NationStates Jolt Archive

IF SOME CHILD WANTS TO SING JOY TO THE WORLD IN A SCHOOL PLAY,THAT CHILD MAY DO SO. :mad:

Somehow, I think this belongs in General...

You know what? In spite of the caps and seemingly trollish turn of phrase in the first post, I actually agree with it. I have a real issue with people whose solution to religious diversity is to exclude things like Easter and Christmas because they might offend some non-christians.

Surely a better answer would be to educate children on a multiplicity of cultures and customs? I would much rather my children learned about Hannuka, Ramadan, Beltine and any other significant cultural holidays/rituals/customs that were able to be taught (ie availability of tutors, etc) rather than having all celebrations deleted from the curriculum on the basis of religious bias or the evils of overbearing PCness.

Why is it that the first reaction is always to delete or take away rather than to include or expand? It drives me nuts! :confused:

i don't want public schools to have to waste time actually CELEBRATING all religious holidays, but i certainly expect them to educate kids about all religions. if some kid just wants to break into song then that's fine, provided he does it during the appropriate times (i.e. not during classtime because that is a disruption), and i could care less if he is singing about Jesus. indeed, that is already a right that kids have in schools. they can pray, sing about God, and talk about God with whomever they please. Christ can come to school with your kids if you want, nobody is stopping you or them, Christ simply cannot be celebrated exclusively by school programs...and, frankly, it would take way too much time away from real learning for the school to celebrate all the dieties and religious holidays celebrated by citizens of this country.

You know what? In spite of the caps and seemingly trollish turn of phrase in the first post, I actually agree with it. I have a real issue with people whose solution to religious diversity is to exclude things like Easter and Christmas because they might offend some non-christians.

Surely a better answer would be to educate children on a multiplicity of cultures and customs? I would much rather my children learned about Hannuka, Ramadan, Beltine and any other significant cultural holidays/rituals/customs that were able to be taught (ie availability of tutors, etc) rather than having all celebrations deleted from the curriculum on the basis of religious bias or the evils of overbearing PCness.

Why is it that the first reaction is always to delete or take away rather than to include or expand? It drives me nuts! :confused:


what's beltine? 'scuse the ignorance

I agree - if some kids wants to "celebrate" just let them.

I feel that our country's oversensitizing of religion has done much more harm than good - rather, I feel like we should become desensitized to some extent, which could be accomplished by EDUCATING kids about religion X, Y, or Z

i don't want public schools to have to waste time actually CELEBRATING all religious holidays, but i certainly expect them to educate kids about all religions. if some kid just wants to break into song then that's fine, provided he does it during the appropriate times (i.e. not during classtime because that is a disruption), and i could care less if he is singing about Jesus. indeed, that is already a right that kids have in schools. they can pray, sing about God, and talk about God with whomever they please. Christ can come to school with your kids if you want, nobody is stopping you or them, Christ simply cannot be celebrated exclusively by school programs...and, frankly, it would take way too much time away from real learning for the school to celebrate all the dieties and religious holidays celebrated by citizens of this country.

Yeah, like much learning goes on in those leftist agitprop centers anyway.

Yeah, like much learning goes on in those leftist agitprop centers anyway.
hey now, just because YOU'VE never been to school...

Celebrate diversity! Celebrate all religious days! Hurrah.

Everybody loves holidays.

Though might not be very effecient for the country's production if everysingle religion and culture is celebrated in the country. I think nearly everyday would be a holiday.

They wouldn't want to do all Holidays, when the kids grow up they'll want the days off of work.

There's no way today's kids could have the same school Christmas experience we had as kids. With the "Starve The Beast" attitude of Republicans toward public education it's not like schools have the stock piles of colored construction paper, glue, paste, and glitter needed. Plus most elementary schools no longer have music programs.

