The American Spectator

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Special Report

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The same day that news of the report leaked out, there was news of another pedagogical flowering of multicultural understanding: a school had compelled teachers dress up as Asians for a day to celebrate a Muslim festival. Children at the school were also told to don Muslim garb even though most are Christians. The morning assembly, it was said, would be open to all parents, but fathers were barred from a women-only party in the afternoon because Muslim husbands would object to wives being allowed to mix with other men. This was in spite of the fact that only two members of staff, a part-time teacher and a teaching assistant, were Muslims.

The report adds: "Any liberal state should recast the civic oaths and national ceremonies, or institutions like Parliament and the monarchy, in a more multi-religious or secular form and make religious education less sectarian." A few years ago a leading light of New Labour, Lady Gavron, said Prince Charles should be told to marry a non-European. It looks like one of those ideas that die hard.

Registering the birth of children should be made a "public rite," where "Parents, their friends and family and the state [would] agree to work in partnership to support and bring up their child."

Sayeeda Warsi, the Conservative spokesman on community cohesion, was quoted as saying that the report shows "a breathtaking misunderstanding of what it is to be British. These proposals could actually damage cohesion....You don't build community cohesion by throwing out our history and denying the fundamental contribution Christianity has played and does play to our nation. As a British Muslim I can see that -- so why others can't just staggers me."

She added: "The thought of Gordon Brown sharing responsibility with me for bringing up my children sends a shiver down my spine. I thought we got rid of communism."

John Midgley, co-founder of the Campaign Against Political Correctness, was quoted as saying: "If they are suggesting that we will be getting more community cohesion if you stop celebrating Christmas in this country then they must be off their politically-correct heads."

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