Perhaps a more rational argument would be to state the demographic make up of the community instead of accusing MCPS (and the community as a whole) of giving preferential treatment to one religion over another. It has a lot more to do with the fact that the schools would be virtually empty on Christmas and Jewish holy days.
If the muslim numbers support it then the problem will be resolved because individual schools will have attendance and staffing problems.

Just because Islam is responsible for so much death, killing, terrorism and subjugating women does not automatically mean that everyone who is not a muslim hates muslims.

"Just because Islam is responsible for so much death, killing, terrorism and subjugating women"

What a troll. Yeah, history and the current geo-political state of the world definitely prove Christians and Jews are way superior to Muslims. #sarcasm. Good lord. Read a history book or pick up a newspaper. You go on and talk crap below about Islamic law that you obviously have no grasp of. I can't believe your blatantly bigoted posts are allowed to stand. Great, I fed the troll, but seriously you're a shameful and embarrassing person and only topped by B Allen (who we all already know from his hundreds of posts is a complete racist when it comes to anything he views as not of the "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA", i.e. anything that isn't white or christian).

Yes, MCPS should also close on Eid ul Fitr and Eid Ul Adha, the two major holidays celebrated by a good number of county citizens who practice Islam.

I am all for it. It is long overdue!

Because Muslims are a very tiny minority in this county. In other states, and I can name some, Jewish holidays are not celebrated because Christians make up the vast majority of the population in that area. Not all Christian religious holidays are celebrated; Orthodox Christmas and Easter are NOT observed. Why? Because a small percentage observe those days. Also, Easter is always a Sunday and does not take away from attended school days. In agreement with France, headscarves should not be allowed in public schools; hats are not. The problem is Montgomery County tries to be so PC and in doing so, is making a negative impact. If people do not like what they currently receive in public schools, go to a private one for your religion or home school. Many Catholics have done so. It is IMPOSSIBLE to accommodate all people, all religions. Deal with it.

Just as long as 9/11 is the 1st holiday

Rashid A. Makhdoom

11:57 pm on Thursday, May 31, 2012

A religious observance that can only be observed or performed on a specific, ordained and prescribed time of the day, and if not performed or observed at that prescribed time of the day it is considered not observed or performed, and that prescribed time of the day conflicts with the school time, then for that religious observance the school should be closed. The two Muslim holidays proposed by Councilmember Levethal had to be performed at a prescribed time of the day and if not performed during that prescribed time period are considered not performed, so the schools should be closed to allow Muslim student to perform their religious practices. If there are other religious obserances which are ordained to be performed or observed during a perscribed time of the day and that time of the day conflicts with the school time then those days should also be observed as closed days for the schools.
Rashid A. Makhdoom

@jag...you are a pathetic excuse for a human being. You try to pontificate on every subject here and we can clearly see that you don't know "jack". What I do see is a typical spoiled little brat who wants to get his way and when you do not, you go on attack mode. I give facts, figures, comments about how absurd you people on the left are in your thought process and you can't take it, so you go on attack. HAHA, funny watching you people squirm.

Wow-so many comments generated here! I think all religions should be valued and everyone should be allowed to practice and not have the learning suffer as a result -an observance of no tests on these two holidays is an example of MCPS's consideration for the growing number of Muslim families in our school system. However, when does it end? There are not just 3 religions with special days of observance. There are already so many days of disruption, that it becomes more challenging to provide a continuing routine that our kids need to learn. (State testing creates weeks of disruption as well, and may even create more days of disruption as common core state standards are tested in 2014/15). I think it is best to keep school open on days when most staff can be in the schools. If a majority of the staff is Christian then it makes sense to close schools on Christian holidays. Many of our teachers and subs (and I don't know the percent) are Jewish so it also makes sense to close on these days as well. Remember, the focus should be about learning. As long as there are MCPS policies that protect our families so they can observe their own religions, I don't think we need to add more days off. We can still observe holidays and respect other religions while keeping school open.

We need to consider our childrens education. If we keep adding days and days off the children of the United States will lag further behind. It is hard to satisfy everyone in our great nation that accepts people from other countries and we are a great melting pot of diversity. Let us be content with the acknowledgment of an excused absence for that/those days. Some schools do not have "Christmas parties" they have "Winter Soltice" or "Holiday" parties to accomodate other cutlures. How far do we want to push this issue? Let our children focus on what is needed education.

@Jag I know and I have an understanding of the difference between religion and race/ethnicity/culture. "African American and Hispanic people don't have holidays...." is incorrect ,but I will let you do the research on that. The Hispanic community in their countries take off for Saint (religious) holidays. " I also have not seen any proposal to cut the school year short, like you fear." My fears were never stated on this blog. "Presumably, these two holidays would cut short the summer holiday by two days" We can also rule out any snow days or catestrophic events. We have had a earthquake in Montgomery County. In the end, I intrust that education will be the main and primal focus and if the system finds it suitable for days off, then it is. Let us stay clear of any underlining jab matchs on here, it is a waste of everyones time.

This is in response to Bill Marshall's comments about Islam being responsible for so much death, killing, terrorism... This is factually incorrect. History tells us that no community has been free from fanatics who kill in the name of religion. The goals of the KKK included, from an early time on, an intent to "reestablish Protestant Christian values in America by any means possible," (including killings) and included the belief that "Jesus was the first Klansman." Also hundreds of thousands of people were killed during the Crusades. What's more, it's not just religious communities that were violent. Hundreds of thousands of people were killed in the USSR in the name of communism. The LTTE which pioneered the use of suicide bombs, consisted a majority of Hindus and a minority of Christians.

With the increasing Muslim population in the area and professionals working in Montgomery County Public Schools, there should be some sort of measure taken to make the two Eids a holiday should they fall during the school year or school week. I believe if we are going to have our Jewish neighbors have their holidays recognized, we also need to do the same for the Muslim students and faculty.

If this is the case, then we need to look at the data.

Again, it is the left pandering to yet another group to get their votes. Cmon people, get over it. It just so happens that Christmas is at the end of the first half of the school year and has been set up that way and easter falls around the middle of the marking period. Maybe what needs to be done is take away the spring break thing at easter, so you people have one less thing to complain about. Easter always falls on a sunday, kids can go back to school the following day. I never had a problem with that and I went to a Catholic School. The libs always make a big deal and get "their panties in a bunch" over something that concerns them and them only, it is NOT about the people as a whole, they just think that they are the champions of all good causes...the liberal egotism is the anestetic that dulls the pain of stupidity...and the dems have a lock on egotism.

At what point does this become an proof of existance or acknowledgment, noone is being ignored. If they honor Muslim holiday(s) lets add the far share of Asian holidays, Hispanic holidays, Native American holdiays, African American holidays etc. etc. they all have voices too. It just simply is impossible to accomodate. The suggestion in a previous thread stated that going to a private school were the holidays specific to that school are observed might be the best way. Before you think I do not empathize; I am of a minority.

Is there a reason you have to ask someone else to find out the info you want?

This comment has been deleted for a violation of Patch Terms of Use: http://gaithersburg.patch.com/terms

@Saqib...is there a reason why you would even ask a question like that, are you anti-semitic? That would be like a white parent asking how many black teachers are there, now that would be considered by the leftists, democrats, so called progressives, or whatever you people call yourselves today, as "racist"...not trying to go off on another tangent here, mearly stating the facts that the ol double standard is being brought up here. Heck, I am friends with a lot of people who are muslim, because of the high tech industry I am from and they NEVER have said once that we should add these days to the days off. It is leventhal (as other democrat politicians in MD are doing) just trying to "stir up the pot". The kids should go to school all year long, with a couple week break in between quarters. Maybe the USA will get back on track instead of dropping in the worldwide rankings. Look who runs the education system, leftist, eliteists, peolple who think what is best, oh yeah and those who spend more time trying to stir things up about religious holidays...I REST MY CASE.

And yet, @B Allen, you don't rest your case. You go on and on and on ad nauseum. Even if I agreed with you after reading all your tirades I'd deny it.

Brother Saqib let us not compare Muslims with Christians or Jews. We should treat all religions equally. I recommend Muslim parents just get their kids excused for prayers and then they go back to school. We have so many few school year days, our kids need all the milliseconds needed to stay ahead.

I agree with Hussain Ali Usmani...maybe you Saqib Ali need to listen what he is saying. It is NOT about your "special interests". It is about everyone. Schools, companies, advertisements, banks, fundraisers, etc etc ALL had to drop the reference to Christmas, hell banks are NOT even allowed now to have Christmas trees in them during the holiday season or any other reference to religion and they are gvmt agencies. All this agitation from the left needs to stop. @Mary Sanchez ...too bad you can't handle it. I could care less if you agree or disagree, I am giving the facts. Youn can live in your lala land and "carry the water jug" for people like leventhal.

Mark, that sounds fair.

Why do we get only one day? (j/k 1/2)

Mark- is atheism a religion? I thought the definition of religion included a belief "in" something???

Mark, absolutely correct, if we had a day off for every religion we would never go to school!
I think we should have Pastafarian Friday's off. Maybe Wiccan Wednesdays!
<sarcasm>Just have your kids learn how to think in church </sacrasm>

I agree, Mark. At this rate, I'm thinking Montgomery County should just go to year-round school in order to accomodate all of these holidays.

I agree with that. Everyone needs a holiday! Heck lets just take off school and work on all holidays in all religions, since we are so diverse. That would leave about 50 days in the school year for learning.

Most definitely. Mark - You brought up a valid point, since Chinese, Koreans and aethiests pay taxes in your community then it is only fair they get their rights as you do. Thank you for bringing up this point.

Atheists already have a day.

If you want the Islamic community to get approval for the two holidays, it's not going to get it by winning an argument and going through a debate. It's not about being right or wrong, this is not a court room. It's about winning the hearts and minds from other religious views as well as getting respect and support from people in the Montgomery County in general. How do you expect to get any kind support from anybody in the community if your best efforts are to prove people that they are wrong and getting them offended in the process? This kind of attitude needs to stop. Focus on tolerance, compassion and getting others (whatever point of views) to be on your side.

