What were your classes like in first grade? If they were like mine in my little public school in New Jersey, you did a lot of hands-on learning, including art projects, story time, dioramas, and the like. I remember a project that was assigned to my little sister's class - it involved each student taking home a teddy bear and photographing it, while making a diary recounting what adventures the students embarked on with the bear in tow. According to my memory, the class named the bear Billy, or some other fairly common name. I remember the cute little photo diary that we created about the adventures of "Billy and the Zosches on a Weekend Trip to Vermont." Heartwarming, I know.
The same assignment was given to students in Sudan a short while ago. When the teacher asked the students what they would like to name the bear, the children elected to name the bear a very common name, Muhammad. The next day, crowds filled the streets calling for the teacher of the class to be executed.
Doesn't sound like your typical day at school, does it? However, this is the reality for schoolchildren and their British teacher in Sudan. In Islam, insulting Muhammad is a grave offense, as is worshipping idols. Under Sudanese law, the teacher could have spent six months in prison and received 40 lashes. She currently faces 15 days in jail and immediate deportation. Some conservative Muslims are calling for her death.
Now, I would never call myself the most ardent of patriots. I'm more than willing to critique the American government in its foreign policy, domestic spending, and prioritization of values. I could even call myself overly cynical at times. But stories like this one make me feel downright privileged, proud, and humble to live in the United States.
Three weeks ago, I spent the weekend at the School of the Americas protest at Fort Benning, Ga. As we protested this government-funded military training school, we were criticized by some for being unpatriotic. In these post-Sept. 11 days, protest, anti-war movements and other forms of speaking out against the norm are often viewed as anti-American. Being on the front lines myself, I would argue the exact opposite. Engaging in these demonstrations is the epitome of being an American.
2008 Woodie Awards
