A ham sandwich is not a toy
http://www.sunjournal.com/story/208385-3/LewistonAuburn/Hate_incident_in_city/
'Hate incident' in city
By Bonnie Washuk , Staff Writer
Thursday, April 19, 2007
LEWISTON - One student has been suspended and more disciplinary action could follow a possible hate crime at Lewiston Middle School, Superintendent Leon Levesque said Wednesday.
On April 11, a white student placed a ham steak in a bag on a lunch table where Somali students were eating. Muslims consider pork unclean and offensive.
The act reminded students of a man who threw a pig's head into a Lewiston mosque last summer.
The school incident is being treated seriously as "a hate incident," Levesque said. Lewiston police are investigating, and the Center for the Prevention of Hate Violence is working with the school to create a response plan.
"We've got some work to do to turn this around and bring the school community back together again," Levesque said.
Placing ham where Muslim students were eating was "an awful thing," said Stephen Wessler, executive director of the Center for Prevention of Hate Violence. "It's extraordinarily hurtful and degrading" to Muslims, whose religion prohibits them from being around ham. It's important to respond swiftly, Wessler said.
"Incidents like this that involve degrading language or conduct are often said by the perpetrator as a joke. I know that conduct is never static," he said. "It's part of a process of escalation."
If people think insulting Muslims with ham is OK, "More degrading acts will follow, until at some point we'll end up having violence," Wessler said.
The incident does not reflect the moral values of the school staff and students, Levesque said. "We need to take a look at this and review how a careless act is degrading and causes hurt to other people. All our students should feel welcome and safe in our schools."
He said a letter would be sent home to parents explaining what happened and outlining the school's response. Wessler will meet with students to address the school's climate, and staff will talk about how to respond to and prevent future hate incidents
'I didn't feel safe'
A 14-year-old Somali boy, whose mother asked that his name not be published, said he was eating lunch with four other Somali students on April 11. He noticed many others in the cafeteria "standing up, looking at us."
One boy came near, began laughing and threw a bag on the table while other students laughed and said, 'Good job.'"
"We didn't know what was in this bag," the boy said. "One of my friends reached inside it. It was a big ham steak. There were five of us at the table, all Somali. It was intended for us."
The boy said he looked up at students he thought were his friends. "I felt angered, offended."
He suddenly felt like he was alone. "At the school the next day, I didn't feel safe. I felt like everybody was against me. Before I felt like I fit in, and everything was normal."
He began to think white students didn't like him, and the act was their way of letting him know.
On Thursday, several students came up to him and said, "Those guys who did it were jerks. I apologize for them, and I hope you feel better."
The boy said they did make him feel better. "But for the rest of my life when I remember middle school, this will pop up right away."
He spoke out because he wants the community to know what happened, "that there is something like this going on in our schools."
Wessler and Levesque said the act happened the day before April vacation began, which prevented educators from gathering information.
"This is not done," Wessler said.
JamesRK Note: April vacation? Could they mean EASTER?
'Hate incident' in city
By Bonnie Washuk , Staff Writer
Thursday, April 19, 2007
LEWISTON - One student has been suspended and more disciplinary action could follow a possible hate crime at Lewiston Middle School, Superintendent Leon Levesque said Wednesday.
On April 11, a white student placed a ham steak in a bag on a lunch table where Somali students were eating. Muslims consider pork unclean and offensive.
The act reminded students of a man who threw a pig's head into a Lewiston mosque last summer.
The school incident is being treated seriously as "a hate incident," Levesque said. Lewiston police are investigating, and the Center for the Prevention of Hate Violence is working with the school to create a response plan.
"We've got some work to do to turn this around and bring the school community back together again," Levesque said.
Placing ham where Muslim students were eating was "an awful thing," said Stephen Wessler, executive director of the Center for Prevention of Hate Violence. "It's extraordinarily hurtful and degrading" to Muslims, whose religion prohibits them from being around ham. It's important to respond swiftly, Wessler said.
"Incidents like this that involve degrading language or conduct are often said by the perpetrator as a joke. I know that conduct is never static," he said. "It's part of a process of escalation."
If people think insulting Muslims with ham is OK, "More degrading acts will follow, until at some point we'll end up having violence," Wessler said.
