What is the student walkout for on 11/29 at Sherwood?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's a call for a continued bilateral ceasefire. If you interpret that as "pro Palestine," that's not on the students.

For what it is worth, within Israel, calls for a ceasefire are seen as pro-hostage. It's only in the USA that asking for a ceasefire is seen as somehow uniquely pro Palestinian.

The Sherwood MSA Instagram account specifically says it is a pro Palestine: “ Sherwood MSA will be holding a walkout in support of Palestine. Bring posters, flags, wear Palestine colors, and keffivehs.” Can you point me to were it says this walk out is for continued bilateral cease fire?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a call for a continued bilateral ceasefire. If you interpret that as "pro Palestine," that's not on the students.

For what it is worth, within Israel, calls for a ceasefire are seen as pro-hostage. It's only in the USA that asking for a ceasefire is seen as somehow uniquely pro Palestinian.

If you think the rally will be limited to a single message that reflects a thoughtful foreign policy take, good luck to you.

+1

I’m the pp who provided a summary of how our interfaith home feels about the ongoing/never ending conflict—not because I think my perspective should dictate a student walkout, but rather to preemptively state I’m not blindly pro-Israel and most certainly not anti-Palestine/islamaphobic.

Like this pp said, I’m concerned this will quickly go off the rails and needlessly become an antisemitic rally. Why? Because there are far too many recent videos of such situations online…particularly at schools.

If they just protest the war and promote peace, that would be fine. If they showcase Palestinian and Jewish students hand in hand calling for a ceasefire, awesome! But if they start chanting anything antisemitic, then that’s not okay.

Mcps wouldn’t tolerate anything remotely anti-fill in the blank with any other group.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a call for a continued bilateral ceasefire. If you interpret that as "pro Palestine," that's not on the students.

For what it is worth, within Israel, calls for a ceasefire are seen as pro-hostage. It's only in the USA that asking for a ceasefire is seen as somehow uniquely pro Palestinian.

The Sherwood MSA Instagram account specifically says it is a pro Palestine: “ Sherwood MSA will be holding a walkout in support of Palestine. Bring posters, flags, wear Palestine colors, and keffivehs.” Can you point me to were it says this walk out is for continued bilateral cease fire?

Would you be okay with an walkout supporting Israel?

I have been very troubled by the antisemitism on the left. The pervasive notion that Israel should not exist.

But the answer is not to oppose anyone supporting Palestine. The only solution (which seems to be getting further out of sight) is to support Israel AND Palestine. A two-state solution. If you are against Palestine, you are against peace. If you are against Israel, you are against peace. There is nothing fundamentally wrong with the MSA staging a walk-out. If they say Israel should be destroyed, that is wrong. Calling for continuation of a cease-fire? That is not wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a call for a continued bilateral ceasefire. If you interpret that as "pro Palestine," that's not on the students.

For what it is worth, within Israel, calls for a ceasefire are seen as pro-hostage. It's only in the USA that asking for a ceasefire is seen as somehow uniquely pro Palestinian.

If you think the rally will be limited to a single message that reflects a thoughtful foreign policy take, good luck to you.

+1

I’m the pp who provided a summary of how our interfaith home feels about the ongoing/never ending conflict—not because I think my perspective should dictate a student walkout, but rather to preemptively state I’m not blindly pro-Israel and most certainly not anti-Palestine/islamaphobic.

Like this pp said, I’m concerned this will quickly go off the rails and needlessly become an antisemitic rally. Why? Because there are far too many recent videos of such situations online…particularly at schools.

If they just protest the war and promote peace, that would be fine. If they showcase Palestinian and Jewish students hand in hand calling for a ceasefire, awesome! But if they start chanting anything antisemitic, then that’s not okay.

Mcps wouldn’t tolerate anything remotely anti-fill in the blank with any other group.

Has it occurred to you that social media may only be highlighting the protests that go off the rails? And that many protests do not? Thousands of children are dying. This is a worthy cause.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a call for a continued bilateral ceasefire. If you interpret that as "pro Palestine," that's not on the students.

For what it is worth, within Israel, calls for a ceasefire are seen as pro-hostage. It's only in the USA that asking for a ceasefire is seen as somehow uniquely pro Palestinian.

