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Preview: The Gulen Movement

May 10, 2012 1:02 PM

A worldwide Islamic movement that has inspired scores of public charter schools here in the U.S. is led by a Turkish cleric living in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. Lesley Stahl reports on Fethullah Gulen and his message of education on Sunday, May 13 at 7 p.m. ET/PT.

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by www-19-org August 16, 2012 12:38 PM EDT
I know Fethullah personally and professionally. He is an elementary school graduate, self-educated, very smart and very deceptive religious leader with secret agenda. I have written two English anrticles about him and his cult, and published at my website. I have also posted a few videos at youtube.

Fethullah Gulen has multiple personalities. The first personality, which is the most visible one, is a humble spiritual leader, like the good son of Ghandi and Mother Theresa. The other personality, however, is a calculated Machiavellian who secretly plans and establishes political alliances to pursue his long-term goal of grabbing power in Turkey so that to realize his longer-term dream of resurrecting a Sunni theocratic empire akin to Ottomans. He is a fan of Ottoman dictators, such as Fatih Sultan Mehmed, who killed their baby brothers to keep their throne! That aspiration alone should tell plenty about the real person behind his peaceful and humble facade.

(To read the rest see: http://19.org/2175/gulen-cult/ )

He is perhaps the world's best living politician, since from being a preacher, he managed to gain the control of the nation's political system; without even establishing a political party, without debating against a single opponent, without being cross-examined by a journalist; not even once. How such a person becomes a top public figure without being subjected to neither intellectual nor political scrutiny is beyond me.

(To read the rest of the article see: http://19.org/2005/fethullah-gulen/ )


Peace,
Edip Yuksel
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by gulencharterschools August 15, 2012 12:38 PM EDT
======== http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FEfGCACX1c =========

watch and see. gulen charter schools or ?
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by SedatZaman June 28, 2012 4:05 AM EDT
Most of the exposers of the Gulenists are Turkish Secularists. Additionally, The schools are being closed: Fulton Science Academy, Wisconsin Career Center, Knoxville Charter Academy, Truebright Science are just a few which have been denied a renewal after this "60 Minutes" segment came out.
One of the Gulenist's traits is the bizarre practice of littering comment boards with fake postings as "Happy American parents" there is no waiting list, the truth is these Gulencis are losing their charters every day.
In a desperate attempt to hold onto the control of operating American schools and getting all of that free flowing money. They are now trying to sue public school districts and the state for money that is only allowed to traditional public schools for building funds. Texas Charter Association headed by David Dunn is suing and the Gulencis in Mass. are suing on behalf of their failing school Chesapeake Point Academy.
I guess no one every explained to the Gulencis that they will not win by flooding comment boards. It takes transparency and accountability to win with education.
http://www.gulencharterschools.weebly.com
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by gulencharterschools60min June 27, 2012 12:32 AM EDT
Before you talk about gulen charter schools and 60 minutes, all of you should watch these videos and read this blog. And you decide which one is true?

http://www.conceptschools.info

http://www.youtube.com/user/TheConceptSchools
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by charterschools June 4, 2012 5:12 PM EDT
you can check out some informations about concept schools from its official blog: charter schools (http://www.conceptschools.info)
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by rsdcon May 14, 2012 12:59 PM EDT
"Carrying out the teachings..." - common Leslie Stahl, give me a break!

Nothing could be further from the truth. My child goes to one of the Harmony schools and I am yet to see any "carrying out" of ANY teachings being done at the school!!

If CBS wishes to join the ranks of FOX and other "gossip" channels masquerading as "news" channels, by all means do so - but not at the expense of our childrens' future.

Why are we attempting to drive away the one good thing that is happening in the part of our education system that needs the most help? Only to revert back to the failed system that produces people barely competent to work even at a fast food joint! And when the rest of the world overtakes us, we look around and wonder what happened.

As someone once said "politics makes strange bedfellows." To me this seems to be the perfect confluence of the religious zealots on the right and the liberal supporting teachers unions on the left concocting the perfect non-issue ISSUE! The timing of this non-story STORY during the election year is questionable as well.

There are some that believe that the media has an agenda. CBS, via its slanted reporting is actually helping reinforce that belief.
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by HarmonyAdvocateTX May 14, 2012 11:07 AM EDT
As a long time Harmony parent with two children in two different Harmony schools and a previous employee who has worked side by side with both teachers and administrators, I can honestly say I have never witnessed any religious teachings or seen any push for the Gulen movement. We have had nothing but a positive, enriching experience during our enrollment and consider it to be a privilege to be a part of this school system. Quite frankly, I am frustrated with the innuendo and subsequent lack of evidence surrounding these schools. There has never been a solid link between this Gulen individual and any of the schools. Dare I say, from everything that I have seen he teaches tolerance and acceptance which is a far better option than the xenophobia and racism offered by their critics. Regardless, we are very proud of the hard work put in by our students as well as all the amazing teachers we are fortunate enough to have teaching in our schools. Approximately 16 percent of Harmony teachers are on visas because there is a well-documented shortage of qualified math and science teachers in America. This is no surprise to anyone and as a parent looking for something better. I appreciate the fact that Harmony looks for highly qualified teacher rather than sticking with the status quo. This is why we CHOSE charter in the first place.
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by hsselemteacher May 13, 2012 9:06 PM EDT
As a current teacher at one of the Harmony schools I have to say that I love my job! I get to teach a classroom full of eager to learn second graders everyday. My students come from several cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. I have an education degree from a highly respected Texas university and spent my undergrad years working in public schools. After graduating, I received a job offer from HPS and have been here for 3 years. Never once have I felt like I was being asked to teach something that was not to the benefit of my students or contained any religious agenda. Our teachers are highly qualified and supremely dedicated. We work before, during, and after school as well as weekends throughout the year to make sure our students receive the best education possible and I think the fact that our waiting list has over 30,000 students on it speaks for itself. I appreciate 60 minutes for showing what wonderful things HPS is doing for students in Texas and attesting to the fact that 2 of our schools have been named "Miracle Schools" by Newsweek, a feat that many public or charter schools do not ever achieve. If only people could get past their fears of other cultures then maybe reports like this one that also questions and makes false allegations about HPS being tied to Islamic leaders trying to push a hidden agenda will no longer be necessary. Spend a day at one of our schools and see what we are all about. That's all it takes to make one understand the good work Harmony is doing in education... without any hidden agenda needed.
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by Terrymgd May 13, 2012 8:22 PM EDT
The Gulen Movement segment was very interesting. It is about time that school returned to teaching the three R's, reading, writing and arithmetic, not religion. I'm impressed and not at all surprised the Harmony schools do so well, 2 in the top 10 in the U.S. Congrats and keep up the excellence.
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by pydpydper May 13, 2012 8:16 PM EDT
Blacks in America want reparations for slavery that Americans refuse to admit. White Americans owe blacks for all the torture and murder they have committed against the black race murdering millions after holding them in bondage in a crime worse than genocide.
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