times graphic: somebody's done a
lot of careful work here following the money:
lot of careful work here following the money:
In addition to tying the Cosmos Foundation's Harmony charter operation to Fethullah
Gulen, the Times also looks at their handling of tax dollars:
Gulen, the Times also looks at their handling of tax dollars:
| Newest Harmony charter school (Austin, Texas) |
| JUNE 19, 2011 UPDATE FROM PEYTON: I have contacted Cosmos/Harmony superintendent Soner Tarim several times now but he has not yet -- more than a year later -- told us basic factual information about the 33 (NY Times) or 34 (the figure a Harmony administrator told me recently at the Capitol) or 36 (the new number posted on Harmony's website) campuses he operates in Texas -- for which he has been given over a quarter of a billion dollars by taxpayers in the past 3 1/2 years. Still, Harmony through its membership in the Texas Charter School Association continues to seek the same Permanent School Fund guarantee for their construction bonds as enjoyed by Texas public school districts run by elected trustees -- not appointed board members as at charters. His PR pro, former White House staffer Karen Hughes, has also declined to give us any factual information -- such as how much money Harmony is paying her and her firm, Burson-Marsteller. |
Let's follow the money from TCSA ... to their lobbyists Delisi
Communications PAC ... to Texas senators & representatives as they
have written legislation during the past 4 months attempting to give PSF
guarantees to charter operators for their construction bonds:
Communications PAC ... to Texas senators & representatives as they
have written legislation during the past 4 months attempting to give PSF
guarantees to charter operators for their construction bonds:
________
3 FIDUCIARY DUTY-OF-CARE SAFEGUARDS should be included
in any legislation passed by 82nd Legislature that grants access to Permanent School Fund
guarantees for charter school operators' construction bonds:
Larger political, economic & cultural issue: The Cosmos Foundation and
similar Gulenist organizations elsewhere in the world have for a decade now used
education and commerce to advance Turkish culture and causes. We're wondering why
don't they stay home and improve Turkey first, then when Turkey's in tip-top shape
come over here and tell us about it ? Turkey appears to have a large number of problems
including the arrest of 68 journalists who have spoken against Fethullah Gulen.
Why so many Turks in Texas? Why has Texas soil been the most fertile for the
US expansion of Turkish run charter schools, 36 in 10 years? Texas is a conservative state
that embraces both charter schools and commerce. The PSF guarantee for the Turks'
construction bonds (6 bills attempted in the past 4 months) will allow them to go into
hyperdrive expansion here in Texas and at least 6 other announced states.
Concerns about the general expansion of charter schools in Texas: UT
professor Ed Fuller has challenged Harmony charter schools' claims of 100% graduation
and 0 dropouts by following 6 cohorts; by their junior year the graduation rate had already
dropped to 62%. Many charters claim huge numbers of applications but no outsiders have
seen the applications; it's easy for anyone to claim anything. Also, unlike local ISD
boards, charter operators' boards are statewide or national and parents have little
information about -- or ballot box recourse to -- their leadership. Once the Cosmos
Foundation expands, for example, the same 8-person board (per IRS 990 forms for FY
2008) will run schools in 7 states. Further, unlike local ISD trustees, Cosmos board
members are not required to be US citizens and in fact their dominant leadership is
Turkish. Finally, as the nation's largest H1-B visa users, the FBI is investigating all
Gulen-related charter operators.
in any legislation passed by 82nd Legislature that grants access to Permanent School Fund
guarantees for charter school operators' construction bonds:
Larger political, economic & cultural issue: The Cosmos Foundation and
similar Gulenist organizations elsewhere in the world have for a decade now used
education and commerce to advance Turkish culture and causes. We're wondering why
don't they stay home and improve Turkey first, then when Turkey's in tip-top shape
come over here and tell us about it ? Turkey appears to have a large number of problems
including the arrest of 68 journalists who have spoken against Fethullah Gulen.
Why so many Turks in Texas? Why has Texas soil been the most fertile for the
US expansion of Turkish run charter schools, 36 in 10 years? Texas is a conservative state
that embraces both charter schools and commerce. The PSF guarantee for the Turks'
construction bonds (6 bills attempted in the past 4 months) will allow them to go into
hyperdrive expansion here in Texas and at least 6 other announced states.