Today's kids would be lucky to hang a paper chain on the out of order metal detector while listening to skipping Christmas carols over a ancient crackling PA system. Hohoho, now there's a jolly image!

teach kids about religion is simply brain wash.
if the christianisty put in one place with other religion, most of the kids think that she is most "cool".
as jewish, I can't see small child who prefer light candles or eat Matza, despite believe in santa and get presents under the tree.
also, the christians are the majority, and as such they get nore time while other religions could have shown in stereotypy.
this will be bad, even without consider the loose of priceful class hours, fights over religions in breaks, atheists resistence, and harm of the "secularization" principal.

what's beltine? 'scuse the ignorance


Perhaps Beltane? If that is what the user was referring to -- Beltane is a holiday celebrated by modern-day pagans.

I didn't mean actually take time out of the curriculum to study every religion there is, for god's sake ;)

Perhaps I wasn't too clear. What I meant to say was that kids used to make easter themed projects in art (for instance) without the religious aspect being pushed at all, just the current theme in the eye of the population (bunnies, eggs, egg holders for the parents, etc) but now don't because non christians may be offended. Why not instead of taking that away from the children (who enjoy it generally, I seem to remember that I did) incorporate other cultural themes in a similar capacity throughout the year?

I live in what is supposed to be an actively multicultural society. To me this means that everyone should know about and appreciate cultures other than their own. What I see, however, is a society that is increasingly separated into smaller and smaller sections, with the walls being reinforced by ignorance (and separatist government policies) on all sides every year.

Surely it is healthier to explore and (at least on this superficial a level) understand some aspects of the many different cultures and religions that live together in this or any country? This familiarity should start from as young as possible and primary school art or drama projects seem to be a pretty benign place to begin.

As for Beltine - oops, my mistake, I was discussing part of the Wheel of time with my pesky teenager :) and typed the wrong word then sent without checking :blush: What I meant to type was "Beltaine", Which is a pagan festival.

I am non-religious, btw. I am not advocating that faith or spirituality be pushed in schools. I am suggesting that schools (and most public organisations - many local MPs are so pussy that they sent out "Season's Greetings" rather than "Merry Christmas" cards so they didn't offend anyone. This weak attitude offended me. If you're going to send cards out, at least let them be accurate!) be inclusive of many cultures and traditions, rather than excluding all.

Perhaps I wasn't too clear. What I meant to say was that kids used to make easter themed projects in art (for instance) without the religious aspect being pushed at all, just the current theme in the eye of the population (bunnies, eggs, egg holders for the parents, etc) but now don't because non christians may be offended. Why not instead of taking that away from the children (who enjoy it generally, I seem to remember that I did) incorporate other cultural themes in a similar capacity throughout the year?

i live in a tiny town in the middle of the desert and we would have to celebrate quite a few religious hoidays if we were just to cover those represented in the local population

christian, jewish, buddhist, hindu, navajo, just to name the ones im sure of.

i think that the same parents who moan about not having their kids come home with little manger scene art projects would end up protesting when their kids came home with pictures of menorahs, papier mache elephant gods, buddhas made out of pussywillows, and little bags full of corn pollen.

tossing in religious symbols without context may well be offensive to the practioners of the religions they come from and there is no time to adequately cover all traditions in elementary school.

i say just leave it out and let religion be taught properly by those who find it important to do so.

As long as Christmas is the only holiday celebrated in the schools, all is well.

IF SOME CHILD WANTS TO SING JOY TO THE WORLD IN A SCHOOL PLAY,THAT CHILD MAY DO SO. :mad:

If some kid wants to sing Joy to the World, that child may do so as long as it is not disrupting class activity. However, in a school play, that's different. In a school play, that child would then be using school property to force everyone to listen and, frankly, the child has a bad voice and nobody wants to hear that crap.

If some kid wants to sing Joy to the World, that child may do so as long as it is not disrupting class activity. However, in a school play, that's different. In a school play, that child would then be using school property to force everyone to listen and, frankly, the child has a bad voice and nobody wants to hear that crap.
Everyone would want to hear songs of praise to the Lord.

IF SOME CHILD WANTS TO SING JOY TO THE WORLD IN A SCHOOL PLAY,THAT CHILD MAY DO SO. :mad:

Hopefully, the child's desire to sing 'Joy To The World' in the school play won't conflict with whatever song the rest of the school is singing. That could get awful hard on the ears of the parents in attendance, dontcha think?

