Controversy Over Islamic School

* I was stunned when I read the Sept. 7 article “A Lesson on Pluralism?”

As a resident of the Rancho Santa Margarita neighborhood where the Islamic New Horizon School is proposed, I could not believe that leaders of the proposed school are implying that the school is not wanted in the neighborhood not only due to the traffic it will generate, but also because of religion or ethnicity.

How dare they seek publicity based on the issue of religion or race.

The article mentioned that a 1,000-plus-student elementary school, Arroyo Vista Elementary, is located nearby. What the article failed to mention is that Arroyo Vista is located at one of only two neighborhood access routes.

The proposed New Horizon School is located at the second access route. Our neighborhood’s concern is strictly traffic and how our quality of life will be impacted by having a school at each access route into and out of our neighborhood.

Is that fair to our neighborhood and our quality of life? Would the founders of the New Horizon School want to be impacted by two large schools in their neighborhood?

That is the real issue. What we want is safety for our children, of any religion, not extra traffic. Shame on you to stoop that low to get publicity.

MONICA DEAN

Rancho Santa Margarita

* I enjoyed your Sept. 7 article on the struggle in Rancho Santa Margarita to build an Islamic school.

As an American, Muslim and father of two children, I know firsthand the challenges of providing a good education in a caring learning environment.

My family lives in Tustin, 10 miles from Rancho Santa Margarita, and yet we drive 90 miles round-trip to an Islamic school.

Contrary to the statement that “they just showed up,” in reference to our community trying to build in Rancho Santa Margarita, we have always been here.

Many families commute to schools of their choice, including the residents of Rancho Santa Margarita. Why is it they don’t see their commuting into other neighborhoods as impacting the traffic in those areas?

Traffic is not the issue. We are caring parents trying to provide a safe learning environment for our children. I support this school 100%.

JOHN COOK

Tustin

* Your article on the controversy about building a school was well balanced as presented.

However, we are building a school, not a shopping center or a home site, which bring traffic. Parents will take their kids one time in the morning and back in the afternoon.

How many kids? Two hundred for the next five years. Big deal. That’s not a high price to pay to build a nation of kids with good characters and good morals, instead of sending them to schools where there is violence or leaving them in the streets to be drug addicts and criminals fed by violent and sexual movies.

The people of Rancho Santa Margarita should wake up before it is too late, not only for Rancho Santa Margarita but for the whole country.

SABRY ABDEL AZIZ

Anaheim