from today's Washington Post _Accommodate All Faiths, Or None_ (http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/panelists/susan_brooks_thistlethwaite/2009/07/accommodate_all_faiths_or_no ne.html) Bad news, kids. My recommendation is that you get only your own religious holidays off from school, and even worse, you will need to make up the work. Posted by Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite ---------------------------------------------------- _Muslim Holidays Make Sense for NYC Schools_ (http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/panelists/feisal_abdul_rauf/2009/07/muslim_holidays_make_sense_ for_nyc_schools.html) New York City is one of the most important cities in the world. Recognizing these holidays would send a message to Muslim countries that the United States is not only one nation under God, as we say, but also that our religious diversity is our strength. Posted by Feisal Abdul Rauf,
-------------------------- _Is America a Particular Civilization?_ (http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/panelists/willis_e_elliott/2009/07/is_america_a_particular_civilizat ion.html) America's calendar of public holidays should be limited to the cultural-religious roots which account for America as a distinct civilization, namely, the Bible (Christianity and Judaism) and the Enlightenment. Posted by Willis E. Elliott ---------------------------- Not All Holidays Created Equal Cal Thomas Washington Post / July 8, 2009 The New York City Council last week voted to add two Muslim holidays to the city's public school calendar, citing the annual observance of Christian and Jewish holidays. Mayor Bloomberg objects, saying the city isn't obligated to accommodate all faiths: "If you close the schools for every single holiday, there won't be any school." Who's right? In a country with so many faiths, should public schools observe any religious holidays? With so many kids graduating from high school who can't read and write one might think the wisest course to pursue would be not fewer days in the classroom, but more...and with better teaching (and school choice). Who will be next to demand holiday equality? Will the atheist ask for April 1 (_"The fool has said in his heart 'There is no God' "_ (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+14:1) ) Get it? If Muslims are to get days off for their holidays we should ask for reciprocity in Muslim countries for Christian and Jewish holidays, not to mention Christian and Jewish schools, churches and synagogues. Since that won't happen until Mecca freezes over I'm with Mayor Bloomberg.
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