If all the kids sang whatever they wanted to, all at the same time, it might just produce Cartman's 'brown sound'...

Eeeeeew.

Everyone would want to hear songs of praise to the Lord.

I wouldn't. *boom* Your theory has been crushed.

I wouldn't. *boom* Your theory has been crushed.
Mahometans and other infidels matter not.

Mahometans and other infidels matter not.

So no one matters except for you? That seems to be what you are trying to say. If not, please clarify.

Mahometans and other infidels matter not.

I have no idea what a Mahometan is. Nobody worships Mohammed. Only Christians have to audacity to worship a man.

So no one matters except for you? That seems to be what you are trying to say. If not, please clarify.

It's his form of trolling. He seems to enjoy it. It can't be roleplay because it's General. He is diseased. There is no cure. :)

The weird thing here... The only holiday thing they took away when I was in elementary school was the halloween parade, because it might offend Christians... I mean, yeah, the trend is to take things out b/c they might offend non-christinas, but ... Damn, we must live in the most backwards place imaginable... And, the really sad thing was, many parents were annoyed that the school took out the halloween parade...

The sad thing now is that there, they're getting rid of all holiday recoognition whatsoever... The reason? Stupid idiot principal that they first got when I was there says that it "detracts from the learning experience.".... Stupid fucktart...

/end rant

But anywais... I agree with what you people are saying, if not for the main reason that kids enjoy these things whether they're Christian or not...

It's his form of trolling. He seems to enjoy it. It can't be roleplay because it's General. He is diseased. There is no cure. :)


I realize that. I'm trying to be brutally civil to the troll(s), so if my post elicits an offensive response, it can't come back and get blamed on me. ^_^

Mahometans and other infidels matter not.

Looky looky. Someone who gets off on attention, good or bad. Hey Defensor, your words are being quoted.

Don't you feel all tingly inside?



DT.

I have no idea what a Mahometan is. Nobody worships Mohammed. Only Christians have to audacity to worship a man.
Mahometanism is a religion of violence, stupidity, and savagery originating with the already barbaric Arabs. A sixth century Arab pedophile named Mahomet invented it and forced conversions in brutal manners across the Middle East. Mahometans worship Mahomet and his homosexual pedophile sex partner, the demon Allah. Perhaps you are well-acquainted with the evils of this devil-worshipping, brutal, and distorted "religion?" Filthy infidels...

Here in the UK there's a class called RE - religious education where over the course of several years, you cover the beleifs of several different faiths from Judaism to Hinduism and Islam.

We get christmas decorations at christmas time, and school assemblies usually contain readings from the bible, this isn't to say that they're read in an exclusively christian way. Readings are usually taken for the ethical examples they display, such as the good samaritan.

Eitherway, my point is that anyone can enjoy almost any religious festival so long as they listen to the spirit of it as opposed to the specifics. Many, many people celebrate christmas who aren't christian, they treat it as a time when people can give thanks and have goodwill towards all people. Christmas shouldn't be about christ, it should be about the message he is supposed to have delivered, the unity of mankind.

Incidentally, I'm not christian, but even I can recognise that.

Mahometanism is a religion of violence, stupidity, and savagery originating with the already barbaric Arabs. A sixth century Arab pedophile named Mahomet invented it and forced conversions in brutal manners across the Middle East. Mahometans worship Mahomet and his homosexual pedophile sex partner, the demon Allah. Perhaps you are well-acquainted with the evils of this devil-worshipping, brutal, and distorted "religion?" Filthy infidels...



Let's take a look at this post..


"barbaric Arabs" -- stereotyping and insulting a culture/race/region

"Mahometanism is a religion of violence, stupidity, and savagery" -- stereotyping and demeaning a belief system

"Mahometans worship Mahomet and his homosexual pedophile sex partner, the demon Allah." -- demonizing a belief system

"Filthy infidels" -- I think you get the point...

Mahometanism is a religion of violence, stupidity, and savagery originating with the already barbaric Arabs. A sixth century Arab pedophile named Mahomet invented it and forced conversions in brutal manners across the Middle East. Mahometans worship Mahomet and his homosexual pedophile sex partner, the demon Allah. Perhaps you are well-acquainted with the evils of this devil-worshipping, brutal, and distorted "religion?" Filthy infidels...