The Sherwood MSA Instagram account specifically says it is a pro Palestine: “ Sherwood MSA will be holding a walkout in support of Palestine. Bring posters, flags, wear Palestine colors, and keffivehs.” Can you point me to were it says this walk out is for continued bilateral cease fire?

Give me a break. They are kids. They are not going to have a nuanced, delicate, thoughtful perspective on the issue.

They are muslim students who feel a sense of solidarity with a muslim population that they are seeing get hit with weapons of mass destruction. That worries them and shakes their sense of self, much in the same way Jews felt when they saw fellow Jews getting attacked, killed and kidnapped on Oct. 7.

For students, this whole thing is about identity and culture. Not nuanced foreign policy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a call for a continued bilateral ceasefire. If you interpret that as "pro Palestine," that's not on the students.

For what it is worth, within Israel, calls for a ceasefire are seen as pro-hostage. It's only in the USA that asking for a ceasefire is seen as somehow uniquely pro Palestinian.

The Sherwood MSA Instagram account specifically says it is a pro Palestine: “ Sherwood MSA will be holding a walkout in support of Palestine. Bring posters, flags, wear Palestine colors, and keffivehs.” Can you point me to were it says this walk out is for continued bilateral cease fire?

Give me a break. They are kids. They are not going to have a nuanced, delicate, thoughtful perspective on the issue.

They are muslim students who feel a sense of solidarity with a muslim population that they are seeing get hit with weapons of mass destruction. That worries them and shakes their sense of self, much in the same way Jews felt when they saw fellow Jews getting attacked, killed and kidnapped on Oct. 7.

For students, this whole thing is about identity and culture. Not nuanced foreign policy.

IME MCPS students are perfectly capable of nuanced discussion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a call for a continued bilateral ceasefire. If you interpret that as "pro Palestine," that's not on the students.

For what it is worth, within Israel, calls for a ceasefire are seen as pro-hostage. It's only in the USA that asking for a ceasefire is seen as somehow uniquely pro Palestinian.

If you think the rally will be limited to a single message that reflects a thoughtful foreign policy take, good luck to you.

+1

I’m the pp who provided a summary of how our interfaith home feels about the ongoing/never ending conflict—not because I think my perspective should dictate a student walkout, but rather to preemptively state I’m not blindly pro-Israel and most certainly not anti-Palestine/islamaphobic.

Like this pp said, I’m concerned this will quickly go off the rails and needlessly become an antisemitic rally. Why? Because there are far too many recent videos of such situations online…particularly at schools.

If they just protest the war and promote peace, that would be fine. If they showcase Palestinian and Jewish students hand in hand calling for a ceasefire, awesome! But if they start chanting anything antisemitic, then that’s not okay.

Mcps wouldn’t tolerate anything remotely anti-fill in the blank with any other group.

You realize that students have first amendment rights to freedom of speech, assembly and expression and that MCPS has no right to suppress or prevent students from exercising those first amendment rights, right?

MCPS has no way of knowing or screening what may or may not be said at the protest or rally. All it can do is ensure the assembly is organized and done according to school protocols, and hold anyone accountable if the demonstration violates school protocols. It is inherently something where MCPS can only be reactive, not proactive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a call for a continued bilateral ceasefire. If you interpret that as "pro Palestine," that's not on the students.

For what it is worth, within Israel, calls for a ceasefire are seen as pro-hostage. It's only in the USA that asking for a ceasefire is seen as somehow uniquely pro Palestinian.

The Sherwood MSA Instagram account specifically says it is a pro Palestine: “ Sherwood MSA will be holding a walkout in support of Palestine. Bring posters, flags, wear Palestine colors, and keffivehs.” Can you point me to were it says this walk out is for continued bilateral cease fire?

Give me a break. They are kids. They are not going to have a nuanced, delicate, thoughtful perspective on the issue.

They are muslim students who feel a sense of solidarity with a muslim population that they are seeing get hit with weapons of mass destruction. That worries them and shakes their sense of self, much in the same way Jews felt when they saw fellow Jews getting attacked, killed and kidnapped on Oct. 7.

