Posted on 10/04/2007 5:21:36 AM PDT by Puppage
OAK LAWN, Ill. Parents in Oak Lawn sounded off Tuesday night about what they see as an assault on traditional American celebrations. At issue is whether Halloween and Christmas celebrations are insensitive to school children who are Muslim.
As CBS 2's Derrick Blakley reports, the school board held an emergency meeting Tuesday night.
Almost a month before Halloween, some Oak Lawn homes are already decorated with pumpkins, ghosts and goblins. But rumors that Ridgefield School District 122 may soon ban in-school Halloween and Christmas have infuriated many parents and area residents.
"They're trying to take away holidays and stuff for the kids," said resident Gene Boerema, dressed in a Santa Claus costume.
Elizabeth Zahdan is at the center of the storm, a Muslim mother of three who requested that her children be separated from others at lunch during the Ramadan fast.
The schools agreed, but many parents didn't.
"I don’t ever remember one of us asking for our child to be separated from classmates during Ash Wednesday when they were fasting, or on every Friday of Lent when our children are not allowed to eat meat," said parent Cathy Hughes.
"If Muslims want the school holidays, menus and school traditions to become tailored to their needs or beliefs, then they should go to private school next to their mosque," said resident Brian Shapiro.
"That does not represent all the Muslims, all of the Arabs at that school," said Qais Nofel, the father of a student in Ridgeland School District 122.
But Zahdan insists she never wanted traditional celebrations removed from schools, she only wanted Ramadan recognized and included.
"We should educate our children about all the holidays, equally," she said. "And not to favor one holiday over another."
The district has a 30 percent Arab-American population, many of whom practice Islam. The superintendent says the reason for the change in tradition comes after one parent wanted Ramadan decorations put up inside Columbus Manor Elementary. They were taken down.
Superintendent Tom Smyth said, "I go back to our policy which says that public schools are to remain neutral in this respect."
Still, for many residents the debate took on a nationalistic tone, one of defending America and its traditions.
"We're letting you come here, were honoring you, don't dishonor us," said resident Linda Pferschy.
Other parents say the controversy is overshadowing what really needs to be addressed at all five schools in the district.
Ronnie Carroll said, "The fact that they are cash strapped. Our classroom size is way above the average mean, 38 children in our first grade classroom. The concern should be our school, not the whole holiday issues."
Smyth said the school never intended to do away with Christmas and Halloween celebrations. Still, after hours of public comment, the board retreated to a closed session, huddling with an attorney to discuss how to deal with religion-tinged issues. Smyth would not say what, if any, board action would be taken.
DIRTY SECRET! They are also taking everything this country stands for..........from everyone.
Don't fret, they will still vote democrat because their parents did. They was(sic) educated in a public school and can't read or comprehend what is happening to the USA..........
I’m damn tired of our culture getting gutted by the two percenters!
Muslims
Gays
Athiests
etc
RUMORS? It was a done deal, they’ve backed off on it and have looked at adding ramadan (not to be confused with the ISLAMIC holiday of Ramadan).
At ramadan children dress as porky pig and play pin the tail on the donkey. It will become a new American tradition totally unrelated to any religious culture’s holy days.
Some aspects of Halloween are good. Others are sick.
Come costumes are good and fun for kids. The candy and parties are good and fun for kids.
The fixation on death, skeletons, ghosts is sick. The slash “Freddie” movies and TV shows are sick. The fake graves on some peoples’ front lawns are sick. The bloody gruesome costumes are sick.
Not all aspects of American popular culture are good and worth saving.
It’s our fault for emphasizing the sick aspects of this yearly celebration. It’s too late to turn it into a purely fun, healthy thing.
Christmas is coming. THAT needs to be defended from the onslaught by the head-chopping savages and the atheistic left.
It is an incompatible culture to ours. We should not submit. We have our traditions and did not force them to come here as missionaries.
Gee, I’m surprised that there is consternation from so many.
Usually, around Halloween we’re inundated with missives about how it is the font of evil, it draws people to Satanism, promotes the Wiccan religion, and on, and on, and on.
I guess it’s about whose and which ox is being gorged?
