Petitioning Houston Independent School District (HISD)
Houston Independent School District (HISD): Repeal Prejudiced
anti-Discrimination Program
Petition by
HISD Anti-Discrimination Project
http://www.change.org/petitions/houston-independent-school-district-hisd-repeal-prejudiced-anti-discrimination-program-5
School districts are endorsing a program in schools that protects some
discrimination while calling on children to fight others. We need
schools districts to stand against all discrimination and remove
biased and hypocritical programs.
To:
Houston Independent School District (HISD)
We the undersigned express our concern regarding a program designed by
the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and endorsed by, and widely
distributed in, Houston Independent School District (HISD) schools.
While we support the ADL's described objectives `to secure justice and
fair treatment to all,' fight against bigotry, and teach against
discrimination, we do not believe the ADL is an appropriate sponsor of
such a training for multiple reasons:
1. In the `No Place for Hate' resource guide[1], the ADL defines
`Anti-Semitism' as discrimination that targets `the Jewish state of
Israel.' Criticism of Israel, like criticism of the U.S. or any other
country, should not be compounded with racism or prejudice. It is
essential that students not be taught negative associations with
criticizing government policies.
2. The ADL has worked against groups critical of Israel on campuses,
and inappropriately associated such legitimate forms of protest with
`Anti-Semitic." [2,3]
3. Israel has been condemned by the UN Committee on the Elimination of
Racial Discrimination for major violations[4]. Simultaneously teaching
that children should `Work collectively with others to organize and
support efforts to combat prejudice and discrimination in all its
forms,' and stifling criticism of racial discrimination in Israel
sends a contradictory message.
There are other groups that offer anti-racism programs[5,6] that are
preferable because they are not promoting any government / military
agenda, nor discouraging dissent.
We therefore call on HISD to repeal its endorsement and allowance of
the `No Place for Hate' program in HISD schools.
Respectfully submitted,
Footnotes:
1. See page 4 for definitions.
http://web.archive.org/web/20130406225515/http://regions.adl.org/southwest/pdfs/11_resource_guide__final_nocrops.pdf
2. http://adl.org/education-outreach/confronting-anti-semitism/Confronting-Anti-Semitism-2012-07-30v1.html
3. http://blog.adl.org/tags/israeli-apartheid-week
4. http://www.refworld.org/publisher,CERD,,ISR,506189622,0.html (Pages
2-9: Concerns and Recommendations)
5. http://www.centerhealingracism.org
6. http://www.pisab.org/programs
Sincerely,
[Your name]
________________________________
Less
Supporters
Reasons for signing
Most Popular
Latest
Nicole Minor THE WOODLANDS, TX
14 days ago
Liked 4
Since when in the United States is it considered discrimination to
criticize a government and its actions. The right to do so is a
cornerstone of our democracy. This would be setting a dangerous
precedent for all of us.
Nuzha Dajani HOUSTON, TX
15 days ago
Liked 4
This is very prejudiced position,
Husam Amer LEE'S SUMMIT, MO
15 days ago
Liked 3
Because the Palestinians are suffering and dying everday
Lucine Kasbarian TEANECK, NJ
1 day ago
Liked 1
The ADL is not a human rights organization and has no moral authority
to instruct others. Visit www.noplacefordenial.com/
David Boyajian BELMONT, MA
1 day ago
Liked 1
Why is this important to you? (Optional)Greetings Houston:
Good news!
Over the past few years, more than a dozen Massachusetts cities have
severed ties with the ADL's alleged anti-bias program known as No
Place for Hate. The Massachusetts Municipal Association (MMA) - which
represents every city and town in the state - did the same.
Why? Because they discovered that the ADL was colluding with Turkey -
a major human rights violator - to deny the Armenian Genocide of
1915-1923, and to defeat Armenian genocide resolutions in the U.S.
Congress. Please
visit:http://npfdinfo.blogspot.com/2007/10/statements-by-human-rights-advocates.html
The full story is at www.NoPlaceForDenial.com , a website created by
concerned citizens. It's a terrific resource for you in Houston.
When cities and the MMA learned the facts about the ADL from human
rights activists and Armenian Americans, they cut their ties to No
Place for Hate. They realized that an organization such as the ADL
that denied a Christian genocide, while simultaneously asking others
to commemorate the Holocaust, was morally unfit to teach about civil
and human rights.
See here, please:
http://npfdinfo.blogspot.com/2007/10/press-kit-history-of-opposing.html
This all made national and international news - hundreds of articles.
Please visit:http://npfdnews.blogspot.com/
The ADL has still not unambiguously acknowledged the Armenian
genocide, and it disgracefully continues to oppose recognition of the
Armenian Genocide.
I respectfully suggest that the organizers of this petition learn
about our very successful campaign against the ADL's programs in
Massachusetts and elsewhere at www.NoPlaceForDenial.com. You will
surely be able to use the information in Houston! I also suggest
contacting Armenian Americans in Texas as they may be interested in
joining you.