Winter break and spring break did not "happen to coincide with Christmas and Easter". They were originaly called Christmas and Easter holidays until the government decided to put religion out of public schools. Back in the 1960's when I was in school, there was even prayer in school

@saqib, the winter and spring breaks have been and always have been around Christmas and easter...it is a fact of life in AMERICA. Get with the program. They used to be called Christmas break and Easter break but with the nitwits on the left with their race baiting and religious baiting to put ALL people against each other, they have taken away the words CHRISTMAS and EASTER...and are anti Christian...(REMEMBER AMERICA was built on CHRISTIAN beliefs) I WOULD NEVER go to a muslim country and complain that I want Christmas and Easter as holidays, because I know it is against your beliefs. What Leventhal is doing here is pandering to get votes and keep his job as a council member. He is worthless at that also. Leventhal and all the other council members need to sit down and shut up. In fact, they ALL need to be voted out. Including Leggett. So my answer to this, is forget adding more days off, the kids get enough. They should make the school year longer, especially when 80% of the kids that graduate from MCPS have to take remedial classes when they go off to college, even community college. KNOWN FACT, which was passed on to me by a guidence counselor.

@B Alllen, America based on Christian beliefs? Where in the constitution is this stated? In 1797, the Treaty of Tripoli (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Tripoli) under no circumstances is the United States a Christian nation.
I think someone needs some history lessons.

@gburgathiest...I NEVER said Christian as a religion, I was referring to "all men are created equal" as a Christian belief and the fact that we ALL have the rights to be all that we want to be, with free will to become what we want to become. If you want to be rich and famous...well then go for it, you want to be uneducated and get handouts all the time...well there are programs set up to allow people to do that, you want to have a major ego problem well then noone is stopping you there either...because Egotism is the anesthetic that dulls the pain of stupidity...next time read what is commented, don't spin the words to reflect your beliefs, or non beliefs. NOONE is stopping muslims, or anyone else for that matter, from practicing their religion, the kids don't need more days off. They have already put a band on christian groups from participating at schools...hell they even make a big deal about graduation ceremonies held in churches, that ALL religious artifacts need to be covered up. The lack of mentality on the left. WE THE PEOPLE don't need the likes of leventhal forcing his "idea of the day" in this case religion, down our throats, just like the taxes they force on everyone without our say. Evidently, YOU need the history AND reading comprehension lessons. I would venture to say that you are a graduate of MCPS...I am through with you, you will NEVER get it.

@B Allen, what is Christian if not a religion? You said "REMEMBER AMERICA was built on CHRISTIAN beliefs". I was pointing out, that America was not built on that. I guess being Christian (a majority in the US), entitles you to be more equal than other religions or lack of religions.
That was quite the non-sequitor moving to the banning of religious groups, religious organizations from participating in school ceremonies. That is just adherence to the first amendment.
Hmm, I'm just suggesting that we follow the constitution of the USA.
And I love the ad hominem attack on me, shows class in an online argument.

Geesh @B allen and @gburgatheist why don't y'all just take it out in the street and duke it out. Or at the very least agree to disagree. I'm really not finding anything enlightening or educational in your back-and-forth rants...although I do get a kick out of B Allen's spelling abilities (MOCO education, B?) and LOVE the atheist's polysyllabic offerings.

@Mary Sanchez, HA! you are pathetic, guess the only thing you have now to attack now is my spelling? As you can tell I do not have a MOCO PS education, I can think and do for myself. I don't "drink the kool-aide" or "carry the water" (like yourself) for those who think they know what is best for everyone. I don't need jokers like leventhal and his cronies shoving more crap down our throats. Go to a full year of school, NOT TO ACCOMMODATE RELIGIONS, which is the ONLY way you people look at it, but to give the kids more time in school and bring them up to the levels of other countries, not to be mediocre at best. BTW, you see who runs the educational system, the lefties. No wonder the kids are having to take remedial classes when they go off to college, they are NOT prepared. Just the facts again.

@Gburgatheist, why would anyone REALLY care what you have to say. Someone who is an atheist, who is just trying to stir things up??? What are you a Saul Alinsky, wannbe? Too bad you are not getting your way again...call your doc to increase your med...not an attack, just and observation.

@ B Allen - nope, I don't have a MOCO education either and yet, amazingly I can spell and express myself in a civil manner. Zowie. Neither does my daughter go to a Montgomery County school - she goes to a parochial school where she celebrates only the holidays that relate to our faith. But that doesn't mean that I don't see both sides of this argument. I carry nobodys "water jug" - and if anyone has finished off any koolaide, I would guess it to be you. It appears that you have had more than your share of bigoted hateful rhetoric koolaide...and thanks for sharing all your insightful comments with us. It makes us more cognizant of what we DON'T want to be.

@Mary Snachez, oh excuse me, I had one word out of 100 that was spelled incorrectly. Sounds to me you are carrying the water jugs for the left and you have a lock on the kool-aide jug too. Sounds as if you are an out of control lib because you make an issue out of an NON-issue. If the jackass leventhal had not said a word, we would NOT be discussing this NON-issue. If you went to catholic school, then your parents did not get their money's worth. You should have been paying closer attention in the classroom. There is NOTHING racial or bigoted or hateful coming out on my posts, I am making statements that are TRUTH, FACTS AND OBSERVATIONS, as to how you people make up issues just to create the second rule of Alinskys Rules for Radicals "Next the organizer must begin the task of agitating: rubbing resentments, fanning hostilities, and searching out controversy". This is what you people are up to now.

anything fair will do, wathever is decided should be applied to all.

yeah, if the politicians would just stay out of peoples business and stop trying to create controversy, there would not be a problem. But then again the dems just cannot keep out of peoples business, or their pockets.

Noone even said anything about religions until leventhal opened his big fat mouth.

Yes, we could ,institute sharia law for a day so that Americans can see what Islam is REALLY all about. We could beat some women and kill some infidels in effigy like they do in the middle east.

@David, MoCo is a sorry excuse to use as an example. The thought process of those who are running this place (and the republic of MD) and those of you who vote for these nutjobs, have made this area brunt of jokes around the country. Even my family who run unions, are die hard democrats and always vote party line (well, they may not be doing that this time aound), think that we have a nutjob as a governor and they hear some of the rediculous stories coming out of this area (you know ike the one about the woman whop could smell her neighbors smoking from inside her house with the windows shut, DUH!!!) and they can't believe that I still live here. I will be starting a new business within a year and it WILL NOT be in MoCo and three more years I will be out of here, so MoCo will lose yet another REAL taxpayer. Your comment, even though you are entitled to making it< is a definite 'THUMBS DOWN"

@David, oh and btw, should the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA start celebrating islam, then women won't be able to go to school and get an education, have a job, won't be able to vote, have to wear clothes to cover every part of their body except their eyes (then we won't have women to look at at the beach (which is a fovorite AMERICAN pastime). Also, if they would want to have an "affair" and get caught, they will get stoned to death, should I go on....NOT SO VERY FORWARD THINKING. I would say they ar emore REgressive, NOR THE DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM OUR COUNTRY WAS BUILT UPON. If you want to celebrate islam, move to the middle east...you can do it all you want.

You have never been to the Middle East, have you?

good point...I wonder what kind of name we can give them...

DUH!!! AF... You mean to tell me, everyone that sends their kids to MoCo PS are sending them into the lions den? You mean to tell me the teachers, staff, administrators, school board, superintendent, county council, leggett, (should I go on?) do NOT respect and are intolerant of my (and YOURS) children... I guess it took a comment from that big mouth leventhal to get things going and get the school system back on track and to be tolerant and respectful of ALL students.

Let them say their prayers in the morning and send them in with a late note. I don't think MCPS will be "intolerant nor disrespectful" of your religious views. I know I would not and I would go to bat if any staff member would make a big deal out of it.

leventahl is a big mouth and wants to stir up controversy...

Right on, Annie!!

yes, it is not only frustrating but it is also comical to read the comments on the thought process of the left in MoCo. Leventhal ALWAYS tries to stir up controversy, as do MANY other dems in the republic of MD. It is their own special interest that they are concerned about and those who "carry the water" for them, take their side. This was NOT an issue until leventhal opened his mouth. He needs to sit down, shut up and let residents of MoCo live their lives without controversy.

The heck are you talking about B Allen. Leventhal wrote a couple paragraph letter to the BOE president asking that she consider moving two vacation days to whatever dates these holidays fall on. Its about as inherently controversial as watching paint dry. YOU are one of the few on here trying to stir up crap by trying to relate this to everything under the sun that you don't agree with just because you get pleasure from spewing hate. It's psychotic. Goodbye. Enjoy your life. It seems oh so pleasant.

A 2nd "right on!", Annie!!!!

That is simply not true.

For crying out loud, we should add all the made up holidays like, Festivus, Kwanza and all that are listed here. http://holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/index.htm There is a day for EVERYONE...omg...WHAT A JOKE THIS IS!!!

@Gburgathiest... "This is ridiculous...but the ridiculous usually follows religion." What would you say if someone said that anyone who would want to be an athiiest is rediculous...don't you know In some Islamic countries, atheists face discrimination including lack of legal status or even a death sentence in the case of apostasy. There YOU have been educated again...but I suppose youw ill try and spin the truth!

This is ridiculous...but the ridiculous usually follows religion. And Secular Humanism.

St. Patrick would just be another Christian Holiday ;o)

It is not right to ignore the holidays of the much larger Asian population, which exceeds the size both of these, if holidays are to be granted to a smaller group. But see my earlier comment at 6:52 pm on Wednesday, May 30, 2012.

Theresa--what are those holidays observed by the apparently monolithic Asian population?

MoCoLoCo, Where have you seen these figures?
I have never heard them before but am interested in taking a look myself.

