Knowing which way the wind is blowing...

In one sense...it only makes sense to learn Arabic. If we as Americans can listen to what folks in other countries are saying - whether its France, Germany, or the MIddle East, and understand what they're saying - because right now it's pretty much a mystery - then we'll be able to fight against 'em.

Story #1: Mandatory Arabic Classes Coming to Texas Schools

RUSH: This is from the Fort Worth/Dallas area, CBS Eyeball News: "Some Students at Mansfield ISD schools could soon be learning Arabic as a required language. The school district wants students at select schools to take Arabic language and culture classes as part of a federally funded grant. The Foreign Language Assistance Program (FLAP) grant was awarded to Mansfield ISD last summer by the U.S. Department of Education. As part of the five-year $1.3 million grant --" (laughing) I know it isn't funny, but that's all we can do. "As part of the five-year $1.3 million grant, Arabic classes would be mandatory at Cross Timbers Intermediate School and Kenneth Davis Elementary School. The program would also be optional for students at T. A. Howard Middle School and Summit High School.

"Parents at Cross Timbers say they were caught off-guard by the program, and were surprised the district only told them about it in a meeting Monday night between parents and Mansfield ISD Superintendent Bob Morrison. The DOE has identified Arabic as a 'language of the future.' But parent Joseph Balson was frustrated by the past. 'Why are we just now finding out about it?' asked Balson. 'It’s them (Mansfield ISD) applying for the grant, getting it approved and them now saying they'll go back and change it only when they were caught trying to implement this plan without parents knowing about it.'"

Interesting, they're trying to implement the plan without the parents knowing about it. "Mansfield ISD says in addition to language, the grant provides culture, government, art, traditions and history as part of the curriculum. Trisha Savage thinks it will offer a well-rounded education. 'I think its a great opportunity that will open doors. We need to think globally and act locally.' Some parents had concerns over religion. 'The school doesn’t teach Christianity, so I don’t want them teaching Islam,' said parent Baron Kane. During Monday's meeting Morrison stressed the curriculum would not be about religion, but about Arabic language and culture, similar to the Spanish curriculum already in place in the district."

What foreign languages are taught at elementary schools? Does anybody know? We're talking in some cases here, if I read this right, elementary school, yeah. Cross Timbers Intermediate School and Kenneth Davis Elementary School What foreign languages are taught in elementary school? In some places Spanish and French are taught in elementary school, voluntarily. Is English taught in elementary school? Well, I'm just asking. It's been a long time since I've been in elementary school and I, frankly, didn't retain much. It was many, many moons ago, so whatever I went through is clearly not relevant here. (interruption) Well, Snerdley, I don't know. The story doesn't say anything about the girls having to wear burqas. It didn't go that far. It's a cultural thing here. I'm just telling you what the story says from CBS Eyeball News in Dallas. They're gonna start teaching Arabic in elementary school and culture because it's a language of the future.