TX Sports League Denied Membership to Muslim School After Controversial Probe
- Posted on March 7, 2012 at 8:28am by
Billy Hallowell
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The Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) has found itself gaining some pretty unfavorable media coverage over the past week. As you’ll recall, the private school association recently had a highly-publicized battle with The Robert M. Beren Academy.
Officials originally refused to move the time of a championship basketball game scheduled on the Sabbath, which would have made it impossible for Jewish students to play (they inevitably caved to public and legal pressure and did, indeed, make an exception).
Now, TAPPS is catching attention for some questions it asked Iman Academy SW, an Islamic school in Houston. In 2010, TAPPS, which oversees competitions among 200 schools in the state of Texas, had an interesting response to the school’s interest in joining the league. In a move that, when added to the recent flap over the Jewish Sabbath create some pause, the Islamic school was asked some curious questions.
“Members of the TAPPS executive board have little knowledge of Islam and the Koran, so it is possible that some of the passages taken from the Koran have been taken out of context,” the questionnaire read. “If so, please help them understand.”
Here are some of the questions that were subsequently asked of the school:
“Historically, there is nothing in the Koran that fully embraces Christianity or Judaism in the way a Christian and/or a Jew understands his religion. Why, then, are you interested in joining an association whose basic beliefs your religion condemns?”
“It is our understanding that the Koran tells you not to mix with (and even eliminate) the infidels. Christians and Jews fall into that category. Why do you wish to join an organization whose membership is in disagreement with your religious beliefs?”
“How does your school address certain Christian concepts? (i.e. celebrating Christmas)”
“When was the Bible allegedly polluted? Does the Koran actually state that the Bible is polluted?”
“What is your attitude about the spread of Islam in America? What are the goals of your school in this regard?”
Another question — which was, perhaps nationally relevant at the time, but controversial nonetheless — asked for school administrators’ opinions about the proposed Ground Zero mosque.
In the end, despite the charged nature of the questions, the school did fill out the application and the associated questions. TAPPS inevitably denied membership to Iman Academy SW and the school decided not to refute the decision. According to The New York Times, at least two other Islamic schools were asked to fill out similar questionnaires (the other schools reportedly refused to do so).
“We didn’t see how it had anything to do with Tapps or our kids and sports,” said Cindy Steffens, an administrator with Iman Academy SW. ”We didn’t want to bring any negative attention to the school. We know our kids are just as American as their kids. We just wanted to play ball.”
TAPPS reportedly also circulated a survey to schools back in 2010 that asked whether it was “in the best interest of Tapps to accept Islamic schools for membership.” At least one school administrator has gone on record to say that this action made him very uncomfortable (63 percent of respondents reportedly said it was not in the league’s best interest, with only 37 percent claiming that including Muslim schools would be a positive action).
(H/T: Houston Press)
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Comments (71)
1Karen
Posted on March 7, 2012 at 11:49amWE are a Judeo-Christian Nation, that accepts other religions into it’s Judeo-Christian fold. Not wolves in sheep’s clothing. With the deceptive practices the Muslims use on a daily basis such as never having a “real friend’ in a Christian or Jew, Muslim only, the rest of US are to be thought of as slave beasts that they can work, maim, or kill as they choose. Why are they are allowed to lie to you if your not Muslim? What’s the difference between CARE and CAIR, and why play off of their name? Why come over here and go straight for our Constitution if they want to live IN our society instead of changing it into the very place they left? WE take immigrants, not destroyers. There is bound to be questions for them. If they don’t want to understand what we are going through, yet turn around and want to kill Jews for coming back to their native land, why should we not suspect them?
Report Post »kindling
Posted on March 7, 2012 at 11:23amCAIR will be getting involved soon. The more they can use our own system against us the faster they can take control. They will hang us with our own freedom if we don’t start standing up for it.
Report Post »vinnymac46
Posted on March 7, 2012 at 11:20amOne question…did the Muslim school ever answer the questionaire, if they did I would really like to see their answers…
Report Post »Xyskalla
Posted on March 7, 2012 at 11:18amNot every Muslim wants to destroy us, many just want to live in peace. However, I still see how those questions are useful. How many times have we seen someone with different beliefs join an organization or group, and then once they’re in, they start suing to change the rules because they are “discriminatory”? If I were in TAPPS’s shoes, I, too, would be more than a little suspicious of why they‘d want to join an organization whose beliefs and practices they don’t find acceptable. Notice that they didn’t reject them out of hand–they asked for clarification.