I see 4% of county as Muslim. Though it's based on 2000 info so it's likely different now.
http://www.city-data.com/county/religion/Montgomery-County-MD.html
my guess based on the county and country's demographic trend would be that % is higher now and is also significantly higher % when considering only school-aged children.

Here's the source: http://www.bestplaces.net/religion/county/maryland/montgomery

MocoLoco, Where did you get thes false statistics? I'd probably guess it is the opposite.

Again, Jeff, your comment just made my day.

Very funny!

I MOST DEFINITLY agree with that. I have been saying that for years. Way too much wasted time on the day after with people recuperating (worldwide) from watching the super bowl. You won't get the libs to go with it though, not controversial enough.

Brad is correct. There is no need to have a holiday. All the Muslim students need to do is bring a note from their parents.

0.7% of population. Not enough to close schools for the other 99.3%.

Seriously, though. I've been on Patch for many months now, and I have never ever noticed as many Muslim-sounding names. Are you all responding to some email campaign to weigh in on this issue?

@Sanja, give the lib democrats time and they will get to those. Anything to stir things up and get you people on the left attacking people who think that this whole thing that leventhal brought up is ridiculous...he is another Alinsky wannabe...Alinsky would say, "The first step in community organization is community disorganization." Seems all you libs feel "empowered" with the chief community organizer in the white house.

Why wouldn't they weigh in on an issue of direct concern to them? Leftist propaganda? More intolerance. The proposal isn't being made by a Muslim, should you care to read, "Brad." Scan UP.

Brad -
What type of propodganda are you in favor of? Teh propoganda that favors harted and exclusion?

I am amazed to see that religious biggots never learn a lesson, they always end up loosing no matter how long it takes, but they are always coming at full speed with garbage comments beieving they know something about islam.
This country belongs to no one faith, get real and deal with it.

amazing how lefties try to spin things. The democratic party, the party of the Ku Klux Knal and racial intolerance... because of your ego, you people think you are so righteous. egotism is the anestetic that dulls the pain of stupidity.

It could be that you are not familiar with muslim sounding names, but should that really matter if you want to be fair and honnest?

the libs got them started and then it wwas just a "flash in the pan"

Ken,
As you know students are already allowed to do that...........

Is there enough leave requests to instate Easter Monday as a holiday? The holiday is on Sunday, Why Monday is a holiday then? Was their so many leave requests on Jewish Holidays to doubt schools? I doubt that.

Ahmed, anything fair should be okay, let's treat all faiths equally so no children feel as they are less of citizens than others.
Fairness should be the key.

I doubt if the children are "feeling as if they are less of a citizen". It is you people that act like children and complain because you feel that you are superior, you feature yourself as being sanctimonious, champions of ALL social programs and testify to your own goodnees. I see conservatives being more level headed, fair to everyone ALL Americans and not catering to every little "pet project", "special interest" thought for the day, as leventhal has conjured up to create controversy.

My holiday (self-proclaimed) is the 'Feast' of St Patrick. Can you add that to your list of holidays? Hummm! Sarcasm fully intended 'cause this holiday 'thing' is getting out of hand! And, by the way, JFK was 'also' (Martin Luther King Day) assassinated in case anyone missed that 'day in history'. Yet, barely a mention of that horrendous day in November let alone National holiday! Or a national holiday for Robert Kennedy. He was indeed highly involved in civil rights movement. We could go on & on with adding holidays, Councilman Leventhal. And with each one what rings in my ears most is the bombardment of commercials advertising socalled 'special holiday store sales' (Mattress Discounters being the most annoying). Ah, 'the Church of Mattress Discounters'! I guess adding more holidays might indeed boost the economy! LOL!

Mentioning the dates when JFK and MLK and RFK were killed reminds me of the different reactions I witnessed. When President Kennedy was killed I was living in Yemen, a 100% Muslim country, and the outpouring of love and respect and compassion from the Yemeni people to us Americans was memorable. I still remember seeing many Yemenis with their eyes streaming with tears extending their affection to us; they truly loved JFK and were devastated by the tragedy. Even the Soviet Russians put aside their Cold War animosity that day and came to the US Embassy, where they grieved along with Americans. Absolutely no one expressed anything other than sorrow and empathy at that time - there was no happiness expressed by anyone.

Contrast it with 1968, when I was living in rural Kentucky. On both days of assassination I saw and heard Americans, who called themselves Christians, hoot and holler and laugh with joy to learn that those men had been murdered.

@Temperance...you are so full of it... certainily not what I saw on the news, read in the papers and experienced first hand growing up. I can still remember whree I was and how I felt when they announced it over the loudspeaker in the catholic school I attended. We prayed... you are trying to stir up crap...typical liberal.

if you like this country, read up on US history: The US was founded to free people from the oppression of state-sponsored religion.

@Caine, History lesson, "In God we trust" was not placed on money until the 1950s as a result of McCarthyism and the "red scare", likewise the change in the pledge.
Where are your sources that state America was founded on Christianity?
I love this country, only think we should treat all equally. I think we should follow the laws of the constitution, one of the greatest documents every created, and keep religion/governement separate.

Caine,

You sound idiotic. Who told you that Muslims do not 100% believe in " In God we trust." They do believe in God and they trust in him. Besides the point, this country was founded on the principle of freedom of religion. And who are you to tell people to leave if they do not have the same believes like you do? Anyways, you name says it all "Caine".....full of Jealousy and hatred. the bible says so, doesn't it???

This is not true, get some enlightning readings so you know what this country has been about from creation.
On the other hand, you are not more american than musmims, jews, hindus and sikhs, but i can see that you are one of the ignorant biggots who satisfy their urges in batching others.
what a sad life !!!

Ammar Najar

I hope you are being sarcastic?

About Christianity being well respected by Muslims? Of course that's not a joke. I guess you'd be surprised by a lot of things if you ever took an Islamic studies course or two. The massive overlap between Christianity and Islam (including that guy named Jesus) isn't lost on most of those who practice the latter.

Christianity is well respected in the Muslim world? How soon can we build a church in Syria, Egypt, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran
etc. etc.?? Please, do tell!

Jane Abraham....

There are hundreds of churches in Syria, Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Iraq, etc. But unfortunate for you, the apparent lack of education and worldly travels prohibit you from knowing so. I urge you to read a book or take a trip abroad to learn.

Sounds fair, accomodate all, or accomodate none.

Mr. "Fisher" - please reveal yourself to us your real name - why hide? You did not read what I said....which is 'build' a church in the Muslim world. Sorry for you, I am educated and have traveled and have seen firsthand - that is how I am sure. Yes, there are churches in Egypt (New Year's massacre at a Coptic church), churches targeted in Iran after the collapse of Sadam's regime, etc. etc. What is left of the churches in the Muslim world, they are doing their best to extinguish. So, I ask again: Where can one BUILD a church in the Muslim world? Your faith does NOT bend to us. All of this is off the mark of this debate anyway but does impact it. The real truth behind this matter is that at the turn of the century, immigrants wished to assimilate as quickly as possible - language, clothing, etc. Now, everyone wants us to bend to their native culture and there are 160 countries represented in public schools in Montgomery County, clearly making it impossible to please everyone. But, this is America - you have a chocie if you don;t like public. Private school or home school. The mission of a school is to educate children.

Real deep, Jeff. I definitely value you well-stated opinion over that of my religious upbringing, a double-major that included Theology, and multiple personal experiences visiting various Islamic countries. Bu-bye.

@Jeff, you are correct about the money. It was the pledge and the US motto that was changed in 1957
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_God_We_Trust

....nonsensical. Teachers aren't going to be paid more. How on earth did you reach that conclusion? And they aren't going to work any less either - obviously the schools would still have to meet the same number of days of instruction, overall. Presumably, the BOE just pull from vacation days in June or August.

Temperance,
A very honest and well said comment. Your solution seems like a fair and good idea.....kudos.

So, how would this work for kids who do not practice any religion? Do they get two days off for no reason, or would they have to stay in school? My kids have been told they couldn't take off to attend family events such as weddings or birthdays.

I'm also uncomfortable with any policies that require kids to say WHICH holiday they're off to acknowledge. Unless you've had kids in MCPS, you have no idea how difficult it is to get an actual excused absence.

Maybe it's time for a full review of the whole absence policy. Remember the controversy when MCPS said it was closing schools so kids and their parents could to attend Obama's inauguration? Are we going to have a repeat of that next year?

I completely agree with 2 floating holidays, similar to personal days employees have. Kids are in school to learn and this is getting way too twisted.

I totally agree with the floating holiday idea (or excused absence which is what it was caleld in my day), such as personal days are given to employees. I do NOT believe for a millisecond that a student who chooses to stay home for a holiday is forced to fall SOOOO far behind. Hooey. How many times have you had to remove your kids for doctors appointments, sick days, even a vacation that perhaps overlapped with a school day. One or two days missed per year max. will not cause major disruption.

Thanksgiving is not a secular holiday, it is a religious holiday.

@jrentz1...you are being educated http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanksgiving

Well said. Seems weird that a handful of people here are railing against this - some simply calling it impractical (or trying to relate it to Mattress Warehouse - yes, my brain still hurts from that one) and some others going as far as calling it un-American (hooray for our resident racists making an appearance). Does having two days off for these holidays instead of having the two days off during summer vacation seriously detract from your livelihood or something? Who cares. Allow the community to have the holidays. It's a mainstream religion (like 2.3 BILLION people, mainstream) and it's two days. If it's a non-mainstream religion asking for a dozen holidays then go ahead and have a debate. Leventhal's request for consideration is so obviously a non-issue.

Any suggestions on what happens if montgomery county residents who are NOT muslims or christians or jews (i.e. hindus, sikhs, jains, buddhists) would like to see MCPS closed for their holidays as well? Shouldnt the main purpose of schools be to educate children? Isnt "religious education" best taught by emphasizing the core values that are common to all religions (being honest, caring for others, seeking knowledge - the reason the Quran tells us Allah created mankind in the first place!!) rather than rituals and traditions? And isnt this education in core values much better taught at homes and schools where children from different religious backgrounds spend time together in schools than by going their separate ways in "places of worship" where priests and molvis assure them they have the worlds best religion?