It's called Islam and nobody worships Mohammed. You are ill informed. As for being a pedophile, it's already been proven that Mohammed married Aisha when she was 16 or 17, not 9. My mother married my father when she was 17. Many people throughout history have been married as young as 12-14. My own great grandmother married her husband when she was 14 - and before you start, she nor her husband were Muslims. I am the first Muslim in my family and my wife was 22 when she married me.

Anyway, Peter - a slave mongering woman hater - founded Christianity and don't get me started on how many people have been converted to Christianity through violence.

Ok, troll, that's my Xmas present to you. I've fed you a little. It ends now. Happy Jew Born Day.

Let's take a look at this post..


"barbaric Arabs" -- stereotyping and insulting a culture/race/region

"Mahometanism is a religion of violence, stupidity, and savagery" -- stereotyping and demeaning a belief system

"Mahometans worship Mahomet and his homosexual pedophile sex partner, the demon Allah." -- demonizing a belief system

"Filthy infidels" -- I think you get the point...

If you keep paying attention to him he's just gonna keep coming back and post his hateful arrogant bullshit.

Don't feed the Troll.

Don't feed the Troll.

But he's so hungry ... and it is Christmas after all.

If you keep paying attention to him he's just gonna keep coming back and post his hateful arrogant bullshit.

Don't feed the Troll.


*shrug* I've dealt with him before. I admit, I probably shouldn't feed it. (but it seems so hungry! LOL j/k)

You know what? In spite of the caps and seemingly trollish turn of phrase in the first post, I actually agree with it. I have a real issue with people whose solution to religious diversity is to exclude things like Easter and Christmas because they might offend some non-christians.

Surely a better answer would be to educate children on a multiplicity of cultures and customs? I would much rather my children learned about Hannuka, Ramadan, Beltine and any other significant cultural holidays/rituals/customs that were able to be taught (ie availability of tutors, etc) rather than having all celebrations deleted from the curriculum on the basis of religious bias or the evils of overbearing PCness.

Why is it that the first reaction is always to delete or take away rather than to include or expand? It drives me nuts! :confused:
Someone who actually agrees with me on these forums? Amazing! :p

It's called Islam and nobody worships Mohammed. You are ill informed. As for being a pedophile, it's already been proven that Mohammed married Aisha when she was 16 or 17, not 9. My mother married my father when she was 17. Many people throughout history have been married as young as 12-14. My own great grandmother married her husband when she was 14 - and before you start, she nor her husband were Muslims. I am the first Muslim in my family and my wife was 22 when she married me.
According to Boosh, "islam" is peace. Doesn't sound much like the religion of Mahomet, of Abu Bakr, and of Usama bin Laden. Mahometanism is a devil's religion, and your god Mahomet was a pedophile according to your own Mahometan sources.

Ok, troll, that's my Xmas present to you. I've fed you a little. It ends now. Happy Jew Born Day.
Mahometans are the brothers of the Jews.

Someone who actually agrees with me on these forums? Amazing! :p


I was thinking the same thing earlier.

*duct tapes her own hands down, talking to herself* must not feed troll...must not feed troll..... *gnaws at the duct tape*

According to Boosh, "islam" is peace. Doesn't sound much like the religion of Mahomet, of Abu Bakr, and of Usama bin Laden. Mahometanism is a devil's religion, and your god Mahomet was a pedophile according to your own Mahometan sources.

Islam means "submission". Sala'am means "peace". My god is Allah. Same as Jesus' god. Same as Abraham's god. You required a human sacrifice to get to your god. Unlike your priesthood, pedophilia is a sin in Islam.

Mahometans are the brothers of the Jews.

Yes ... very good. You've said something smart. Isaac and Ishmael were brothers and, thus, Jews and Muslims are brothers. Christians are sort of bastard cousins, but we forgive you.

*duct tapes her own hands down, talking to herself* must not feed troll...must not feed troll..... *gnaws at the duct tape*

Oh but it's so much fun! :D C'mawn ... you know you want to.

