Anger Rises Over Rumors Of School Nixing Halloween
Halloween is the only US holiday that is truly FOR children. You go out, play dress up, and get candy. Removing it from schools is like removing vacation time from adults at work.
Parents in Oak Lawn sounded off Tuesday night about what they see as an assault on traditional American celebrations. At issue is whether Halloween and Christmas celebrations are insensitive to school children who are Muslim.
Let's see if suicide bombings are insensitive to non-Muslims. How about calls for decapitations? Women wearing a veil is impolite and insensitive to my feelings because I want to know if she is sticking her tongue out at me under that thing. By not teaching children of other cultures, other religions and having them be exposed to other holidays, traditions and ideas is in turn teaching intolerance. Teaching a child it's okay to complain about other peoples customs instead of tolerating someone else's celebration is only telling those children that religion and nationality are to be kept secret and in turn may be something that shouldn't be celebrated openly. Halloween is a US tradition, a US custom. You're in the US. Get some candy.
Almost a month before Halloween, some Oak Lawn homes are already decorated with pumpkins, ghosts and goblins. But rumors that Ridgefield School District 122 may soon ban in-school Halloween and Christmas have infuriated many parents and area residents.
I for one believe religion should be taught in school. I'm not a religious person. In fact, I'm the exact opposite. I find religion laughable. I consider myself an agnostic, cause I can't be sure of anything I can't see. Now keep in mind that there is a BIG difference between teaching religion and PRACTICING religion. If we teach our children all religions and beliefs not only does that open them to making their own decisions about which God they may chose to believe in but also have an understanding of others' beliefs. It's something to think about. Knowledge is power. I for one want to absorb as much knowledge as possible because then, if I'm talking to a Christian, or a Muslim, or a Jew, I have a base to refer to in the conversation. Banning this knowlegde from being taught, or celebrated is the equivilant of putting your fingers in your ears and humming. Just because it's hidden, doesn't mean it's not there. You're depriving your kids of knowledge and that makes them stupid. But then again, knowledge is the enemy of religion. They count on blind faith.
Elizabeth Zahdan is at the center of the storm, a Muslim mother of three who requested that her children be separated from others at lunch during the Ramadan fast.
Don't trust them not to eat do you?
"I don’t ever remember one of us asking for our child to be separated from classmates during Ash Wednesday when they were fasting, or on every Friday of Lent when our children are not allowed to eat meat," said parent Cathy Hughes.
And religion divides us again.
But Zahdan insists she never wanted traditional celebrations removed from schools, she only wanted Ramadan recognized and included. "We should educate our children about all the holidays, equally," she said. "And not to favor one holiday over another."
I agree fully. But the schools won't do this. Why? Cause of lawyers. It all comes back to fucking lawyers.
Parents in Oak Lawn sounded off Tuesday night about what they see as an assault on traditional American celebrations. At issue is whether Halloween and Christmas celebrations are insensitive to school children who are Muslim.
Let's see if suicide bombings are insensitive to non-Muslims. How about calls for decapitations? Women wearing a veil is impolite and insensitive to my feelings because I want to know if she is sticking her tongue out at me under that thing. By not teaching children of other cultures, other religions and having them be exposed to other holidays, traditions and ideas is in turn teaching intolerance. Teaching a child it's okay to complain about other peoples customs instead of tolerating someone else's celebration is only telling those children that religion and nationality are to be kept secret and in turn may be something that shouldn't be celebrated openly. Halloween is a US tradition, a US custom. You're in the US. Get some candy.
Almost a month before Halloween, some Oak Lawn homes are already decorated with pumpkins, ghosts and goblins. But rumors that Ridgefield School District 122 may soon ban in-school Halloween and Christmas have infuriated many parents and area residents.
I for one believe religion should be taught in school. I'm not a religious person. In fact, I'm the exact opposite. I find religion laughable. I consider myself an agnostic, cause I can't be sure of anything I can't see. Now keep in mind that there is a BIG difference between teaching religion and PRACTICING religion. If we teach our children all religions and beliefs not only does that open them to making their own decisions about which God they may chose to believe in but also have an understanding of others' beliefs. It's something to think about. Knowledge is power. I for one want to absorb as much knowledge as possible because then, if I'm talking to a Christian, or a Muslim, or a Jew, I have a base to refer to in the conversation. Banning this knowlegde from being taught, or celebrated is the equivilant of putting your fingers in your ears and humming. Just because it's hidden, doesn't mean it's not there. You're depriving your kids of knowledge and that makes them stupid. But then again, knowledge is the enemy of religion. They count on blind faith.
Elizabeth Zahdan is at the center of the storm, a Muslim mother of three who requested that her children be separated from others at lunch during the Ramadan fast.
Don't trust them not to eat do you?
"I don’t ever remember one of us asking for our child to be separated from classmates during Ash Wednesday when they were fasting, or on every Friday of Lent when our children are not allowed to eat meat," said parent Cathy Hughes.
And religion divides us again.
But Zahdan insists she never wanted traditional celebrations removed from schools, she only wanted Ramadan recognized and included. "We should educate our children about all the holidays, equally," she said. "And not to favor one holiday over another."
I agree fully. But the schools won't do this. Why? Cause of lawyers. It all comes back to fucking lawyers.
posted by A Mad Man at 7:46 PM
1 Comments:
we have become politically constapated in this country.
you make a very good point Mad Man, about teaching religions in school but not practicing it.
Lets start being practical about these matters and not cow tow to everybodies wishes
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