Anonymous wrote:

Actually Good Friday and Easter Monday are state holidays - all Maryland school districts are mandated to have them off whether MCPS wanted to or not. They wrap Spring Break around them.

The Jewish holidays started getting off in 1976 after multiple problems with filling Jewish teacher positions with substitutes that celebrated.

Also there are more than 5% of Christians and more than 5% Jewish people in MCPS so your comments do not make any sense whatsoever.

You still haven't answered the PP's question.

Yes, they are state holidays. But why are they state holidays? Your answer is begging the question.

[quote=Anonymous]

True, it's possible to be here in accordance with the law, but many are not and overstay visas. [b]The county does not set immigration policy, but it has the obligation to enforce federal policy.[/b] If people can't produce valid paperwork proving citizenship or legal status, they should be deported.[/quote]

MCPS has the obligation to obey federal law, which requires MCPS to educate all children who live in the county.

I think it's ironic, by the way, that these PPs are focusing on undocumented immigration in Montgomery County in the context of a petition for recognizing Diwali.

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]

And they shouldn't be in the schools and educated by taxpayers if they aren't here legally.[/quote]

1. MCPS has zero control over immigration or immigration policy.
2. Federal law requires MCPS to educate all resident children, regardless of immigration status.
3. It is possible to be here in full accordance with the law and yet not be a US citizen.
4. Everybody is a taxpayer, including people who are not here in full accordance with the law.[/quote]

True, it's possible to be here in accordance with the law, but many are not and overstay visas. The county does not set immigration policy, but it has the obligation to enforce federal policy. If people can't produce valid paperwork proving citizenship or legal status, they should be deported.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Now onto the slippery slope. So you are saying you don't expect your employer to close or the federal government to close but you expect an entire school district to close down, while all their parents are still at work that day? I am honestly asking you why? If you are requesting a day off at work instead of asking the whole office to close and missing said work to celebrate a holiday, why can't your kids just get an excused absence and miss the day of school to celebrate, same as you? Why force 95+% of the other kids to have a day off? I am honestly curious.

Slippery slope: a course of action that seems to lead inevitably from one action or result to another with unintended consequences

Yet you can't answer the question. Nice retort.

Why are schools closed for Good Friday or Easter Monday? You don't expect your employer to close or the federal government to close, do you? So why does an entire school district close down, while all their parents are still at work that day? Why? Can't your kids just get an excused absence and miss the day of school to celebrate, same as you? Why force 95+% of the other kids to have a day off?

Why are schools closed for Rosh ha Shanah and Yom Kippur? You don't expect your employer to close or the federal government to close, do you? So why does an entire school district close down, while all their parents are still at work that day? Why? Can't your kids just get an excused absence and miss the day of school to celebrate, same as you? Why force 95+% of the other kids to have a day off?

Actually Good Friday and Easter Monday are state holidays - all Maryland school districts are mandated to have them off whether MCPS wanted to or not. They wrap Spring Break around them.

The Jewish holidays started getting off in 1976 after multiple problems with filling Jewish teacher positions with substitutes that celebrated.

Also there are more than 5% of Christians and more than 5% Jewish people in MCPS so your comments do not make any sense whatsoever.

You still haven't answered the PP's question.

I'm not the other pp, but I'll tell you my experience. My kids have never gone to school on Diwali. There have been years where they will miss the test review that day (and not be given it to take home the day before) and then returned to school the next day on the day of the test.

There have been times when it was during school testing weeks. There have been times when homework was doubled up since they missed a day. There have been times when a major project was due the same week.

I don't think this would eliminate these things, but I know that teachers would reevaluate the test dates or the project due days and my kid would be straddled with 2 nights of homework and a test or project the very next day.

It was easier in elementary, but missing even a day is a big deal in the upper grades and can double or triple the workload. I've thought about just having them go to school on Diwali, but it is such an important holiday, though they shouldn't be punished for taking one day to celebrate their holiday.