Christians are sort of bastard cousins, but we forgive you.


Wait we do? :p


Naginah

Islam means "submission". Sala'am means "peace". My god is Allah. Same as Jesus' god. Same as Abraham's god. You required a human sacrifice to get to your god.
No, Allah is a devil.
There is One True God, and it is not Allah, but Christ.


Yes ... very good. You've said something smart. Isaac and Ishmael were brothers and, thus, Jews and Muslims are brothers. Christians are sort of bastard cousins, but we forgive you.
The Jews form the elite class, who plot every thing from their syngogues and through their media empires. The moronic Mahometans are their foot soldiers who just blow things up.
Christendom is free from the bounds of the evil Semites.

Oh but it's so much fun! :D C'mawn ... you know you want to.

Troll already ate one of my own threads....I kinda wish I could :mp5: the damn thing, but that's kind of mean, ne? *reapplies duct tape, talking to self again* harm none..harm none...harm none....

No, Allah is a devil.
There is One True God, and it is not Allah, but Christ.



The Jews form the elite class, who plot every thing from their syngogues and through their media empires. The moronic Mahometans are their foot soldiers who just blow things up.
Christendom is free from the bounds of the evil Semites.

Idolator! Christ is not God!

No, Allah is a devil.
There is One True God, and it is not Allah, but Christ.


"Christ" or "Christos" is merely the "Annointed One". You worship a man. A dead man at that. Fool.

Oh yeah ... +1

Anyways...... ignores all the trolls.

Since when can kids not celebrate Christmas? We still have school plays where I live, often where they talk about other holidays too (like Hannakah..sorry I can't spell it) but they often talk about Christmas and sing stuff like Here Comes Santa Claus. It's pretty much non-religious, but it still happens.

Idolator! Christ is not God!
Christus est Deus et Homo!

The Jews form the elite class, who plot every thing from their syngogues and through their media empires.

Ahem... we do NOT plot within the Synagogues. We do it at the corner deli, see they have all the free pickles we can eat and some of the best Pastrami. Plus this way lunch can be a tax write-off. It's a win win situation.


Naginah

Anyways...... ignores all the trolls.

Since when can kids not celebrate Christmas? We still have school plays where I live, often where they talk about other holidays too (like Hannakah..sorry I can't spell it) but they often talk about Christmas and sing stuff like Here Comes Santa Claus. It's pretty much non-religious, but it still happens.


That's how it was when I was growing up too. I really never saw the big deal about all of this.

If people want to celebrate christmas fine by me. But they must celebrate every other religious holiday. You just can't do one. Not everyone is a christian.

Christus est Deus et Homo!

Don't go speaking in tongues, now...

IDOLATOR! HERETIC!

Ahem... we do NOT plot within the Synagogues. We do it at the corner deli, see they have all the free pickles we can eat and some of the best Pastrami. Plus this way lunch can be a tax write-off. It's a win win situation.


Naginah
Oh those are only the Orthodox, the elites among the elites.

Ahem... we do NOT plot within the Synagogues. We do it at the corner deli, see they have all the free pickles we can eat and some of the best Pastrami. Plus this way lunch can be a tax write-off. It's a win win situation.


Naginah

Did ya have to tell him about the free pickles? Now he'll be gluing on payos and stealing all the pickles for himself.

Christus est Deus et Homo!

Liar. You're a homo. (couldn't resist)

Oh those are only the Orthodox, the elites among the elites.


Silly Rabbit! Who do you think makes the best Deli? There is this one Hasidic deli where I used to live. The family has been running it since 1882 or so and it really shows.



Naginah

Did ya have to tell him about the free pickles? Now he'll be gluing on payos and stealing all the pickles for himself.


Doh! That was still a secret? Man why doesnt' someone update the handbook more often?


Naginah

You're definately right, we shouldn't have any racist basterds telling us we can't celebrate CHRISTmas in school! BTW I'm new, nice forums!

