Posted on 12/13/2004 8:27:50 PM PST by Kuksool
Political correct “diversity” advocates are often more solicitous of Muslim and non-Christian “holy days” than those celebrated by Christians, despite our nation’s Biblical heritage.
In Naperville, in my own back yard, school District 204 (Indian Prairie School District) not only tolerated but encouraged school remembrance of the Muslim holiday, Ramadan (which ended last month).
The following email was sent to administrators of School District 204 in Naperville-Aurora, urging special recognition of the Muslim holiday, Ramadan. I have yet to receive a return call from the author of the memo, Donna Crawford, Assistant Superintendent Elementary Education, asking if the same official respect has been accorded Christmas, as a Christian holy day. Emphasis is added:
"To: 204 Administration List
Subject: [204 Administration List] Ramadan begins 10/15
"Ramadan begins today and ends Nov 14th. For more than a billion Muslims around the world -- including some 8 million in North America -- Ramadan is a "month of blessing" marked by prayer, fasting, and charity. Ramadan observance focuses on self-sacrifice and devotion to Allah (God).
"For our Muslim students, staff and parents, please be mindful of fasting by offering alternative activity options during lunch period or other activities which may include food and beverages. Asking students about ways in which they may want to be accommodated is beneficial. Accommodations are especially important in regards to physical education classes. P.E. teachers may offer alternatives to rigorous physical exercise for the fasting students.
"Schools may also support Muslim students by arranging a place for prayer. The five essential times of prayer include: at first light and before sunrise, between the sun reaching it height and mid-afternoon, between mid-afternoon and sunset, after the sun has finished setting, in the dark of night.
"Students may also be absent from school for required religious observance. Some students will attend school after observing prayers.
"Other information about Ramadan .....
"Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. Islam uses a lunar calendar -- that is, each month begins with the sighting of the new moon. Because the lunar calendar is about 11 days shorter than the solar calendar used elsewhere, Islamic holidays "move" each year.
"Muslims practice sawm, or fasting, for the entire month of Ramadan. This means that they may eat or drink nothing, including water, while the sun shines. As with other Islamic duties, all able Muslims take part in sawm from about age twelve (when they reach puberty). During Ramadan Muslims get up early for suhoor, a meal eaten before the sun rises. After the sun sets, the fast is broken with a meal known as iftar. Iftar usually begins with dates and sweet drinks that provide a quick energy boost. Fasting serves many purposes. While they are hungry and thirsty, Muslims are reminded of the suffering of the poor. Fasting is also an opportunity to practice self-control and to cleanse the body and mind. And in this most sacred month, fasting helps Muslims feel the peace that comes from spiritual devotion as well as kinship with fellow believers.
"Ramadan ends with the festival of Eid al-Fitr, which in 2004 occurs on November 14. Literally the "Festival of Breaking the Fast," Eid al-Fitr is one of the two most important Islamic celebrations (the other occurs after the Hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca). At Eid al-Fitr people dress in their finest clothes, adorn their homes with lights and decorations, give treats to children, and enjoy visits with friends and family. A sense of generosity and gratitude colors these festivities. Although charity and good deeds are always important in Islam, they have special significance at the end of Ramadan. As the month draws to a close, Muslims are obligated to share their blessings by feeding the poor and making contributions to mosques."
Donna Crawford
Assistant Superintendent Elementary Education
Indian Prairie School District 204
Phone 630.375.3025
Fax 630.375.3004
www.ipsd.org
____________________________________________________________________
Now, I'm all for ethnic diversity (my wife Cristina is half Lebanese, and the first in her family to be born in the USA). But isn't it interesting that in Muslim-dominated countries like Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, Christians and other non-Muslims are persecuted, while here we not only encourage respect for other faiths but erase our own Judeo-Christian heritage? No healthy civilization censors its own noble history!
America's religious freedom and embrace of immigrants is part of what makes us a great nation, but what the ACLU and its secularist allies refuse to teach the next generation is that our national experiment in freedom was made possible by our Christian heritage. We must not allow those who would strip Christianity from our public life to triumph or it will hasten the moral collapse of our nation.
Thank you for standing for Biblical truth in the culture. May the God of Christmas bless you.
Sincerely in Christ,
Peter LaBarbera
Executive Director
Respond to: info@illinoisfamily.org
>>>They can re-name it anything they want on memos or the school calendar. Children and parents I know still refer to it a Christmas and Easter Break.
I believe you are missing the point of propaganda. It is an arm of marketing. To condition what is normal.
Changing the names to 'winter break' is not for you. It is to condition what the children hear. See, you don't mind because you know what it is. This is how the foot gets through the door.
You start hearing, it doesn't bother you.