What I don't think most are understanding is that it is important to have a least one important day of one's own faith recognized and given time off for to spend time with family and to go to temple and to nurture that tradition. (That's why Christian centric important days are holidays, not just random days as holidays- to nurture that tradition).

No one is "killing Christmas", no one is "not assimilating" to American culture, no one is saying make it a state or federal holiday. The accusations thrown around in this thread are incredulous.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Now onto the slippery slope. So you are saying you don't expect your employer to close or the federal government to close but you expect an entire school district to close down, while all their parents are still at work that day? I am honestly asking you why? If you are requesting a day off at work instead of asking the whole office to close and missing said work to celebrate a holiday, why can't your kids just get an excused absence and miss the day of school to celebrate, same as you? Why force 95+% of the other kids to have a day off? I am honestly curious.

Slippery slope: a course of action that seems to lead inevitably from one action or result to another with unintended consequences

Yet you can't answer the question. Nice retort.

Why are schools closed for Good Friday or Easter Monday? You don't expect your employer to close or the federal government to close, do you? So why does an entire school district close down, while all their parents are still at work that day? Why? Can't your kids just get an excused absence and miss the day of school to celebrate, same as you? Why force 95+% of the other kids to have a day off?

Why are schools closed for Rosh ha Shanah and Yom Kippur? You don't expect your employer to close or the federal government to close, do you? So why does an entire school district close down, while all their parents are still at work that day? Why? Can't your kids just get an excused absence and miss the day of school to celebrate, same as you? Why force 95+% of the other kids to have a day off?

Actually Good Friday and Easter Monday are state holidays - all Maryland school districts are mandated to have them off whether MCPS wanted to or not. They wrap Spring Break around them.

The Jewish holidays started getting off in 1976 after multiple problems with filling Jewish teacher positions with substitutes that celebrated.

Also there are more than 5% of Christians and more than 5% Jewish people in MCPS so your comments do not make any sense whatsoever.

You still haven't answered the PP's question.

The 2014 census had MoCo at 15% Asian American. They don't break that down into East Asian, South Asian, Southeast Asian, etc. Some percentage of the 15% are either Hindu, Sikh, Muslim or Jain.

There are plenty of kids in MoCo schools that celebrate Diwali, so let me ask you where the dividing line should be? What's the magic number that makes it okay to recognize another faith?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Now onto the slippery slope. So you are saying you don't expect your employer to close or the federal government to close but you expect an entire school district to close down, while all their parents are still at work that day? I am honestly asking you why? If you are requesting a day off at work instead of asking the whole office to close and missing said work to celebrate a holiday, why can't your kids just get an excused absence and miss the day of school to celebrate, same as you? Why force 95+% of the other kids to have a day off? I am honestly curious.

Slippery slope: a course of action that seems to lead inevitably from one action or result to another with unintended consequences

Yet you can't answer the question. Nice retort.

Why are schools closed for Good Friday or Easter Monday? You don't expect your employer to close or the federal government to close, do you? So why does an entire school district close down, while all their parents are still at work that day? Why? Can't your kids just get an excused absence and miss the day of school to celebrate, same as you? Why force 95+% of the other kids to have a day off?

Why are schools closed for Rosh ha Shanah and Yom Kippur? You don't expect your employer to close or the federal government to close, do you? So why does an entire school district close down, while all their parents are still at work that day? Why? Can't your kids just get an excused absence and miss the day of school to celebrate, same as you? Why force 95+% of the other kids to have a day off?

Actually Good Friday and Easter Monday are state holidays - all Maryland school districts are mandated to have them off whether MCPS wanted to or not. They wrap Spring Break around them.

The Jewish holidays started getting off in 1976 after multiple problems with filling Jewish teacher positions with substitutes that celebrated.

Also there are more than 5% of Christians and more than 5% Jewish people in MCPS so your comments do not make any sense whatsoever.

