It was my post that Scott Loftis referred to (in his “Within his rights?”) as “The most ignorant comment of all on a Facebook page.” The discourse was about a junior high school teacher disciplined for wearing “Muslim attire” to work.
Someone posted he should be able to wear a religious symbol to school. I posted “This was more than a case of someone wearing a religious symbol; it was someone intentionally flaunting attire that he had to know would be offensive to others. There are standards of dress for both teachers and students, and the last time I checked “Muslim attire” was not the socially accepted business attire norm for school teachers in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. To break out in full Muslim attire the day before 9/11 was asking for trouble.”
If this teacher wanted to wear “Muslim attire” as a “personal observance,” he should have taken a day of leave. If he wanted to wear a religious symbol, there were more subtle options other than a flowing robe. It was a far stretch of the imagination for Loftis to link the actions of Rosa Parks, Dr. King and several Biblical persons to what this teacher did. They were reversing wrong; this teacher was creating it.
Then Loftis argues religious intolerance. I am the wrong target for that arrow. What I am intolerant of are persons who intentionally abuse the “system,” then try to profit from it, regardless of their race, creed, color, national origin, or religion. That is what occurred in this case — nothing more, nothing less.
Schools are for educating children not making religious or political statements. I applaud school officials for promptly taking appropriate action.
Stu Soffer
White Hall