JOIN DS CENTRAL FORUMS
http://forums.dshandheld.com/ :rolleyes:

In my World History Class, we studied religions...SEVERAL of them. Not just one. And it was in an educational manner, not in a "convert to one of these" manner. Something similar would work for teaching about Kwanza, Hannukah, and Christmas.

Actually, there shouldn't be a problem with kids celebrating religous holidays in school - AS LONG AS THE SCHOOL IS NOT ENDORSING IT. So...

-Kid singing "Silent Night" because he or she felt like it=OK
-School making kid sing "Silent Night"=Not OK

-Kid handing out Hannukah crafts from his/her own free will=OK
-School having a menorah(is that the name for the candle...thing...that has a candle lit every day in Hannukah?) lit every day=Not OK


See, as long as the school isn't ENDORSING anything religous, it's fine.

Of course, this is assuming it's a public school.

Anyways...... ignores all the trolls.

Since when can kids not celebrate Christmas? We still have school plays where I live, often where they talk about other holidays too (like Hannakah..sorry I can't spell it) but they often talk about Christmas and sing stuff like Here Comes Santa Claus. It's pretty much non-religious, but it still happens.

I think this thread was started in response to some of the stories being popularised within the american media of the so-called anti-christian/anti-christmas stance people have supposedly been adopting.

There was another thread posted yesterday about it, revealing that the subject is basically way overhyped, and is in fact 3 stories being repeated over and over (two of which have actually been revealed as untrue anyway).

Doh! That was still a secret? Man why doesnt' someone update the handbook more often?


Updates are rare because of the ongoing debate between the Judean Peoples Front and the Peoples Front of Judea on where is the best place to hide the afikomen.

So... let me get this right. According to some Christians, saying "Happy Holidays" of your own free will, so as to not offend someone, is bad. However, a representative of the government (such as a teacher, principal, etc.) saying "Merry Christmas," in effect equivalent to the local government endorsing Christianity, making the statement unconstitutional, as well as potentially offending someone, is good... why?

Not that I'm against Christmas or anything (any accusations of others being against it are just ridiculous), but last time I checked, being polite was good, and that included taking into account respecting alternative beliefs and practices of others so long as they do not harm you.

Updates are rare because of the ongoing debate between the Judean Peoples Front and the Peoples Front of Judea on where is the best place to hide the afikomen.


You mean that wasn't settled in 1999 along with the Fluffy or Hard Matzah balls Symposium?


Naginah

So... let me get this right. According to some Christians, saying "Happy Holidays" of your own free will, so as to not offend someone, is bad. However, a representative of the government (such as a teacher, principal, etc.) saying "Merry Christmas," in effect equivalent to the local government endorsing Christianity, making the statement unconstitutional, as well as potentially offending someone, is good... why?

Not that I'm against Christmas or anything (any accusations of others being against it are just ridiculous), but last time I checked, being polite was good, and that included taking into account respecting alternative beliefs and practices of others so long as they do not harm you.

In that case, I'd have thought it was obvious, because it endorses their beleifs.

If a muslim were to say happy ramadan, or the like, there'd probably more than a few complaints and raised eyebrows.

...Gotta love watching intolerance...

Anyway, I'm pagan and still celebrate Christmas. For the good reason that it's a pagan holiday with Christ slapped on. There's nothing Christiany about it. Trees, holy, family. All pagan stuff. Every culture has some sort of celebration about this time, Christianity is just the best at making theirs more important to everyone else.

If a kid wants to hum Xmas carols during class, more power to him. As long as he knows he really singing to a covered up holiday.

Trolls :sniper:

You mean that wasn't settled in 1999 along with the Fluffy or Hard Matzah balls Symposium?


It was on the agenda but the convention got cut short because of the Y2K scare and all of the accountants had to leave ot go help clients. This left us without a minyan and quorum couldn't be acheived, so all remaining motions were tabled.

Were you out of town or somethin'?

It was on the agenda but the convention got cut short because of the Y2K scare and all of the accountants had to leave ot go help clients. This left us without a minyan and quorum couldn't be acheived, so all remaining motions were tabled.

Were you out of town or somethin'?