Report Post »SilverBlaze
Posted on March 7, 2012 at 11:44amRight on.
Report Post »HoosierHunter
Posted on March 7, 2012 at 11:49amJust like Ms. Sandra Flukes going to Georgetown (a catholic university), with the goal to fight for paid contraception.
Report Post »drattastic
Posted on March 7, 2012 at 11:50amTheir “holy book” specifically states that they convert or kill the infidel . So who are these muslims you speak of who want to live in peace with us ? Oh yeah the BAD muslims because the GOOD muslims who adhere to their “religion” want us all converted or killed. Stop being a Politically Correct fool that is what got us in the shape we find ourselves in now.
Report Post »StanO360
Posted on March 7, 2012 at 1:43pmIt’s legitimate to ask questions, ideas, words, beliefs have meaning. They screwed up on the basketball championship/Sabbath thing though.
Report Post »AJAYW
Posted on March 7, 2012 at 11:06amBubba just a note to let you know that I support the kids shouting USA USA USA.
Report Post »They should be proud to be in the USA. It would be racist not to shout it. If
folks don’t like it, they should go to another country that don’t allow free
speech.
Just a old country boy
NOT a Idiot Liberal
hi
Posted on March 7, 2012 at 10:57amQuestion:
Report Post »Will you allow women to participate? Do they have to wear hijabs when playing basketball or when competing in swimming competitions?
BurntHills
Posted on March 7, 2012 at 10:45amhere’s something those muslim sleeper cells in TX will not advertise.
=== the imam who masterminded the TEHRAN AMERICAN EMBASSY HOSTAGE TAKING was an imam — in TEXAS — for 35 YEARS.
– Eddie Huff radio show
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on March 7, 2012 at 10:41amyou forgot the muslim schoolbooks in VIRGINIA for 1st grade age they found, that instructs the kids how to CUT OFF HANDS AND FEET.
Report Post »Marine25
Posted on March 7, 2012 at 10:29amI see the religious bigots got up very early this morning.
Report Post »The kids at this school are Americans. They believe in a different fiction than the rest of you, but they are just as American as you are.
Chuck Stein
Posted on March 7, 2012 at 10:50am@ marine
Report Post »You aren’t saying that the TAPPS decision states or implies that the kids in the Muslim school are not “American”, are you? I read the article. Seems pretty clear that TAPPS was looking to the interests of its own organization and members — not to how “American” Muslim kids are. BTW — if you consider “Americanism” to include an acceptance of “classic liberalism”, then you would be very hard pressed to make a case for Muslims as fitting that definition.
mike_trivisonno
Posted on March 7, 2012 at 12:03pm“…They believe in a different fiction than the rest of you, but they are just as American as you are….”
You do not have a full grasp of Islamic Civilization and its relentless assault on Western Civilization, and indeed, its relentless assault on all non-muslim cultures for the last 1,400 years.
Your ignorance of Jihad is what will lead to another Beslan.
Even setting aside the holy texts, one need only look at military history to see the rise and spread of Islamic Civilization and the near endless ceding of territory and retreat of Western Civilization in the face of violent Jihad. Until , at last, the final embers of our civilization were brought to the shores of America.
And now, as is ALWAYS the case with Islamic Civilization, they have brought there Jihad here. They intent to destroy or Western Civilization and replace it with Islam and Sharia.
Report Post »Marine25
Posted on March 7, 2012 at 4:15pm@ChuckStein
Report Post »I think the league should do whatever they see fit. I was referring to the comments on this board referring to the kids at this school in the most reprehensible manner. And no, I don’t include an acceptance of classic liberalism in my definition of an American. Most of those kids are American for the very same reason I am and I imagine you are; they were born here. They shouldn’t be judged on what superstition they practice or on the fact that some people will find that they have similar physical characteristics as some terrorists. I have the same physical characteristics as Tim McVeigh, yet nobody ever assumes I am a terrorist like he was. Mr. Stein, I spent several years surrounded by this sort of religious bigotry and nonsense and I have come home to find the same sort of neanderthal thinking right here at home. I was commenting on the bigoted comments found here, I was discouraged that Americans would resort to the name-calling of American children because they believe in a different god.
txjb
Posted on March 7, 2012 at 5:53pmM25 ,just bow down to mecca then .
