School district considers banning traditions seen as offensive to Muslims

Chicago Sun-Times ^ | September 28, 2007 | ANGELA CAPUTO

[Izzy Dunne]

So long, Halloween parade. Farewell, Santa's gift shop.

The holiday traditions are facing elimination in some Oak Lawn schools this year after complaints that the activities are offensive, particularly to Muslim students.

Final decisions on which of the festivities will be axed will fall to the principals at each of Ridgeland School District 122's five schools, Supt. Tom Smyth said.

Parents expect that the announcement is going to add to the tension that has been building since officials agreed earlier this month to change the lunch menu to exclude items containing pork to accommodate Muslim students. News that Jell-O was struck from the menu caused such a stir that officials have agreed to bring it back. Gelatin is often made with tissue or bones of pigs or other animals.

That controversy now appears to have been been dwarfed by the holiday debate, which became so acrimonious Wednesday that police were called to Columbus Manor School to intervene in a shouting match among parents.

"It's difficult when you change the school's culture," said Columbus Manor Principal Sandy Robertson.

Elizabeth Zahdan, a mother of three District 122 students, says she took her concerns to the school board this month, not because she wanted to do away with the traditions, but rather to make them more inclusive. "I only wanted them modified to represent everyone," she said.

Nixing them isn't the response she was looking for. "Now the kids are not being educated about other people," she said.

There's just not time in the six-hour school day to celebrate every holiday, said Smyth, who sent the message to principals that they need to "tone down" the activities that he sees as eating too much into instructional time. "We have to think about our purpose," Smyth said. "Are we about teaching reading, writing and math or for parties or fund-raising during the day?"

Robertson is hoping to strike compromises that will keep traditions alive and be culturally acceptable to all students -- nearly half of whom are of Arab descent at Columbus Manor, she says. Fewer than a third of students districtwide are of Arab descent, according to Smyth.

Following the example of Lieb Elementary School, Columbus Manor School will exchange the annual Halloween parade for a fall festival next month. The holiday gift bazaars at both schools also will remain, but they'll likely be moved to the PTA-sponsored after-school winter festival. And Santa's annual visit probably will be on a Saturday.

[Izzy Dunne]

He wets his pants and ignorantly confuses a normal woman with a wahabbi fanatic.

So, if he thinks she is a wahabbi fanatic, he gives the proper response:

Abject surrender.

[Skywalk]

I’m going to paraphrase Picard’s thoughts about the Borg in First Contact:

No, I will not sacrifice our traditions (originally about the Enterprise.)

They invade our space and we fall back. They assimilate entire worlds and we fall back.

NOT this time! The line must be drawn here! This far, NO FURTHER!

[Tired of Taxes]

The same thought crossed my mind: I know Christians who consider Halloween sinful and Santa offensive. But I never heard of a public school kowtowing to their sensitivities.

[Lijahsbubbe]

It's been at least a year since we had some threads about Muslims in the Twin Cities area exercising their "crank's veto" at a charter school. So that their kids wouldn't be offended by seeing artistic representation of humans.

Thanks for mentioning this. I live in the Twin Cities and was trying to remember the details of this incident. Glad to know I'm not the only one who heard about it.

[Wurlitzer]

Mudslimes have learned from the success of other minorities (pick any group) who bitch about every insult real or imagined. All you have to do is say your offended and you can change the rules in this country. The only way to stop this crap is to challenge the claim that Is_Slime is a religion using the following:

SIMPLE VALID RELIGION TEST!

We need to define what can be classified and protected as a valid religion. I suggest a few simple litmus tests that any group seeking 1st amendment protection must pass. If your belief fails any of the litmus tests below you belong to a hate group and must be expelled from the country.

#1: If your belief commands you to kill or enslave those who are not of your religion then you fail the litmus test. .

#2: If your belief commands you to kill anyone who leaves your organization then you fail the litmus test.

#3: If your belief demands you kill or enslave anyone who writes, draws, speaks negatively about your belief you fail the litmus test.

[ragingNOTcajun]

He is a damned fool. And an ignorant bigot to boot.

[plan2succeed.org]

You asked, "Where the heck is Oak Lawn and why are these lameass parents tolerating this crap?"

This same community tried to stop the public library from making Playboy available to children, but it is still available to them.

This same community tried to stop inappropriate materials from being assigned to the children in public school District 126, but the school board merely promised to warn the parents about the inappropriate material in the future.

Frankly, if the Muslim community is as large in Oak Lawn as someone stated above, I would look forward to its involvement in these issues. The "lameass" attitude you report should come to an end when all citizens, including the Muslim community, are engaged in protecting all children from harm.

I'll bet the American Library Association would no longer be able to force its control over the public libraries and the public schools if members of the Muslim community start to become aware of the ALA's "anything goes" attitude being forced on children and start to take action. Certainly the "lameass" parents get rolled every time by the ALA. Now let's see the positive influence of the Muslim community shine forth and break the ALA's grip on Oak Lawn.

