Post: #1

NYC Mayor de Blasio promised islamic leaders a religious holiday. Now, starting from 24th of September, 2015 all schools in NYC will have to take a muslim day off for Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Fitr will be off, marking the end of Ramadan.

Quote:“We made a pledge to families that we would change our school calendar to reflect the strength and diversity of our city. Hundreds of thousands of Muslim families will no longer have to choose between honoring the most sacred days on their calendar or attending school. This is a common sense change, and one that recognizes our growing Muslim community and honors its contributions to our City,”

Quote:“We are committed to having a school calendar that reflects and honors the extraordinary diversity of our students,” Fariña said. “Muslim students and their families who observe Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha shouldn’t have to choose between an instructional day and their religious obligations. This new addition will also enable a teachable moment in the classroom for our students to learn about religious tolerance and the societal contributions of various cultures.”

Post: #2

Former mayor Bloomberg actually rejected that proposal several years ago.

His rationale was that if schools close for Muslims holiday they have to do it for other groups too. His argument conveniently overlooks that NYC public schools and most colleges in the State University of NY(SUNY) system close for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur to accommodate Jewish students, Jewish teachers, and Jewish administrative personnel since the 1950's.

The easiest way to solve this is to just have the public(read secular) schools only observe federal holidays. Give the Jew and Muslim kids the opportunity to reschedule any tests/whatever the following day.

Post: #3

Excellent initiative by the Mayor. If two out of the three Abrahmic Faith's have days off for their specific holidays/holy days, so should the third.

I am not surprised Bloomberg did not support this, being a hardcore Israeli supporter he would not support anything showing Islam in a positive light.

Post: #4

This is a joke. The country was not built by muslims. They must adapt to our customs.

Post: #5

I grew up in a heavily jewish community during middle school in LA (I'm not jewish). The middle school was not a Jewish school.

They made I think it was roshhashanah or however its spelled a mandatory holiday and school was closed that day. I don't remember anyone complaining. We just enjoyed the day off. Not taking either side, but I don't see how this is any different.

Post: #6

(09-26-2015 06:23 PM)HonantheBarbarian Wrote:  I grew up in a heavily jewish community during middle school in LA (I'm not jewish). The middle school was not a Jewish school.

They made I think it was roshhashanah or however its spelled a mandatory holiday and school was closed that day. I don't remember anyone complaining. We just enjoyed the day off. Not taking either side, but I don't see how this is any different.

Exactly. Most kids aren't going to give a damn. As far as they're concerned they're just getting another couple days off from school.

Post: #7

(09-26-2015 03:18 PM)Goldin Boy Wrote:  Former mayor Bloomberg actually rejected that proposal several years ago.

His rationale was that if schools close for Muslims holiday they have to do it for other groups too. His argument conveniently overlooks that NYC public schools and most colleges in the State University of NY(SUNY) system close for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur to accommodate Jewish students, Jewish teachers, and Jewish administrative personnel since the 1950's.

The easiest way to solve this is to just have the public(read secular) schools only observe federal holidays. Give the Jew and Muslim kids the opportunity to reschedule any tests/whatever the following day.

One reason some school districts close on Jewish holidays is not just because there are a lot of Jewish students, but because so many of the teachers and faculty are Jews as well. If they all simultaneously took off, schools would be way too understaffed, so it's just easier to close.

I don't know the demographics in every city's school district, but I'd bet that there are a lot more Jewish teachers/administrators in NYC then Muslims. So DeBlasio's decision seems to be more of a result of capitulating to PC demands then for logistical purposes.

Post: #8

I'll look forward to my Christmas holidays in the Middle East.

Post: #9

(09-26-2015 08:20 PM)Foolsgo1d Wrote:  I'll look forward to my Christmas holidays in the Middle East.

They impose their customs here, we do not impose our customs there.

Who is winning?

Post: #10

Sarcasm doesn't translate well over the internet sometimes.

I find it hilarious that NYC is bowing to Islam when they have a large Jewish population.

Post: #11

(09-26-2015 03:04 PM)MaxJames Wrote:  

What a good looking crowd.

Post: #12

(09-26-2015 03:18 PM)Goldin Boy Wrote:  Former mayor Bloomberg actually rejected that proposal several years ago.