Adults are the ones into the grue. There is big business in costume parties for adults. But decades ago, costume parties were more of a year-round thing, not just Halloween.
Unfortunately, all the two-percenters seem to sum up to 50% leftist hate-America firsters.
We have let groups like Muslims take over our culture...we get what we deserve......glad to hear at least SOME parents are mad.
Seems pretty obvious to me that this stuff is not about being inoffensive or inclusive. It's about crushing Christianity and western traditions. Very simple.
I might have reversed the labels and called the gun Islam and the trigger finger liberalism.
Besides, it's all the rage for the minority to dictate to the majority
Get in step, or you're a hater
The school school encourage classroom discussions during ramadan about why islam’s prophet mouhammad “married” a 9-year-old and whether that was appropriate, safe or moral.
I’m not sure how Halloween even belongs in this argument.
From an Islamic standpoint, Halloween is one of the worst celebrations because of its origins and history. It is HARAM (forbidden), even if there may be some seemingly good or harmless elements in those practices, as evidenced by a statement from the
Just like the Jesuits used to do. "When in the minority, ask for equality. When in the majority, demand primacy!"
It's ok to have halloween if it offends Christians but not if it offends muslims.
Today is Thanksgiving Thursday (4th Thus. in Nov.) in USA, when Americans feast on Turkeys. Can we Muslims participate in it, by wishing and offering a Turkey to our non-Muslim friends? (see details)Answer 4246
More information on this historic event is available at: http://www.usis.usemb.se/Holidays/celebrate/thanksgi.html ? In order to please my friend or neighbor, can I offer them a Turkey (skinned meat) purchased at the local American store (in it?s original packing, to be on the safe side)? ? If so, is it OK that I am buying something for them that is not Zabiha (like I mentioned, they?ll be worried to accept the kind of meat we buy, and since the meat is in it?s original packing from an American Supermarket, there is no liability for me)? And who knows, this way they will open up with me, and will be more receptive when I talk to them about Islam. ? If we Muslims also eat (zabiha) Turkey (since this is made available in stores for this holiday) in this time, are we sinful of imitating them?
We have studied the background of Thanksgiving day- to express gratitude to the favours of the natives of the 16th century. IN principal to express gratefulness and gratitude for favours rendered is encouraged. However, Thanksgiving being a national holiday express its salient position in the American culture, which has many unislamic values and principles.Celebrating Thanksgiving purposefully or subordinately is an expression of accepting the general American Culture. It is not celebrated independent of the American Culture. In view of the above it is not permissible to celebrate Thanksgiving Day.
and Allah Ta’ala Knows Best
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
FATWA DEPT.
http://islam.tc/ask-imam/view.php?q=6025
ASK THE IMAM: what importance does birthdays have in Islam?And how do we celebrate?
As Salaam Alai Kum, Respected Mufti Saheb, I heard that Islam does not permit us to celebrate birthdays.So one of my cousin doesn’t celebrate his birthday or his wife’s birthday or his only two year old daughter’s birthday and when I wish him on the respective days,he tells me that Islam do not want us to celebrate birthdays and he gives me a lecture about it and tells me that it is a westernized culture or a worldly thing.But when I told one my friend about it she told me that,wishing is not prohibited in Islam neither does Islam say not to wish anyone on their happy day(birthday,wedding anniversary),she said there is nothing wrong in wishing and no where in Islam it says not to wish people.I have a question that is it in Islam to celebrate birthdays and if not can we just wish atleast.I am confused and want to know what does Islam according to Quran and Hadith say about birthdays.Can you please provide me with any authentic support if there is any from Quran or Hadith.May Allah reward you for this,Jazakhalla khairun.Wasalaam Alai Kum.ANSWER: CELEBRATING BIRTHDAYS
It is not necessary that everything the West does is according to logic. The biggest proof that it is the invention of the west are the song words
without which this function is not complete viz. ‘Happy birthday to you.’ No one says, ‘Happy birthday celebration’ or ‘Happy Blessed birthday’ or any other words of this kind. This disease of celebrating birthdays was never prevalent among Muslims before, but since Muslims started living alongside the non-Muslims, they have been influenced by them. Birthdays are celebrated usually at the end of a year and not at the beginning of the year. For example, if one’s birth date is on the 1st of January, then the birthday will be celebrated on the 1st of January and not the 2nd of January. Now just ponder, what intelligence is there in celebrating and showing happiness when a year has decreased in one’s life.During a birthday celebration, candles are lit on a cake, amounting to the years of the one’s life. He extinguishes these candles by blowing them out and all present clap their hands. Hands are clapped at two occasions only, one at the time of joy for some achievement of his. Secondly, when someone acts foolishly, then to mock at him. Here a person is extinguishing the rays of the years of his life by blowing them out himself. Then this is no happiness, nor is it any achievement. So the clapping of hands is only for mocking at this person’s stupidity. Ponder that this is a custom and sign of non-believers. When it is someone’s birthday, one year of his life has decreased, and not increased.