My sincere congratulations and best wishes to you.
Houston Independent School District (HISD): Repeal Prejudiced
anti-Discrimination Program
Petition by
HISD Anti-Discrimination Project
http://www.change.org/petitions/houston-independent-school-district-hisd-repeal-prejudiced-anti-discrimination-program-5
School districts are endorsing a program in schools that protects some
discrimination while calling on children to fight others. We need
schools districts to stand against all discrimination and remove
biased and hypocritical programs.
To:
Houston Independent School District (HISD)
We the undersigned express our concern regarding a program designed by
the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and endorsed by, and widely
distributed in, Houston Independent School District (HISD) schools.
While we support the ADL's described objectives `to secure justice and
fair treatment to all,' fight against bigotry, and teach against
discrimination, we do not believe the ADL is an appropriate sponsor of
such a training for multiple reasons:
1. In the `No Place for Hate' resource guide[1], the ADL defines
`Anti-Semitism' as discrimination that targets `the Jewish state of
Israel.' Criticism of Israel, like criticism of the U.S. or any other
country, should not be compounded with racism or prejudice. It is
essential that students not be taught negative associations with
criticizing government policies.
2. The ADL has worked against groups critical of Israel on campuses,
and inappropriately associated such legitimate forms of protest with
`Anti-Semitic." [2,3]
3. Israel has been condemned by the UN Committee on the Elimination of
Racial Discrimination for major violations[4]. Simultaneously teaching
that children should `Work collectively with others to organize and
support efforts to combat prejudice and discrimination in all its
forms,' and stifling criticism of racial discrimination in Israel
sends a contradictory message.
There are other groups that offer anti-racism programs[5,6] that are
preferable because they are not promoting any government / military
agenda, nor discouraging dissent.
We therefore call on HISD to repeal its endorsement and allowance of
the `No Place for Hate' program in HISD schools.
Respectfully submitted,
Footnotes:
1. See page 4 for definitions.
http://web.archive.org/web/20130406225515/http://regions.adl.org/southwest/pdfs/11_resource_guide__final_nocrops.pdf
2. http://adl.org/education-outreach/confronting-anti-semitism/Confronting-Anti-Semitism-2012-07-30v1.html
3. http://blog.adl.org/tags/israeli-apartheid-week
4. http://www.refworld.org/publisher,CERD,,ISR,506189622,0.html (Pages
2-9: Concerns and Recommendations)
5. http://www.centerhealingracism.org
6. http://www.pisab.org/programs
Sincerely,
[Your name]
________________________________
Less
Supporters
Reasons for signing
Most Popular
Latest
Nicole Minor THE WOODLANDS, TX
14 days ago
Liked 4
Since when in the United States is it considered discrimination to
criticize a government and its actions. The right to do so is a
cornerstone of our democracy. This would be setting a dangerous
precedent for all of us.
Nuzha Dajani HOUSTON, TX
15 days ago
Liked 4
This is very prejudiced position,
Husam Amer LEE'S SUMMIT, MO
15 days ago
Liked 3
Because the Palestinians are suffering and dying everday
Lucine Kasbarian TEANECK, NJ
1 day ago
Liked 1
The ADL is not a human rights organization and has no moral authority
to instruct others. Visit www.noplacefordenial.com/
David Boyajian BELMONT, MA
1 day ago
Liked 1
Why is this important to you? (Optional)Greetings Houston:
Good news!
Over the past few years, more than a dozen Massachusetts cities have
severed ties with the ADL's alleged anti-bias program known as No
Place for Hate. The Massachusetts Municipal Association (MMA) - which
represents every city and town in the state - did the same.
Why? Because they discovered that the ADL was colluding with Turkey -
a major human rights violator - to deny the Armenian Genocide of
1915-1923, and to defeat Armenian genocide resolutions in the U.S.
Congress. Please
visit:http://npfdinfo.blogspot.com/2007/10/statements-by-human-rights-advocates.html
The full story is at www.NoPlaceForDenial.com , a website created by
concerned citizens. It's a terrific resource for you in Houston.
When cities and the MMA learned the facts about the ADL from human
rights activists and Armenian Americans, they cut their ties to No
Place for Hate. They realized that an organization such as the ADL
that denied a Christian genocide, while simultaneously asking others
to commemorate the Holocaust, was morally unfit to teach about civil
and human rights.
See here, please:
http://npfdinfo.blogspot.com/2007/10/press-kit-history-of-opposing.html
This all made national and international news - hundreds of articles.
Please visit:http://npfdnews.blogspot.com/
The ADL has still not unambiguously acknowledged the Armenian
genocide, and it disgracefully continues to oppose recognition of the
Armenian Genocide.
I respectfully suggest that the organizers of this petition learn
about our very successful campaign against the ADL's programs in
Massachusetts and elsewhere at www.NoPlaceForDenial.com. You will
surely be able to use the information in Houston! I also suggest
contacting Armenian Americans in Texas as they may be interested in
joining you.
My sincere congratulations and best wishes to you.