Concerns about the general expansion of charter schools in Texas: UT
professor Ed Fuller has challenged Harmony charter schools' claims of 100% graduation
and 0 dropouts by following 6 cohorts; by their junior year the graduation rate had already
dropped to 62%. Many charters claim huge numbers of applications but no outsiders have
seen the applications; it's easy for anyone to claim anything. Also, unlike local ISD
boards, charter operators' boards are statewide or national and parents have little
information about -- or ballot box recourse to -- their leadership. Once the Cosmos
Foundation expands, for example, the same 8-person board (per IRS 990 forms for FY
2008) will run schools in 7 states. Further, unlike local ISD trustees, Cosmos board
members are not required to be US citizens and in fact their dominant leadership is
Turkish. Finally, as the nation's largest H1-B visa users, the FBI is investigating all
Gulen-related charter operators.
| 700 Lavaca Suite 930 Austin, TX 78701 Delisi, Dianne W. (00021123) 823 Congress Suite 1000B Austin, TX 78701 Type of Compensation: Prospective $25,000 - $49,999.99 Delisi, Thomas (00064063) 823 Congress Suite 1000B Austin, TX 78701 Type of Compensation: Prospective $25,000 - $49,999.99 Client - Start: 01/01/2011 Term Date: 03/02/2011 Duckett, Joellen (00065319) 700 LAVACA STREET SUITE 930 AUSTIN, TX 78701 Type of Compensation: Prospective $10,000 - $24,999.99 Client - Start: 01/24/2011 Term Date: 12/31/2011 Dunn, David (00037709) 700 LAVACA STREET SUITE 930 AUSTIN, TX 78701 Type of Compensation: Prospective $25,000 - $49,999.99 Client - Start: 01/31/2011 Term Date: 12/31/2011 Garcia, Veronica (00066715) 700 LAVACA STREET SUITE 930 AUSTIN, TX 78701 Type of Compensation: Prospective $10,000 - $24,999.99 Client - Start: 03/11/2011 Term Date: 12/31/2011 Glenn, Eric (00038847) 1122 Colorado Suite 200 Austin, TX 78701 Type of Compensation: Prospective Less Than $10,000.00 Client - Start: 01/18/2011 Term Date: 12/31/2011 Janek, Kyle L. (00020534) 919 Congress Ave Suite 1500 Austin, TX 78701 Type of Compensation: Prospective $25,000 - $49,999.99 Client - Start: 01/14/2011 Term Date: 12/31/2011 Laibovitz, Megan (00067149) 1122 Colorado Suite 200 Austin, TX 78701 Type of Compensation: Prospective $ 0.00 Client - Start: 01/18/2011 Term Date: 12/31/2011 Love, Jarod Alan (00065256) 823 Congress Suite 1000B Austin, TX 78701 Type of Compensation: Prospective $25,000 - $49,999.99 Client - Start: 01/01/2011 Term Date: 12/31/2011 Matthews, C. L. (00042976) 1122 Colorado Suite 200 Austin, TX 78701 Type of Compensation: Prospective $10,000 - $24,999.99 Client - Start: 01/18/2011 Term Date: 12/31/2011 Thomas, Amanda (00065320) 700 LAVACA STREET SUITE 930 AUSTIN, TX 78701 Type of Compensation: Prospective $10,000 - $24,999.99 Client - Start: 01/31/2011 Term Date: 12/31/2011 |
6 tries in the past 4 months in 1 Lege
That's how motivated Texas senators & representatives have been in their attempts to give charter operators
-- including Turkish-run Cosmos/Harmony -- unprecedented access to Permanent School Fund (our
children's textbook money) as a guarantee for their construction bonds.
By Peyton Wolcott
Monday, June 20, 2011
That's how motivated Texas senators & representatives have been in their attempts to give charter operators
-- including Turkish-run Cosmos/Harmony -- unprecedented access to Permanent School Fund (our
children's textbook money) as a guarantee for their construction bonds.
By Peyton Wolcott
Monday, June 20, 2011
- SR 85 (Reg.); authors Lucio, Fraser, Huffman, Nelson & Van de
Putte. (Nelson $4,000, Van de Putte $1,000) (Fraser, Van de Putte &
Lucio accepted free $3,200 Turkey trip from Gulen-related
foundation). - SB 597 (Reg.); author Florence Shapiro ($4,000).
- HB 1437 (Reg.); author Rob Eissler ($1,500).
- SB 1811 (Reg.); Mike Villarreal withdrew his amendment.
