Mayor: NYC Public Schools to Close on 2 Muslim Holidays

[Robert]

 The New York City public school system is set to observe a pair of Muslim holidays for the first time.

Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Wednesday that the system will close for Eid al-Adha (eed al-AHD'-hah) for the first time next September.

Summer school will also close for Eid al-Fitr (ayd ahl-FIH'-tur) in 2016.

They are the first Muslim holidays to be recognized by the nation's largest school system, which educates 1.1 million kids.

De Blasio says the change means "hundreds of thousands" of Muslim families will no longer have to choose between sending their kids to school or observing the holidays.

The mayor made the announcement at a Brooklyn school where more than one-third of students were absent last Eid al-Adha.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/mayor-nyc-public-schools-close-muslim-holidays-29381715

[Gryphon Rider]

The mayor made the announcement at a Brooklyn school where more than one-third of students were absent last Eid al-Adha.

Is that much different than the absentee rate on a typical school day? 

[old2soon]

Let's just keep on knucklin under to em-mooslims. I've seen pictures with "folks" flying a different flag ABOVE the American Flag in various areas of the U S of A. And while I'm venting here I despise hyphenated Americans. You WANT to hyphenate put American FIRST NOT second! And Yes-I've had my coffee damn it.  And my flame suit is out in the garage and I feel ZERO need to retrieve it!  RIDE SAFE.

[Crackerborn]

It would be interesting to know the percentage of the muslim population in the New York city school system as well as the city at large. More than the Christians? After all, Easter (and Pesach) is now referred to as spring break since it is politically incorrect to celebrate those religious holidays. And let's not get started on Christmas (or Chunakka). Can you say hypocrisy?

[Jess Tolbirt]

Let's just keep on knucklin under to em-mooslims. I've seen pictures with "folks" flying a different flag ABOVE the American Flag in various areas of the U S of A. And while I'm venting here I despise hyphenated Americans. You WANT to hyphenate put American FIRST NOT second! And Yes-I've had my coffee damn it.  And my flame suit is out in the garage and I feel ZERO need to retrieve it!  RIDE SAFE.

i am with you Dude!!!

[Safety Steve]

If I lived in New York city I would not vote for Mayor de Blasio, what is this country coming too, I could care less if they sent them to school or not.

[Chrisj CMA]

Just gives the kiddos one more day to go to the mosk and learn how to make bombs.  "But its such a peaceful religion".  Oh, ya! I year ya, Im way off base NOT!

[Robert]

Can you say twin towers even if you don't believe we are a Christian nation and are now honoring the Muslim religion.

[Patrick]

The mayor made the announcement at a Brooklyn school where more than one-third of students were absent last Eid al-Adha.

Is that much different than the absentee rate on a typical school day? 

LOL

[Patrick]

It doesn't surprise me. I am surprised he thought of it before obama though.

[MP]

Typical.  We no longer honor ANY Christian Holidays.  It has been made VERY clear it is NOT Christmas, it is "Winter Holiday", yet it is ok to blatantly honor Muslim Holidays?

Yep.  Bend over, and hang on.  It WILL continue.

MP

[The emperor has no clothes]

Typical.  We no longer honor ANY Christian Holidays.  It has been made VERY clear it is NOT Christmas, it is "Winter Holiday", yet it is ok to blatantly honor Muslim Holidays?

Yep.  Bend over, and hang on.  It WILL continue.

MP

Everybody I know calls it Christmas. I've never heard anybody call it "Winter Holiday". Maybe we associate with different kind of folks.

[Oss]

pardon me if I still call it Christmas Day   

[old2soon]

Sad to say here in the Sho Me I know folks that wish me-happy holidays-around mid December to which I cheerily reply-Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. THEY are trying desperately to eliminate Christian Holidays. Comes from I believe the Bible-in the end times they will try to remove him-GOD-from all aspects of life.  They have gotten the 10 Commandments out of court houses kids can't openly Pray in school or at sport functions. The day WILL come when some folks will TRY without success to keep me from Praying openly in a restaurant before I eat. And IF I'm forced to bend over for my own beheading I will pray for those doing the devils work. I've skipped ahead a time or eleven to Revelations-The Lord wins!  RIDE SAFE.