You still haven't answered the PP's question.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Now onto the slippery slope. So you are saying you don't expect your employer to close or the federal government to close but you expect an entire school district to close down, while all their parents are still at work that day? I am honestly asking you why? If you are requesting a day off at work instead of asking the whole office to close and missing said work to celebrate a holiday, why can't your kids just get an excused absence and miss the day of school to celebrate, same as you? Why force 95+% of the other kids to have a day off? I am honestly curious.

Slippery slope: a course of action that seems to lead inevitably from one action or result to another with unintended consequences

Yet you can't answer the question. Nice retort.

Why are schools closed for Good Friday or Easter Monday? You don't expect your employer to close or the federal government to close, do you? So why does an entire school district close down, while all their parents are still at work that day? Why? Can't your kids just get an excused absence and miss the day of school to celebrate, same as you? Why force 95+% of the other kids to have a day off?

Why are schools closed for Rosh ha Shanah and Yom Kippur? You don't expect your employer to close or the federal government to close, do you? So why does an entire school district close down, while all their parents are still at work that day? Why? Can't your kids just get an excused absence and miss the day of school to celebrate, same as you? Why force 95+% of the other kids to have a day off?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Now onto the slippery slope. So you are saying you don't expect your employer to close or the federal government to close but you expect an entire school district to close down, while all their parents are still at work that day? I am honestly asking you why? If you are requesting a day off at work instead of asking the whole office to close and missing said work to celebrate a holiday, why can't your kids just get an excused absence and miss the day of school to celebrate, same as you? Why force 95+% of the other kids to have a day off? I am honestly curious.

Slippery slope: a course of action that seems to lead inevitably from one action or result to another with unintended consequences

Yet you can't answer the question. Nice retort.

Anonymous wrote:

Now onto the slippery slope. So you are saying you don't expect your employer to close or the federal government to close but you expect an entire school district to close down, while all their parents are still at work that day? I am honestly asking you why? If you are requesting a day off at work instead of asking the whole office to close and missing said work to celebrate a holiday, why can't your kids just get an excused absence and miss the day of school to celebrate, same as you? Why force 95+% of the other kids to have a day off? I am honestly curious.

Slippery slope: a course of action that seems to lead inevitably from one action or result to another with unintended consequences

Anonymous wrote:

I am not that PP but I think they meant that most immigrants in previous generations eventually assimilate to the main religions/cultures of this country, not that they have to. And when they did initially come here, they didn't demand days off for their countries or religion's holidays.
Now onto the slippery slope. So you are saying you don't expect your employer to close or the federal government to close but you expect an entire school district to close down, while all their parents are still at work that day? I am honestly asking you why? If you are requesting a day off at work instead of asking the whole office to close and missing said work to celebrate a holiday, why can't your kids just get an excused absence and miss the day of school to celebrate, same as you? Why force 95+% of the other kids to have a day off? I am honestly curious.

Actually, they did. What's more, they even demanded their own schools.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Pilgrims left England to celebrate their (Christian) religion without persecution. Since the early days of this nation, we have promoted religious freedom, however Christianity is the fabric upon which the country was founded. We have separation of church and state, and allow others to worship (or not) as they choose, but Christian culture and traditions dominate.

The US used to be a melting pot in which immigrants respected and eventually adopted the language, religion, and customs of the nation. Now, many newcomers maintain close ties with their former countries and never really become "Americans".

+1,000,000

Most of the countries they move from don't even allow religious freedom. You would think they would be appreciative of that here. Instead they expect everyone here to suddenly have off for their holidays. And they act like we are being selfish.

Members of minority religions who come to the US have never adopted universally become Christians. Many of them were escaping religious persecution.

Who said you have to become Christian? No one here is saying that. Coming here from religious persecution and being allowed to stay here and celebrate your religion freely is what makes this country so great. Trying to turn it into a country that needs to celebrate all worldwide religions by having school off is not. Do you expect the federal government to close down? Do you ask your employer to give the entire company off so you don't have to miss a day at work? Where does it end...

Who said you have to become Christian? The top PP that everybody is responding to -- that's who. So yes, actually, at least one poster is saying that.