Report Post »Bev5
Posted on March 7, 2012 at 10:19amDoes anyone recognize the Fluke – Georgetown similarity? Let’s join to change. Another Texas who says, “No, thank you”.
Report Post »Mr.Fitnah
Posted on March 7, 2012 at 10:12amThere is one Islam, no radical islam just a spectrum of jihad.
Report Post »insinuating into every part of culture is early jihad, controlling and destroying it next.
G-WHIZ
Posted on March 7, 2012 at 10:09amWhat part of…”their leaders say they want to wipe us, our religeon, and all our history off the map and the word as if it never existed!”. What part of…” the mosks have more than doubled since the 2008 election, all over the U.S.A.” don’t these appeasers understand…these “appeasers” are the European Progressives/communists, whom are crashing our country from within. (sang in various piches…) Bhaaaaaaa–baaaaa-baa-baaaaaaaaaaaaa…
Report Post »Hrothgar
Posted on March 7, 2012 at 10:03amAllah at night is big and bright, deep in the heart of Texas!
Report Post »Chuck Stein
Posted on March 7, 2012 at 10:45amI admit it, I laughed.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on March 7, 2012 at 9:30amCome now, Obama attended a madrasa as a child and look how well he turned out.
Report Post »love the kids
Posted on March 7, 2012 at 9:06amThese questions are legitimate and SHOULD BE ASKED. The best way to destroy something is to infiltrate it and then change it.
Report Post »RonmeyPaulBotsrOdd
Posted on March 7, 2012 at 9:31amThe refusal to answer the questionnaire speaks volumes as does the one that was filled out and submitted that led to nonacceptance. I would ask anyone to simply ask devout muslims if they support Kirk Cameron and his views of gays/gay marriage. It is amazing to me the efforts to dismantle any Christian belief, but whoooah – better not offend muslims. CAIR will be suing soon and will try to bankrupt them – that is the next step in the process.
Report Post »BernieKittyCat
Posted on March 7, 2012 at 1:50pmAnother great example is Planned Parenthood’s infiltrtion of Girl Scouts.
Report Post »Kafir-Islamsux
Posted on March 7, 2012 at 9:03amislam is a cult of murderers and pedophiles…
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on March 7, 2012 at 8:56am.
I keep trying to tell Ya’ll Texas Sucks……
The Muslims will be in faster than they changed the date for the Jewish kids…….
Report Post »momrules
Posted on March 7, 2012 at 9:13amIt was Texans that had the courage to ask the questions and it was Texans that denied the Iman Academy membership into TAPPS.
Report Post »This very proud Texan is very proud of the Texans of TAPPS.
SpankDaMonkey
Posted on March 7, 2012 at 9:24am.
The Muslims will be in by the end of this week or next. Then tell me your proud…….
Nothing to proud of in a State that let’s Baby Beaters Go Free…..
Did I mention Texas Sucks?………
Report Post »Docrow
Posted on March 7, 2012 at 9:29amDon’t mess with Texas!
Report Post »dealer@678
Posted on March 7, 2012 at 9:34amDitto Mom
Report Post »txjb
Posted on March 7, 2012 at 5:59pmIt’s the people that are in office , Tx. or any other place . These people have no back bone ,their scared . Tapps probably will change their policy , because of the hate crime laws . I say get all the muslims out now .
Report Post »drago
Posted on March 7, 2012 at 8:55amThis is a non-news item, and should never have been reported on.First, any scheduling by Tapps,should have and would have been know beforehand by all schools involved, including the Jewish school. Second, if any person or school, organization etc.. is worried about scheduling conflicts, they should have been worked out before hand.Sounds to me like this is simply a stunt by both the jewish and islamist schools to get attention.So Blaze, how about a real story,and stop coping and pasting someone elses work……
Report Post »momrules
Posted on March 7, 2012 at 8:54amThere is nothing wrong with the questions,in fact they should be asked. The Clear Lake area of Houston is over run with Muslims and even Pasadena, home of the cowboy and Gillys, has one of the biggest mosques around.
Report Post »Islam should always be questioned in America, not just Texas. Islam’s motives are not to assimilate but to conquer.