Islam is "mainstream" world-wide but not here. Let the Muslim students take the day off and not disrupt school for others. Jewish holidays are not taken by all school disctricts, only those with a critical mass of Jewish students.

You got it all

good points Shayan but again, he is pandering for votes and support and following Saul Alinskys rule Next the organizer must begin the task of agitating: rubbing resentments, fanning hostilities, and searching out controversy, in order to pit groups against groups, neighbor against neighbor, family members against family members and people against people. He and other like him need to go. I see through their charades, too bad many people are living with blinders on. There was NO need to bring this up in the first place.

Brad -
Jordan, Turkey. Egypt, Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, etc. are all Muslim countries with Christian minorities. They all observe Christian holidays out of respect. The only example you mentioned is Saudi Arabia where Jewish holidays are not observed. For your information, Saudi Arabia does not have any Jewish population.

Aside from political and modern problems that arose from colonialism, Islam highly regards Christianity and Judaism. Islam refers to them as people of the Book, meaning the holy books. Both the Torah and the Bible are considered holy in Islam and therefore you will never see them burnt or disrespected. Islam allows marriage between Muslims, Christian, and Jews as well. Islam also allows Muslims to have food prepared by Christians and Jews. Probably you should read about Isam more to educate yourself about the positives rather than following a blinding media that promotes hatreds.

Brad I am Muslim but I am not Saudi. There are many internation expatriate communities living Saudi Arabia and the people do get excused for their holidays. You have to differentiate between Saudis and Muslims. Other Muslim countries do have Christian holidays and those with Jewish populations do have their holidays off.
Two totally separate things. Moreover, we as Americans should not stoop to the level of Saudi Arabia.

As a Muslim, I prefer Muslim kids only get excused for their holiday. I cannot speak for right wing Saudis, but I can speak for majority of Muslims and I do respect all faiths.

Mainstream Islam and Quran recognize Christians and Jews as Ahley Kitab or People of the Scripture. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) actually had Christians from Najran visit him. The Christians actually stayed in his mosque, debated with Muhammad and Muhammad even made room so the Christians can even pray in the mosque of the Prophet.

As a result, the Saudis are actually not following the true Islam. Brad I encourage you to visit me or my mosque during Ramadan and have Iftar dinner with us and please invite me during Christmas or Easter.

Brad, learn from genuine sources before you adventure to comment on something you don't know.
AntonFischer gave you a summary to get you started with.

The issue here is that not all faiths are being treated the same.
There is no honest explanation that can justify why schools are closed on major religious holidays for christians and jews, but not closed on muslim holidays.
Maybe MCPS never thought of this before as being unfair, but now it has been brought to their attention, let's hope that they will update the policy and treat all three faiths the same.

M.Diallo,
I love your comment. You sound level headed. You summed all the wise comments.

Repeat and reiterate: It is a numbers game (Christian and Jewish teachers probably make up at least 80%). Schools would be empty without them on Jewish and Christian holidays. Not true with Islam or any of the other small religious groups. It truly is a logistics issue, not a discrimination issue. This sounds like little kids whining "It's not fair." No, life isn't.

yeah, "one will lie and the other will swear to it"

@Zaffer, he is just pandering for your vote. Also a smoke screen to take our minds off the tax and fee increases they just passed and the reduction in services that our tax dollars are already paying for.

Hussein i desagree with you.
This is not about compelling non muslims to observe muslim believes, but if you want to put it this way, we can say that children of other faiths are currently being compelled to observe christian believes just because they are staying home on christian holidays. We are talking about days-off, and not worshipping, the same way muslim children stay home on christian and jewish holidays but don't have to go to churches or Syngogues.
When children are just excused they still have to catch up with whatever they missed during those holidays.
Let us just treat all the children the same way, accomodtae all for religious holidays, or accomodate none.

This will not prevent muslims to invite non muslims for Iftar, separate issues.

A religious observance that can only be observed or performed on a specific, ordained and prescribed time of the day, and if not performed or observed at that prescribed time of the day it is considered not observed or performed, and that prescribed time of the day conflicts with the school time, then for that religious observance the school should be closed. The two Muslim holidays proposed by Councilmember Levethal had to be performed at a prescribed time of the day and if not performed during that prescribed time period are considered not performed, so the schools should be closed to allow Muslim student to perform their religious practices. If there are other religious obserances which are ordained to be performed or observed during a perscribed time of the day and that time of the day conflicts with the school time then those days should also be observed as closed days for the schools.
Rashid A. Makhdoom

Bravo Mr. Usmani; what you said goes hand in hand with excused absence or floating holiday. One or two days per year will not cause failure!!

@Brad, you are ABSOLUTLY right. leventhal and all the rest of the worthless dem councilmembers and exec, has continuously taken advantage of the taxpayers in MoCo by voting to raise our taxes and spend our money like it was his own. He also encouraged groups like ACORN and Casa to sign up illegals to vote, get drivers licenses, get on welfare, get free housing, medical, dental, education, etc. He and others like him are trying (as I stated before) create controversy in order to create a revolution here. He feels he is more empowered now with the community organizer and Saul Alinsky follower in the white house. All the more reason I don't trust leventhal.

You know what, contrary to what you think, i don't believe muslims have to accept to suffer or to be mistreated or to disregards their rights, or to endure anything the jewish community had to endure in the past for unfortunate reasons, this is the 21st century America my brother, we are not going back to what shouldn't even be there in the first place.
With all due respect, please stop telling muslims that they should not be lobbying for things they believe are only fair!

As far as inviting non muslims for Iftar, it has been happening every year, and will still happen every Ramadan, this has nothing to do with muslims lobbying for accomodtaions and fairness.

Please stop demobilizing a community that's only asking to be treated equally.

Just following up on Hussein Ali Usmani's suggestion, The Muslim Community Center in Silver Spring has been doing just that for a number of years now.
This year, Ramadan starts July 20, 2012. Iftar (breaking of the day long fast) will be held at sunset each day. State and County officials, Schools Teachers, Police and Firemen, neighboring churches. Interfaith groups have been routinely invited in the prior years and will be invited this year too.
Center is open to ALL. Please stop by anytime and feel free to join us for Iftar during the month of Ramadan.

Arshad Qureshi

Well guess what Ali usmani, muslims have only two Eid the entire year, so i wonder why you are making it sound like they are asking for a week or more, like chrismas break for example.
Please drop the drama, only two days trough the entire year !!!

@Hussein Ali, you sound more level headed then that M. Diallo...His post sounds like he is trying to "stir things up" and create controversy. @Diallo, they don't call it Christmas break because of you people ranting and raving and throwing temper tantrum, about it and to seperate church and state. Well you got your way and you want more??? Now you want to reinstate a bond between church an state by giving more days off for religious holidays? You people want your cake and eat it too...you definitly do not make any sense at all because you cannot keep track of what you post.

You family would nappe after Eid prayer, it doesn't mean all muslim families do the same thing.
There is a way Eid is supposed to be celebrated, muslims are trying to make that possible for their families, don't make it sound like they are asking too much.

@M.Diallo...don't be disrespectful to someone who is clearly heads above you in intellect. I would definitly say that Hussein Ali is more level headed than you would ever be. You are all over the place with your comments...get a life.

@B.Allen,
Like you know what is intellect :-) LOL
I am following you all over the place because of all you nonsensical comments trying to spin the facts.
You seem to have an agenda here based on personnal issues with Leventhal, that have nothing to do with schools or muslim holidays.
The problem you have with me is that i am not playing in your hands.

By the way, I can clearly see that you having a life.

yeah, leventhal is a lier, cheat, crook, loves stirring things up and loves picking MoCo taxpayers pockets using us at ATM machines (just as the unconstitional cap and trade tax he shoved down our throats). He thinks it is his way and not our way (including you and others like you). He wants to control your life and you let him by defending him. Politicians work for us, not us for them. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7iyT9HEDZs

and btw Diallo...I would expect you to not (as you put it) "play into my hands" You are a typical left wing nutjob who only see what you believe. Too bad you can't see through the deceipt and the lies from the leftist like leventhal...you can attack me all your want, I expect you people to do so when you cannot accept the truth. That is all you people know what to do, but you can't handle it when you are called on it...you are not as smart as you may think you are

@B.Allen
Interesting, you came after me and you are now playing the victim? :-) LOL
Wether i am smart or not is a different debate.

Your proposition is at least fair to all.
I beleieve we should either accomodate all students or accomodate none at all, because you cannot gine an honest convincing explanation to the muslim children as to why school is closed on christian and jewish holidays and not on muslim holidays.
So let's be fair to all by accomodating all children or not accomdating any children for religious holidays.

jerry: this does not make sense. easter, christmas, rosh hashanah, yom kippur, christmas are set days/seasons, have been for hundreds of years. How could students adjust their religious observances?

I know your kind.
No time for biggots today.

Very well said, this should be the spirit driving this debate, love, not hate!!!

Kudos, Hussein! Well expressed!

Unbelievable !
A non muslim has proposed this policy change in order to be fair to muslim children in the school district, it is incredible to see that it is a muslim that come out here and throw a campaign to discredit the proposal calling it not important or not needed.
I am even not sure what to make of your comments Husseyni, you are talking like observing two days total in a year for muslim holidays will make it impossible for the school system to survive, how many days are these schools observing for christmas and easter breaks?
As long as time-off is not for observing a muslim holidays you have no objections, right?
Are you a muslim or are you posing as a muslim?
If you are truly a muslim, well understand that what's not important to you is important to a big majority of muslims, and i encourage the community to go for it and not let you discourage them.

Fact is you will find guys like Husseini in every community who don't take their own community needs as important as other communities needs, you just need to know how to work around them when you need something that's only fair to all.

Contrary to Husseini, i don't think too much is being asked here.

By the way Husseini, Sharon gave you the Kudos you were looking for, i hope you are enjoying it!