[WilliamRS]

 Eid-al-Adha, also known as the Feast of Sacrifice, each year. This festival commemorates  Abrahams willingness to sacrifice his son to God

[Serk]

Typical.  We no longer honor ANY Christian Holidays.  It has been made VERY clear it is NOT Christmas, it is "Winter Holiday", yet it is ok to blatantly honor Muslim Holidays?

Yep.  Bend over, and hang on.  It WILL continue.

MP

Everybody I know calls it Christmas. I've never heard anybody call it "Winter Holiday". Maybe we associate with different kind of folks.

This is the school calendar for the local school district:

http://www.garlandisd.net/calendars/

The time off from December 22 - January 2nd is listed as "Winter Break", not Christmas Break or Christmas Holiday or anything like that...

[The emperor has no clothes]

Typical.  We no longer honor ANY Christian Holidays.  It has been made VERY clear it is NOT Christmas, it is "Winter Holiday", yet it is ok to blatantly honor Muslim Holidays?

Yep.  Bend over, and hang on.  It WILL continue.

MP

Everybody I know calls it Christmas. I've never heard anybody call it "Winter Holiday". Maybe we associate with different kind of folks.

This is the school calendar for the local school district:

http://www.garlandisd.net/calendars/

The time off from December 22 - January 2nd is listed as "Winter Break", not Christmas Break or Christmas Holiday or anything like that...

Out of curiosity I looked at our local school calendar. It lists it as winter break also, but it also lists Dec.25 as Christmas Day no school. I'm not really sure of the reasoning for this. Maybe secular school administrators, maybe simpler than saying Christmas-New years Break.

[old2soon]

Just looked at the Willow Springs High School calendar for December 2014. It was called winter break-until you got to 24 Dec 2014 and they called it-Christmas Eve and on 25 Dec 2014 they have it listed as Christmas Day!  GOD Bless Missouri. Last football game I went to here the entire field-guests and both teams prayed before kick off. Damn-ya gots ta love rednecks!  RIDE SAFE

[Patrick]

And I was thinking that the pendulum had swung as far left as it could go and was about to start coming back to the center. Well, at least I was hoping.
But, maybe not. Apparently it still has some more room on the left.
2016 is coming. Hopefully we will have come to our senses by then. That is, if we still have a country by then.

[G-Man]

I don't think that wishing someone Happy Holidays in December is an attack on Christmas.  The fact that the person is wishing you happiness is a very nice gesture that should be taken as just that, nice.

It the person knows you, and knows which holiday you observe, I'm sure that very nice person, who wishes you happiness, would narrow it down to your specific holiday, to be nice.  However, if they don't know you that well, wishing you happiness during the general holiday season is still being nice in trying not to offend.  What if you wish someone a Merry Christmas who dislikes Christians.  Your wish for his happiness means nothing. 

While I do believe the secular left has an agenda, wishing a happy holiday to someone instead of specifying one holiday is the least of it.

As far as closing schools for religious holidays,……….. to be fair, in our society, it has to be all or nothing.  If you close for a couple of Jewish holidays in the fall, then you have to extend the same policies to other religions.  Unless there are clear rules in place, in writing, and accessible to all, which may limit school closings for religious reasons based on % of the elision within the student body.  If 1/3 don't show up (assuming that is much higher than a usual school day), then maybe something has to give.

And my last thought (flame suit on), I know there is tension right now with the muslim community based on current events however, we can't treat American-Muslim citizens any differently legally or socially if they are not breaking any laws.  Should we put them in camps like we did with the Japanese in WWII?

[The emperor has no clothes]

I don't think that wishing someone Happy Holidays in December is an attack on Christmas.  The fact that the person is wishing you happiness is a very nice gesture that should be taken as just that, nice.

It the person knows you, and knows which holiday you observe, I'm sure that very nice person, who wishes you happiness, would narrow it down to your specific holiday, to be nice.  However, if they don't know you that well, wishing you happiness during the general holiday season is still being nice in trying not to offend.  What if you wish someone a Merry Christmas who dislikes Christians.  Your wish for his happiness means nothing. 

