New Today
In today's Times Herald-Record the name of the student who recited the Pledge in Arabic has been revealed as Dana who is a sophomore at Pine Bush High. She is an American of Jordanian descent in other words born in the USA. The paper couldn't publish her last name for her own safety. Yes Dana has been the target of some very ugly threats. She is hoping to pursue a degree in computer science.
One telling comment in the paper comes from Dawn Eignor, a waitress at the Cup and Saucer Classic Diner.
"It's sad , We allow so much for them, help them so much..."
(Them = anyone not white who may or may not speak a language other than English)
The whole story is in the Times Herald-Record for those interested.
As a resident of the region I am outraged at the ignorant and racist bigots of Pine Bush NY. As a tribute to Foreign Languages Week the local school had students recite the Pledge in different languages. One such reading was in Arabic and the idiot storm that followed is absolutely incredible. Of course these morons wrap themselves in American Flags in a totally hateful cause. Well I'm reclaiming the flag because we are not a nation of completely mindless bible thumping redneck imbeciles!
In a country where most of us never bother to learn other languages, I am proud that a student was actually able to translate the Pledge into Arabic in the first place. These Pine Bush slobs are probably threatened by intelligent life. For all who have never seen or heard Arabic it is as beautiful in writing as it is in speech.
Andrew Zink senior class president at Pine Bush High School, who is currently being threatened, has been removed for his support of the reading by the high school principle Aaron Hopmayer. This morning I called the Board of Education in Pine Bush and was told by the operator mine was the first call in support of the reading. So if you're not too busy today give the Board of Education in Pine Bush a call to let them know Andrew Zink should be reinstated as class president and that you support the reading of the Pledge in any language.
Board of Education in Pine Bush: 845.744.2031
Town Clerk in Pine Bush: 845.744.2020
I never thought in 2015 there would still be the ignorance in the US that has made itself known in so many horrible ways in the past year. My rant for the week!
1:03 PM PT: Pine Bush School Superintendent Joan Carbone has said the Pledge is only to be recited in English from now on. The high school principle Aaron Hopmayer says no apology needed for the Pledge recited in Arabic. The local Veterans group has been the most vocal and offended by the reading claiming the Pledge must be recited in English. I guess all those soldiers who fought and died for this nation that spoke a language other than English died in vain and had no right to say the pledge in their native tongue.