@Hussein...YOU DA MAN!!!! like I said before diallo can't keep up with the number of lies, untruths, non factual info that it has posted here. His comments sound more like a radical wannabe and we have NO PLACE for people like that here.

@B.Allen,
I was also thinking that you are a radical whose only objection is that muslims are being accomodted.
I know your type, people like you cannot bring themeselves to approve anything that has the "muslim label", be it fair or not.

So what you are doing here is nothing new, we muslims have seen worst, and we have dealt with it.

Call me a radical if it satifies your urges, that will not change the facts here, and Leventhal was honest enough as a leader to see it, and courageous enough to bring it up.
Whatever grieffs you have against this man is your problem to deal with, do not mix it up with the current proposal asking for fairness on behalf of muslim children.

@B.Allen
I am not sure what you mean by wannabee but it sur sound like another ignorant comment.
I am a muslim, a citizen of this country who will not shy away from claiming what he sees fair for his community.
Your agressivity and dishonesty about this subject will not make any diffecerence, but you can certainly keep on going that road, not sure you can help it anyway!

@Diallo...you throw the lable "bigot" around, you sound like you are the bigot. Attacking a "brother" muslim because of what he believes? Give me a break, you bouce all over. Get off your "soapbox", drop the subject becuase you assume too much and you definitely take the cake on the first three letters of the word ASSume...you are a fool playing into the hand of leventhal

@B.Allen
Now you want to make it sound like i am attacking a brother muslim, you are too good!
But you know what, my opinion will remain the same wether i am addressing a muslim or a non muslims, so drop it, it won't work.

Excellent statement, well said.

It isnt reinventing the wheel. It is respect. In Dearborn Michigan they respect Ramandan. even this past summer 2011 when Ramadan was during the summer, the islamic athletes don't eat or drink while in football/ baseball/track practice until after sunset so the PUBLIC schools are flexible and have practices AT NIGHT.

@Hussein, it is not shoving anything down peoples throat (as leventhal is trying to do to get muslims to vote for him next go around) that we are saying. You bring up a good point about "So ever year Ramadan starts 11 days earlier. In 2000, we had Eid Al Fitr on January 6th and this year we will have Eid Al Fitr in mid-August", should the school days off schedule be different every year??? What if the holidays fall on days when school is not in session, like during summer break...should MoCoPS give the days off anyway? I wonder...now that will stir up some debate for the libs to sink their teeth into.

@Joe, exactly but you can't tell these kool aide drinking libs that...it may hurt their egos when they find out it is true.

@Joe Thomas
trolling for a community's support is not new in politics, if he cares about our needs enough to bring them up, why will muslims not support him?

Jo I know his neighbors and I've been told his wife is stuck with him and would leave if she had the money. Ali is a controlling monster who pushes his wife around and is a obnoxious jerk to his kids.So controlling that he tired to force her to have an abortion when they found out their first baby was going to be mentally retarded. Read about it online. You can't make this stuff up. He resents her for being Christian and she regrets marrying someone who hates Christians and Jews. They put on a good act, but it's a horrible marriage. Why a good Christian girl would want anything to do with the likes of this MUSLIM creep is beyond me. I suspect it has nothing to do with religion, but all about economics. She married him for money (cause it wasn't for looks!) and he wanted a trophy. Period end of story. I'm warning my daughter against making such a foolish choice.

The fact that you and BFP are reduced to such shameless personal attacks says nothing about Mr. Saqib Ali and volumes about you.

People, vote for whoever you believe stand for values of justice and fairness in the country, don't let anybody tell you who you should or should not be supporting, this is your decision to make based on your own sense of truth, justice, fairness and love (not hate) in society.

yeah, that is why I vote for those who are LESS likely to bring up NON issues such as this just to cause controversy, in the name of "fairness". That is why I would NEVER vote for someone like leventhal. If only you people knew how much of your hard earned taxdollars he has scammed form you, I know you would change your tune about him. If not, I feel sorry for you...not really

B.Allen, don't feel sorry for me, as know better than you what is or is not right for me.
Please quit insulting people just because they don't agree with you, try respecting others and make your point without behaving the way you are right now.
Don't waste your time telling me who is doing what or what not, you have the right to your opinions, people who vote for this guy have the right to their opinions as well.
So quit feeling sorry for us, and please stop insulting people !!!

Not insults Diallo, just the truth and the facts...too bad you can't take it. I DO feel sorry for you with your one sided viewpoint. We don't need people like leventhal and you trying to create controvery. This is a NON issue and should never have been brought up...unless now you people want to reinstate a bond between church and state.

B.Allen, it is clear that this is a NON issue for you, everything you wrotes shows that.
But who are you to speak for us muslims?
You really are a case my dear!

@Diallo, you tell me I am a case??? sounds to me like you have an anger management problem or maybe just a chip on your shoulder. You are the one that attacks, as you did you fellow muslim (Hussein Ali) because he came out with a realistic viewpoint on the non issue that leventhal made into an issue. Leventhal is really a scumbag if you follow what he has done to the taxpayers in MoCo. If you look and see how he likes to use us as ATM machines and increase our taxes for as he calls it, the social good, but takes away our services that we pay for...you may change your tune. I did after being in the democrat party for 30 yrs. I could not stand to see what he and others like him were doing to ALL taxpayers, even the ones that voted for him and others like him.

You can bring anybody you want to any mosque or muslim community center in your area. The invitation is not meant to convert you or chanjge your way of life.
The only goal behind it is to give non muslims the opportunity to know how muslims in their communities live and worship.
To put it differently, get to know the muslims by personal experience, not by listening to muslim haters.

Diallo, get the chip off your shoulder. Noone dislikes muslims, I have been to many homes and have had great food with my muslim friends. Democrats are the ones that try to pit everyone against you, don't let them fool you. You will find more friends that are conservative than you will in the democrat party, the party of the Klu Klux Klan. Hell the democrat party are the biggest racists out there, why do you think after 50 yrs kids in inner cities are still failing in schools, on drugs, on welfare, are unemployed, etc. It is because the dems run the cities...look at the facts.

B.Allen,
For saying that nobody hates muslims, you must not be living in this country, you are soooo out of touch it is unbelievable.
But it doesn't matter anyway as you seem to have a pretty clear agenda here, go for it, it will not stop us for asking what we see as fair and just.

But Mitch, do you only think that Abrahamic religions should get their holidays? What about Hindu festivals? Buddhist holidays? Where do we stop? I'm not saying that I don't think they should be given those days - I'm just saying that the picture is bigger than the yes or no that some people give so easily. The size of the Christian and Jewish population within the Montgomery County Schools (including teachers, of course) makes it difficult to effectively have classes on the holidays for those faiths. Is it the same for the Muslim population in Montgomery County? Has it proven disruptive when those students take their excused absence on those days? Has it proven difficult to replace Muslim teachers who observe those holy days? That's the real crux of the matter in my opinion.

Well said Mitch, treat all children equally, two days out of the entire years will not kill the school system.

@Mitch, you just want a couple more days off. I am sure you would want it with pay also? I am sure the worthless teachers union will then try and press for that.

While I do not support the proposal (for reasons I have already explained above), I also think that it is incorrect to label this a "liberal" issue. If anything, my experience both in Pakistan and here in the US is that it is the "devoutly religious" people (any religion, including christianity, judaism and islam) who seek to promote religious rituals and traditions, and sometimes (as in this case) this is at the expense of promoting core values of the kind that are best learnt by children in schools and homes and not in "houses of God". And guess what "religious people" are in every society? "liberal" or "conservative"?

@Hussein, noone hates you. I have been to muslim friends homes and have been fed things that I had no idea what I was eating but I enjoyed all of it. What we don't like is politicians like leventhal (and their water carriers) shooting their mouths off, as liberal democrats do, about issues just to cause controversy and conflict between people. We would NEVER have been discussing this topic if leventhal kept his mouth shut.

Hussein, i don't live where you live, but this interfaith dialogue and iftar invitations have been going on for years, i will say that again, they have been going on for years, so i am not sure what is your point!

As to people who hate muslims, some will come to understand that they are wrong, but some will only stop hating when muslims make themeselves disappear somehow, and we all know that will not happen.
We are all americans, the fact that some people don't want to accept this fact is not ending anytime soon. Therefore muslims will gladly work with those (like Leventhal) who are open minded and are willing to take us as fellow citizens, to accept that we all have to be treated equally as americans etc...
As to those who think that muslims are less americans than they are, we will stand up to this argument anywhere the need arises.

Wether you like Leventhal or not, that is not the issue here, so let's not avoid the issue.
All these children need to be treated eqaully regardless of their religious belief, and that is not happening right now. So this proposal from Levnethal is only fair, either accept is or drop or the religious breaks out of MCPS to make it a leveled field.
This is about being fair to all the children, it doen not matter how some are trying to spin the whole story here, fact is there is currently no fairness.

@Brad, exactly what I have been trying to get through top the libs that vote for the guy and others like him. If people only knew what he has done to this county in the name of fairness and testifying to his own personal goodness. If they only followed the money and see the waste that he has given away, hard earned taxpayers dollars, to people and groups to buy his votes. The whole county council is running a ponzi scheme, tapping those who work hard, running up our taxes and taking more and more services from us. This criminal activity goes all the way up to OWEmalley. But then this is an another topic of discussion. If people would follow the money and not try to pontificate their so called goodness as a liberal, they will see that they are getting screwed, especailly when they try to mask everything with an issue like this. I guess it is being brought up to ease our minds for all the tax increases we will be seeing here real soon.

Please tell us what Christian holidays close the schools?

@jnrentz1
are you telling me you don't know on which christian holidays school closes?
i am sure you areoking right? :-)

I have nothing against christian or jewish holidays, but if you feel like closing on only two days to accomodate muslim holidays is a problem, then how can you then tell me that there any fairness in treatment of these kids?