While I do believe the secular left has an agenda, wishing a happy holiday to someone instead of specifying one holiday is the least of it.

As far as closing schools for religious holidays,……….. to be fair, in our society, it has to be all or nothing.  If you close for a couple of Jewish holidays in the fall, then you have to extend the same policies to other religions.  Unless there are clear rules in place, in writing, and accessible to all, which may limit school closings for religious reasons based on % of the elision within the student body.  If 1/3 don't show up (assuming that is much higher than a usual school day), then maybe something has to give.

And my last thought (flame suit on), I know there is tension right now with the muslim community based on current events however, we can't treat American-Muslim citizens any differently legally or socially if they are not breaking any laws.  Should we put them in camps like we did with the Japanese in WWII?

Good post

[larue]

Re G-man post... Spot on 

[Patrick]

I don't think that wishing someone Happy Holidays in December is an attack on Christmas.  The fact that the person is wishing you happiness is a very nice gesture that should be taken as just that, nice.

It the person knows you, and knows which holiday you observe, I'm sure that very nice person, who wishes you happiness, would narrow it down to your specific holiday, to be nice.  However, if they don't know you that well, wishing you happiness during the general holiday season is still being nice in trying not to offend.  What if you wish someone a Merry Christmas who dislikes Christians.  Your wish for his happiness means nothing. 

While I do believe the secular left has an agenda, wishing a happy holiday to someone instead of specifying one holiday is the least of it.

As far as closing schools for religious holidays,……….. to be fair, in our society, it has to be all or nothing.  If you close for a couple of Jewish holidays in the fall, then you have to extend the same policies to other religions.  Unless there are clear rules in place, in writing, and accessible to all, which may limit school closings for religious reasons based on % of the elision within the student body.  If 1/3 don't show up (assuming that is much higher than a usual school day), then maybe something has to give.

And my last thought (flame suit on), I know there is tension right now with the muslim community based on current events however, we can't treat American-Muslim citizens any differently legally or socially if they are not breaking any laws.  Should we put them in camps like we did with the Japanese in WWII?

OK, I tend to agree.

It wasn't just Japanese that were interred during WW2. 

We have some of the shortest school years of any country, so, why not shorten it some more with all religious holidays, Hindu, Buddhist, Druid, etc.

I don't have too much issue with change, depending on the change. But, aren't we a Judeo-Christian country.

[G-Man]

But, aren't we a Judeo-Christian country.

No we really aren't.  Although we are a country in which over 80% identify with Christianity, and whose founding may have been based on certain beliefs, we are also a country that entitles people of different beliefs the freedom from persecution for practicing those beliefs (within the laws of the land of course).  And those people, no matter how few, have the same rights as the majority.

[Oss]

It is rare for me to disagree with my good friend the G-Man but here I do

Those who came from the old world represented the divergent sects of Christianity
whether Pilgrim, Quaker, Protestant, Catholic, Church of England and those Jews who came from Spain, Portugal, Africa, the Carribean, England, Germany you name it Jews wandered there  

What I will agree with is that (from my readings) almost all subscribed to the view that there is a
Creator, that the Lord wants us to be free, that we should fear not the government in the quiet or
assembled houses of prayer.  The Constitution as ratified thru the Bill of Rights gave us the 1st amendment to secure our right to speak, pray and assemble

I do not subscribe to the view that those here illegally should have the same rights as citizens
but all born here of people here legally should be treated the same

No comment on the Mayor, I dont have anything good to say so I will say nothing

[G-Man]

It is rare for me to disagree with my good friend the G-Man but here I do

Those who came from the old world represented the divergent sects of Christianity
whether Pilgrim, Quaker, Protestant, Catholic, Church of England and those Jews who came from Spain, Portugal, Africa, the Carribean, England, Germany you name it Jews wandered there  

What I will agree with is that (from my readings) almost all subscribed to the view that there is a
Creator, that the Lord wants us to be free, that we should fear not the government in the quiet or
assembled houses of prayer.  The Constitution as ratified thru the Bill of Rights gave us the 1st amendment to secure our right to speak, pray and assemble

I do not subscribe to the view that those here illegally should have the same rights as citizens
but all born here of people here legally should be treated the same

No comment on the Mayor, I dont have anything good to say so I will say nothing

You didn't disagree with me.  I did say the country was founded on certain beliefs.