The children hear it all throughout growing up. They learn the winter break terms.
Their children will only know the winter break terms.
See, morals are what won the 2004 elections. Too many of us believe in God.
What is Christmas? Celebration of God's son being born.
Remove Christmas, on the way to removing God.
Remove God = Democrats regaining control.
Moral Absolutes Ping.
Just one more. Is this crazy or what? It is insane. Christianity outlawed, even the very word "Christmas" is forbidden. Yet Muslim holidays are practically mandated, with all kinds of special attention, understanding, allowances for observation, and so on.
I am thoroughly disgusted by the destruction of Christ Mass. All it is where I live is "holiday this" and "holiday that". Well, holiday means Holy Day. And the holy day is Jesus Christ's birthday celebration. Whether his birthday is really Decemeber 25 or not is irrelevant. That's the day it has been observed for - well, almost 2,000 years.
That's it, I'm painting my sign tomorrow.
Let me know if anyone wants on/off this pinglist.
My advice. Move somewhere in the MidWest, like here in Oklahoma.
I am a Christian and according to the Bible the only requirement is faith in Jesus Christ.
BTW, I attend church 2-3 times a week, give to the needy and I don't watch football.
Sorry, we have family to tend to here. Thanks for the invite though ;)
Calpernia wrote:
Sorry, we have family to tend to here. Thanks for the invite though ;)
.....................................................
Bring them with you. It's warmer and the air is drier. They would probably like the fresh air and open spaces too. I lived in Jersey and The City for a couple of years when I was younger. Great place to sow some oats, but this here's the place for me and my family. No offense to Jersey, besides it's smell and lack of natural grasses. Just kidding. anyway, if you were to change your mind, Oklahoma is a nice place to live.
Virtually every school in the city has paper Christmas trees and menorahs up in the windows. We have a big giant tree in midtown and a huge menorah in Brooklyn. Every six steps there's a Santa ringing a bell. And schools have choirs singing in every public space they can manage to cram them in.
New York City is in no danger of losing the "Spirit of Christmas."
Also, your reply assumes that school has more authority over religious matters than parents, which I don't buy into for a second.
I just might start spelling it holyday....
This is getting to be close to an outrage.
2 things, please consider follow-up with these groups, both I believe are pro bono:
Alliance Defense Fund
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=41610
http://www.alliancedefensefund.org/
Is it illegal to sing Christmas carols in public school? Or to display a manger scene or even to say the words "Merry Christmas" in those halls of learning?
Many public school officials act as though such prohibitions were clearly laid on in the Constitution and defensively ban every vestige of "religious expression" out of fear of an expensive ACLU lawsuit.
and
Thomas More Law Center
http://www.thomasmore.org/
Defending Religious Freedom
We live in a culture increasingly hostile to Christians and their faith. America has become a nation where public school students are prohibited from praying, acknowledging their dependence upon God, and forming religious clubs; where schools and communities are challenged from displaying nativity scenes, the Ten Commandments, and other symbols of our religious and moral heritage. The Thomas More Law Center affirms the right of Christians to publicly practice their religion and freely express their religious beliefs. Our Founding Fathers fought for a nation built on a foundation of religion and morality. Our lawyers are committed to restoring and preserving that foundation.
>>>No offense to Jersey, besides it's smell and lack of natural grasses.
But we have farms! We are the Garden State! Jersey Tomatoes? Jersey Corn?? Really there is lots of farm land here.
Any way, we have more than just a few adults to tend to. Large family. Think of community. Migrated from the same villages. They won't leave.
OK is actually on my list to go to once our obligations are met. Leaning towards the Lawton area. :)
>>>>Also, your reply assumes that school has more authority over religious matters than parents, which I don't buy into for a second.
::woooshhhh::
That was the sound of my point zipping right over your head.
That's it, it's the thin edge of the wedge, Cal. It's happening over and over again.
Now there is a great play on words.
From this point on, if I have to write holiday, it shall now become holyday :)
GREAT TIP!!!!
BTTT
I do think the tide is turning.
More and more people are waking up to this destruction of Christmas.
The moslems and the aclu have gone over the line.
We're taking Christmas back.
Next, we'll take back Easter. This is going to stop.
Bump to 'not being a victum' of ::wooooshhh::
Hmmm, wasn't this country started on the basis of freedom of religion as a BIG issue???? Now we've come full circle to condemn it again.
This same school district has a gay-straight alliance club that meets on campus. You'd think the gay students would whine about the school giving a credibility to relgion that mandates the beheading of gays. However, the gay activists consider the Boy Scouts to be a greater threat than Osama.
Yep, not being a victim. It's going to stop.
No ifs ands or buts.
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