Congressman doesn't want college to accept book grant

An Eastern Carolina congressman says a local community college should not accept a grant that would explain the Muslim culture.

Craven Community College in New Bern says it will accept the National Endowment for the Humanities' grant. "Bridging Cultures Bookshelf: Muslim Journeys" would provide 25 books and a DVD to the college.

"It is appalling to me that a federal agency like NEH is wasting taxpayer money on programs like this," said Jones. "It makes zero sense for the U.S. government to borrow money from China in order to promote the culture of Islamic civilizations," said the Republican from the third district.

The NEH is collaborating with the American Library Association. It says it wants to provide resources "to enhance libraries' collections and their capacity to engage audiences" in an attempt to give the public trustworthy resources about Muslim beliefs and practices.

But in a letter to college leaders, Jones says if Craven accepts the grant, then he wants the college to give equal exposure to books about Christianity. He says the Craven-Pamlico Christian Coalition is offering to donate 25 books about Christianity and the county's "rich Judeo-Christian heritage".

Craven says it's one of seven institutions in the state to receive the grant. "Anytime we have an opportunity to apply for a grant that can get us money or resources that can enhance, say, our library collection, that's really an important resource to us" says college spokeswoman Judy Eurich.

WITN, 10 January 2013

See also JDNews.com, 10 January 2013

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