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Muslims Press for School Holidays in New York City
WSJ On-line ^ | 9/15/09 | SUZANNE SATALINE

Posted on 09/14/2009 11:13:51 PM PDT by Pontiac

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.

"This city is supposedly the most diverse city in the world. The city's laws and rules have to reflect that," said Councilman Robert Jackson, a Muslim from the borough of Manhattan. "I am hoping that pressure from the Muslim community will help Mayor Bloomberg decide, in the best interest of himself politically, to incorporate these two holidays."

(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Current Events; Religion & Culture; Religion & Politics
KEYWORDS: creepingsharia; creepingshariah; homeschoolingisgood; islam; muslim; muslims; newyork; newyorkcity; ny; nyc; publicschool; publicschools
Read about a similar move by Islamic activist in Australia and just days late here it is in NYC.
1 posted on 09/14/2009 11:13:52 PM PDT by Pontiac
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To: Pontiac

Let’s see, there’s head chopping day, gay stoning day, oh, there’s that really great one called wife beating day. Then there is riot against cartoons day. What else... oh, here is one, child raping day. That one is important. Wait, how could I forget blow yourself up day?!


2 posted on 09/14/2009 11:16:31 PM PDT by CWCoop
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To: Pontiac

OK - but only if they allow Christian holidays in their countries - especially Saudi Arabia.


3 posted on 09/14/2009 11:16:37 PM PDT by I am Richard Brandon
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To: Pontiac

Do Catholics also get Holy Days of Obligation off from school?

This is getting crazy!


4 posted on 09/14/2009 11:17:23 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: Salvation

And atheists need Darwin Day or month, whatever. Christians don’t get any, Christmas is a secular holiday. Satanists will need Belthane, winter and spring solstice, Buddhists get about 25 festival days or more a year, and Chinese New Year. By the time they add them all up, there will be no school days


5 posted on 09/14/2009 11:22:23 PM PDT by 1000 silverlings (everything that deceives, also enchants: Plato)
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To: Free ThinkerNY; Diana in Wisconsin; Infidel Heather; AnotherUnixGeek; bboop; clamper1797; ...

Pinging those from previous thread.


6 posted on 09/14/2009 11:22:46 PM PDT by Pontiac (Your message here.)
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To: Pontiac

Actually, didn’t this happen in NY about the same time last year?


7 posted on 09/14/2009 11:23:55 PM PDT by Cindy
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To: Salvation
Do Catholics also get Holy Days of Obligation off from school?

Usually Christmas and Good Friday but they don’t call them that anymore.

It is winter and spring break.

8 posted on 09/14/2009 11:26:01 PM PDT by Pontiac (Your message here.)
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To: 1000 silverlings

ROTFLOL! You got that right!


9 posted on 09/14/2009 11:27:04 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: Cindy

If it did I didn’t notice.

But then I am not a New Yorker.


10 posted on 09/14/2009 11:27:23 PM PDT by Pontiac (Your message here.)
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To: Pontiac

The reason the public schools in New York City began to close on the two most major of Jewish holy days was that most of the city’s teachers at that time were Jewish and their absence for Rosh Ha’Shanah and Yom Kippur would have resulted in so few teachers present that it became untenable to try to find substitutes for them all to keep the schools open. And yes, a big chunk of the students were Jewish, too. These real factors are completely absent in the Muslim population of New YOrk...at least not yet.


11 posted on 09/14/2009 11:30:21 PM PDT by Seeing More Clearly Now
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To: CWCoop
Wait, how could I forget blow yourself up day?!

Well each of the Muzzy sects have their own special holidays that are specific to them.

There could be some serious fighting if one sect gets its day and the other does not.

12 posted on 09/14/2009 11:30:27 PM PDT by Pontiac (Your message here.)
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To: CWCoop

You left out crane-hanging-on-suspicions-of-being-gay day.


13 posted on 09/14/2009 11:37:23 PM PDT by libh8er
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To: Pontiac

Is Obama’s birthday a national holiday yet ?


14 posted on 09/14/2009 11:38:27 PM PDT by libh8er
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To: I am Richard Brandon; 1000 silverlings; Salvation
Not every Muslim believes that creating official school holidays would serve Muslims well. "The second the schools get into the business of officially recognizing holidays, it gets into establishing religion," a potential constitutional problem, said Hussein Rashid, an Islamic scholar at Hofstra University. How would the city establish criteria for granting Muslims days off, but not Hindus or other groups, he asked.