For students, this whole thing is about identity and culture. Not nuanced foreign policy.

IME MCPS students are perfectly capable of nuanced discussion.

Ok. If you say so. I've engaged with many who aren't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just received a letter from the school about the planned student walkout—which neglects to say what it is for. It’s related to Israel/Gaza, but it doesn’t say what the goal of the walkout is.

Peace?

Taking sides? If so, which side?

Anyone know?

I just got it and checked on Instagram. It’s put on by the Muslim student association. So yes, they are taking And it’s pro Palestine. Interesting that there is no walk out when all of the hostages were taken and hundreds of people slaughtered by Hamas.

That’s what I suspected.

As a parent of a Jewish student, this is disappointing.

FTR, I’m our home, our stance is this:

All terrorism is bad.

Hamas is a terror group that attacked innocent civilians.

Innocent Palestinians are now suffering thanks to Hamas—and historically have suffered since Israel and Palestinians can’t seem to get along (despite years of attempts to negotiate).

It’s all terrible. And there’s no end in sight.

I’d rather see civil discourse on peacemaking than what looks like a pointless juvenile stunt that inevitably will prompt something negative.

This is the direct result of progressives taking control of MCPS and bringing critical theory into the curriculum. Palestinians are seen as the oppressed and, therefore can do no wrong.

There are Palestinians being oppressed by both Israel and Hamas. Likewise, there are Israelis being oppressed by both Israel and Hamas. Extremists have taken over and are making peace unattainable for the 99.99% of people who are reasonable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just received a letter from the school about the planned student walkout—which neglects to say what it is for. It’s related to Israel/Gaza, but it doesn’t say what the goal of the walkout is.

Peace?

Taking sides? If so, which side?

Anyone know?

I just got it and checked on Instagram. It’s put on by the Muslim student association. So yes, they are taking And it’s pro Palestine. Interesting that there is no walk out when all of the hostages were taken and hundreds of people slaughtered by Hamas.

That’s what I suspected.

As a parent of a Jewish student, this is disappointing.

FTR, I’m our home, our stance is this:

All terrorism is bad.

Hamas is a terror group that attacked innocent civilians.

Innocent Palestinians are now suffering thanks to Hamas—and historically have suffered since Israel and Palestinians can’t seem to get along (despite years of attempts to negotiate).

It’s all terrible. And there’s no end in sight.

I’d rather see civil discourse on peacemaking than what looks like a pointless juvenile stunt that inevitably will prompt something negative.

This is the direct result of progressives taking control of MCPS and bringing critical theory into the curriculum. Palestinians are seen as the oppressed and, therefore can do no wrong.

There are Palestinians being oppressed by both Israel and Hamas. Likewise, there are Israelis being oppressed by both Israel and Hamas. Extremists have taken over and are making peace unattainable for the 99.99% of people who are reasonable.

If you're talking about leftists taking over in MoCo, I completely agree with you.

[Anonymous]

How dare those uppity students protest against 75 years of genocide. We don’t do that sort of thing here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just received a letter from the school about the planned student walkout—which neglects to say what it is for. It’s related to Israel/Gaza, but it doesn’t say what the goal of the walkout is.

Peace?

Taking sides? If so, which side?

Anyone know?

I just got it and checked on Instagram. It’s put on by the Muslim student association. So yes, they are taking And it’s pro Palestine. Interesting that there is no walk out when all of the hostages were taken and hundreds of people slaughtered by Hamas.

That’s what I suspected.

As a parent of a Jewish student, this is disappointing.

FTR, I’m our home, our stance is this:

All terrorism is bad.

Hamas is a terror group that attacked innocent civilians.

Innocent Palestinians are now suffering thanks to Hamas—and historically have suffered since Israel and Palestinians can’t seem to get along (despite years of attempts to negotiate).

It’s all terrible. And there’s no end in sight.

I’d rather see civil discourse on peacemaking than what looks like a pointless juvenile stunt that inevitably will prompt something negative.

This is the direct result of progressives taking control of MCPS and bringing critical theory into the curriculum. Palestinians are seen as the oppressed and, therefore can do no wrong.

