New York public schools add two Muslim holidays to calendar
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NEW YORK: New York public schools will add two Muslim holidays to their vacation calendars, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Wednesday, a promise he made during his election campaign.
Two of the most sacred holidays in the Islamic calendar, Eidul Fitr and Eidul Azha, will be observed.
Eidul Azha, or “Festival of Sacrifice,” will be a vacation day on September 24, starting in the 2015-2016 school year.
The festival of breaking the fast, Eidul Fitr, which falls over the summer in 2016, will be designated a holiday for summer school students.
The mayor said the move reflects New York's diversity, calling it a “common sense change."
“We made a pledge to families that we would change our school calendar to reflect the strength and diversity of our city,” he said in a statement.
Take a look: Police accuse NY mayor of creating ‘climate of mistrust’
"Hundreds of thousands of Muslim families will no longer have to choose between honouring the most sacred days on their calendar or attending school."
New York public schools already give students the day off for some Jewish and Christian holidays.
Muslim children account for about 10 per cent of New York's public school students.
It is not the first city to close for Muslim holidays ─ some districts in Vermont, Massachusetts and New Jersey already do.
Muslim community leaders in New York have appealed to close schools on holy days for several years.
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (66) Closed
Mar 05, 2015 04:38pm
Good.
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Mar 05, 2015 04:41pm
Where are my pakistani brothers now, claiming the entire West is against Islam and what not. We need to realise the hypocrisy within ourselves, before we jump to conclusions. We have been experts of blaming others for our own failings..in whatever field. We don't get a job we claim sifarish, we don't score well we blame pitches. For once lets blame our own inability!!
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Mar 05, 2015 05:10pm
Nice to hear that, now Muslims students should focus more on studies, Congratulations!
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Mar 05, 2015 05:14pm
Nice to see positive news. Good gesture.
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Mar 05, 2015 05:16pm
Let Saudi Arabia follow suit
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Mar 05, 2015 05:32pm
I do not support some of America's foreign policy matters, but domestically, this is the most religious tolerant country in the world.
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Mar 05, 2015 05:34pm
God bless USA, this is called diversity and tolerance.
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Mar 05, 2015 05:39pm
That's good but how will they decide what day to declare it a holiday since we've Eids on different days unfortunately.
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Mar 05, 2015 05:49pm
Oh no no no!! but the West is the enemy of Islam eh?
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Mar 05, 2015 06:06pm
@zahra I don't think Muslims "hate the West" as a norm. Most of the hatred is towards West's govt policy towards Muslim countries and NOT West in general.
I always say, US/UK and other Western countries are the best for minorities where everyone have equal rights and religious freedom. American constitution is more closer to a Islam than constitutions of some of the Muslim countries. There are ofcourse bigots and idiots in all backgrounds so you can't say "All Muslims hate the West" just like it will be incorrect to say "All Western people hate Muslims and Islam". Don't generalise.
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Mar 05, 2015 06:08pm
@valiya "Let Saudi Arabia follow suit"
Please don't bring Saudi Arabia into this. Saudi Arabia is like Vatican. Although I do believe Saudi Arabia need to relax some of the restrictions they have on non Muslim visitors.
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Mar 05, 2015 06:25pm
This is a double edged sword. It is good for Muslims that we are being incorporated into the American society, however most people will hate us more now that they have to shuffle their daily lives because of us. Most Americans hate Muslims, this step will only increase the hatred.
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Mar 05, 2015 06:31pm
Looks likes Muslims in USA are more safe and happy
Bravo NYC.
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Mar 05, 2015 06:36pm
US is the greatest country in the planet earth. Muslim nations only preach Islam where as they live Islam in there daily lives. We gotta lot to catch up from US!
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Mar 05, 2015 06:38pm
@valiya Doesn't Saudi Arabia have everything closed on those two holidays?
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Mar 05, 2015 06:48pm
@zahra... very well said
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Mar 05, 2015 07:21pm
any muslim country will observe holiday of another religion?
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Mar 05, 2015 07:26pm
As a Muslim,I think it is a bad idea.
Muslims should concentrate on improving their image by working hard,rather reducing the number of school days for the kids.
It is my opinion.
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Mar 05, 2015 07:26pm
As a Muslim,I think it is a bad idea.