A little common sense from a Muslim Professor.

15 posted on 09/14/2009 11:39:36 PM PDT by Pontiac (Your message here.)
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To: libh8er
Is Obama’s birthday a national holiday yet ?

I don’t think it has gone national yet.

Only Ithaca, Boston and San Francisco so far I think.

16 posted on 09/14/2009 11:43:20 PM PDT by Pontiac (Your message here.)
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To: CWCoop

There’s perpetual rage day—of course that one is 365.


17 posted on 09/14/2009 11:57:30 PM PDT by beaversmom
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To: 1000 silverlings

No school—that could be a good thing.


18 posted on 09/14/2009 11:58:37 PM PDT by beaversmom
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To: george76; GeronL; MissDairyGoodnessVT; oyez; FlingWingFlyer; GCC Catholic; Petrosius; R. Scott; ...

sorry ment this one.


19 posted on 09/15/2009 12:06:07 AM PDT by Pontiac (Your message here.)
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To: Pontiac

Let them secede and become a Caliphate without us.


20 posted on 09/15/2009 12:08:37 AM PDT by GeronL (http://libertyfic.proboards.com ............. http://tyrannysentinel.blogspot.com)
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To: Pontiac

If they want school holidays they should get on their camels and ride back to whatever country they originated from.


21 posted on 09/15/2009 12:12:14 AM PDT by 1035rep
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To: GeronL
Let them secede and become a Caliphate without us.

They can have NYC only if they promise to keep Hilary and Bill.

22 posted on 09/15/2009 12:22:55 AM PDT by Pontiac (Your message here.)
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To: 1035rep
they should get on their camels and ride back to whatever country they originated from.

Do they make water wings for camels or did you mean the cigarettes?

23 posted on 09/15/2009 12:24:29 AM PDT by Pontiac (Your message here.)
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To: Pontiac

Simple answer, NO!


24 posted on 09/15/2009 12:28:41 AM PDT by Duckdog (If it wasn't for NASCAR my TV would have gone out the window years ago!)
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To: Pontiac

We can build a wall and let them have San Francisco as a consolation prize.


25 posted on 09/15/2009 12:34:46 AM PDT by GeronL (http://libertyfic.proboards.com ............. http://tyrannysentinel.blogspot.com)
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To: GeronL
We can build a wall and let them have San Francisco as a consolation prize.

Is there anything in San Fran that we would miss?

The trolley cars and the 49ers maybe?

Oh what the heck, let them have it.

Should we warn the gay community?

26 posted on 09/15/2009 12:41:21 AM PDT by Pontiac (Your message here.)
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To: Pontiac

nah. Let them pretend to be good Muslims running around in robes and playing dressing up...


27 posted on 09/15/2009 12:43:54 AM PDT by GeronL (http://libertyfic.proboards.com ............. http://tyrannysentinel.blogspot.com)
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To: CWCoop

Not to stray too far off topic, but apparently there needs to be a “Shoving a Tennis Ball Down Your Throat Day” to celebrate the U.S. Open each year.


28 posted on 09/15/2009 12:54:56 AM PDT by GnuHere
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To: GeronL

Do they make robes out of leather?


29 posted on 09/15/2009 1:11:34 AM PDT by Pontiac (Your message here.)
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To: Pontiac
mudSlimes deserve PERMANENT vacations!

Their "religion" is an abomination of desolation upon mankind.

30 posted on 09/15/2009 1:36:20 AM PDT by rawcatslyentist (Ifanationexpects tobe ignorantandfree,inastateofcivilization,itexpects whatneverwas andnever will be)
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To: Pontiac

Please do not agree to this. Instead, watch countries in Western Europe struggle with ever increasing demands. Today it’s a few extra holidays, pretty soon it’s hijab, then they want their own schools (subsidized by taxpayers, mind you) and as soon as it reaches critical mass you can kiss it all goodbye. It’s all been planned that way.


31 posted on 09/15/2009 2:13:35 AM PDT by bergmeid
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To: bergmeid
Today it’s a few extra holidays, pretty soon it’s hijab, then they want their own schools (subsidized by taxpayers, mind you) and as soon as it reaches critical mass you can kiss it all goodbye. It’s all been planned that way.

Too late they already have the right to wear the hijab when they have their driver’s license picture taken.

What kind of sense does that make?

