Iraq's Muslims want no part of 'Jewish holiday'

Chicago Sun-Times ^ | February 27, 2005 | MAGGIE MICHAEL

[Blackirish]

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Iraqis are complaining about their first weekend break, and some high schoolers even went to class Saturday to protest a decision introducing a second weekly day off that coincides with the Jewish Sabbath.

It's not that the Iraqis do not want time off -- they just want the extra day moved to Thursday.

''We don't want Saturday! It's a Jewish holiday!'' students chanted as they marched in protest last week to the governor's office in Baqouba, 35 miles northeast of Baghdad.

A high schooler pulled out a hand grenade and started waving it, and police fired into the air to disperse the crowd. At least three students reportedly were injured in the ensuing scuffle

[Blackirish]

What is it with these nutcases?

Hate...Fear....False pride...Ignorence...all rolled into one.

[jolie560]

Thursday is good.

[wizardoz]

I hope it isn't unrealistically idealistic to hope that some day Muslims can act like civilized human beings, even in the face of the provocative affront of Jews daring to exist on the face of the earth.

[Nachum]

I am so glad we are going to war to free these people.

[SouthernFreebird]

I hope it isn't unrealistically idealistic to hope that some day Muslims can act like civilized human beings,

They haven't managed to in the last thousand years, I doubt a few more years will make any difference.

[Bombardier]

Ahhhhhhhhhh, islam....so tolerant of other beliefs and ways of doing things. [/sarcasm]

[Allegra]

I wonder how many protested, though?

I'm very suspicious of these articles. The media has blown things way out of proportion many times before and they're not above doing it again.

[Blackirish]

OOOPPs pardon my IGNORANCE...NEED COFFEE

[Jagdgewehr]

In predominantly Sunni Muslim Samarra, 60 miles north of Baghdad, the al-Mutawakal high school opened its doors after insurgents threatened to kill its teachers if they took the day off.

Yep

[UnbelievingScumOnTheOtherSide]

Give them Sundays too.
Three day weekends will REALLY piss them off!

[No Surrender No Retreat]

One word sums it up,"muzlims." NSNR

[sarah_f]

"A high schooler pulled out a hand grenade..."

Not to worry people, he's just one of the very few extremists who've hijacked the Religion of Peace.

We all worship the same god.

islam is peace.

[rang1995]

sorry to say a waste of manpower to give these people freedom..i have come to the conclusion the only good muslim

---

one(sorry just todays rant) but they will never learn or make peace with israel,the U.S.or the west

[avitot]

Jewish Sabbath is a redundancy

[sarah_f]

"In predominantly Sunni Muslim Samarra, 60 miles north of Baghdad, the al-Mutawakal high school opened its doors after insurgents threatened to kill its teachers if they took the day off.

"'We can't be like Jews,' sixth-grader Nada Alwan said. "'I hope the government listens to us.'"

Shocking and uncharacteristic behavior from an arab muslim country.

Such a lovely culture. Such a lovely religion. How could this be?

Must just be a few extremeists who've hijacked the culture and religion.

[sheik yerbouty]

TROP as usual.

[Blackirish]

Everytime they bring one of their sick kids into a US hospital....I am sure they will want to know that in all likelihood the vaccine or antibiotic their child will receive was invented by an American Jew.

[McGavin999]

Oh please, the cities mentioned in the article are the most extreme in the country. Sadar was so unpopular in the rest of the country that he only managed to take 3 seats in parliment. The rest of the country is thrilled with the extra day off and they realize that taking Thursday would mean one less day of commerce with the rest of the world.

[underlying]

muslims and nonmuslims