The US Pledge of Allegiance in Arabic Leads School to Apologize - Assignment Example

16th April, Learning Diary US Pledge of Allegiance in Arabic Leads School to Apologize Date: 20th March, 2015 Authored by British Broadcasting Corporation and published in the BBC News US and Canada This article is about a school in New York State that forced Arabic students to recite the United States Pledge of Allegiance in Arabic language. The school’s foreign language department had translated the thirty one-word pledge of allegiance in Arabic. This action made it mandatory for all the students to recite the pledge whether in English or Arabic. Most Arabs in the country took offence by the school’s action and this forced the school’s administration to issue an apology to staff, students and community members. The school administration later decided that the US Pledge of Allegiance would only be recited in English. The action by the school was disrespectful of the religious beliefs of Arabian students. The students, especially those who had families in Afghanistan and Jewish parents have different belief and they pledge their allegiance to none other than God. The U.S. is a country that appreciates religious and cultural diversity should not have had and implemented such an idea that forced all the students to pledge their allegiance to the flag of the country. Title: Politics of Recognition Author: Charles Taylor This literature is about the importance of being recognized to an individual and its relation to modern day politics. The author begins by showing how recognition relates to identity. He presents that recognition greatly shapes self-awareness. The relationship between identity and recognition was used in the social hierarchies which were based on honor. Those honored were viewed as people with dignity. The kind of identity shaped recognition or non-recognition shapes an individual’s moral values and way of thinking. In some instances, individuals demand recognition; an indication of how recognition is important to an individual’s holistic being. Recognition is what has created identity among nations. The politics of equal dignity as brought about respect in international relations as well as sovereignty and freedom. Identity as a result of recognition has been used by world leaders to influence their ideas on governance issues. Global issues such as liberalization anti-colonialism have been argued on the basis of recognition and identity. It is very important that every nation and individual be accorded respect and dignity they deserve by being recognized for who they are. Title: The Gujarat Massacre: New India’s Blood Rite Date: Wednesday 14th March, 2012 Authored by Pankaj Mishra and published in the Guardian This article is begins by narrating of retaliatory attacks by Hindus on Muslims where about 2,000 Muslims were killed in a bloody massacre. According to the author, this pogrom had the silent approval of the country’s leadership as the country’s security forces just watched as it happened. The Hindu elites in New India have always have always supported the country’s leadership on the massacre and defends it by claiming that it did not take part in the pogrom. Further, the pro-government elite make efforts to make the Muslims massacre appear as an occurrence that ushered in a new India they call the Vibrant Gujarat. The country’s leadership has not so far admitted to its responsibility in the massacre and it just keeps on oppressing the Muslim minority in the country (Mishra). Every human being has a right to life and nobody should deprive the other of this right for whatever reason. A country’s leadership that oppresses any group of its citizens should not be in leadership at all. The international community as well should not hold any relations with such leadership as in doing so; they appear to be in support of the leadership’s oppressive rule. Title: Universal Declaration of Human Rights Author: United Nations General Assembly The United Nation gives a declaration of human rights and gives several articles on different aspects of human rights. The General Assembly begins by acknowledging that human rights are the foundation for peace, harmony and justice in the world. In this respect every human being should have recourse as their rights are protected by the law. Pursuant to this, the United Nations Member States have reaffirmed their support for protection of fundamental human rights. The declaration is to be used as a common standard for all people and nations such that all who go by it will ensure respect of rights and freedoms of all people at every level of association. The articles therein numbered from one to thirty give the rights and freedoms in detail that cover individuals of all classes and ages. The declaration on focus should be respected by all member states. Thus there should be a way to enforce the declaration. The declaration is silent on the consequences of not respecting its content by a member states. Legal implications are necessary as they ensure enforcement of any law, declaration or agreement. Title: An Open Letter to Christian Faith Leadership Date: 13th October, 2007 Authored by Muslim Religious Leader and published by The Royal Aal Al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought This open letter written by the Muslim leadership is a call to their Christian counterparts for a common understanding that will foster peaceful coexistence between the two major religious groups. Christians and Muslim form over half of the world’s population and thus there is need for peaceful coexistence between these two groups. In the letter, the Muslim bases their call on teachings from both the Quran and the Bible. Both religions are based on foundations of love and peace. The Muslims call upon the Christians to come to this common ground of love for God and fellow human beings. It is on this call that the two religions will agree to live peacefully with love for their neighbors as taught in both the Bible and the Quran. Considering the large population of both Muslims and Christians in the world, global peace largely relies on the relationship between the two religious groups. From a religious perspective, love should be the center-stage of all activities of mankind. In every endeavor, mankind should be motivated by love for God. Love for neighbor is interpreted to mean love for God. Peace, freedom and respect will only be achieved where there is love. Title: Holy Ignorance Authored by Olivier Roy and published by Hurst & Company. This book is about the relationship between modernity, secularization and revival gospel. The author observes that believers of mainstream religions are decreasing by the day. He attributes this to modernization where people are increasingly embracing new ways of worship and believes. According to the author, there is no doubt that modernity has brought about secularization of the gospel. This is supported by the theory that secularization of religion is a consequence of modernity. This means that secularization of the gospel is inevitable. Religious revivalism is a result of religious secularization. The author observes that after a deculturation of religion by secularization there will be a religious comeback that will be marked as gospel revival (Roy). A consequence of deculturation is that it transforms the gap between the believer and non-believer into a barrier. The author also describes pure religion and how religion can be passed from one generation to another. Modern day religion has undergone great transformation which has resulted to numerous denominations. Practices in modern day religion have been influenced by civilization and what appeals and is acceptable to worshippers. Title: Declaration towards a Global Ethic Date: 4th September, 1993 This is a declaration by the Council of the Parliament of World Religions to commit towards a global ethic to eliminate the crises in the world. The Council acknowledges that there exists crisis in global economy, ecology and politics. Religion is referred as the basis for a global ethic as religion has love and brotherliness as its foundations. If every man and woman would commit to ethics that are based on principles of religion then the world would be a better place to live. Works Cited Mishra, Pankaj. "The Gujarat massacre: New Indias blood rite." The Guradian 14 March 2012. Roy, Olivier. Holy Ignorance: When Religion and Culture Part Ways. London: Hurst & Company, 2010. Read More