@Mdiallo, you have not clue. Now what you are saying is you don't want to see a separation of chuch and state. You want to see days off for a religious holiday. You people on the left want your cake and eat it too. No wonder dems screw things up all the time, they can't remember which lie they told 5 minutes ago, so the story keeps changing. There is NO mention of Christmas break or Easter Break...it is winter break and spring break now, because you people wanted no reference to the christian holidays and to keep the separation between. Get the facts straight and quit spinning the lies to try and cover up for a worthless county councilmember and all the other dems that screw things up. Not insults, just the facts and the truth...we know where leventhal is going with this and you people cannot fool us. As a dem for 30 yrs, I sat in meetings and heard all this crap and that is why I tore up my membership card and stopped giving to them. I don't hear any GOPers starting issues like the dems do...like I said before...spoiled little brats.

@B.Allen

Be whatever you want to be, democrat, republican, independent or whatever else out there, that is your problem, we don't need to know all that !

The current proposal is not linked to your political colors, so drop the useless comments about your political life.
If you have something against Leventhal then vote against the guy, end of story !!!

As to the way MCPS children are treated when it comes to religious holidays, there is currently no fairness, and thanks Leventhal for being courageous enough to bring the subject back to the floor.

@Diallo, all of your posts here just shows that you have a chip on your shoulder. You need to get with the program.

"I can't think of one muslim country that has it."

LOL, i REALLY hope that's a joke going over my head or something, but judging from your other comments I would guess you just don't know very much of anything on this subject. Feel free to read a bit or think a little harder before coming up with these nonsensical comments.

Brad -
No matter what people say here, you will not enlighten your mind. It appears that you have never read a book about Muslim countries or Islam. It seems that you follow someone with deep hatred to Islam and is full of Islamophobia. Could you enlighten us with what is your religious affiliation so I can avoid it or convert away from it, because it surly sound full of hatred.

Brad -
No matter what people say here, you will not enlighten your mind. It appears that you have never read a book about Muslim countries or Islam. It seems that you follow someone with deep hatred to Islam and is full of Islamophobia. Could you enlighten us with what is your religious affiliation so I can avoid it or convert away from it, because it surly sound full of hatred..

Brad, you are only showing your ignorance about islam.
First, those country you are refering to are not following
Second, we are american muslims living in america, why are you telling us about what's happening in other muslim countries?
You won't admit that you are being hypocrites but this is one example, you just cannot digest the fact that american muslims are as american as you are, but you better accept this fact because there is nothing you can do about it.

Oh please. What's that got to do with anything? The point is you want us to figure out how to find the money to hire a sitter (all day) for yet another day when I have to work! You can get your holiday just as soon as your wife comes here to babysit my kids on all the days YOU want off. Hypocritical jerk.

brad: ? this related to having 2 muslim holidays in MCPS how ?

@Brad
You should be rushing to the library instead of waisting your time talking about a subject you have no clue about.
If only you knew how bad you are displaying your lack of knowledge, you would be carefull when writing.

@ M.Jameel
Great comment you posted there, like i said this issue is about the lack of fairness in MCPS policy.
You nailed it very well.

@jnrentz1
Are you serious?????
What does Israel has to do with us making decisions for our school system in the US?

I told you people (jnrentz1 and the like of B.Allen) but you won't listen, it does not matter how hard you try spinning the subject, the facts are very clear, and they will remain so.
So keep on trying! :-) LOL

@Brad
everybody on this forum has noticed you as a biggot and a muslim hater, it shows all over your postings, and more than one person called you on it, so your comments about hate are describing yourself.
What you cannot stand is having someone stand up to you and tell you how ignorant you sound, well nothing but ignorance shows in your writings, and i am not the only one telling you this.
You are so ignorant, that it is clear you have never left your city let alone the US, you know nothing about the outside world, but you certainly can run your mouth.
I do not need to begg for respect because i know that people who respect themeselves will respect others, your posts show clearly that you are not one of those who respect themeselves, that is why you are here being a biggot and a hypocrit insulting muslims to satisfy your addiction to hate.

Well i am not one of those muslims who shy away when a biggot shows up trying to bully people with ignorant statements, if you start up a debate being disrespectful you should be met with what you deserve, period.
When it comes to education and know how, it shows clearly that you haven't accomplished 1/10 of what i have accomplished, so don't even go in that arena because you honestly sound like a high school drop out who has no clue about anything at all. If this forum was about showing our education and intellectual credentials you would be eating nothing but dust following me, no doubt about it.
Thanks to God, I am well educated with one of the highest degrees of the US education system, i have a good job, and i have a life that you and Fran can only dream of, so if you think that spining the debate in that arena will help you, you are mistaken. This forum is about fairness towards muslim children, and biggots like you want to make it something else against muslims, as long as i have time to participate in it, i will not stand by and let you do that.

@Frank
Don't be surprised, people like Brad only have their hate to strive on, as you can see he is ignorant and know nothing about anything at all.
So he suffers from a combination of hate and ignorance, this is really hard for him to get read of, so i can see why he cannot help it.
Many people do not agree with this current proposal from Leventhal, but they will never allow themeselves to write hateful statements Brad and some other biggots have been writing.
When hate becomes an addiction, it becomes a serious one you cannot get read of easily, these haters need help, trust me on that!

@ Frank
My postings bellow the ones i addressed to you are all for Brad, i don't want you to think they are about you.

@Saqib Ali
I don't know this guy Brad but i could tell he is one of those deranged extremists living in a buble. This country is made of peolpe from all over the world, and religions from all over the world. People like Brad are still thinking they can tell others what to abide by, well only the laws of the land can do that, not their creasy ideas or stands against anything muslims try to better their community's life.
We muslims appreciate all the good hearted people out there who can relate to what we are going trough, i can put themeselves in our shoes, and understand that we are asking for nothing else but fairness. Even if you don't agree with Leventhal's proposal, why should you get out there and start disrepecting muslims and islam?
We must stand uo to these haters, that is the only way that will make them back off, trust me !

Saqib,
While I appreciate all the good work you have done for Maryland, I think it is important to remember that "the road to hell is paved with good intentions". That is, in this case, we cannot simply talk of "fairness" for all religious groups while ignoring the impact on school education if this "fairness" is applied to everyone in the community by incorporating hindu, sikh, and any other religious holidays. I know you support this idea of extending this "fairness" to all religions, but before taking any position I think should be thinking through what seem to me perfectly valid concerns of those opposing this idea on this forum. Specifically: 1. While muslim parents and children benefit from the day off on Eid day, what do the rest of the students do on their day off? Is it fair to expect the parents in non-muslim families to take the day off in order to have their children spend the day "home alone", or to make arrangements for someone else to take care of them? 2. Have you considered how many "religious days off" there would be in any school year if this "fairness" is applied to all religions? I have not done that either, but it seems to me that in an increasingly competitive world we cannot ignore the fact that schools are there to educate children.

I think at least one reasonable solution has been offered here (i.e.. a couple of floating holidays that students from all religions can take) that could serve as the next step to move the discussion forward.

Saqib Ali,

What is wrong with opposing illegal immigration?

@ Frank
You got it Frank, i have nothing else to add.

The question is not irrelevant, and deserves an appropriate response.

The question remains relevant, and deserves an appropriate answer.

Additionally, the question was addressed to M. Diallo, and others who support the suggested policy change.

Let us hear from M. Diallo, and others and hope they answer the question

@jnrentz1
I did not respond to your question because i don't have time for nonsense.
If you want to keep on asking it, you go for it, as far as i am concerned responding to your irrelvant question is more than a waste of my time.
I have better things to do.

@ Saqib Ali,
I think you addressed well the questions, i totally agree with your solutions.

If you think about it, all the faiths mentionned by Ahmed can be accomodated with the one or two days they need for religious holidyas, and those days can be deducted out of summer break, and it will still remain plenty of time for children to enjoy their summer vacation.

So if there is good will in finding a solution, there should be no problem at all.

Saqib Ali:

"Do those of you who advocate for the closure of Montgomery County Schools for Muslim holidays, support the right of Israel to exist in peace as a sovereign nation state, and homeland for the Jews?"

How about you, Mr. Ali, do you support the right of Israel to exist in peace as a sovereign nation state and homeland for the Jews?

Ahmed, I strongly disagree with you that we should remove Jewish and Christian holidays from the MCPS calendar. Obviously, such a proposal is *far more* self-centered than anything George Leventhal or I am proposing.

It is certainly interesting that anyone would consider a request for equal treatment "self-centered". Perhaps the suffragettes who fought long and hard for the right of women to vote were also "self centered"? We simply have a very different understanding of civil rights. I favor equality in all cases. Your view is different.

Saqib: How is calling for 2 floating religious holidays rejecting a "request for equal treatment"?

@Ahmed
I respect your 30 years of experience dealing with the current situation the way you think was perfect for you.
But i do believe we should try a better way in which no children is treated unfairly when it comes to religious holidays.
To your following points:

1. "The effort you want support for is having MCPS declare eid days off (with burden of adjustment being on other students)"

I say we need to remember that holidays that are being ovserved currently are not seen as burden to muslim children, muslim holidays should not be seen as burden to other children.

2. "I should note btw that even this compromise solution is not fair (to use the term you have been using) to those parents (who also spoke up here) who wish to treat religion as a personal matter and not have schools adjust to accommodate religious preferences"

Let's remember that MCPS is already adjusting to accomodate religious holidays,
So asking that the two muslim holidays be added to the lot is (in my opinion) not out of ordinary.

I am for anything that's fair to all the children, by that i mean the same treatment for all MCPS students.

Mr. Rentz: you dont need "courage" to answer your arrogant and insulting question. merely the patience to suffer a fool. rest assured if muslims were the monsters you and your kind try to make them out to be, Pakistan (which has had nuclear weapons for 14 years now) or the democratically elected Islamist government in Turkey would have acted accordingly by now. So just be glad muslims dont fit the stereotype you are trying to fit them into.

Jnrentz, Do you prefer Coke or Pepsi? This is a really really important question. Nobody else has the guts to ask it. But I will. Admire by bravery!

