Posted on 06/30/2009 8:30:31 PM PDT by Madeline Brooks
As you may or may not know, the New York City Council recently passed a resolution making two Muslim holidays mandatory holidays for the entire school system. This did not get major media coverage, but it was reported by Atlas Shrugs here: http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/2009/06/nyc-mayor-bloomberg-says-no-to-muslim-school-holidays.html#comments
The important thing now is to block the bill at the state level, where it is headed next. In the Assembly it is called A 8108 and in the Senate, S 5837. You should call and write the sponsors listed below and tell them not to vote for it. Your opinion counts for something even if you are not a NY State resident. If NYC falls into this trap, you can be sure that smaller cities will be at even greater risk of having the same thing done to them, citing NYC as a precedent. So spread the word and contact all the sponsors to tell them NO!
Here is a sample letter that you can use and modify.
Dear Assemblyman:
Vote NO on A 8108.
If Muslim holidays mandate the closing of schools for all children, most of them would spend the day with no supervision, which is dangerous for them. Working parents would be economically burdened in finding child care and many children would be out on the streets, with no place to go. Children need to be supervised at all times or they get into trouble: accidents, sex abuse, pregnancy, drug abuse, violent crime as either victims or perpetrators. There are numerous studies about 'latch key kids,' getting into trouble after school lets out and before their parents return from work. Here's one study from the Department of Justice: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/pdf/tjvfox.pdf. ;
The hours after school lets out are called by the FBI "the prime time for crime." For these two days of no school, it would be an even longer time to be at risk for these unsupervised children. And if the kids were to be supervised in some way by the city, think of all the additional expense and red tape it would involve.
Additionally, it isn't fair to the children of other religious minorities - Buddhists, Hindus, Santerias, Seikhs, Bahais, Zoroastrians, pagans, atheists, agnostics, Native Americans, etc. Why ignore them and favor only the Muslim minority. If all the other religions were to be acknowledged by closing schools, not much learning would occur.
Today our system allows children to take days off to honor their own religious holidays. Let's keep it that way without insisting that schools be closed and all students must stay home from school.
The main sponsor in the Assembly is Michael Benjamin. He's got a track record of supporting other pro-Muslim issues. But anyway, here's his contact info. BenjaminM@assembly.state.ny.us. Bronx office: 718 589 6324 Albany office: 518 455 5272
Co-Sponsor: J.Gary Pretlow PretloJ@assembly.state.ny.us Yonkers office: 914 375 0456 Albany office: 518 455 5291
Multiple Sponsors: William F. Boyland Jr. BoylandW@assembly.state.ny.us Brooklyn office: 718 498 8661 Albany office: 518 455 4466
Michael N. Gianaris GianarM@assembly.state.ny.us Astoria office: 718 545 3889 Albany office: 518 455 5014
Carl E. Heastie HeastieC@assembly.state.ny.us Bronx office: 718 654 6539 Albany office 518 455 4800
Madeline Brooks
Chapter head of ACTforAmerica.org in Manhattan ACTManhattan@aol.com ACTnyCoalition.org AmericanCongressForTruth.com
Seeing as how Mohamed was a perv pedophile, the schools should tell kids to look out for him and yell stranger danger if they think they see him.
I thought Bloomberg said no?
They’re not shut down for Jewish holidays and now Christmas has been reduced to winter vacation ....
Speaking as a by-the-Book Christian, I think that compulsory education tself is a greater injustice than this.
Don’t NY schools shut down for Jewish holidays?
Bloomberg did say no (I found out shortly after I posted this letter) but the story doesn’t end there. The city council may be able to pass the resolution, and then it goes on to Albany to be voted on there. So it may end up as a law.
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