I was trying to get my grandmothers Kugel recipe to come out right to serve afterwards, and it just wasn't working so I missed it. :( On the lighter side Apple-Pecan Blintz came out perfectly for a change.


Naginah

...Gotta love watching intolerance...

Anyway, I'm pagan and still celebrate Christmas. For the good reason that it's a pagan holiday with Christ slapped on. There's nothing Christiany about it. Trees, holy, family. All pagan stuff. Every culture has some sort of celebration about this time, Christianity is just the best at making theirs more important to everyone else.

If a kid wants to hum Xmas carols during class, more power to him. As long as he knows he really singing to a covered up holiday.

Trolls :sniper:


I wonder...is it legal to use trolls for target practice? If so, the archery team would probably be overjoyed!

I wonder...is it legal to use trolls for target practice? If so, the archery team would probably be overjoyed!
Hmm, I don't see a problem with using emm for targets, although they are usually a bit slow. *cough*

Anyway:
Troll :sniper:
Troll :mp5:
Troll :sniper:
Troll :mp5:
Troll :sniper:
Troll :mp5:

hehehe

No, Allah is a devil.
There is One True God, and it is not Allah, but Christ.


Allah = G_d. Same being, different name. Or did you miss the part that mentioned that G_d has many names ?
Furthermore, as pointed out, Muslems do not worship Mohammed. He is a prophet, a way to G_d, just like Jesus is for Christians. In fact, Muslems also consider Jesus a prophet and accept his teachings as such. They just don't believe either of them was the son of G_d in a literal, biological sense.

To return to the original point of this topic: historically speaking Christmas is NOT a celebration of the birth of Christ. All evidence from the bible in fact indicates Jesus was born nowhere near december. Yule, like Samhein, was a fest to celebrate the longest night, taken over by the church to make it easier for people to convert. As such celebrating it with christian songs could be seen as celebrating lies and destruction of cultural heritage.

If you want a good Christian fest in december, try the day of Saint Nicholas which is december 6th. Yes, that's right: the name 'Santa Clause' is derived from him. And history suggests he truly was worthy of the saint title.

Allah = G_d. Same being, different name. Or did you miss the part that mentioned that G_d has many names ?
Furthermore, as pointed out, Muslems do not worship Mohammed. He is a prophet, a way to G_d, just like Jesus is for Christians. In fact, Muslems also consider Jesus a prophet and accept his teachings as such. They just don't believe either of them was the son of G_d in a literal, biological sense.

To return to the original point of this topic: historically speaking Christmas is NOT a celebration of the birth of Christ. All evidence from the bible in fact indicates Jesus was born nowhere near december. Yule, like Beltaine, was a fest to celebrate the longest night, taken over by the church to make it easier for people to convert. As such celebrating it with christian songs could be seen as celebrating lies and destruction of cultural heritage.

If you want a good Christian fest in december, try the day of Saint Nicholas which is december 6th. Yes, that's right: the name 'Santa Clause' is derived from him. And history suggests he truly was worthy of the saint title.

Allah is NOT God!

i live in a tiny town in the middle of the desert and we would have to celebrate quite a few religious hoidays if we were just to cover those represented in the local population

christian, jewish, buddhist, hindu, navajo, just to name the ones im sure of.

i think that the same parents who moan about not having their kids come home with little manger scene art projects would end up protesting when their kids came home with pictures of menorahs, papier mache elephant gods, buddhas made out of pussywillows, and little bags full of corn pollen.

tossing in religious symbols without context may well be offensive to the practioners of the religions they come from and there is no time to adequately cover all traditions in elementary school.

i say just leave it out and let religion be taught properly by those who find it important to do so.Let me throw in one other thing to be taken into account--does anyone really think that christian fundamentalists are going to sit idly by while a teacher explains the holidays of Hanukkah, or god forbid, Ramadan, to their precious little bundles? Does anyone really think that even a third of those teachers could explain either of those holidays without fucking it up beyond belief? And we're not even getting into the more esoteric holidays. Teachers today are barely qualified to teach their classes, much less give religious holiday lessons to kids whose parents would pop a gasket if their little nuggets showed up with a Menorah one afternoon.