32 posted on 09/15/2009 2:16:32 AM PDT by Pontiac (Your message here.)
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To: Seeing More Clearly Now
The reason the public schools in New York City began to close on the two most major of Jewish holy days was that most of the city’s teachers at that time were Jewish and their absence for Rosh Ha’Shanah and Yom Kippur would have resulted in so few teachers present that it became untenable to try to find substitutes for them all to keep the schools open.

That was the case in my school district in Hempstead, Long Island. I was the only Jewish student in the system but many of the teachers were Jewish, so, no school.
33 posted on 09/15/2009 3:22:10 AM PDT by beagleone
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To: Pontiac

(Muslims Press for School Holidays in New York City)
If New York gives in to this then we will have stepped over the cliff and be in the beginnings of a free fall.
This is not a muslim Nation.It is and always has been a Nation founded on Judeo/Christian principles with a 80% identified as Christian population. You want a mulsim holiday there are plenty of 3rd rate mulsim nations that you are free to go to. Just be prepared to give up ALL your personal freedom and liberty for that holiday...........


34 posted on 09/15/2009 3:46:59 AM PDT by SECURE AMERICA (Proud to have made Communist Leader Obama's hit list at flag@whitehouse.gov)
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To: Pontiac

Here’s a thought: Let all students have an excused absence for their religious observances, with an opportunity to make up missed work. Those who are diligent students will probably go to school anyway, while those who stay home won’t be missed, except with a sigh of relief.


35 posted on 09/15/2009 4:10:37 AM PDT by Tax-chick ("Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge."~Pr. 14:7)
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To: Pontiac; Salvation
S:Do Catholics also get Holy Days of Obligation off from school?

P:Usually Christmas and Good Friday but they don’t call them that anymore.

It is winter and spring break.

Actually Good Friday isn't a Holy Day of Obligation.

36 posted on 09/15/2009 4:44:53 AM PDT by ContraryMary (New Jersey -- Superfund cleanup capital of the U.S.A.)
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To: Pontiac

You want Muslim holidays, move where they celebrate them!!!


37 posted on 09/15/2009 5:20:55 AM PDT by smalltownslick
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To: ContraryMary

Nope, Good Friday isn’t a Holy Day, but Ascension Thursday is, Immaculate Conception is, and All Saints Day is.

Being the product of NYC public schools myself, I can tell you that NONE of these days are given to Catholic children. Christmas and New Years are covered under the “Winter Break”, and Assumption is in August.

Years and years ago, NYC schools used to close on St. Patrick’s Day, but that changed...oh...in the late 70s or so — I can’t remember exactly when. Today, not even the Catholic schools get St. Patrick’s Day off.

BTW...my favorite “day off” when I was a kids was the ubiquitous “Brooklyn-Queens Day,” wherein ONLY the kids in Brooklyn and Queens got off, and everybody else had school. That has changed, though. I think the new name for that day off is “Anniversary Day” or something, to celebrate the incorporation of all five boroughs in NY, into New York City. Everybody gets that day off now.

Regards,


38 posted on 09/15/2009 5:37:57 AM PDT by VermiciousKnid (Grab your gun and bring in the cat.)
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To: ContraryMary
Actually Good Friday isn't a Holy Day of Obligation.

I checked it out and you are correct.

It seems that in 1991 the started paring down the number of holy days of obligation.

Seems to me that when I was a kid Good Friday was a holy day of obligation as were many more holy days.

39 posted on 09/15/2009 5:51:07 AM PDT by Pontiac (Your message here.)
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To: smalltownslick
You want Muslim holidays, move where they celebrate them!!!

And don’t let the door hit you in the arse on the way out.

40 posted on 09/15/2009 5:56:04 AM PDT by Pontiac (Your message here.)
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To: Pontiac

Use the 900 million given to Gaza to round them all up and ship them all back.


41 posted on 09/15/2009 6:15:33 AM PDT by sniper63 (Silent and stealthy - one shot - one kill)
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To: Pontiac

They need to go back hone to celebrate the holidays.


42 posted on 09/15/2009 6:23:23 AM PDT by Cheetahcat (Zero the Wright kind of Racist! We are in a state of War with Democrats)
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To: Pontiac

Bump!


43 posted on 09/15/2009 6:31:40 AM PDT by editor-surveyor (The beginning of the O'Bomb-a administration looks a lot like the end of the Nixon administration)
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To: Pontiac

I am so sick of this. Why can’t we throw them out? I wish our politicians would stop trying to be everyone’s best friend and start making the hard decisions.