- FLYER supporting Harmony schools (distributed via free for-House-
members-only mail service not available to ordinary citizens who must
either hand-deliver their letters & flyers to each office or pay to mail
them via USPS) urged rejection of 3 fiduciary duty-of-care
safeguards; sender Jose Menendez ($500). - HB 6 (Reg.); Florence Shapiro authored amendment #4 ($4,000).
- SB 1 (Sp.Call); author Robert Duncan ($2,500); Jim Pitts ($2,500)
(named by TCSA as author of SB1); Linda Harper-Brown's floor
amendment #31 signers include: Mark Shelton ($1,000), Jose Menendez
(remember the pro-Harmony flyer he sent) ($500), Dan Branch
($1,500), Tan Parker ($500), Jim Murphy ($500), John Frullo ($250),
Sid Miller ($250), Rob Eissler ($1,500). SENATE & HOUSE
CONFERENCE COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Florence Shapiro
($4,000), Robert Duncan ($2,500), Bob Deuell ($1,500), Juan Hinojosa
($2,500), Tommy Williams ($2,500). Jim Pitts ($2,500), Rob Eissler
($1,500); Geren, Otto & Villarreal have not accepted TCSA cash from
Delisi Comm. PAC. - SB 31 (Sp. Call): author Florence Shapiro ($4,000).
| REGULAR LEGISLATIVE SESSION 2011 (82nd) |
| SPECIAL CALLED LEGISLATIVE SESSION 2011 (82nd) |
| How to safeguard the PSF, our children's textbook money? 3 simple cures: |
- US citizenship for all charter
operator board members
(like for ISD trustees) & top
administrators - Names, titles & bios online of
all board members & top
administrators (like at KIPP) - Online check registers (like
70% of all ISD dollars already
are)
| TEC Registered Lobbyists hired by Texas Charter Schools Association |
| NOTE: House Ways & Means accepted all 3 safeguards when they voted out SB 597. |
| NOTE: 7 of the 10 conference committee members for SB 1 have accepted TCSA PAC cash. Isn't 7 of 10 a majority? |
Florence Shapiro has
worked harder than any
other legislator to pass
the PSF guarantee; she
also received $4,000
cash from Delisi PAC.
worked harder than any
other legislator to pass
the PSF guarantee; she
also received $4,000
cash from Delisi PAC.
HOSTESS WITH THE MOSTEST (CASH)
- US citizenship for board members (like ISD trustees) and top administrators
- Names, titles & bios of all board members & top administrators online (like KIPP)
- Check registers online (like 70% of all local Texas ISD dollars are)
Continued here
IS "A CHANGED MUSLIM" KOSHER?
By Peyton Wolcott
July 4, 2011
By Peyton Wolcott
July 4, 2011
Although many Texans have expressed concern that Harmony charter schools actively promote the Muslim religion,
Harmony executives have repeatedly denied any promotion of Islam. Until now, no one has had reason to believe otherwise.
Yes, they promoted Turkish culture and nationalism, but it appeared to stop there.
This student film, "A Changed Muslim," from "MSA of Harmony School [of] Advancement" in Houston, appears to suggest
significant ties connecting Harmony students, Harmony charter schools and the Muslim world -- at a time when Christian
displays of faith -- including Christmas candy canes and prayers -- have been expelled from Texas public schools.
Harmony executives have repeatedly denied any promotion of Islam. Until now, no one has had reason to believe otherwise.
Yes, they promoted Turkish culture and nationalism, but it appeared to stop there.
This student film, "A Changed Muslim," from "MSA of Harmony School [of] Advancement" in Houston, appears to suggest
significant ties connecting Harmony students, Harmony charter schools and the Muslim world -- at a time when Christian
displays of faith -- including Christmas candy canes and prayers -- have been expelled from Texas public schools.