This world is a field to work for the hereafter. Rasulullah (Sallallaahu æ#129;layhi Wasallam)’s Ummah has been sent in this world for a very great object. The example of this world is like a king who send a few people into his treasure room saying that shortly he will send them out, so at that time whatever they will be possessing will be their property. Inside the treasure room, on one side there are heaps of gold and silver, on another side are lying pearls and jewels, then at another place in the room, delicious food and soft beds are arranged. Now some people think that the king may send them out any minute. They quickly gather the gold, silver, pearls and gems.
They feel they will go out from there and organise the food and beds for themselves afterwards. There is another group of people who think that they have just arrived. They feel, ‘Let us enjoy the food, then lay down to rest.
After that we will take from the treasures. There is ample time.’ So they eat, sleep and pass their valuable time without taking from the treasures.
Suddenly the king sends everyone out. Now those who had collected the valuables can enjoy their lives eating and sleeping while those that wasted their time and did not accumulate anything will begin to regret. Every moment of this worldly life is very valuable. Here we have to earn for the long and everlasting life of the hereafter. Rasulullah (Sallallaahu æ#129;layhi Wasallam) has said that after entering into Jannat, the people of Jannat will not be sorry about anything of this world, except for that moment which was spent without the remembrance of Allah. It is apparent that when reward will be granted for remembrance of Allah in this world which is an abode of actions, then one must surely feel very regretful, that if they should have spent more time in the remembrance of Allah, they could be worthy of more rewards.Hafiz Zain Siqti asked Hafiz Jurjani the reason for swallowing dry flour to which he replied that when he compared the time of swallowing dry flour and chewing roti then, in chewing so much time is spent in which say 70 times Subhanalla can be uttered. Therefore he left eating roti for the last 40
years.How can it be permissible to waste time by celebrating birthdays and becoming happy that a big slice of one’s life is put behind. This world is a prison for the believer and a Jannat for the disbeliever. Allah has bought the life and wealth of the believers for Jannat. This life is a trust of Allah by us. Rasulullah (Sallallaahu æ#129;layhi Wasallam) said, ‘A person will not be able to move from his place, until he does not reply to five
questions:
* How did you spend your life?
* How did you spend your youth?
* Where did you earn your wealth from?
* Where did you spend your wealth?
* How much did you act upon your knowledge?A person who is concerned of replying to these questions, how can he show happiness upon the years of his life decreasing? Besides all this, Islam does not permit waste. This is the reason that the poor of this Ummat will
enter Jannat 500 years before the wealthy, because the wealthy will be delayed by giving an account of their wealth. By spending on birthday parties, there is no benefit to Islam nor to the poor. It is stated in a
Hadith the worst Walima feast is the one in which the poor and destitute are left out and the wealthy are only invited. Another object of the birthday parties is show. Islam encourages simplicity. By this attitude of show, the poor feel inferior and deprived and the rich have a superiority complex.
Also, in these gatherings, music, singing, video filming and the taking of photographs and other un-Islamic and forbidden acts take place. May Allah Taãla guide us and protect us from all these evils.By Moulana Abdul Hamid Ishaq
Principal - Madrasah Arabia Islamia, Azaadville
It is nuttier than the Weekly World News.
The site is temporarily down but their writings on how pork makes you have loose morals (like a pig) and how slavery is still legal (the laws of Mohammed never end and we are to not question his wisdom) make for interesting reading.
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