Pandering to one religion

A school district in Oak Lawn, Illinois is the latest target to remove Christmas (and Halloween) celebrations. This situation is a little different from some we have experienced in past years. There is a large community of Muslims in the area. The Muslims did not want to do away with Christmas and other celebrations, they wanted ALL holidays to be celebrated, including Ramadan. I see nothing wrong with giving all religions equal time. But that's NOT what this is about. It's about SPECIAL privileges for Islam.

This move follows a recent decision to eliminate pork products from the school menu and special time set aside during the school days for Muslim prayers. You guessed it, NO time is set aside for Jewish or Christians to pray or anything else. And will it still be "Christmas" or will it now just be "Winter", and "Spring", rather than Easter, and "Fall Festival" rather than Halloween??? How would the Muslims like it if we changed Ramadan to something else? Something less? What if Ramadan became "Hot Summer Sand" celebration, or something else? Sure they would be offended, just like we are offended that CHRISTMAS will be called 'winter'.

No more jello? It's offensive to Muslims? How about the school serve whatever they want to serve, and anyone who is offended can simply NOT EAT the offending food? Simple isn't it?

... officials agreed earlier this month to change the lunch menu to exclude items containing pork to accommodate Muslim students. News that Jell-O was struck from the menu caused such a stir that officials have agreed to bring it back. Gelatin is often made with tissue or bones of pigs or other animals. (more)

Getting Rid of American Holidays in Public Schools from Publius Forum and Captain America:

Elizabeth Zahdan, a parent of Muslim faith who took her case to the school board wanting the school to be “more inclusive” during holiday activities, however, adamantly denied she wanted to eliminate any American styled holiday observances. “I only wanted them modified to represent everyone,” she told the Chicago Sun-Times. Zahdan disclaimed to reporters, “Now the kids are not being educated about other people.”

Unfortunately for Mrs. Zahdan, a “modified” holiday is no longer the same holiday. It becomes something else once altered. So, whatever her motives, she was effectively advocating for their elimination.

What is school about? Who makes the final decisions:

Final decisions on which of the festivities will be axed will fall to the principals at each of Ridgeland School District 122's five schools, Supt. Tom Smyth said. [snip]

There's just not time in the six-hour school day to celebrate every holiday, ... "We have to think about our purpose," Smyth said. "Are we about teaching reading, writing and math or for parties or fund-raising during the day?" (more)

Now the annual Halloween parade is the "fall festival" and Christmas is "winter festival" to be celebrated AFTER SCHOOL.

I've got a great idea, why don't we tell them that the Muslim prayers can be performed AFTER SCHOOL HOURS TOO??? Just a thought. How about some equality and sanity here?

Other reading:
THE DEATH OF CAROL ANN GOTBAUM, The Pink Flamingo and GOP wailing and gnashing of teeth
Thoughts On An Earache, Pirate's Cove
Congress Should Worry About Its Own Punctuality, Big Dog's Weblog
Blackwater USA From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, Republican National Convention Blog NYC 2004
Soldier On!, Woman Honor Thyself
Wednessday Morning Links, Stop the ACLU
Dark Stain on America’s Image; Pillow Fights are Dangerous Too, DeMediacratic Nation

Comments

[MR]

As a Muslim, I don't really care of Christians and Jews want to celebrate Christmas or Hannukah (sp?). In fact I don't care if they get time to pray.

Just as long as when its one of the two Eids (yup, that's right, in Islam, there are only 2 holidays, 2 days - Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha), I should have the right to take it off and not be penalized from work, school, etc.

I don't know why a lot of non-Muslims think Ramadan is a "holiday" for Muslims.

[Debbie]

MR: I agree completely. No problem, equal for everybody. Thanks for commenting.

[Phil]

Hi Debbie,

I have a problem though what Country is this?

This Country is a Judeao Christian heritage.

[Always On Watch]

I am growing mighty weary of these so-easily-offended Muslims. They don't mind sawing off heads or putting suicide vests on their own children, yet they are offended by Jello, which they are not forced to eat?

Talk about an inverted ethos!

[Grouch at Right Truth]

The problem is not so much easily offended Muslims. The problem is that there are way too many people out there who are afraid they will offend somebody.

Personally, whether or not I offend someone is way way down there on my list of priorities.

And I sure don't give a rat's ass if some raghead muslim gets his feelings hurt.

[Karen]

Hot Summer Sand! Too funny.

Christmas is a Federal holiday.

If we are to have a separation of church and state, in public schools, and all the prayer and observations have been eliminated in public school as far as Christianity goes, why bend the rules for Muslims? If it is so strict for them, they are welcome to start their own schools. It's only ok if Chrisitans have to accomodate everyone else, I suppose.