Question Nixed
On MEAP Test
T
he answer may have been correct,
but it was anything but right.
A social studies question on a stan-
dardized test for Michigan eighth-
graders raised the hackles of the Anti-
Defamation League last week, prompt-
ing the state to scrap the question.
The Michigan Educational
Assessment Program question asks stu-
dents what two religions contribute to
the Arab-Israeli conflict.
Jewish and Arab leaders agreed that
the MEAP question raised negative
stereotypes about practitioners of both
Judaism and Islam.
"Characterizing the complex Arab-
Israeli conflict as a problem of Judaism
and Islam is wrong, but moreover it
creates negative stereotypes of the two
religions, and religion in general," said
Don Cohen, director of the Michigan
regional office of the Anti-Defamation
League.
"As written, the question makes it
appear that Judaism and Islam pro-
mote and sustain the conflict. In fact,
the conflict is not primarily religious,
and many important faith-based voices
strive for peace and reconciliation."
"It's not a religious issue. It is a
political issue" withall its ramifica-
tions," said Chuck Alawan, Who han-
dles interfaith relations for the Islamic
House of Wisdom in Dearborn
Heights, and deals with the Interfaith
Roundtable of the National
Conference for Community Justice.
"The contemporary history is being
politically maneuvered to make it
sound like there is an Islamic-Jewish
problem, but I don't think there is,"
he said. "I agree with the ADL
absolutely 100 percent."
Amid the public controversy, the
state has since decided not to keep the
question. ❑
— Harry Kirsbaum
Staff Writer
33488 Woodward, N. of 14 Mile, Birmingham •
248-594-RUGS
The MEAP Question
Conflict between Arabs and Israelis
continues. What MAIN religions
contribute to this problem?
A. Buddhism and Hinduism
B. Local religions and Roman
Catholicism
C. Islam and Judaism
D. Roman Catholicism
and Protestantism
Titgarg 3rfurtru
‘76141§111gfaz
DIAMONDS, ESTATE & ANTIQUE JEWELRY
32800 FRANKLIN ROAD AT 14 MILE ROAD DOWNTOWN FRANKLIN
248.626.1885
WEDNESDAY THRU
SATURDAY 11 A.M. TO 5 P.M.
2/11
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