Liberty and Justice FOR ALL

The New York City Council last week voted to add two Muslim holidays to the city's public school calendar, citing the annual observance of Christian and Jewish holidays. Mayor Bloomberg objects, saying the city isn't obligated to accommodate all faiths: "If you close the schools for every single holiday, there won't be any school." Who's right? In a country with so many faiths, should public schools observe any religious holidays?

If we call ourselves a democracy and a pluralistic society, then we ought to live up to the moniker. There is nothing wrong with allowing Muslims to observe a couple of their holidays. They are American citizens; they are here because of the promised rights and freedoms. Our willingness to let people "be" is part of the threads of our fabric.

The struggle to include everyone and to grant everyone his or her rights is part of the unique challenge of America. In his book, "American Gospel," Newsweek editor and On Faith co-moderator Jon Meacham says it was clear "from the start that the New World was to be home not only to Christians but to those of diverse faiths."

That did not make it easy, however, for people of the Jewish faith to find a welcoming spirit here. Meacham writes that Peter Stuyvesant "made it clear that they were not welcome. The Jews...would nearly all like to remain here," but he hoped that these "enemies of Christ" would not be allowed to "infect" the new colony of New Amsterdam.

Meacham describes how people of the Jewish faith struggled along with people of other "minority faiths," including Quakers, Huguenots and Baptists to find their place in America.

Add to that a fair amount of fear, distrust and misunderstanding among Christians about the beliefs of Islam. Fear and distrust come from ignorance, and the truth of the matter is that very few non-Muslims know what Islam is all about. Very few people know the history of Islam, of its origin, beliefs and relationship with the Christian and Jewish faith.

So, we have an aura of discomfort, not unlike the aura experienced in this country long ago by Peter Stuyvesant. The only thing a so-called "minority religion" can do in this, the "land of the free and home of the brave," is to push forward for its rights and dignity, relying on the documents of freedom which make America America to bolster and strengthen its case.

When my children were in middle school, there were some Jewish families who objected to using the word "Christmas" or to have a "Christmas concert" because they said that using that word lessened the presence of the many Jewish children who attended the school.

There was some debate, much of it heated because though the concert had been dubbed the "Christmas concert," the repertoire had always included songs from the Jewish tradition. Nevertheless, to show respect for the Jewish families, the school agreed to rename the concert the "Holiday Concert."

Allowing the observance of a couple of Muslim holidays shows respect for a major "minority" religion in this country, and also allows children to learn more about the differences which make up the world.

There is nothing wrong with stepping out of one's comfort zone. The world is not, after all, a monolith, but rather an amazing quilt with so many components that it would be impossible to find them all.

My thoughts reside with the Muslim children who may very well, like all other minorities, want to hide their ethnicity and religion because the so-called "majority" religions have decided to discriminate against them. No child ought to have to endure that - especially in a country which touts itself as being on the side of "liberty and justice for all."

I am sure that once the newness of the Muslim holidays wears off, those who were afraid will relax, like they did back in Stuyvesant's day and more recently, with the inclusion of Kwanzaa in the whole holiday discussions.

Some people will never agree to loose themselves of their resistance, but my prayer is that there will be enough people whose faith is strong enough to not be challenged by yet another group which has come to this country seeking promised freedom.

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Brown christian woman sayeth to the brown Jewish woman. YOU NEED SOME PRAYER AND MEDITATION and maybe take a kosher "chill pill". Jesus!

Posted by: nberger | July 14, 2009 1:01 PM
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As much the commentator tried to white wash the friction between jewish people and muslims, the fact is the author is right. This could be a cunning move by Bloomberg because this is a popular decision. No one wants to be on the side of muslims these days (the role jewish media and AIPAC plays is a discussion for another day). Bloomberg knows that even if he were to loose the majority of the 12% vote, the majority of the 88% would appreciate it so there is no case for him of losing an election over this.

As for the rant about Jewish people being driven out of their homes in Middle-East, would the commentator mind telling how many of those were driven out before 1947, before the diabolical creation of Israel by the colonials? Only Jewish people have the right to return? What about the even greater number of Palestinians driven out of their homes? surely you would also support their right of return. no?

Posted by: yasseryousufi | July 13, 2009 1:52 AM
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So, now the new "minority faith" is Islam, and I suspect that some of the resistance Mayor Bloomberg offers comes from what I think is an uneasiness between Jews and Muslims. The poisons from the ongoing violence in Israel, and the struggle of Jews and Muslims to find common ground doesn't remain in Israel; their fumes are airborne and settle in all parts of the world.
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You suspect? Guess what, your suspicions say nothing of the reality here in New York. In fact, Jews and Muslims get along very, very well here. In one interesting neighborhood Orthodox Jews and Muslims live side by side. Next door to one another are kosher and Hallal butcher shops.

Yes, there are three million Jews who have been deported, or otherwise forced into exile from their ancient Middle East homelands. The ancient Jewish presence in Egypt, numbering 100,000, in Tunisia, Syria, Iran, Morrocco, etc., where I was born, are all but gone. Of course, you have not taken the time to educate yourself about this, Ms. Smith, about us, about our rights to return.

I can only tell you that your own bigotry in this piece has clouded your judgment, and this is not the first time, where Jews are concerned. It might also be of interest to you that the overwhelming number of New York City's Muslims support Mayor Blumberg.

I, a Jew, do not, and I am not alone among New York Jews who hope that another candidate with more liberal views will challenge him.

You need to do some serious soul searching Ms. Smith, sayeth this brown Jewish woman.

Posted by: Farnaz1Mansouri1 | July 8, 2009 6:28 PM
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Susan K. Smith

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Liberty and Justice FOR ALL

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