Muslims Press For School Holidays In New York City

[DeSwiss]

Muslims Press for School Holidays in New York City
As Mayor Courts Ethnic Vote, Groups Seek Same Accommodation of Religious Observances That Christians and Jews Receive

WSJ
By SUZANNE SATALINE
SEPTEMBER 15, 2009


Sipa Press
Third-graders at the Muslim Center Elementary
School in New York's Queens borough last year.

NEW YORK -- Muslims groups here are pressing city officials to close public schools on two of the faith's holiest days, just as schools do for major Jewish and Christian holidays. But the groups have yet to persuade the man in charge of New York City schools, Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Muslim groups have asked the city to cancel classes on Eid Ul-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan, and Eid Ul-Adha, which marks the end of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca.

New York is one of many public-school systems now struggling with appropriate ways to recognize religious holidays for a diverse population. An estimated 100,000 Muslim children are enrolled in New York City schools, about 10% of the enrollment.

The matter has taken on a political aspect as Mr. Bloomberg, seeking a third term as mayor, has steadily courted the endorsement of a slew of ethnic groups. One city councilman said Muslims might withhold their votes if the mayor doesn't heed their wishes. Candidates are running in a primary Tuesday for the right to face Mr. Bloomberg, an independent, in the November election.

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- I've been informed that the Pastafarians are demanding the Mayor give them a holiday any time they serve spaghetti or macaroni in the school's cafeteria......
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DeSwiss


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"If atheism is a religion, then abstinence is a form of sex." ~ Karl Johanson

[anonymous171]

1. OMG THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS! nt

[DeSwiss]

3. You mean about the Pastafarians???

- Because I agree!

[aquart]

5. It's ....misunderstanding.

In NYC we close on Jewish holidays because most of the teachers stay home. It's just physically inconvenient (and expensive) to try and run the classes with substitutes.

Now, are the Muslims saying they are such a huge portion of the population that our schools will be empty without them? And will they support days off...and cultural education...of Buddhist holidays, Hindu holidays, etc.?

Frankly, asking New Yorkers to celebrate Muslim holidays is an insult.

[DesertFlower]

6. i'm a former new yorker. many of the

small stores were closed on jewish holidays too.

here in phoenix the schools are open on jewish holidays.

[rug]

7. Most NYC teachers are not Jewish, let alone observant.

The schools are closed because many students and their families observe the holidays. It's basic respect, not a logistics question.

Frankly, your post is an insult to Muslims.

[struggle4progress]

2. Well, in some parts of the country, the first day of bear-hunting season is a de facto holiday

:shrug:

[DeSwiss]

4. Yeah but.....

...bear grease and bear rugs are vital to the economy. So the bear-hunting holiday is a holiday that's just too big to fail.


Oxymoron

[14thColony]

8. And here is the problem with governments granting religious holidays

It's hard to make a reasonable argument as to why some religions can be accomodated but others cannot. And if Islam can be accomodated, then what about the Bah'ai Faith, which is the fourth largest monotheistic religion? Or Hinduism, which dwarfs Judaism in number of followers? Or Nordic religons, or Buddism, or Shinto, or Confucianism, or Native American beliefs or...

[DeSwiss]

10. Exactly.

But of course reason has absolutely nothing to do with religion. It's anti-reason.

- which is largely why this world is as fucked-up as it is.....

[Sultana]

9. HELL 2 THE FUCKING-NO!

[DeSwiss]

11. Not If It's What Bloomberg Wants.

- One does not refuse the King of New York.

[rd_kent]

12. What public school closes for a "religious" holiday?

They close for "winter" and "spring" break. Show me a public school that closes to observe a religious holiday, and I will show you a lawsuit in the making.

[DeSwiss]

13. When I was in secondary school.....

...in the 50s and 60s these religious holidays were referred to as the Christmas and/or Easter holiday break. It was even printed up that way on calendars, bulletin boards, flyers and notices. Back then (it seems apparent) no one gave a damn about being politically correct. Or even legal. I don't recall exactly when it was, but they began referring to it as the winter and spring break when my kids were in school back in the 80s and early 90s. Probably as the result of threatened or perceived legal liability.

[rd_kent]

14. Thats my point

We have stopped using religious holidays as an excuse to take a vacation. Is that a bad thing?

[DeSwiss]

15. I think it's great!