Chicago Schools Create Prayer Room for Muslims

Newsmax.com ^ | Thursday November 29, 2001

[softengine]

Chicago's notoriously wretched but money-squandering government schools have set aside a prayer room to accommodate Muslims.

Though the issue has created a big stink in New York City, Chicago Muslims hailed the decision.

"My religion is a really big part of my life, and it's really good I can practice it, even at school,'' 14-year-old freshman Saba Quadri says in today's Sun-Times.

Kareem Irfan, chairman of Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago, said: "I know some Christian families would prefer their children to take some time out and do Bible study during lunch time. Some Hindu groups have groups that study religion or read prayers. This accommodation will make it easier for students to turn to their own forms of prayer without affecting their fellow students.''

The school system caters to Muslims in other ways. Because Muslim women are not allowed to bare their arms to men, schools separate the sexes for physical education freshman year so female Muslim students can swim.

[Dataman]

What comes next?

Bomb throwing for beginners

[07055]

Not only is this discriminatory, but it seems to miss the essence of Ramadan. Ramadan is NOT the Muslim Christmas. It is the Muslim Lent. When you have every heard a TV Station wish anyone "Happy Lent"? It would be stupid---Lent is a time of penance, not frivolity.

The only significance the media gives to Lent is in connection with Fat Tuesday---the day before you are supposed to fast for 40 days.

[Malesherbes]

07055 said it well. I lived in a Moslem country for a year, and Ramadan is certainly not a "happy" time. You fast between sun-up and sun-down; then you can eat. It is supposed to be a time of solemnity. The media are pathetic.

[MissMillie]

Students are indeed allowed to bow their heads over their lunch. Also over their algebra exam. They can also pray as they're taking a sip of water from the water fountain, and as they're showering after phys. ed.

This is not a double standard. Muslims have very specific rituals with their prayers (like praying at certain times and bowing east). Their prayers could be disruptive to others.

Christians have no such requirements and therefore need no special accomodations.

[MissMillie]

Nope. Just wrong. You're not a bigot, you're not a racist. You're just wrong.

You are misinformed about the the rulings regarding school prayer. The Supreme Court has never said that students can't pray in school. What they said is that the school administration and faculty cannot organize prayers at school.

Schools can and do allow students to organize prayer groups and bible studies on school property. The students have to take the initiative, the school supplies the space.

This room for muslim prayers is no different.

[hsszionist]

Another appeasment of the moon godlet allah.

[JeepInMazar]

The spirit of the anti-Christ continues to grow.

[JusPasenThru]

There was a school district in Birmingham, AL, about 2 years ago that forbade any evidence of praying at school, including bowing the head. There were personnel assigned to insure compliance with this. Kids in the local school district (Louisville, KY) say they have to be careful not to look like they're praying or they get flack from the thought police, er um public teachers. I think the recommendation to have folks of all faiths flood these prayer rooms is wonderful. So much for "separation of church and state".

[cschroe]

A separate room in which to privately practice their religion during the school day ? Hey, that's great. If my kids were in that school system, I'd be suing to have a chapel created at their school so they could do the same.

[MissMillie]

Yes, and the good news is that there is nothing to stop you from attempting to appease your god too. Works for everyone.

[MissMillie]

I'd like more information on that please... where did you get your info? I'd like to read up on it.

[sync cord]

Before you all get carried away, you should read the article very carefully.

http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-pray29.html

[healey22]

While reminds me of a headline I saw a few days ago. It went something like: "Ford to hold sensitivity training about Muslims for assembly line works".

I read that article in the New York Times the other day. I promptly picked up the phone and told Ford I was not interested in religious tolerance of Muslims and told them to look at the Times story. I also told them I would not be buying another Ford vechicle, ever! To top if off, I believe the women who was taking the phone call was an Arab - her accent almost assured me of it. She was pleasant enough and told me she would pass my comments on. It is about time for a new car, but I will not be buying another Ford.

[hsszionist]

No, appeasement necessary, just obedience.

[NYCVirago]

Not only is this discriminatory, but it seems to miss the essence of Ramadan. Ramadan is NOT the Muslim Christmas. It is the Muslim Lent. When you have every heard a TV Station wish anyone "Happy Lent"? It would be stupid---Lent is a time of penance, not frivolity. The only significance the media gives to Lent is in connection with Fat Tuesday---the day before you are supposed to fast for 40 days.

Hillary Clinton, of course, didn't know this about Ramadan. Remember during the impeachment when she talked about the holiday season, and referred to Christmas, Hanukhah, and Ramadan? She thought that Ramadan was the equivalent to Christmas! If Bush had done that, we'd never hear the end of it.

[syriacus]

I hope someone will be keeping an eye on the people who go into the public school prayer rooms and on the objects those people leave behind. We know young Muslims are willing to risk their own lives in order to kill their enemy.

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

It comes down to the fact that Western Christians have nothing left inside, zero, zip, nada! Tolerance, equality, "the big tent", dialogue, compassion, love, all being symptoms of the underlying sickness.

[ladylib]

These Louisville kids could make a big stink over this.

[ladylib]

Maybe the Chicago public school system has a large Muslim population. Maybe school officials know that "prayer" is very important in Muslim life. Maybe they are afraid that if they do not provide prayer rooms, Muslim children will be educated elsewhere. Maybe it all comes down to $$$$$.

[OfByForThePeople]

Leave it to Chicago. You'd think it was a city in California or something.