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1

am i allowed to be a tiny bit thankful the attacker isn't white?

ddv

Posted by ddv | December 6, 2007 12:26 PM
2

I'm always torn by anecdotes like that. I can't believe there are people who are bothered by turbans, and I can't believe there are people who believe their god will smite them or whatever if they take it off.

Posted by Chris in Tampa | December 6, 2007 12:28 PM
3

I can't believe there's an arbitrary rule called "Hats Aren't Allowed in School."

Posted by pox | December 6, 2007 12:34 PM
4

@3:

I'm guessing it's part of that hysterical bid to stamp out gang-related "colors" and whatnot.

Wonder if the sub would have gone the same level of ballistic if the student had been wearing a yarmulke.

Posted by COMTE | December 6, 2007 12:49 PM
5

liberal, multi-cultural Seattle

hehehehehehehehehehehehehehehe OK there's Fremont, Ballard, U-Dist, and Cap Hill that are (maybe) reliably liberal. That's four out of an easy dozen-and-a-half Seattle neighborhoods, to say nothing of the suburbs.

Seattle may be assuredly more liberal than, say, Houston, but it's not exactly per capita a worldwide beacon of liberalism. It's just that the liberals are a tad more vocal in-city.

Posted by K | December 6, 2007 12:49 PM
6

Yarmulkes, turbans, and gang colors all serve exactly the same purpose, just like school colors, fraternity pins, crucifix medallions, team logos, and t-shirts from one's favorite band or the office team-building exercise - tribal affiliation, identifying Us and Them. One job of compulsory schooling is to replace those affiliations with an allegiance to the school, and by extension, the government.

Posted by pox | December 6, 2007 12:55 PM
7

I had a good friend in high school who was a Sikh and wore a turban, and the way he explained it was that they were required to not cut their hair, wear the turban, and/or some other things so that they would always be recognized as a Sikh and could not evade their responsibilities to be just/protect the weak/etc etc.

Personally, I find that idea a lot less offensive than some other religions' adornments, which seem to mostly be about saying 'I'm a ____, so there.'

Posted by Megan | December 6, 2007 1:03 PM
8

Seriously, Portia, someone should publish a book of student teacher stories. If people only knew what sometimes goes on in the classroom...

A student teacher I know witnessed a sub hit a kid -- this in a class the ST was teaching! The painful irony, of course, is that the sub got paid, the ST did not.

Glad you spoke up. Good luck teaching!

Posted by Irena | December 6, 2007 1:39 PM
9

At this point, I am thankful there is a a group that works at Seattle Schools whose mission is to help educate teachers on race and equity issues.

Posted by Charlie | December 6, 2007 1:46 PM
10

@7:

I always wonder how Sikhs handle the issue of the kirpan - it's a requirement to have one on-hand at all times, but clearly traveling with one on your person, dealing with metal metal-detectors, and in the case of your friend, most schools "zero tolerance policy" toward weapons on school grounds, would seem to be a bit problematic with regard to that particular item.

Posted by COMTE | December 6, 2007 2:32 PM
11

What Chris (#2) said.

Yep
That really does sum up the world's problems.
From tribes, to gangs, to nations, each striving to believe that their one way is the only way.

Fundamentalism in any guise is such a blessing.
It means you never have to think again.
It has all been written.

Posted by observer | December 6, 2007 2:40 PM
12

@10 Usually, they carry a very small, almost a replica version of a kirpan. It's about as dangerous as the nail file on toenail clippers, but with the religious pedigree, it gets a pass.

Posted by Gitai | December 6, 2007 5:15 PM
13

For christsakes lay off the Sikhs... I want Louis Vasquez to FRY... in hot oil.

Posted by M | December 6, 2007 11:14 PM

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