Muslims should concentrate on improving their image by working hard,rather reducing the number of school days for the kids.
It is my opinion.
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Mar 05, 2015 07:45pm
Excellnt if it will be done
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Mar 05, 2015 07:51pm
Can Pakistan do the same for other religions? I don't think so.
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Mar 05, 2015 08:00pm
@Abbas Ali If you go by dictionary meaning of the word “Secularism” then you will find that in this system govt respects all religions equally but treats religions strictly as private affairs of people. In other words, there should be no religious holiday whatsoever be the majority religion of country. Have 12 holidays, one in each calendar month, like Anti-pollution Day, Save Fuel Day, and Enhance Women’s Rights Day etc. In this respect, no country is truly secular except China.
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Mar 05, 2015 08:07pm
Being a Mayor, his duty is to keep Religion and State separate and stop the Vote-bank mentality mainly seen in Indian congress.
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Mar 05, 2015 08:09pm
Now Muslims of various factions should unite and try to come up with One Eid day and not have all these controversies which day is the right day to celebrate Eid
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Mar 05, 2015 08:22pm
I read in some news on another newspaper that Diwali, the biggest Hindu festival was not added and Hindus of NYC were not happy with that. Now should Hindus go out and term it as a conspiracy against Hindus (especially when two Muslim festivals were added in the list)> a big NO!!! NYC should do what they deem good for the NYC on a whole. Just think if the situation was reversed.
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Mar 05, 2015 08:24pm
strange & amusing to see a politician keeping a "political" promise. In Pakistan, any politician would "happily" circumvent such a promise rather than sticking to it.
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Mar 05, 2015 08:41pm
This was long over due. Thank you Mr Mayor.
Long live Pak-US friendship.
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Mar 05, 2015 08:42pm
Muslims are treated much better in the West. There is a reason we all moved here :-). America, with its problems, is a very tolerant country and I"m proud of what New York did.
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Mar 05, 2015 08:42pm
What is the use of these holidays? Majority of Muslims in NY are low wage hourly workers, any holiday does not bring money to their family.
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Mar 05, 2015 08:43pm
@Asif
India observes all Muslim holidays but you never appreciated them?
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Mar 05, 2015 08:44pm
@farooq Mughal : Wise statement. Great country with some really really bad foreign policy. The policy is affected by : 1) Corporations 2) Saudis in the Shadows 3) Israel Lobby in public 4) Right-wing view of how the world should be. Yes it is a mess.
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Mar 05, 2015 08:54pm
@zahra You have taken words out of my mouth. 100% right. First, we should be ashamed of our own misdeeds before putting blame on others. In fact, we can not face truth or don't want to.
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Mar 05, 2015 09:05pm
They want Muslims boys and girls in public schools not at home.
Mayor Di Blazio saw the light. Now will Muslims compromise and send their children to NY schools for scheduled vaccinations and let them integrate into American Society? If not Muslim parents have no right to complain about negative consequences, and the children will be the ultimate losers.
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Mar 05, 2015 09:06pm
@farooq Mughal
That is fair.
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Mar 05, 2015 09:13pm
@Salman
No problem in NYC. They Jews have a separate calendar for their high holidays too. They have been in New York for 125 years.
The schools are flexible on that point.
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Mar 05, 2015 09:20pm
Public schools run by New York City administration only which includes all 5 boroughs, it has nothing to do with other public schools run by different municipalities within the state of NY.
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Mar 05, 2015 09:25pm
And how many Muslim countries reciprocate, may I ask? Hypocrites.
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Mar 05, 2015 09:39pm
Bravo NY.
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Mar 05, 2015 09:47pm
well done Mayor Blasio! Great Mayor for the greatest city
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Mar 05, 2015 09:58pm
@Salman
Unfortunately is not the appropriate word here.
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Mar 05, 2015 10:00pm
Amazing. And this is the west we blame for being rotten and evil. Salute to the Mayor for furthering freedom for the people. That's how a society develops, when all its members feel they are owned.
By the way will the Muslims finally unite to decide which day they should celebrate Eid. I hear Muslims in America and Europe are much more divided on this issues then us in Pakistan?
