LONDON — Britain's main religious groups are infuriated by a controversial educational scheme to indoctrinate school children, as young as four, with pro-homosexual ideas.
"Why are we introducing these ideas to such young children?" Tahir Alam, chair of the Education Committee in the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), told Reuters on Wednesday, March 14.
A pilot scheme introducing books dealing with gay issues to children from the ages of four to 11 has been launched in British schools with the backing of the Department for Education.
The 600,000-pound "No Outsiders" project includes teaching fairy stories that encompass same-sex relationships for primary-aged children.
Instead of traditional Cinderella fairytale, one of the books features a prince who turns down three princesses before falling in love with a man.
Others feature two male penguins raising an adopted child and a girl with two space-traveling mothers.
"A lot of parents will be very concerned about the exposure of their children to such books, which are contrary to their religious beliefs and values," said Alam.
Islam considers homosexuality to be clearly sinful.
There are 400,000 Muslim students in the schools of Britain, home to a sizable Muslim minority of nearly 2 million.
The MCB has recently published a 72-page document of guidelines on meeting the needs of Muslim pupils attending state schools in the UK, especially with regard to sex education.
The new plan comes as the government prepares to enforce new Sexual Orientation Regulations that are expected to have an impact on every aspect of life for religious believers.
The controversial regulations will force hoteliers to rent rooms to gay couples and printers will be unable to refuse printing homos magazines or advertisements.
Prominent British Muslims, Christians and Jews had organized joint demonstrations against the new law.
Abuse
The new educational scheme's officials claim they are only reflecting real life.
"Many, many children in this country have this as part of their everyday experience," Elizabeth Atkinson, director of the project, told BBC radio.
But religious groups say the scheme's intention is to make homosexuality appear normal for young kids.
"The whole project is nothing more than propaganda aimed at primary school children to make them sympathetic to homosexuality," said Stephen Green, director of the religious campaign group Christian Voice.
"This is tantamount to child abuse," he charged.
Green insisted that children aged four and five, who would not really understand what homosexuality is, were too young to have their minds inoculated with pro-homos ideas.
"Parents should be able to have the peace of mind of knowing that school is a safe place," he told Reuters.
"And to have their children indoctrinated with pro-homosexual propaganda is an abuse of the trust parents place in schools."
I don't think children should be forcefully exposed to homosexuality from such an early age. Explaining homosexuality would be better done in optional sex education classes when they are alittle older.
as much as i think tolerance should be taught, this seems a bit much....
Ya, it is a bit much but I really like:
two male penguins raising an adopted child and a girl with two space-traveling mothers.
I just think we need to do a lot to counter all the homophobic hate messages we see. It gives me great concern when other wise good people talk about justifying killing someone because of there sexual orentation.
I just think we need to do a lot to counter all the homophobic hate messages we see. It gives me great concern when other wise good people talk about justifying killing someone because of there sexual orentation.
There is a difference between hating on people who practice homosexuality and merely condemning the practice. Parents shouldn't be faced with the prospect of their child being forced to learn that homosexuality is okey if to them that is not the case.
It gives me great concern when other wise good people talk about justifying killing someone because of there sexual orentation.
The death penalty for homosexuality is not for the sexual orientatin of a person, but their acting on it. It is applied if a person engages in homosexual acts. I've seen a few of your posts so I know that you're intelligent enough to see the difference.
Last edited by Uthman; 03-14-2007 at 11:32 PM.
"I spent thirty years learning manners, and I spent twenty years learning knowledge."
Kill whom ever you want when ever you want, just be sure you do it where the death penalty doesn't exist.
But it isn't for me to carry out this punishment, it's for the state to carry out. Anyway, it's clear that you're against the death penalty but I suppose that isn't the discussion. Our views differ and I respect that.
Regards
"I spent thirty years learning manners, and I spent twenty years learning knowledge."
There is a difference between hating on people who practice homosexuality and merely condemning the practice. Parents shouldn't be faced with the prospect of their child being forced to learn that homosexuality is okey if to them that is not the case.
Parents that do not supplement there children's education are neglectful.
If the parents feel the need to teach there children that they conceder some actions wrong, they should do so.
I think "No Outsiders" is a great concept. I see nothing wrong with letting children know there are alternate life stiles and do it in a manner that promotes understanding and does not convey hate.
The death penalty for homosexuality is not for the sexual orientatin of a person, but their acting on it. It is applied if a person engages in homosexual acts. I've seen a few of your posts so I know that you're intelligent enough to see the difference.
The idea that people should be executed for having gay sex is utterly horrific in my view. Are you serious, Osman?
I think it is right that kids should be taught not to hate homosexuals, but I have to say I'm undecided on what age these ideas ought to be introduced. Four seems a little young, but they're obviously not going to be going into full graphic detail at that stage.
Parents that do not supplement there children's education are neglectful.
If the parents feel the need to teach there children that they conceder some actions wrong, they should do so.
I think "No Outsiders" is a great concept. I see nothing wrong with letting children know there are alternate life stiles and do it in a manner that promotes understanding and does not convey hate.
I understand where you are coming from and i agree that there is nothing wrong with lettig children know there are people living alternative lifestyles, but bringing a law in and promoting the homosexual lifestyle in subtle ways as through fairytales isn't the way to go. Primary socialisation of children through the education system is extremely important and preventing parents from choosing what their child is exposed to from such an early age is wrong.
Introducing such an optional scheme at a later date in a childs life i wouldn't really have an objection to.
All I was doing was outlining the Islamic view to my understanding. Now I realise there appears to be some controversy between the scholars over the issue, especially over whether the punishment is applied if the act is done privately. Since I am not a scholar, I am not comfortable with arguing about it. Please note that this isn't some clever tactic of me getting out of the discussion.
If you are interested, Ansar made a post about it here:
All I was doing was outlining the Islamic view to my understanding. Now I realise there appears to be some controversy between the scholars over the issue, especially over whether the punishment is applied if the act is done privately. Since I am not a scholar, I am not comfortable with arguing about it. Please note that this isn't some clever tactic of me getting out of the discussion.
Don't worry, I understand.
I think that these issues where there are disagreements among the scholars make it less easy for outsiders to understand Islamic beliefs in general. After all, think of the number of times we hear people say 'Muslims believe...' and then mention something that in fact not all Muslims believe.
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Children need to be taught to hate homosexuals.
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