44 posted on 09/15/2009 10:53:04 AM PDT by Niuhuru (The internet is the digital AIDS; adapting and successfully destroying the MSM host.)
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To: Niuhuru
I wish our politicians would stop trying to be everyone’s best friend and start making the hard decisions.

Being everyone’s friend gets you reelected.

Making hard decisions makes you enemies and gets the other guy elected.

These days the average voter does not care if the country goes to heck in a hand basket as long as it doesn’t effect him.

What the average voter wants from his political representative is more.

The United States is quickly becoming France.

45 posted on 09/15/2009 3:46:12 PM PDT by Pontiac (Your message here.)
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To: 1000 silverlings

Hey! Athiests already have their own public holiday - It’s April the first! April Fools Day!!!


46 posted on 09/16/2009 6:49:23 PM PDT by Sharondownunderinnz
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To: Pontiac

Hi Pontiac! We wont stop them - their agenda is to rule the world with Sharia Law! AND they are quite blatant about it , just like Hitler was in his book Mein Kampf. No one should be surprised.


47 posted on 09/16/2009 6:53:00 PM PDT by Sharondownunderinnz
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To: All

They’re coming, America:

As long as the Muslim population remains around 1% of any given country they will be regarded as a peace-loving minority and not as a threat to anyone. In fact, they may be featured in articles and films, stereotyped for their colorful uniqueness:

Nation % Muslim
United States 1.0%
Australia 1.5%
Italy 1.5%
Norway 1.8%
Canada 1.9%
China 2.0%

At 2% and 3% they begin to proselytize from other ethnic minorities and disaffected groups with major recruiting from the jails and among street gangs:
Nation % Muslim
Denmark 2.0%
United Kingdom 2.7%
Germany 3.7%
Spain 4.0%
Thailand 4.6%

From 5% on they exercise an inordinate influence in proportion to their percentage of the population. They will push for the introduction of halal (clean by Islamic standards) food, thereby securing food preparation jobs for Muslims. They will increase pressure on supermarket chains to feature it on their shelves — along with threats for failure to comply.

(United States).
Nation % Muslim
Switzerland 4.3%
Philippines 5.0%
Sweden 5.0%
The Netherlands 5.5%
Trinida and Tabago 5.8%
France 8.0%

At this point, they will work to get the ruling government to allow them to rule themselves under Sharia, the Islamic Law. The ultimate goal of Islam is not to convert the world but to establish Sharia law over the entire world.

When Muslims reach 10% of the population, they will increase lawlessness as a means of complaint about their conditions (Paris –car-burnings). Any non-Muslim action that offends Islam will result in uprisings and threats (Amsterdam - Mohammed cartoons).

Nation % Muslim
Guyana 10.0%
India 13.4%
Israel 16.0%
Kenya 10.0%
Russia 15.0%

After reaching 20% expect hair-trigger rioting, jihad militia formations, sporadic killings and church and synagogue burning:
Nation % Muslim
Ethiopia 32.8%

At 40% you will find widespread massacres, chronic terror attacks and ongoing militia warfare:
Nation % Muslim
Bosnia 40.0%
Chad 50.1%
Lebanon 59.7%

From 60% you may expect unfettered persecution of non-believers and other religions, sporadic ethnic cleansing (genocide), use of Sharia Law as a weapon and Jizya, the tax placed on infidels:
Nation % Muslim
Albania 70.0%
Malaysia 60.4%
Qatar 77.5%
Sudan 70.0%

After 80% expect State run ethnic cleansing and genocide:
Nation % Muslim
Bangladesh 83.0%
Egypt 90.0%
Gaza 98.7%
Indonesia 86.1%
Iran 98.0%
Iraq 97.0%
Jordan 92.0%
Morocco 98.7%
Pakistan 97.0%
Syria 90.0%
Tajikistan 90.0%
Turkey 99.8%
United Arab Emirates 96.0%

100% will usher in the peace of ‘Dar-es-Salaam’ — the Islamic House of Peace — there’s supposed to be peace because everybody is a Muslim: Nation % Muslim
Yemen 99.9%
Afghanistan 100.0%
Saudi Arabia 100.0%
Somalia 100.0%


48 posted on 09/17/2009 2:46:41 PM PDT by patriot08 (TEXAS GAL- born and bred and proud of it!)
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