Muslim Holidays Earn Growing Recognition in U.S.

US Department of State-US Information Programs ^ | December 3, 2004 | US Department of State-US Information Programs

[Land_of_Lincoln_John]

Washington -- The county council of Howard County, Maryland -- a suburb of Washington and Baltimore -- made headlines recently when it passed legislation prohibiting the scheduling of public hearings on the two Eid holidays, the most holy days in Islam.

Although Howard County's action is unusual, it does reflect a growing trend toward official recognition of Muslim holidays in the United States, according to the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), which informally tracks such developments.

Especially since the attacks of September 11, 2001, "more and more Muslims are working to get their communities integrated into U.S. society and have made efforts to get their religious holidays recognized and accommodated at school and in the workplace," says Rabiah Ahmed, communications coordinator in CAIR's national office in Washington.

Even before 9/11, public school systems in the states of Michigan and New Jersey with large Muslim populations declared school holidays on Eid ul-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan; and Eid ul-Adha, which celebrates Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael.

The Dearborn, Michigan, public school system and colleges such as Syracuse University in New York, offer Halal meals prepared according to Islamic standards in their cafeterias. At Syracuse, Eid ul-Fitr is also an official holiday for students and faculty.

The White House, the Department of State and the Department of Defense host annual Iftar dinners to break the fast during the holy month of Ramadan. A CAIR-sponsored Iftar on Capitol Hill this year attracted about 10 Congressional co-sponsors and several hundred attendees, including diplomats, members of Congress, and other government officials. In California, five state legislators co-sponsored what was billed as the first annual Ramadan Iftar at the State Capitol in Sacramento.

The Howard County, Maryland, law resulted from the inadvertent scheduling of an important planning board hearing on the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah. Councilman Ken Ulman, who is Jewish, introduced a bill to officially prohibit scheduling of hearings on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the two holiest days for Jews.

"While I was putting together the bill, I thought it was appropriate to reach out to the Howard County Muslim community and ask if there were one or two days so holy that people would not be able to participate in public hearings scheduled for those days," Ulman says. Based on the response he received, "I thought it was an important gesture to include Eid ul-Fitr and Eid ul-Adha in the bill."

After the legislation was passed, Ulman says, he received more than 100 e-mails from all over the world welcoming his action as a sign of respect and acceptance. "I've gotten responses from both Jews and Muslims who felt that with all the issues in the Middle East this was a nice symbolic gesture to have two Jewish holidays and two Muslim holidays included in the same piece of legislation," he says.

Celena Khatib, director of the Michigan office of CAIR, says she has seen an increased effort by both Muslims and non-Muslims to achieve a better mutual understanding in recent years.

"I have seen an increase in people requesting diversity training, people requesting speakers on Islam, and I get calls all the time from human resources officials who want information so they accommodate their employees' needs," she says. "I think the Muslim community realized after 9/11 that we need to be more open for people to get to know us, so we've also become more proactive."

Ulman credits the Muslim community in his county for recognizing the importance of making contact with elected officials. "Had I not gotten to know the Muslim leadership, I might not have reached out or not have known whom to reach," he says.

"This country was founded upon the strength of its diversity, although it has taken us a long time to view certain groups' diversity as a strength," Ulman adds. "It's all about education, exploring our differences, and breaking down the barriers."

[real america]

i don't understand, why is it so bad??

[spodefly]

It had to be done. Their first post was on a thread advocating for child safety locks on firearms. The second was on a thread where they wondered what was wrong with homosexuality. And then they ended up here, where they embrace the dhimmitude of the State Department.

They probably were not going to be happy here ... nor did they seem to be very receptive to any other than their college-aged mushbrained programming. I can take someone that shows an open mind, but their posts on this thread were strike 3.

[spodefly]

Oh no ... reincarnation?

[real america]

I think I came onto this too late!!! who was calling who a dumbass???????? Was someone actually defending the muslims?

[Proud Infidel]

The second was on a thread where they wondered what was wrong with homosexuality.

ROTFLMAO! They should have asked the Imam.

[Jotmo]

No. SOMEONE was being a troll.

[real america]

if people can be forced to work on thanksgiving and christmas, i certainly ain't giving up my hours so someone can go starve themselves till the sun goes down past their a$$

[B4Ranch]

The county council of Howard County, Maryland has a drastic shortage of American patriots!

