Even Inquisition era Spain was better than the Taliban
But that is not really addressing the point, Mary Anne, IMHO.
It is the self-loathing underpinnings of too many educators.
My children's elementary school was an example: At Christmas, during the children's Christmas program, traditional, religious Jewish songs about Hannukah were sung. Kwanza was heavily promoted. Christmas songs that mentioned Jesus were completely excluded. The intellectual dishonesty in that was really annoying. Finally they called it the "Winter Holiday".
What a dishonest view of who we are they forced on our kids.
Ed