The incident does not reflect the moral values of the school staff and students, Levesque said. "We need to take a look at this and review how a careless act is degrading and causes hurt to other people. All our students should feel welcome and safe in our schools."
He said a letter would be sent home to parents explaining what happened and outlining the school's response. Wessler will meet with students to address the school's climate, and staff will talk about how to respond to and prevent future hate incidents
'I didn't feel safe'
A 14-year-old Somali boy, whose mother asked that his name not be published, said he was eating lunch with four other Somali students on April 11. He noticed many others in the cafeteria "standing up, looking at us."
One boy came near, began laughing and threw a bag on the table while other students laughed and said, 'Good job.'"
"We didn't know what was in this bag," the boy said. "One of my friends reached inside it. It was a big ham steak. There were five of us at the table, all Somali. It was intended for us."
The boy said he looked up at students he thought were his friends. "I felt angered, offended."
He suddenly felt like he was alone. "At the school the next day, I didn't feel safe. I felt like everybody was against me. Before I felt like I fit in, and everything was normal."
He began to think white students didn't like him, and the act was their way of letting him know.
On Thursday, several students came up to him and said, "Those guys who did it were jerks. I apologize for them, and I hope you feel better."
The boy said they did make him feel better. "But for the rest of my life when I remember middle school, this will pop up right away."
He spoke out because he wants the community to know what happened, "that there is something like this going on in our schools."
Wessler and Levesque said the act happened the day before April vacation began, which prevented educators from gathering information.
"This is not done," Wessler said.
JamesRK Note: April vacation? Could they mean EASTER?
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What is wrong with people? A ham steak is an ordeal but I'm sure there are several overweight kids that were equally offended that day except that no one noticed or cared. There were probably several "geeky" kids who were offended but no one noticed. Why are these muslim kids so special. If the school really wanted to prevent violence, I would think they would take all taunting seriously. What they are really saying is that the take taunting seriously when it is politically expedient. When did school administrators stop being educators and start being politicians? 0 -
No silly. April vacation is just that. This is a public school, and therefore it cannot have any ties to Christian religions whatsoever.
After all, Jews celebrate Passover right around Easter.
And, anyway, this is middle school. These so-called children are almost responsible adults who should know that these hateful statements go beyond pranks and should incite violence. I mean, these so-called children are what? Eleven? Twelve?
Yessir, I'm here to tell you that a child placing a hamsteak in a bag at a lunch table is equal in nature to an adult tossing a pig's head in a mosque. After all, they're both Most Holy Sites, and the reasoning behind these violent crimes are the same and took the same amount of thought.
Moreover, Muslims are always not white. So, this white student is obviously a racist thug who should be taken out and beaten by the flagpole, then sent to an adult prison for at least ninety years.
Or, this kid could get an hour's detention and swatted on his ass by his father when he got home, which would be appropriate punishment.
But, hey, why not blow things out of proportion while you still have the chance!0 -
Well, if a Grand Jury can indict a ham sandwich, why can't it indict a ham steak? Where the h__ is this country headed anyway? 0 -
I've thought about filling the 'ol Super Soaker with pork grease..... 0 -
A truly wise educator would have handled it with the students far differently rather than make a media mountain out of a mole hill. The way it was handled, only contempt is learned and retained, not understanding and tolerance. Why is it that adults cannot seize upon these golden opportunities to actually teach young adults something rather than simply punish them? Nothing like being beaten into submission by society - huh? 0 -
Would holding the little muslim pukes down and forcing it down their throats until they choked to death be considered a hate crime?[;)] 0 -
quote:Originally posted by bigtire
Would holding the little muslim pukes down and forcing it down their throats until they choked to death be considered a hate crime?[;)]
You should handle this the civilized way and behead them, not choke them. You also need to scream "Allah is great!" in Farsi.
Otherwise, it is just arrogant American aggression.0 -
If they were so "hurt" by this, because they felt all the other kids were their friends,.............why were they sitting isolated in a little Somali "clique" at lunch? 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Marc1301
If they were so "hurt" by this, because they felt all the other kids were their friends,.............why were they sitting isolated in a little Somali "clique" at lunch?