[hershey]

Smoke coming out of my ears...

[texasbluebell]

Let me get this straight.

The USA is approximately, oh, 80% Christian, give or take a few points.

However, Christmas and Easter, the main Christian holy days are not allowed to be spoken about in public schools, or celebrated by school children in pageants (even though Congress opens with a prayer and the pledge of allegiance during which the phrase "under God" is used).

Public displays for Christmas are not allowed in many areas.

BUT to cater to the .5% moslem population (that's one-half percent), we have the State Dept wasting taxpayer $$ on a prayer room for a moslem holiday dinner. (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1271022/posts)

In Dearborn we have schools serving halal meals. (Are there any public schools that serve kosher meals for the Jewish students?)

What am I not getting here?

Hey US govt, we know you don't want to offend that miniscule minority, but Christians have feelings too. Our feelings are getting hurt out here.

[Happy2BMe]

20-Year Plan right on schedule - ping.

________________________________________

Especially since the attacks of September 11, 2001, "more and more Muslims are working to get their communities integrated into U.S. society and have made efforts to get their religious holidays recognized and accommodated at school and in the workplace," says Rabiah Ahmed, communications coordinator in CAIR's national office in Washington.

________________________________________

Muslims in America

Num. of Muslims in the U.S.:		7  million
Num. of American Muslims associated with a mosque:		2  million
Num. of mosques in the U.S.:		1,209
% of regular mosque participants who are male:		75%
% of regular mosque participants who are African-American:		30%
% of regular mosque participants who are Arab:		25%

Source: "The Mosque in America: A National Portrait," a study conducted by the Council on American-Islamic Relations and the Hartford Institute for Religion Research
(April 26, 2001)

[expatguy]

Submitting. We learn fast.

The word Islam means submission.

[American in Israel]

They ban Christ from Christmas and make Christmas Parades into "Festivals of Lights", but recognise EID, the celebration of the Call to the Final Jihad in the name of religion?

What Hypocracy the evil ones use to destroy our Freedom an Nation.

What foolishness to celebrate your own call to death!

[ppaul]

Pandering to Muslims?

Your tax dollars at work.....

[devolve]

Interesting chart

Mark Levin's Landmark Legal Foundation should sue the cities, counties, states, federal agencies, bureaucrats, Mayors, that ban Christian activities, parades, speech, by legislation or executive order or rules ad regulations

Denver Mayor Hickenlooper(splg? who cares!) bans Christians, Christmas, Christina church members, and Christmas carols in their parades yet officially endorses and presides over an outside Hanuka candle lighting ceremony in Denver that celebrates his own personal religion.

Islam celebrated, gets government recognition not afforded to Good Friday, Muslims get religious days closed as official religious holidays per government order, public school students forced to study Islam in California and federal judges OK that(?), Christmas banned.


Justice Ginsberg what is your opinion?


Why are two enemy ethnic groups in America joining hands to vote over 85% each against Republicans and most Christians and banning Christmas and Easter in a generous nation in which they are small minorities?

This is the small minority and the ACLU and the federal courts in your pocket stealing your tax dollars and killing your religious rights in the USA.

Defund the government and avoid any who ban or censor Christmas or any Christian holiday or activity.

Not one cent in their businesses, not one cent in taxes to any govenment agency that discriminates against Christians.

Things are about to pop mega bigtime in America.

[B4Ranch]

20-Year Plan right on schedule as the idiotic Americans open their door to the disease spreader.

[Looking4Truth]

I will never recognize that death cult front for a religion. Ever!

[LoudRepublicangirl]

However, Christmas and Easter, the main Christian holy days are not allowed to be spoken about in public schools, or celebrated by school children in pageants (even though Congress opens with a prayer and the pledge of allegiance during which the phrase "under God" is used).

It's ironic isn't it? These are the reasons a lot of our ancestors came to the "New World"- To escape religious persecution and it's coming back around to bite us in the ass.

[Looking4Truth]

Defund the government and avoid any who ban or censor Christmas or any Christian holiday or activity.

Not one cent in their businesses, not one cent in taxes to any govenment agency that discriminates against Christians.

I am already there. I survive on bartering goods and services and will not spend any money on gifts from any business that can't acknowledge that it's CHRISTMAS.