Submitted by Jennifer Kaplan, Aug 24, 2007 14:15

I am shocked by the amount of ignorance filling the messages about this school. The school is not for Arab students who can't speak English--it's for students of all backgrounds who wish to enhance their education and knowledge by learning Arabic, a language spoken by millions, including Arab Christians and Jews. Where I live in Park Slope, dozens of parents are obsessed with putting their kids in the Chinese dual language school in Chinatown, but nobody is talking about Chinese indoctrination--everyone recognizes that learning another language at a young age is a positive thing. And as someone with family in Israel, I know countless Israelis and Jewish Americans who are studying Arabic because they are interested in solving the problems we are facing today, not just retreating into hate and isolation. And as someone with many Arab friends (Muslim, Christian, and Jewish!) I know that most Arabs do not support violence or extremism. What we need is more communication. This school is a fabulous idea and the mindless and hateful attacks being perpetrated on it are an example of exactly why we need it.

Note: Comments are screened, and in some cases edited, before posting. We reserve the right to reject anything we find objectionable.