TomFerrari
Posted on March 7, 2012 at 9:16amI’m sure it is entirely coincidence, but, this morning, the local Fox affiliate in Dallas (4) is reporting that several schools in Texas have received envelopes of “suspicious white powder.”
They reported it turned out to be. Itching dangerous, but, it bags the question of who did it and why?
Dry run? Testing our mail system?
Or, retaliation for not getting to invade TAPPS?
The Bible says to BEWARE false prophets. It doesn’t say to “ignore” or “accept” or “coexist”…
It clearly says, “ BEWARE ” !
It also says false prophets “come as a thief in the night.” (sneaking in quietly when we are asleep -sound familiar?)
islam is NOT a religion. It is an entire culture, complete with laws and a judicial system.
It is incompatible with freedom and liberty. Why do we afford them constitutional protections beyond that of a religion, when they profess and promote islam as more than a religion.
When Charles Manson tells people to murder in the name of his “religion” we said, ” NO ! ”
Report Post »So, the Constitutional protection is not universal.
xoke
Posted on March 7, 2012 at 8:54amThis story could have stopped with the first line. “The Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS)” PRIVATE!
I say good for them.
Report Post »Docrow
Posted on March 7, 2012 at 9:27amYup! and Don’t mess with Texas!
Report Post »Atilla
Posted on March 7, 2012 at 8:50amActually I think that the questions were almost softball. I would have been curious to know the attitude of the school in establishment of a global Caliphate and the goal of the insertion of Sharia Law in the US. Perfectly ligitimate and questions that should be asked at every point in contact with Islam Period. Nothing has changed in the Islamic culture of conquest since the 14th century and the denial that the war being waged on us is neither reality and will get us killed eventually.
Report Post »BernieKittyCat
Posted on March 7, 2012 at 1:58pmYou couldn’t have trusted their answers to those questions at any rate. Aren’t they encouraged to bold-fced lie to infidels?
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on March 7, 2012 at 8:46amThe Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools
Report Post »The key word is PRIVATE. Take who you want, deny who you don’t want. I suggest the Muslim school form their own league. Then they can play soccer with a goats head like they did back home.
SpankDaMonkey
Posted on March 7, 2012 at 9:06am.
Report Post »Gonzo they love their goats, so I think the head would most likely belong to a wife or daughter….
drago
Posted on March 7, 2012 at 8:43amSo whats the problem with the questions? This islamist school wants to join to do one thing, cause controversy,pure and simple.There are those in Texas, such as the government,businesses,and religious organizations that will cave to muslims,but this is Texas, and most ordenary true Texans, will not.A simple warning to muslims here in my state. Texas,dont light a fire you cant put out,i can tell you now,my friends who are all, born and raised Texan,will not tolerate it…
Report Post »Docrow
Posted on March 7, 2012 at 9:33amWell said my fellow Texan!
Report Post »momrules
Posted on March 7, 2012 at 9:51amThis born and bred Texas woman will never accept Islam regardless of what the government, C.A.I.R and the President of the United States wants.
Report Post »oldguy49
Posted on March 7, 2012 at 8:39amcorrect questions to ask and now exit visa’s would be in order for all muslims……yes there intention is to take over or distroy america……..these questions bring it to light
Report Post »SoupSandwich
Posted on March 7, 2012 at 8:36amIman Academy and secondary bomber school? Or is that primary?
Report Post »poorrichard09
Posted on March 7, 2012 at 8:41amYeah, when the QB on their football team throws a bomb, it’s really a BOMB. hahaha
Report Post »JLocke
Posted on March 7, 2012 at 8:50amAs we have seen, the “Death to America and Israel 101” is taught in elementary school. Bomb wearing is taught early too but, bomb making is taught in high school.
Report Post »kilo1jp
Posted on March 7, 2012 at 9:27amYeah I can hear the Friday night play by play now ….Achmed drop’s back in the pocket…Finds and receiver THROWS …IT”S A 45 YARD HELL MERRY PASS BUT IS INTERCEPTED at THE GOLE LINE ..TUFF BREAK FO THE QB. (rewrite HE THROWS A HELL AlA BUT IS PICKED OFF BY THE INFEDELLS What is that ? the Quarter has ah ah…a knife pulled from his shoulder pads and is chasing the player screaming ALA something at the players …. OH we have a Injury time out…
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