His rationale was that if schools close for Muslims holiday they have to do it for other groups too. His argument conveniently overlooks that NYC public schools and most colleges in the State University of NY(SUNY) system close for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur to accommodate Jewish students, Jewish teachers, and Jewish administrative personnel since the 1950's.

The easiest way to solve this is to just have the public(read secular) schools only observe federal holidays. Give the Jew and Muslim kids the opportunity to reschedule any tests/whatever the following day.

Or not have diversity.

Ultimately though, it won't matter beyond anything symbolic.

Post: #13

All of these religious holidays and exceptions are inherently discriminatory and against the constitution:

Quote:Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion

From Cornell law:

Quote:The First Amendment's Establishment Clause prohibits the government from making any law “respecting an establishment of religion.” This clause not only forbids the government from establishing an official religion, but also prohibits government actions that unduly favor one religion over another.

Both Jewish & Muslim holidays are illegal under the constitution, case closed. You can't make a public holiday for one religion while ignoring others. If they do this, they also need to make holidays for every hindu, sikh, wiccan, satanist, etc etc and then students' time in school would be drastically shortened.

Of course democrats will never make a point of this, because their entire voting strategy is based on identity politics.

I'm not against days off from school, they should just not be tied to any religion. Every student should get a number of days they can take off for religious reasons, and allowed to make up the work for those days.

On another note, everyone who isn't willfully ignorant knows these religious holiday laws always work in favor of only CERTAIN ethnic & religious groups. I know someone who worked in a public hospital, and not a single Jewish nurse or doctor came in any Jewish holiday, and this was never questioned. Of course my Christian friend was never given such an option, he was forced to work on almost all Christians holidays, or was given a choice: "Christmas or Easter, choose one."

Post: #14

Why can't they just give the Muslim kids the day off? Then give Hindu kids the day off on Hindu festival days etc? That is what my school in Scotland did and it worked a treat.

Post: #15

(09-26-2015 08:46 PM)Sonsowey Wrote:  

(09-26-2015 08:20 PM)Foolsgo1d Wrote:  I'll look forward to my Christmas holidays in the Middle East.

They impose their customs here, we do not impose our customs there.

Who is winning?

It is not as simple as that. If the ME was the dominant world power there would be more Christian migrants there, and thus their needs would be catered to. This actually happened centuries ago. Currently the west is the most prosperous and most advanced, thus people migrate there to partake in this prosperity.

Furthermore, western caucasian's, especially Europeans but soon also Americans, have birth rates far below the minimum required to sustain future generations, thus immigrants are needed to not only do lower tier blue collar work, but also ensure that the minimum level of kids are born to sustain the civilization, and to pay for the retirement packages of the elderly. When the kids of these immigrants grow up, they will be able to enjoy the perks of living and being citizens of a prosperous civilization. This is not a bad deal at all.

However certain problems arise when you let people in without any form of screening, resulting in people who cannot even speak the language for example, or have any type of skill set needed to sustain themselves, and then they are further marginalized when no effort is made by the governments to ensure they become productive members of society by education programs, training for certain job types, etc.

Another thing that matters is the amount of money, political power and authority wielded by an immigrant group. Jews in the US for example, make up a small percentage of the population but control and overwhelming number of businesses, media and political groups and candidates, thus their needs are catered to in lieu of their small physical demographic. Contrast that with say the Chinese, who have been in America for a long, long time, and are physically a larger demographic, but have always wielded little political or monetary power. (this is changing though, but mostly due to mainland China, not immigrants)

Post: #16

(09-27-2015 05:05 AM)AFS Wrote:  All of these religious holidays and exceptions are inherently discriminatory and against the constitution:

Quote:Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion

From Cornell law:

Quote:The First Amendment's Establishment Clause prohibits the government from making any law “respecting an establishment of religion.” This clause not only forbids the government from establishing an official religion, but also prohibits government actions that unduly favor one religion over another.

Both Jewish & Muslim holidays are illegal under the constitution, case closed. You can't make a public holiday for one religion while ignoring others. If they do this, they also need to make holidays for every hindu, sikh, wiccan, satanist, etc etc and then students' time in school would be drastically shortened.