Rentz: you unintentionally have already made clear what is arrogant and insulting about your question when you wrote "no one has the courage to properly answer the question regarding Israel." And the question you now ask about what is arrogant and insulting in your original question is already answered in the same post I have above - i.e. re-read what I said above about this being a lack of patience, not courage as you presume to think.

arentz: as for who said anything about muslims being monsters, i agree you didnt say that in so many words although that is an implication one can easily draw from your question. anyway, i dont like to accuse people of things they didnt say, and will take that part back. my response on your other question ("what is arrogant and insulting about my question?") stays. Shalom.

Ahmed

I am puzzled by your characterization of my question as being "arrogant and insulting."

What is arrogant and insulting about the question?

I am aware of the many, related meanings of Shalom, but will assume that you mean Peace.

Peace to you, Ahmed.

jrentz: you asked if I really meant "Peace" when I wrote "Shalom". I dont know of any other meaning of the word Shalom, and I was simply wishing to well in what I understand to be the jewish tradition.

Cheers!! and I mean that in a good sense :-)

Right !!!!
He is really courageous this jnrentz1

Do you think these should be paid or unpaid holidays? Paid holidays and snow days or any other day off with pay for 22k employees comes out of a special fund and it isn't cheap to pay staff.
Should it be a 10 month (school based) holiday or should 12 month staff be included? I believe the (2) Jewish holidays that fall in September are unpaid holidays for school staff. Currently Christmas break and Easter break are unpaid holidays except for the "specific" day.....the rest of the week is unpaid. Ultimately it's the taxpayers that will fund holidays everytime they are implemented.
There is alot more to the equation than just adding 2 days to the schedule. There are Union issues as well........

Is summer break considered unpaid? I don't get the real-world impact of the designating (if there is one), but as far as I've seen reported, everything would remain the same re: salaries and number of days of instruction. Is that wrong? Teachers/staff get paid more when there are snow days?

I'd imagine whatever the designation is for the gazillion other religious and non-religious holidays and breaks would remain applicable in this instance. It sounds like that'd be unpaid.

Right, teachers can choose between being paid their annual salary over 22 pay periods or 26 pay periods. The distribution doesn't affect their per annum pay, just like Jewish "unpaid" holidays don't negatively or positively affect their pay. I don't get "The day off is is nice, but when the paycheck arrives....it's not fun" - each paycheck is exactly the same distribution every single payperiod (except in years there have been furloughs). Annual salary divided into 22 paychecks or annual salary divided into 26 paychecks. This proposal wouldn't change the salaries one way or another, as far as I know.

"Most folks who work for MCPS are "hourly" employees."

Very interesting. I had no idea. I tried to look it up - your original statement of "22k employees" (which I found out was the entire system, including all the teachers, administrators, etc. who are sure to be salaried) threw me off. Thanks for explaining it.

No praying allowed concerning public schools..........it's not long overdue, it's not overdue..........it may not even be due at all.

@Mekim
You are right, it is long everdue, it is overue, and it may very well happen.
Just stay mobilized for what you think is necessary, don't let any opponent discourage you.

@jeff hawkins
Good thing this is not up to one individual.
Good thing plenty of open minded individual understand why this needs to happen.
There were be some people opposed to any kind of project, but opposition should be justified by factual arguments, otherwise it become biggotery.
The facts in this case are that shool dyas will not be affetced in any way, people on hourly pay will not loose any day of salary.
Beside the fact that you do not agree with an accomodation for muslim children, what else factual argument can you bring up against this proposal?
We get it Jeff, we have dealt with such criticism in many occasion, once it is labeled "muslim" we expect there will be oppositions.
With the help of non muslims who get it, we will deal with oppositions as we have in the past.

Surely you realize the pay of an hourly worker would be impacted immediately by the loss of hours worked. This is already an issue for many employees within MCPS with unpaid holidays at christmas, easter, jewish and teacher days.

Let's put it this way.......a worker is on a 80 or less bi-week pay schedule, throw in a "unpaid" holiday within that 80 hour time period.......it now becomes 72 or less for that person at that time and as we all know (bills don't take a holiday).

Do they get the pleasure of working an additional day at the end of the year to make it up? Who knows.....that normally has to be worked out within the (3) unions. There are many issues within each union that have to be dealt with in order for something like this to pass. Contact them for further clarification.

Yes Saqib, it is correct.

I know what you are emphasizing and I know what you are ignoring. Did I mention the number of school days of instruction? No....I do not believe I did.

The conversation I was having was concerning the unpaid holidays for staff at MCPS. I explained how it works.

Do you agree that a worker scheduled for a 40 hour work week that now has to take an "unpaid" day off for that week will now be paid for 32 hours and not 40 hours for that week?

I assume that you are gainfully employed? Take tommorrow off "without pay", will that effect you next paycheck?

Let's stop playing political, Idealogical football with our children, quit using them (everybody concerned on all topics) for political and personal gain.

@jeff Hawkins
As Saqib pointed out to you, the worker who has 40 hours week is not loosing any day, the two days allocated to muslim holidays are deducted from summer/winter vactions, they are not lost.

@Saqib
No doubt Jeff is not correct, but it is amazing to see how all the sudden the pay of hourly employees become an issue. The same employees are dealing with other holidays (religious and none religious), as well as snow days that close the schools, all that is okay.
But when it comes to muslim religious holidays, then we are told it will affect these hourly employees, what a caring thought !

What your are saying does not add up, but you can keep on saying it, that is your right.
As to reducing the discussion to slurs, there is no need for me to do so.
But i did say that opposing something without factual arguments, just because you want to oppose it for reason you don't even have the courage to admit, that is nothing but beggotery.
Wether this detracts or not, no worries at all !
keep going with it.

honest answer?
Honesty must have a new definition then!

@Linda Stein
I definitly agree, thanks Linda.

@jeff Hawkins
The desagreement is not about the basic math you keep typing.
What we have been telling you all this time is that these two days will be replaced as they will be deducted from vacations i mentionned earlier, so they are not lost or taken away.

Thank you jnrentz1, yes some only see what they want to see. Good fortune to you as well.......

Mr. Hawkins,

Additionally, because of the negative response I recently received in these Patch comment pages, I have gone from being favorable towards the goal of the two Muslim holiday days in Montgomery County Public Schools, to being opposed.

@jnrentz1
You have been asking questions about Israel's rights to exist, what does that have to do with this subject?
As far as being opposed to the holidays proposal, fact is some will be for and some will be against.
So feel free................

@Jeff Hawkins
You know we have read many arguments from those who oppose this current proposal, but what these opponents failed to tell so far is, why the reasons behind their opposition does not apply to the other religious holidays?

Mr. Hawkins,

As usual you have made an excellent observation.

As to adding to the debate, i haven't seen any of the opponents adding anything to these debates except false assumptions that turn aout to be confirmed as false.
You may not like what we are saying, but it doesn't mean we are not adding anything to this dabate.

Once you drop the "double standard" and say something different from this proposal that's at least fair to all the children regardless of religious backround, then we may reach an agreement. But you are opposing the proposal for reasons that shouldn't allow any other religious holidays, and you want us to agree with you on what ground? don't tell me fairness or equality !

@B.Allen,
Still pulling your speeches that have nothing to do with this proposal?
You have issues with Leventhal, you should deal with those with him, don't mix up everything.

@M.Diallo
1. "Once you drop the double standards"
a. I didn't pick up any double standards

2. "we may then reach an agreement."
a. It does not matter to me if we reach an agreement or not, one was not sought.

3. "Then they went to "Separation of church and school", which is not currently the case anyway"
a. Not sure what you mean by this?

4. "Then they seem to care all the sudden about the impact on hourly employees, like it will be the muslim holidays that will be creating the issue, if any!"
a. Ummmm....if these 2 holidays are passed it WILL be an issue for those employees. Thank you for making my point!

@Jeff Hawkins

In case you missread my posting, i will repeat it for you with more emphasis.
Let the opponents bring a reason behind their opposition and tell us why it does apply to muslim holidays, but not to the other religious holidays.

If you cannot do this and you keep opposing this proposal, then there is a double standard.
I am not sseking an agreement with you either, i know there won't be any with you.
That is why i made it clear in my first response to ypou that there are a bunches of non muslims out there who get it, with the help of those we will be fine.
Fact is that you cannot expect everyone to be just, unbiased, free from double standard, etc...
So............

@Diallo, you leftists have the corner on the market of double standars...you want your cake and eat it too. As I stated before, which you keep thinking I have an issue with leventhal, himself. Other than then fact that leventhal has no clue as to what he is doing as councilmember, he does know what he is doing as far as creating controversy. That is what this is all about. It is NOT the 2 days off (but what happens when the muslim holidays just happen to fall in the summer?), it is the fact that leventhal is trying to ram more crap down the throats of the people in MoCo. He gets away with another one of his "stunts" he will try something else. Maybe he REALLY thinks you people are stupid and will fall for his lies and deceit. Then you will have the rest of those people trying other stunts to try and outdo the other and pander to other groups. BTW FRANK is an idiot also.

@Frank... another comical statement. I sat around for 30 yrs as a member of the dem party listening to these characters with their ridiculous "ideas" at meetings and that is why I tore up my "card". I KNOW how the process goes, evidently you do not, but you carry their water like they want you to. These guys think that it goes their way and their way only. It is because of people like you who need them to tell you what to do and how to run your life, you keep voting these idiots in. You need to get a clue how the process works. They work for us, we don't work for them. If you need to live in a nanny state, go elsewhere. Last comment from me to you because people like you cannot understand what he is doing...pandering for votes.

