There are so many things going on in the political background, but
parents of 7th graders are asking, "What can we do today?"
If your child is embarking on the Islam unit, the best thing you
can do is talk to your child’s teacher. Share your concerns and ask if
students may choose their own project studies for the Islam section.
If your teacher agrees, your student could research and provide the
omitted facts about Islam and the Crusades.
For
instance, the Crusades began with valiant intent. Pope Urban II
summoned a group of knights and gave "one of the great speeches of
history." He told how Turks [under the name of Allah] "have destroyed
the altars that they have polluted with their foul practices. They
have circumcised the Christians, spreading the blood on the altars and
pouring it on the fonts. And they cut open the bellies of those whom
they choose to torment with a loathsome death, tear out their bowels
and tie them to a stake, drag them around and flog them, before
killing them as they lie on the ground with entrails all hanging out"
–The Divine Campaigns, Time-Life
Books, page 62
Click here for more facts on
the Crusades
One could even report on the quotes in the
Quran advocating
the beheading of infidels, a fact in history repeated in the news
today. Mary Habeck, a Yale professor and military historian, provides
information about the "method
of Muhammad" putting the Quran in context.
Instead of building a mosque as the textbook directed, my son
created a battle scene of Jerusalem between Islamists and Crusaders. (see
pictures). He found a piece of Styrofoam with many sections and
used it to create the city. He painted it gray for walls, glued sand
on the "ground," made miniature Crusaders and Muslims out of
SuperSculpey (sold by the brick in hobby shops) and baked them with
toothpicks protruding from their feet to be spiked into the Styrofoam.
Crusaders were scaling walls and busting through gates as captured
Crusaders were being beheaded.
Miniature Crusaders and Islamists are easy to make. You just roll a
small piece of Super Sculpey to the size of a short pencil,
shape the heads and arms out of it, insert a toothpick at the base.
you can also use half of a toothpick for swords. Bake 20 minutes and
paint.
The only drawback is the miniature Crusaders might slowly disappear
from the project as it is stored in the classroom with other projects.
You might want to securely glue them into the final battle scene. So
many of our miniatures disappeared that when the project came home, we
cut off a small corner of the Styrofoam and condensed what miniatures
we had left.
By doing projects such as this, previously omitted facts can be
brought to light to the whole class. I have always heard and blindly accepted
that atrocities were committed by the Crusaders but after reading the
propaganda and bias in our modern textbooks, after reading about
the NEA blaming 911 on America, all history is suspect, especially
history criticizing Christians and Jews. Yes we have our faults, yes
there are many false Christians doing things that are NOT in the
Bible, but the efforts of those who hate God, ceaselessly looking to
criticize all things Christian, reminds us not to blindly accept the
accusations.
Legitimate historians should be up-in-arms about the cheapening of
their credentials and credibility as public school textbooks have
twisted facts whichever way the authors pleased.
Therefore as we wait for textbook revisions and rulings, take this
opportunity to examine and present the truth. Look for ways to have
fun with your kids and share your faith. Stay close to your children
and most definitely pray for them. In these times they really need
you. In these times we really need God's covering.