1 - Opening credits
| Q: Was the Muslim soldier an American citizen? A Pakistani citizen? A Turkish citizen? Did the Harmony teacher and administrator with responsibility for this student encourage those questions? |
2 - A 'Muslim Soldier' returns from Iraq
| Q: MIST 2011 = Muslim Inter-Scholastic Tournament. Have Harmony students produced any short films entitled, "A Changed Christian" or "A Changed Buddhist" or "A Changed Jew"? I could not find any; can you? What is "MSA"? |
| Q: Given that "Salaam alaikum" is a traditional Muslim greeting -- it means peace be to you" (per Merriam Webster) -- is this student film set in a Texas public school -- or in Istanbul or Pakistan? Would Plano ISD have allowed them to say, "Hello, Christian brother" in a film? |
3 - He greets friend: 'Salaam alaikum'
4 - Soldier's status in Iraq
6 - 'At the night club'
5 - Soldier's stay-home friend's changed
7 - At the mosque
8 - Koran quote
9 - End credits
| Q: Was the soldier's mission in Iraq as a US soldier or as an Iraqi soldier or as a Pakistani soldier or as a soldier from some other country such as Turkey? |
| Q: Did the student filmmakers obtain permission from CVS Pharmacy to use the exterior of their store as a backdrop? Is CVS enthusiastic about use of their logo appearing in a "Muslim student" film? |
| Q: Why does the returning soldier find a Texas night club so offensive? Where was the night club scene filmed? Thanks to his beard the "staff" actor (middle) appears older -- but is he this old? |
America, America, God shed His grace on thee...
| Q: Is this a call to jihad? In a Texas public school student film? Scroll down to the Battle of Ahzab here. and after studying the quote by a noted scholar please do your own research and reach your own conclusions. |
MIST 2011 theme: Loyalty
After the night club incident in panel 6 above, when the soldier and the body guard are eating together in walks in
the wayward student.
The soldier asks, "What brought you here?" The wayward student answers, "Loyalty to my faith and my friends
and this school."
Loyalty to the United States of America is nowhere mentioned in "A Changed Muslim."
More about MIST
The official MIST site refers students to a lecture on another site, for informational purposes, "Yasir Qadhi –
Towards Formulating a Vision for Muslims in America in Light of the Seerah." Please watch this tape and read
all of the comments including this one:
After the night club incident in panel 6 above, when the soldier and the body guard are eating together in walks in
the wayward student.
The soldier asks, "What brought you here?" The wayward student answers, "Loyalty to my faith and my friends
and this school."
Loyalty to the United States of America is nowhere mentioned in "A Changed Muslim."
More about MIST
The official MIST site refers students to a lecture on another site, for informational purposes, "Yasir Qadhi –
Towards Formulating a Vision for Muslims in America in Light of the Seerah." Please watch this tape and read
all of the comments including this one:
| Q: What is the meaning of the long white dresses above? One is wearing a white cap and the other isn't; what does that imply? And what are the words in English of the chanted prayers in the background? |
Q: What is "MIST"? A: MIST is an acronym for Muslim Inter-Scholastic Tournament. |
| Yasir is playing right into the hands of those who hold the view that to follow Islam strictly means to be extreme and in his desire to combat that extremism or separate himself and other American Muslims from terrorist elements, he gives credence to those who equate Islam with Al-Qaedah and other ‘personas non- grata’. So now he is going out of his way to advocate live and let live, and demonstrating that by playing nice with the worst elements of hypocritical and deviated Muslims among others. He may want to make up for his own past mis-steps and mis-statements, but he is mistaking his own misunderstanding as being representative of the deen both then and now. That is his own intellectual arrogance coming to the fore. There were those who attacked him in the past and many of us thought unfairly so at that time. However now, perhaps the truth of some of those criticisms has come to light. Allahul-Musta’aan! |
The film raises several questions. My first for Harmony supe Soner Tarim is, "What other religious student
associations are active in the Harmony charter operation -- is there a 'Baptist Student Association' and a 'Zen
Student Association'? Given that "A Changed Muslim" was entered in the national Muslim Inter-Scholastic
Tournament (MIST) student film contest earlier this year, have any Harmony students produced "A Changed
Catholic" and was it entered in the national Catholic Inter-Scholastic Tournament?
associations are active in the Harmony charter operation -- is there a 'Baptist Student Association' and a 'Zen
Student Association'? Given that "A Changed Muslim" was entered in the national Muslim Inter-Scholastic
Tournament (MIST) student film contest earlier this year, have any Harmony students produced "A Changed
Catholic" and was it entered in the national Catholic Inter-Scholastic Tournament?
Bottom Line
Based on the information above, are the Harmony schools truly as secular as they tell us -- or are they encouraging Islam?
Based on the information above, are the Harmony schools truly as secular as they tell us -- or are they encouraging Islam?
"Walk softly and carry a big stick." -- Teddy Roosevelt "Trust but verify." -- Ronald Reagan |