Also, the slippery slope is a fallacy in any context, including this one. We are not talking about federal governments closing down. We are talking about MCPS. Let's worry about federal holidays when that actually becomes an issue.

I am not that PP but I think they meant that most immigrants in previous generations eventually assimilate to the main religions/cultures of this country, not that they have to. And when they did initially come here, they didn't demand days off for their countries or religion's holidays.

Now onto the slippery slope. So you are saying you don't expect your employer to close or the federal government to close but you expect an entire school district to close down, while all their parents are still at work that day? I am honestly asking you why? If you are requesting a day off at work instead of asking the whole office to close and missing said work to celebrate a holiday, why can't your kids just get an excused absence and miss the day of school to celebrate, same as you? Why force 95+% of the other kids to have a day off? I am honestly curious.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

This area is multicultural and diverse with people from all over the world. That is one of the BEST things about this area. It brings in a variety of faces, food, languages, experiences and cultural traditions. But it seems if that White people want only the parts of a global society that benefits them (food, exposure for their kids, feeling good about saying we have friends from all over, trinkets).

But don't want the inconvenience of having those people feel like they truly are a part of the American fabric by recognizing holidays of their faith.

PP, I honestly don't think that the posters on this thread who are saying that Diwali and Lunar New Year are not American holidays and the people who celebrate them are not Americans actually do appreciate these things (i.e., food, exposure for their kids, feeling good about saying we have friends from all over, trinkets). Well, maybe the food. Overall, I think that they would be happier if it were still 1970 in Montgomery County. But maybe those posters can speak for themselves here.

Also, like you, I am assuming that those posters are white. But I am also white and agree with you, and I have plenty of white friends who agree with you, so I hope that you will not believe that all white people are of the "we are American and you are not" persuasion.

I'm the pp you quoted and I thank you for your post. I honestly don't feel like all white people think negatively towards non-white Americans, but I'm glad you called me out. It can sometimes be difficult to remember that on this board! I wish more people like you would post.

[quote=Anonymous]

And they shouldn't be in the schools and educated by taxpayers if they aren't here legally.[/quote]

1. MCPS has zero control over immigration or immigration policy.
2. Federal law requires MCPS to educate all resident children, regardless of immigration status.
3. It is possible to be here in full accordance with the law and yet not be a US citizen.
4. Everybody is a taxpayer, including people who are not here in full accordance with the law.

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]

+1,000,000

Most of the countries they move from don't even allow religious freedom. You would think they would be appreciative of that here. Instead they expect everyone here to suddenly have off for their holidays. And they act like we are being selfish. [/quote]

Where did this "us" and "them" business come from? Aren't we all Americans?[/quote]

No most immigrants are not legal US citizens. [/quote]

We are not talking about "most immigrants" here. Nor are we -- or at least I'm not -- defining "American" as "US citizen". We are talking about the parents of children in Montgomery County Public Schools. Children your children go to school with. [/quote]

And they shouldn't be in the schools and educated by taxpayers if they aren't here legally.

Anonymous wrote:

This area is multicultural and diverse with people from all over the world. That is one of the BEST things about this area. It brings in a variety of faces, food, languages, experiences and cultural traditions. But it seems if that White people want only the parts of a global society that benefits them (food, exposure for their kids, feeling good about saying we have friends from all over, trinkets).

But don't want the inconvenience of having those people feel like they truly are a part of the American fabric by recognizing holidays of their faith.

PP, I honestly don't think that the posters on this thread who are saying that Diwali and Lunar New Year are not American holidays and the people who celebrate them are not Americans actually do appreciate these things (i.e., food, exposure for their kids, feeling good about saying we have friends from all over, trinkets). Well, maybe the food. Overall, I think that they would be happier if it were still 1970 in Montgomery County. But maybe those posters can speak for themselves here.

Also, like you, I am assuming that those posters are white. But I am also white and agree with you, and I have plenty of white friends who agree with you, so I hope that you will not believe that all white people are of the "we are American and you are not" persuasion.