(Bloomberg) — New York will become the largest U.S. school district to close in observance of the Muslim holy days of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, Mayor Bill de Blasio said.
The mayor announced the policy Wednesday at a Brooklyn public school where 36 percent of its students were absent the last time Eid al-Adha occurred on an instructional day. The program will begin in the school year that starts in September.
“This is about respect for one of the great faiths of this Earth,” said de Blasio, a 53-year-old Democrat. In past years, “either the child went and pursued his education and missed his religious observance or the other way around. That is the kind of choice that was wrong to have to make for these families.”
The move fulfilled a promise de Blasio made to the Muslim community during the 2013 campaign that made him the first Democrat to run City Hall in 20 years. Eid al-Adha, which will be observed Sept. 24 this year, commemorates Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son for God. Eid al-Fitr, which will occur in July 2016, marks the end of the holy month of fasting known as Ramadan.
Muslim students accounted for 12 percent of the 1.1 million youngsters in the largest U.S. school system, according to a 2008 report prepared for the Coalition for Muslim School Holidays in cooperation with Columbia University Teachers College.
Celebrating Diversity
Schools Chancellor Carmen Farina, who joined de Blasio for the announcement, said the day off would be used for teacher training and as a “teachable moment” to educate students of all faiths on the meaning of the holidays.
“The more we celebrate diversity, the better we are as a city,” Farina said.
Brooklyn resident Ahmed Ali, 32, who participates in social and networking groups for Muslims, said he was pleased the city chose a move that helped children.
“It’s good for the kids, it’s a good step toward unity,” said Ali, who has two children in public school. “We already have a good relationship with the city, but this is better; it’s an improvement.”
New York joins districts in Vermont, Massachusetts and New Jersey that close schools to observe the Muslim holidays, the mayor’s office said in a news release. In the past, the city has closed schools on Jewish holidays including Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Passover.
So far it’s been very quiet. It was all over the news here in New York and not one negative interview. It seemed to be very favorable. 🙂 1.1 million Muslim students out numbered the jews.
A Pamela Geller, just more proof Adolf Hitler was correct and so was this man.
~ SENECA (Lucius Annaeus Seneca). First century Roman philosopher. “The customs of that most criminal nation have gained such strength that they have now been received in all lands. The conquered have given laws to the conquerors.” (De Superstitione)
*** THE CONQUERED HAVE GIVEN LAWS TO THE CONQUERORS ***
I do not see this as any victory. What I see is more food for Islamophobia. It is happening up in Canada too. This will result in giving lamebrains more excuses for their hatred ~ it is set up to backfire against them thar moozlims in a God fearing full Judaicized “Christian” nation.
ed note, MG–exactly Noor. This is exactly the kind of thing that Geller, Gaffney & co are going to use as ‘proof’ that ‘Shariah’ law is taking over.
@ nooralhaqiqa & MG: I’m going to disagree with both of you. Jews and their allies will forever whine about “sharah law” and “anti-semitism” no matter what. Add two Muslim vacation days and they scream. Take away the two days and they scream. Hate them and they scream. Worship them and they scream. It makes no difference.
By the way, the two days will be structured so there is no actual reduction in the aggregate semester days.
Schools already celebrate Jewish holidays such as Yom Kippur, Rosh Hashanah, and so on. Plus, school kids must undergo holo-hoax religious programming from grades 5 to 12. Thus it is an insult to have no Muslim days.
If Buddhists, Hindus, or Amazonian Indians want their own religious holidays, then they can take it up with the school board.
I see this as a positive development. Anything that counterbalances the Jewish plague is good.
I have to agree with Konrad. I only read one conceited article on this, but it was still in favor and supportive. I’m optimistic and look at this as a very good move. The only thing is that if they wish to take away religious holidays, then it will be done for all and Christians will lose their precious holidays as well. Religious freedom act is still a law. The jews can scream all they want and stay in their caves.
Get ready for the weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth from the usual suspects.
Reblogged this on ElderofZyklon's Blog!.
https://quatloosx.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/pam_geller_02.jpg
So far it’s been very quiet. It was all over the news here in New York and not one negative interview. It seemed to be very favorable. 🙂 1.1 million Muslim students out numbered the jews.
A Pamela Geller, just more proof Adolf Hitler was correct and so was this man.
~ SENECA (Lucius Annaeus Seneca). First century Roman philosopher. “The customs of that most criminal nation have gained such strength that they have now been received in all lands. The conquered have given laws to the conquerors.” (De Superstitione)
*** THE CONQUERED HAVE GIVEN LAWS TO THE CONQUERORS ***
And here ~
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSF_J8O2Txo
I do not see this as any victory. What I see is more food for Islamophobia. It is happening up in Canada too. This will result in giving lamebrains more excuses for their hatred ~ it is set up to backfire against them thar moozlims in a God fearing full Judaicized “Christian” nation.
ed note, MG–exactly Noor. This is exactly the kind of thing that Geller, Gaffney & co are going to use as ‘proof’ that ‘Shariah’ law is taking over.
@ nooralhaqiqa & MG: I’m going to disagree with both of you. Jews and their allies will forever whine about “sharah law” and “anti-semitism” no matter what. Add two Muslim vacation days and they scream. Take away the two days and they scream. Hate them and they scream. Worship them and they scream. It makes no difference.
By the way, the two days will be structured so there is no actual reduction in the aggregate semester days.
Schools already celebrate Jewish holidays such as Yom Kippur, Rosh Hashanah, and so on. Plus, school kids must undergo holo-hoax religious programming from grades 5 to 12. Thus it is an insult to have no Muslim days.
If Buddhists, Hindus, or Amazonian Indians want their own religious holidays, then they can take it up with the school board.
I see this as a positive development. Anything that counterbalances the Jewish plague is good.
I have to agree with Konrad. I only read one conceited article on this, but it was still in favor and supportive. I’m optimistic and look at this as a very good move. The only thing is that if they wish to take away religious holidays, then it will be done for all and Christians will lose their precious holidays as well. Religious freedom act is still a law. The jews can scream all they want and stay in their caves.