Good question Marc1301 and that's why IMO a truly competent educator would have no doubt handled the incident discretely and with a lesson to be learned by all - not punishment.0 -
What a joke - what happened to the good old days when kids beat the snot out of each other? This is school, kids did much worse than this when I was going to middle school. We had one school year where the thing was to hold kids down and give them a military style hair cut and/or a mohawk. No one got really bent out of shape over that. 0 -
We should outlaw all meats before they kill. 0 -
Muslims.
"...until at some point we'll end up having violence," Wessler said.
9/11
Doug0 -
quote:Originally posted by Doug Wilson
Muslims.
"...until at some point we'll end up having violence," Wessler said.
9/11
Doug
One of the little towel head bazzturds might just decide to blow himself up in the middle of class.0 -
Hey don't laugh.
Mama Cass was killed by a ham sandwich.0 -
And perhaps if Mama Cass Elliot had given half of her ham sandwich to Karen Carpenter, they'd both be alive today. Or not. 0 -
their quickly taking away my right to hate who i want to, damn i hate that 0 -
by god if thats all it takes, lets buy some ham
and spread it around.
A hate crime, some people dont have the sense god gave a horse, a pig in this case.0 -
I wonder if they play football.[?] 0 -
quote:Muslims consider pork unclean and offensive. 
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This is a public school, and therefore it cannot have any ties to Christian religions whatsoever.So why should the public schools have ties to anyother religions. 0 -
This country is headed to hell in a handbasket[:(!] 0 -
This brings up that age old question: If a ham steak falls in the middle of a famine-striken Somali village, do they eat it? 0 -
quote:Originally posted by MosinNagantDisciple
This brings up that age old question: If a ham steak falls in the middle of a famine-striken Somali village, do they eat it?
No. They draw lots and the loser gets to saddle up on a goat and go to the non-Muslim areas where he or she gets to sell or trade it for sushi.[;)]0 -
Eat up your ham steak sandwich while you can ... it will banned soon along with other assault weapons. 0 -
The bigger picture here is the Somali, actually, Muslims in general just exploit our Political Correctness and use it against us.
So ham is against their religion ... it shouldn't make any difference if it's served in a public school ... because if we don't serve it, our state funded school is adhering to their religion.
Oh ... wait ... I forgot, its just the Christian religion that can't be observed by the state, and only "white people" commit hate crimes[xx(]0 -
There is a lot of tension in that area of Maine over the large number of Somalis who've been imported by the bleeding hearts, seriously straining municipal resources. It's a low income / high unemployment area without this and simultaneously Maine has the highest (or close to it) per capita tax burden of all the states (thanks to the same bleeding heart morons), thus many working families are barely scraping by throughout the state and particularly in the interior areas. Many (possibly a large majority) of the locals in Lewiston - Auburn are themselves "offended" about this situation. Between labor unions and the limo liberal squatters along the coast, Maine is firmly "blue" these days; before the infestation of the squatter vermin, this sort of BS would never have happened. 0 -
IF UR NOT GOING TO EAT IT ,PASS THE HAM , I WILL .
DAMN , they dont know what there missing .
do they make a ham scented colonge ? hmn.......
wrench0 -
Are the poor Muslim boys offended by a ham sandwich? Poor babies.
A few years back, there was a big Somali community in Atlanta. I believe these were refugees from the same war that killed U.S. troops in "Blackhawk Down." Then, the word got out that Lewiston, Maine WANTED more Somalis. The wacky liberals of Lewiston were promising big welfare payments, if it so happened that the Somalis could not get a job in Maine.
There was a radio station in Atlanta that broadcast to Somalis, they started running announcements about the good deal in Lewiston, Maine.
I was living in Atlanta at the time, and I thought it was bizarre. I figured the hot Atlanta summers would make the Somalis feel right at home, and that they couldn't stand the snow of New England.
Really it sounded so bizarre I thought it was a joke. I could just see a Somali with his sandals and his thin colored sheet/cloak mushing a dog team, or cross country skiing.
But, it was for real, and just about all of the Atlanta Somalis moved to Lewiston.
Thank you, Lewiston, and if you are not happy yet, we can send you some more.0 -
Maybe it's just the student's way of expressing their opinion on the presence of Muslims in a school that was probably mostly Christian until just recently... 0 -
This is only the beginning,..........already some stores, are allowing Muslim employees to not have to handle or scan prices for pork products, or alcohol. It is a FACT, that the PC attitudes, will be the end of all of us! 0
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