Of course democrats will never make a point of this, because their entire voting strategy is based on identity politics.

I'm not against days off from school, they should just not be tied to any religion. Every student should get a number of days they can take off for religious reasons, and allowed to make up the work for those days.

On another note, everyone who isn't willfully ignorant knows these religious holiday laws always work in favor of only CERTAIN ethnic & religious groups. I know someone who worked in a public hospital, and not a single Jewish nurse or doctor came in any Jewish holiday, and this was never questioned. Of course my Christian friend was never given such an option, he was forced to work on almost all Christians holidays, or was given a choice: "Christmas or Easter, choose one."

Date Holiday
Thursday, January 1 New Year’s Day
Monday, January 19 Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Monday, February 16* Washington’s Birthday
Monday, May 25 Memorial Day
Friday, July 3** Independence Day
Monday, September 7 Labor Day
Monday, October 12 Columbus Day
Wednesday, November 11 Veterans Day
Thursday, November 26 Thanksgiving Day
Friday, December 25 Christmas Day

As much as I agree with you, the feds still observe one religious holiday. Though, it should be noted that Jesus was born sometime in March 7 BC most likely.

Though at this point the US should do its best to avoid secularizing itself. Calling it the "holidays" pisses me off to no end.

Post: #17

(09-27-2015 06:45 AM)Mother Russia Wrote:  Furthermore, western caucasian's, especially Europeans but soon also Americans, have birth rates far below the minimum required to sustain future generations, thus immigrants are needed to not only do lower tier blue collar work, but also ensure that the minimum level of kids are born to sustain the civilization, and to pay for the retirement packages of the elderly. When the kids of these immigrants grow up, they will be able to enjoy the perks of living and being citizens of a prosperous civilization. This is not a bad deal at all.

Really? On RVF?

AFS is technically right, but Jews have made such large contributions to the city that I understand the reason for certain holidays.

Muslims are now 10% of the city's student population though, so I can kind of see the reason for this. I was wondering why I saw so many kids last Wednesday and Thursday.

Still seems like SJW pandering though when you consider the far larger Asian population and the Chinese New Year isn't off. Well, at least it wasn't when I was in school.

Post: #18

(09-27-2015 06:45 AM)Mother Russia Wrote:  Furthermore, western caucasian's, especially Europeans but soon also Americans, have birth rates far below the minimum required to sustain future generations, thus immigrants are needed to not only do lower tier blue collar work, but also ensure that the minimum level of kids are born to sustain the civilization, and to pay for the retirement packages of the elderly. When the kids of these immigrants grow up, they will be able to enjoy the perks of living and being citizens of a prosperous civilization. This is not a bad deal at all.

Not this bullshit again.

I agree that it would be much better to just give everyone a certain number of days you can take off for religious purposes and you get to choose whenever that is, instead of simply closing the whole thing down every time there's some religious holiday.

Isn't it discriminatory to give certain religions a pass and not others?

Post: #19

(09-27-2015 07:20 AM)The Beast1 Wrote:  Friday, December 25 Christmas Day

As much as I agree with you, the feds still observe one religious holiday. Though, it should be noted that Jesus was born sometime in March 7 BC most likely.

IMO they shouldn't call it "christmas day." It has nothing to do with Jesus, it was a holiday celebrated by various peoples for thousands of years because December 25th is the first day the sun rises in the sky (moves 1 degree north) after getting lower throughout the winter. Basically people celebrated the sun rising again, the world didn't end, the spring would come, and all would be well again. So it's really a universal holiday and has been for a while.

As far as secularism, I welcome it in government. Nobody - Christian, Jew, Muslim - should force their beliefs on me as I don't force mine on them. It's certainly nice when your team has the majority, as Christianity had in the US for a long time, but now that other religions have their turn, especially backwards Islamists, it's not so nice.

Post: #20

New York has a fairly concentrated Muslim population. It isn't unreasonable to provide a holiday for them under those conditions.

Post: #21

(09-26-2015 05:22 PM)Mother Russia Wrote:  Excellent initiative by the Mayor. If two out of the three Abrahmic Faith's have days off for their specific holidays/holy days, so should the third.