There are Palestinians being oppressed by both Israel and Hamas. Likewise, there are Israelis being oppressed by both Israel and Hamas. Extremists have taken over and are making peace unattainable for the 99.99% of people who are reasonable.

+1 I'm going to try to keep this on the topic of MCPS so Jeff doesn't shut down the discussion. In addition to a PP's point about Muslim students feeling solidarity/trauma similar to Jewish students after 10/7, there is also an enormous generational gap in the United States around this issue.

For the Zoomers, they've essentially never known either an Israeli or a Palestinian leadership that seemed to genuinely want peace. They've grown up on Netanyahu's expansionist version of Israel, which is very different from the version that Gen X grew up with (Rabin), and different from the "Let the Desert Bloom" underdog story that our own Boomer parents grew up with.

It's tempting to blame MCPS or "woke politics" for Israel being seen as the bully here, but Millennials and Zoomers have only ever known a powerful and ethnonationalist right-wing coalition state that protects and promotes settlements.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a call for a continued bilateral ceasefire. If you interpret that as "pro Palestine," that's not on the students.

For what it is worth, within Israel, calls for a ceasefire are seen as pro-hostage. It's only in the USA that asking for a ceasefire is seen as somehow uniquely pro Palestinian.

The Sherwood MSA Instagram account specifically says it is a pro Palestine: “ Sherwood MSA will be holding a walkout in support of Palestine. Bring posters, flags, wear Palestine colors, and keffivehs.” Can you point me to were it says this walk out is for continued bilateral cease fire?

Give me a break. They are kids. They are not going to have a nuanced, delicate, thoughtful perspective on the issue.

They are muslim students who feel a sense of solidarity with a muslim population that they are seeing get hit with weapons of mass destruction. That worries them and shakes their sense of self, much in the same way Jews felt when they saw fellow Jews getting attacked, killed and kidnapped on Oct. 7.

For students, this whole thing is about identity and culture. Not nuanced foreign policy.

I was quoting somebody who specifically said they’re calling for a cease-fire. I have not seen that in either of the letter from the school or that Instagram page. I won’t put words into their mouth. I think those kids are perfectly capable of stating what they are waking about for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is the school sanctioning this?

Sherwood Community, Prior to our Thankssiving Break, students approached administration to propose a student walkout during Advisory on November 29, 2023. The students were informed of MCPS BOE regulation which permits
students to demonstrate peacetully regarding social and political issues Please note this action is not approved or supported by Sherwood High School or MCPS and students walking out of class will receive an unexcused absence and the MCPS Code of Conduct and Student
Culture of Respect apply to student protests. I have also spoken with walkout organizers and they are well aware of the intensity of opinions on both sides of the current conflict in Gaza and Israel and are avoiding specific phrases and slogans which could be hurtful or derogatory against other members of our
community. It a walkout takes place, proper satety and security measures will be in place. There will not be an Advisory period on Wednesday, November 29th. Staff, students, and families are highly encouraged to have discussions based on our No Place for Hate messaging. This messaging
coincides with our "One Sherwood" Pillars of Civility. Accountability, Rigor, and Engagement.

I would just like to point out the following:
There has been enormous debate and activism regarding books within the curriculum that contain LGBTQ characters. Many community members, notably from various backgrounds but primarily Muslim, have requested the ability to opt their children out of reading these books because it is in conflict with their religious or personal values. It has been the position of MCPS Central office and the BOE that families may not opt their children out of reading these books, because the act of opting out is not neutral: it causes actual harm to the LGBTQ students who are made to feel “othered” or vulnerable if their fellow students opt out of reading books with characters that reflect who they are. Why, then, is it not the position of MCPS that a walk out on this topic might not leave certain students feeling very “othered” when their classmates walk out and take a particular position with regard to this conflict? Do we only protect certain students or groups based on a liberal hierarchy of perceived suffering? I hope that the school has support in place for the students who this walk out may harm or leave feeling unsafe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Like this pp said, I’m concerned this will quickly go off the rails and needlessly become an antisemitic rally. Why? Because there are far too many recent videos of such situations online…particularly at schools.

Nobody is interested in videos of rallies where everything went well and nothing bad happened.