Hope they will not make the Mayor repent his decision
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Mar 05, 2015 10:04pm
Mayor Bill de Blasio has honored the pledge he made during his election. He deserves our praise and earned Muslim community's heartfelt thanks. Wish him all success as Mayor of New York.
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Mar 05, 2015 10:04pm
@Javed USA India is home to a large Muslim population and none of them have immigrated from elsewhere. So India is not giving any favor to Muslim. It is their right as citizens
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Mar 05, 2015 10:42pm
Relaxing.... Enjoy the joys of Eid...Share the sentiments nicely.
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Mar 05, 2015 10:54pm
Is it not about time we thought of regional autonomy,
decentralization, and local governments in Pakistan. When power is balanced corruption can be easier to trace and tackle. However, US constitutional advancements have long since proven far from sufficient. US imports foreign labor only in order to neutralize the discontents of born Americans. It is capitalism's last breadth.
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Mar 05, 2015 11:14pm
Setting an example.......lets see if its followed.
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Mar 05, 2015 11:15pm
whatever your perception about West but They are more democratic and knows values of minorities.
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Mar 05, 2015 11:17pm
This is awesome! I wish we could have two Eid days off here in offices in Atlanta..
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Mar 05, 2015 11:25pm
Very good gesture on the part of NY mayor. If someone has not told him already, he should know these two holidays can not be on fixed dates each year. 2nd but very important thing would be that Muslims should start to follow a more logical and scientific system for the sighting of the moon. Thus, enabling all Muslims regardless of sect, to celebrate Eids on same day.
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Mar 05, 2015 11:43pm
This is real good, a progress towards enlightenment and wisdom which is Islam. It is imperative the world recognizes the right path and signifies the festivals/celebrations which underlines our beautiful religion.
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Mar 06, 2015 12:02am
Does he know that these two holidays will fall on different days each year? How he is planning to in- cooperate this. These two holidays are based on lunar calendar.
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Mar 06, 2015 12:30am
Only in United States of America!!!
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Mar 06, 2015 01:17am
What do they want in return? I am amazed that nobody realized this for so many decades, why now. Nothing happens without a reason.
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Mar 06, 2015 02:12am
@zahra , oh wow wow. And the racism in usa that evry other day makes news. And the war destruction iraq happene all by aliens' attack
Two holidays are announced to erase entire memories
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Mar 06, 2015 03:09am
@lafanga "Please don't bring Saudi Arabia into this. Saudi Arabia is like Vatican". Saudi Arabia is NOTHING like Vatican. I have been to the Vatican. Can a Catholic come to Makkah? This is Saudi hypocrisy.
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Mar 06, 2015 03:11am
@Aadami "Can Pakistan do the same for other religions? I don't think so." If 10% of students in Pakistani schools were from religious minority I am sure it would be done in Pakistan too.
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Mar 06, 2015 03:14am
@Javed USA "@Asif India observes all Muslim holidays but you never appreciated them?" You do make very lame comments but this one tops all. With 180 million Muslims in India, why wouldn't India observe Muslim holidays?
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Mar 06, 2015 03:58am
And we Muslims are killing Christians & burning down churches in Pakistan but none of the Muslim Msulvies spoke out to stop that terror.
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Mar 06, 2015 04:34am
@Ikram You are absolutely incorrect that most Americans hate Muslims.
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Mar 06, 2015 05:36am
ONLY in America.
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Mar 06, 2015 06:15am
How many Muslim countries are willing to add christian or other non muslim holidays into their Statutory Holiday calendar.
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Mar 06, 2015 06:28am
Sad they didn't added Hindu Festival Diwali in spite of having more population than Muslims in NYC.
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Mar 06, 2015 06:58am
@Abbas Ali Shame on you. Muslims were not treated equally but now they got what they deserved. Its a good step but it doesnt reflect USA or policies of USA. We all should grow up and know the truth.
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Mar 06, 2015 07:07am
let Muslim dominated countries show half this tolerance..
But they can NEVER as they do NOT recognize anyone else faith.But want all facilities where in minority..
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Mar 06, 2015 08:59am
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Mar 06, 2015 09:01am
@Mpuri .....diwali is celebrated in white house every year.....n take a look on american news papers to see how americans reacted for 'extra 2 holidays for muslim festivel'
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