[Oss]

 

[..]

If it's Christmas then Happy Christmas.

If it's another holiday that falls on the same day make your best judgement and use a specific greeting or an all inclusive greeting.

If it's a holiday that falls on another SPECIFIC day then use a greeting specific to that day.

If the local govt wants to close schools for more days then the dumb ass voters that placed that govt in power deserves EVERYTHING that happens.

Eventually there may be just a few days of schooling and maybe, just maybe someone will wonder how the kids trurned out to be a bunch of really dumb prats.


Wellcom 2 the Nu Wurld.

[Chrisj CMA]

I don't think that wishing someone Happy Holidays in December is an attack on Christmas.  The fact that the person is wishing you happiness is a very nice gesture that should be taken as just that, nice.

Its not the phrase that's an attack on Christianity.  Its the attitude of political correctness that bans the use of words like Jesus, Christmas, Easter, God, The Bible etc.  Once these words are deemed "bad" say in schools or in the workplace, well then a nice salutation has to be invented...hence "Happy Holiday's"  In and of itself its seems harmless and many Christians use it just because its what they are nudged into.  If they really understood how that phrase came to be they might (should) choose to boycott it!

[Gryphon Rider]

2 Tim 2:14 (NASB):
Remind them of these things, and solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the hearers.

[G-Man]

I don't think that wishing someone Happy Holidays in December is an attack on Christmas.  The fact that the person is wishing you happiness is a very nice gesture that should be taken as just that, nice.

Its not the phrase that's an attack on Christianity.  Its the attitude of political correctness that bans the use of words like Jesus, Christmas, Easter, God, The Bible etc.  Once these words are deemed "bad" say in schools or in the workplace, well then a nice salutation has to be invented...hence "Happy Holiday's"  In and of itself its seems harmless and many Christians use it just because its what they are nudged into.  If they really understood how that phrase came to be they might (should) choose to boycott it!

Maybe in Walmart or K Mart where folks were at one time instructed to say Happy Holidays, but nobody instructed me to do or say anything.  And I couldn't care less about political correctness.  Nobody banned me from saying anything.

I know you Jeff, therefore, if we ran into each other in the middle of December, I'd wish you and your beautiful wife a Merry, Merry Christmas and I would mean it.  However, if I ran into someone I don't know, I believe Happy Holidays includes all so that the holiday that person does observe is covered and my wish for them actually means something.

I'm sorry, but wishing me a Merry Christmas means very little.  Yes, a think it's nice that you thought of me, or wish me happiness, but I personally don't observe Christmas so it's like half a wish.   However, wishing me a happy holiday includes the holiday that I do observe so I would thank you, and it would actually mean something.  I'd probably thank you anyway for the Merry Christmas, but that give and take would only make you feel good and would mean very little to me, which is the opposite of the original intention, right?

Again, just my opinion.

[czuch]

harekwanahanasolsfestimass.
There ya go.
Here at work it was the Winter holiday.
I wished folks a;
 "Merry cold time, non-denominational, gift giving, non-traditional, absence from work period".

[old2soon]

harekwanahanasolsfestimass.
There ya go.
Here at work it was the Winter holiday.
I wished folks a;
 "Merry cold time, non-denominational, gift giving, non-traditional, absence from work period".

       WAYWAYWAYWAYWAY too P C fer my taste.  You werk fer da gubmint?donha?  RIDE SAFE.

[baldo]

Why do I always get the impression that more than a few members of this site wake up, spring loaded to the pissed off position?

[The emperor has no clothes]

Why do I always get the impression that more than a few members of this site wake up, spring loaded to the pissed off position?

[sandy]

In the context of separation of church and state, we don't have religious holidays. That's why we have winter break. It's illegal to make a new holiday for any religion. This will get challenged in the courts soon I'll bet.

[old2soon]

Why do I always get the impression that more than a few members of this site wake up, spring loaded to the pissed off position?

      Iffin ya AIN'T pissed off maybe you don't unerstan da problemo?  Nah-not pissed-more upset!  RIDE SAFE.