@B.Allen
I understand your frustration, but it has nothing to do with this subject.
Let's suppose that Leventhal is only after our votes, i ask whta's the problem with that?
Don't all politicians do the same thing?
If he is only after our votes (according to you and a few other people), and the proposal he comes with is fair and not out of ordinary, we will then give him our votes.
This scenarion happens all over the US, it is not starting with Leventhal if that's what he is doing.
So take some rest B.Allen, you must be really tired by now :-) LOL

@Diallo and Frankie...both of you sound like you are the typical kool aid drinking left wing nutcases. For crying out loud, the holidays in question do NOT fall on a particular day and would have to be "floating" from year to year. You don't even have the same day for the Islamic new yr from yr to year. You people think you have the "solution" but you know what, all you people do is add to the problems. Frank says the politics reflects the population, well there ARE a lot of fools living in MoCo, if=diots that vote for guys like leventhal, in the dumbocrap party. I have seen and heard it from you spoiled little brats for too long, that is why I left the party when I did. I did not want to be "guilty through ASSociation". You people let your ego get in the way of a coherent thought process. "Egotism is the anesthetic that dulls the pain of stupidity"...I must admit you people have such inflated egos. Your biased comments contain no facts whatsoever just hear-say . Next you will be asking for the month of Ramadan off, that is the way you libs are. Just like spoiled little brats, give you an inch and you want a mile. There, I said it and I mean it.

@B.Allen
I definitly enjoyed your comments, but you are just not addressing the subject, and you are seriously starting to sound like a broken record.

"Just like spoiled little brats, give you an inch and you want a mile"

Well, this proposal is not asking for "a mile", just what's already happening for other religious holidays.
And i know you meant everything you said so far, but most of them don't make sense and are not even related to the subject.
Take a rest my friend, you need it :-) LOL

@Diallo (and @Frank) I am glad you enjoyed my comments but again, you are NOT listening. OK, I have asked this before. My question a few times was, why have (floating) days off every year to accomodate the muslim religion? http://www.when-is.com/eid-al-fitr-2014.asp This website gives the days listed by year as to when the muslim holidays fall. What happens if MCPS add the 2 days but tells you that you have those 2 days to celebrate, when they do not coincide with the muslim calendar? Do you get those 2 days and when the actual day the holiday is celebrated, which can result in 4 actual days, depending on when the holiday is? Also, while we are at it, maybe we need to add Chinese New Year, Muslim New Year, Israeli New Year and so on, to the days off? Then that would be a great excuse to have the kids in school all year. One thing good about that is a lot of people would save on childcare, but the daycare places won't like it, because it will take away from their business. My comments are more to show how comical you people are on the left. You discuss isses that have NO meaning. AND @FRANK, The principle feature of American liberalism is sanctimoniousness. Your one sided thought process ceases to amaze me. I look at issues from both sides, you on the other hand look at everything with blinders (or the dumbocrap way). You people only see things that you believe. I am glad I am not a NARROW MINDED fool, like you.,

@Jeff Hawkins
This post you are responding to was not addressed to you alone in case you misread it, it is addressed to the opponents, have you noticed the plural at all?
So don't bother telling me to "ask them" , as i am not asking you for their opinion.

@jeff hawkins
Well this sounds fair, but it is not the case right now, that is why it is called "double standard".
I wonder why it took this long for you to make this position of yours clear, you came out strongly against the muslim holidays in your previous posts, like there was no other religious holidays taking place in MCPS,......., i get it !

Anyway, I am all for one standard for all students, if this cannot happen then there is double or even multiple standards.

@jnrentz1

The call is for equal treatment in MCPS, what you just explained is not equal treatment when you compare it to what's happening on other religious holidays currently observed,
Equal treatment for all, as simple as that.

@jeff Hawkins
This looks like a dissertation to me :-) LOL
I did not jump in and yell "bigot" as you want to make it appear, but i did say if you oppose something without any factual argumentation, that is being a biggot, if this bothers you well it is a fact.
Everything you stated against this proposal can be said against all religious holidays, but you guys make it sound like there is only a problem with this proposal.
By the way i get it very well, you may sound fair, it doesn't mean you are fair, your arguments about the impact on hourly employees is not proven, we had substitute teachers on this forum support this proposal, you don't know better than those directly implicated, your argument sounds like another false argument among many others brought up here. Wether i will get it or not, let me worry about that, one thing that is for sure, we never heard from people like you until this proposal was put on the table, so don't tell us you care about separation of church and school.
And if you really do care about this separation, that is your opinion, not all americans have to agree with you on that.
As of right now that separation is not there, religious holidays are being obeserved, so the current proposal is not out of ordinary.
To make our position clear, we are not calling for abolition of any religious holidays in MCPS, we are just pointing out the obvious double standard for those who can get it, because we know that some will never get it.

@M.Diallo

Umm, this isnt a fact, you're just clueless..
"Ibut i did say if you oppose something without any factual argumentation, that is being a biggot, if this bothers you well it is a fact."

The fact is a Biggot is 1.intolerant person: somebody with strong opinions, especially on politics, religion, or ethnicity, who refuses to accept different views.

You dont have to have facts....I'm a biggot, but I'm not a AH.......

@MD
Well, it looks like i am not as clueless as you are.
"The fact is a Biggot is 1.intolerant person: somebody with strong opinions, especially on politics, religion, or ethnicity, who refuses to accept different views"

You have copied/pasted a definition without really understanding the meaning.
Now what does the word intolerance in your definition means?
What does refusing to accept a different view means? should you accept a different view even if it is not factual?
Being a bigot goes beyond what you have put up there, try grasping the whole concept before rushing in with your "strong arguments".

Welcome to the debate, let's see what you got that makes sense, and that's free from double standards.

@M.Diallo
Let me see if I have this straight?
You don't believe an "unpaid" holiday is really an "unpaid" holiday?

Let's try another example:
Christmas week break......10 month employees will get Christmas Day with pay, the other 4 days are without pay for that pay period. This year they are lucky, they will get Christmas Eve also because Christmas Day falls on a Tuesday. I take it you will NOT believe this?
Let's try another one:
Easter week break......10 month employees will get or got Good Friday and Easter Monday with pay, the other 4 days are or were without pay. I take it you won't believe that either.
Please contact MCPS for further information. Please show them the scenario that I have shown you right here on this comment and ask them if it is factual........

@jeff hawkins
I am sure MCPS knows what will impact employees better than you and me, don't you agree?
Let's leave it at that.

@jeff hawkins
I will remind you again that these days are not lost, they are replaced, remember that?

Exact.

@MD
This is right, and yes every religion out there should be treated equally.
When it comes to recognizing a religion or not, that is up to everyone, so feel free.

@Jeff Hawkins
You said these days will be taken away, means the same as lost to me.

@jnrentz1

You are correct in your evaluation. You are a wise man..........

Do you know how to pull up a person's past comments? This posted is well know for all the things you already cite. Click on the name.

M. Diallo,

There is nothing racist is anything I have posted, now or in the past.

I am opposed to illegal immigration.

The failed immigration policy comes about as allowing people into the United States who willfully fail to embrace the laws and ideals of America.

You brought up Israel again. And again, I support the right of Israel to exist as a peaceful, independent nation state and as a safe and secure homeland for the Jews.

You are quick to condemn and label. Condemning and labeling are part of the arsenal of the extremist.

For your information you may view all my past comments by clicking on my name.

@jnrentz1
First nobody is supporting illegal immigration here, what does this proposal has to do with illigale immigration anyway?
You were the one who brought Israel in this debate, asking us if those who support this proposal support Israel's right to exist, did you forget or are you being dishonest again?
Now you want to pretend that i am the one bringing Israel in this debate?
What does it have to do with this proposal if not for a dishonets move on your part?
I am just reminding you in case you forgot that you were dishonest since your very first post for trying a manouever we understand perfectly, but i will wait until you get to the point and i will let you know what i think about it.
If you think that living is this country while practicing our religion means failing to embrace the laws and ideals of America, then you don't know much about the laws and ideals of America then. Go hit the books of history and find out what America has been about since its creation, people like you want to rewrite history and make it your own, your ideals are not America's ideals my friend, don't confuse things.
Truth is you cannot stand people who advocate for their faiths, and you want to call someone else an extremist? unbelievable.
Even though you are not saying what your real problem is, we know what's troubling you, i will wait until you say it openly and then i will address it accordingly.

@jeff hawkins
:-) LOL
I am thinking you must be a numbskull too, so no need for me to keep repeating myself.

@Maryam Khan
Exact.

You people are SO "stuck on stupid". My comments are meant as a joke, because you people are a joke. You people think you are so "well informed" but the truth is, you are narrow minded and think things should go your way just like spoiled little brats. Everytime you libs make a comment or open your mouth you "REMOVE ALL DOUBT". Look at the knucklehead in the gov mansion in MD and the dumbocraps running MD, no wonder MD is in a mess Moco is not much better because of the dumbocraps running it. (I am sure you people are going to say "well move", which would be a typical comeback by you people) Just look at all the crap going on in DC, crack smoking, hooker loving, tax evading Marion Barry lecturing on ethics. The funniest thing is, you people are so uninformed, you vote people like him back into office, NOW THAT IS WHAT TYPICAL DUMBOCRAPS DO. You people have NO ethics at all, just look at the FAST AND FURIOUS fiasco. You think your way is the only way...HA...and you can only see what you believe. @Frank, I withdraw nothing, I still maintain you are narrowminded. Ali, I know what you are all about. Community organizing is nothing more than being an agitator. Just like that nitwit in the white house and his administration. Go drink your kool aide, take your drugs and go back to your worthless lives and have the dems tell you what to do. The way you people act is the reason why I give NO credence to anything you say.

that is the lib dems way...that is why they are all a bunch of spoiled little brats now. They got "particiapation" trophies for playing sports or other activities, just so they were not feeling "left out".

What do you think is going to happen as all of you continue to lobby out GOD?

We will free ourselves from the ignorances and barbarisms of ancient superstitions and usher in a new golden age. It would be one of the largest leaps forward in human history.

Wow, Denise. Way to fail. "First of all, let's get this straight" - you're completely wrong. Students get off TWO days for Christmas and TWO days for Easter.

http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/info/calendars/printable/SchoolCalendar1213.pdf

Maybe educate yourself a bit before whining, next time.