I am not surprised Bloomberg did not support this, being a hardcore Israeli supporter he would not support anything showing Islam in a positive light.

IIRC Mayor Cucksocialist Bloomberg was the prime proponent of the Saudis funding and building the Al Qaeda victory mosque at ground zero - he is also funding legislation to repeal the second amendment and seize law abiding men's and women's firearms so that they can not defend themselves all while supporting the islamist invasion of the EU and USA - seems he thinks they can Gate off Manhattan for himself and his fellow NYC billionaires and their employees only to keep themselves safe while the rest of us are left to fend for ourselves without any protection.

He is a domestic enemy of the Constitution and of European Christian America.

Post: #22

(09-26-2015 08:20 PM)Foolsgo1d Wrote:  I'll look forward to my Christmas holidays in the Middle East.

Yes, it exists.

Lebanon would be an example.

Post: #23

(09-27-2015 09:31 AM)AFS Wrote:  

(09-27-2015 07:20 AM)The Beast1 Wrote:  Friday, December 25 Christmas Day

As much as I agree with you, the feds still observe one religious holiday. Though, it should be noted that Jesus was born sometime in March 7 BC most likely.

IMO they shouldn't call it "christmas day." It has nothing to do with Jesus, it was a holiday celebrated by various peoples for thousands of years because December 25th is the first day the sun rises in the sky (moves 1 degree north) after getting lower throughout the winter. Basically people celebrated the sun rising again, the world didn't end, the spring would come, and all would be well again. So it's really a universal holiday and has been for a while.

As far as secularism, I welcome it in government. Nobody - Christian, Jew, Muslim - should force their beliefs on me as I don't force mine on them. It's certainly nice when your team has the majority, as Christianity had in the US for a long time, but now that other religions have their turn, especially backwards Islamists, it's not so nice.

The USA is, primarily, a Christian country, with Christian traditions. Christmas traditions are not about forcing beliefs, they are about preserving American traditions, and IMHO that's a great thing. I don't want to watch a Charlie Brown Menorah or Crescent special on christmas week.

Post: #24

(09-28-2015 02:31 AM)Bey Wrote:  

(09-26-2015 08:20 PM)Foolsgo1d Wrote:  I'll look forward to my Christmas holidays in the Middle East.

Yes, it exists.

Lebanon would be an example.

Christmas trees are a common sight in most arab countries in the Levant, where there has been a Christian minority for over a millenium. The only country that had a ban on Christmas trees in the Levant is Israel...

http://www.catholicleague.org/israel-bans-christmas/

Post: #25

(09-26-2015 08:13 PM)Seth_Rose Wrote:  One reason some school districts close on Jewish holidays is not just because there are a lot of Jewish students, but because so many of the teachers and faculty are Jews as well. If they all simultaneously took off, schools would be way too understaffed, so it's just easier to close.

I don't know the demographics in every city's school district, but I'd bet that there are a lot more Jewish teachers/administrators in NYC then Muslims. So DeBlasio's decision seems to be more of a result of capitulating to PC demands then for logistical purposes.

Seth, re-read my post: I specifically mentioned the closing for Hebrew holidays was to accommodate Jewish staff and admins.

Quick research shows that about 12% of the NYC public school student body is Muslim. That might not sound like a lot but when all those kids out that quickly disrupts lesson planning for teachers.

I was (still am) a licensed secondary school teacher and taught briefly in a district in Long Island. I had one girl in my six classes who was out sick a week. When she returned she had to make-up those missed lesson which meant I had more grade her missed work plus that of all my present students.

My average class size was about 30(NYC classes are comparable). 12% of 30 about 3-4 kids. 3 absences out of 6 classes is 18 students or slightly more than half of one of my classes. When those kids return my workload increases(grading assignments or proctoring missed exams) but my amount of evaluation time stays the same even if its one lesson. And it wouldn't be just me it's would several hundred other teachers in the city playing catch-up.

I'd rather have all classes suspended for everyone than play catch up with 18 kids, it's far more efficient for an educators standpoint.

I know none of the above will change your mind but the holiday observance is quite sensical for the reasons I've stated in both of my posts this thread.