Therefore, I ask members of the Muslim community in Oak Lawn to contact me to discuss the ALA's influence over public and public school libraries and what can be done to remove the ALA's grip around the necks of the children.

SafeLibraries.org - Are Children Safe in Public Libraries?

[plan2succeed.org]

See my post #68 about Oak Lawn.

[pray4liberty]

Also if the Muslims complain about the gay agenda and abortion clinics, will the PC crowd roll over for them?

Actually, in way, I hope they will. Those issues are, after all, against their religion too.

[oak lawn parent 1]

Parents of Oak Lawn are here. There is a school board meeting Tues 10/2/2007 we will be there in force to speak out. There is a plan in motion for a boycott (in peaceful protest) on Halloween. The children have a half day of school and we will pass out a flyer Tuesday suggesting if you want to let them know how we feel keep the kids out of school dress them in costume and march outside the school that morning. This also allows our children “ALL CHILDREN” fight for their rights. All those in favor and in the area see you at the school board meeting and on Halloween there will also be a push to save the Santa shop and other fund raisers at Christmas (or the “HOLIDAYS”) for the PTA that benefit ALL the children. All those in favor stand and fight or take a backseat and complain that you have not rights. Its a small issue now but we need to stop the progression of STAMPING OUT THE AMERICAN CULTURE!!! ITS GOT TO STOP.

[khnyny]

I’m glad to see that you are concerned and have a plan. I wish you much luck with your efforts.

Perhaps these families who have complained, (primarily Muslim, I believe) would be better served by placing their children in a private school, or home school.

Personally, I would make every person’s life connected to these decisions at Oak Lawn, hell, with phone calls, faxes, etc. I would also contact the media and have every parent utilize their personal connections (media, legal, etc). If you don’t think that this is a war, guess again.

Every religious/ethnic group which has come to the US in the past has been expected and has willingly learned how to assimilate to American culture. That assimilation has been a big part of why this melting pot has been able to function.

You may also want to look at The American Center for Law and Justice website.

http://www.aclj.org/

[khnyny]

I found this:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1760522/posts

[khnyny]

That’s only because US Muslims are in phase one or around 1%. However, as recent incidents, like the 6 Imams point out, they are rapidly moving to phase two.

The following is a description (slightly modified) from Dr. Peter Hammond’s book: Slavery, Terrorism and Islam: The Historical Roots and Contemporary Threat. www.frontline.org.za/books_videos/sti.htm

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.

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 [Europe, Australia, USA and Japan]. Six percent of US prison inmates are Muslim. Like any other minority, they won’t integrate, but work to build their own separate community.

From 5% on they exercise an inordinate influence in proportion to their percentage of the population. South Africa’s Muslim population is 2%, but they control 35% of the businesses, a large percentage of the banks and have five Cabinet seats while Christians (77% of the population) have none.

They will push for the introduction of halaal (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).

At this point, they will work to get the ruling government to allow them to rule themselves under Sharia; 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. (Ei: car-burnings in France last October.) Any non-Muslim action that offends Islam will result in uprisings and threats.

After reaching 20% expect hair-trigger rioting, jihad militia formations, sporadic killings and church and synagogue burning (India, Mindanao, Philippines).

At 40% you will find widespread massacres, chronic terror attacks and ongoing militia warfare [Indonesia].

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 (infidel tax). (Sudan, Kosovo, Lebanon and Egypt).

After 80% expect State run ethnic cleansing and genocide [Western Papua (New Guinea), Iran, Biafra, Turkey and North Nigeria].

100% will usher in the peace of “Dar-es-Salaam” - House of Peace - as in Saudi Arabia, Libya and Yemen.

27 posted on 12/31/2006 3:00:22 AM PST by Beckwith (The dhimmicrats and liberal media have chosen sides and they’ve sided with the Jihadists.)

[captjanaway]

Jell-O - you have GOT to be kidding me!!!

[LtKerst]

The holiday traditions are facing elimination in some Oak Lawn schools this year after complaints that the activities are offensive, particularly to Muslim students.

all the teachers should be forced to wear BURKAS, and the principal should be forced to lick the boots of C.A.I.R.

[Kozak]

The holiday gift bazaars at both schools also will remain, but they'll likely be moved to the PTA-sponsored after-school winter festival.

Why don't they go ahead and have real authentic Muslim "Slave Bazaar" for that authentic touch.....

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

Jeff Chandler: Death to the Great Jiggly Satan!

Grizzled Bear: Pamela Anderson?

No... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CetPq_pkHc

[plan2succeed.org]

See my post #68 about Oak Lawn, and consider helping me regarding School District 126 recommending inappropriate material for children. Yes, the District apologized for not informing parents of the contents of the material, but they will no stop recommending it anyway. Even despite District 126’s own policy for students. I am working with other Oak Lawn parents to seek the removal from office of current School District 126 members who believe it is not their responsibility to recommend appropriate material for children.