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Santa Banned From Classroom When Muslim Family Complains
Filed under: Toddlers Preschoolers, In The News, Opinions
For the past four years, Santa Claus has visited the children of St. Peter, Minnesota's Head Start Program. Santa, in this case, is a gentleman by the name of Dennis Jackson, who donates his time and the candy he gives out to spread Christmas cheer to the little ones who attend this program for low-income families.
But this year, Mr. Jackson (I mean Santa) was told by Head Start's administrator not to come. Why? Because, according to the regional coordinator for the Minnesota Valley Action Council, Chris Marben, at least one Muslim family complained of his visit.
When asked about banishing Santa, Marben said, "We have Somali families in the program. We're respecting the wishes of families in the program." She added, "Part of our challenge in Head Start is providing an environment where young children from many different cultures can all feel comfortable."
Hogwash! Mrs. Marben's decision has nothing to do with making the children feel comfortable. What child wouldn't be thrilled to see jolly old St. Nick and get some free candy?
This decision was all about the grown ups -- their politics, ideology, their fears of lawsuits and their intolerance.
Instead of taking Santa away from all the other kids, why couldn't objecting parents keep their child home that day, or simply request to have their child removed from the classroom at the time of this (supposedly ghastly) visit? But more importantly, Santa-tizing our schools from any religious symbols or references doesn't teach our children to be tolerant or sensitive to other people's religions or cultures. It does quite the opposite.
Moreover, it does the child of a Somali immigrant no good to shield him or her from a symbol that is so universally beloved by Americans. As the daughter of an immigrant myself, I can assure you that knowledge and understanding of the society the child's family has chosen to live in, is key to the child's success and assimilation.
No, none of this is about the children. It's too bad because Christmas is a time when we all think about ways to bring joy to children -- all children -- including those of the Muslim faith.
But this year, Mr. Jackson (I mean Santa) was told by Head Start's administrator not to come. Why? Because, according to the regional coordinator for the Minnesota Valley Action Council, Chris Marben, at least one Muslim family complained of his visit.
When asked about banishing Santa, Marben said, "We have Somali families in the program. We're respecting the wishes of families in the program." She added, "Part of our challenge in Head Start is providing an environment where young children from many different cultures can all feel comfortable."
Hogwash! Mrs. Marben's decision has nothing to do with making the children feel comfortable. What child wouldn't be thrilled to see jolly old St. Nick and get some free candy?
This decision was all about the grown ups -- their politics, ideology, their fears of lawsuits and their intolerance.
Instead of taking Santa away from all the other kids, why couldn't objecting parents keep their child home that day, or simply request to have their child removed from the classroom at the time of this (supposedly ghastly) visit? But more importantly, Santa-tizing our schools from any religious symbols or references doesn't teach our children to be tolerant or sensitive to other people's religions or cultures. It does quite the opposite.
Moreover, it does the child of a Somali immigrant no good to shield him or her from a symbol that is so universally beloved by Americans. As the daughter of an immigrant myself, I can assure you that knowledge and understanding of the society the child's family has chosen to live in, is key to the child's success and assimilation.
No, none of this is about the children. It's too bad because Christmas is a time when we all think about ways to bring joy to children -- all children -- including those of the Muslim faith.
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ReaderComments (Page 4 of 10)
12-31-2010 @ 9:45PM
Snowman said...This is absurd. Santa Claus is an American Holiday and and American Tradition!
Growing up as a Patriotic American and have never been to any church or having any knowledge of any religion, I grew up looking forward to Christmas presents and Santa Claus. The Easter Bunny, I Loved Egg hunts, Tooth Fairy's, Halloween, Forth of July Fireworks etc. These are American, period. This is all kids stuff, it's fake and it's fun.
If YOU want to live here, YOU need to be tolerant of American holidays, otherwise it appears to those of us who have Served this Great Nation, that YOU are trying to steal our freedoms away. Freedoms which we have fought and will continue to fight for.
Also, many Christians don't recognize Santa either, because they worship Jesus. Santa is a fairy tale like Micky Mouse. Jesus is Real and The Son of God. Big difference!
Did I believe in Santa as a Savior when I was a kid, nope. Just a great source of presents and candy, simple.
If you aren't secure in your beliefs, then I can understand why you are afraid of the big Bad Santa. In this case, home school your children and protect them from becoming American's.
If I were to move to any other country in the world, I wouldn't be able to walk in as a foreigner and start demanding that they change for me. I'm sure in Somalia they would quickly adjust for my requests, so my feeling weren't hurt.
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1-01-2011 @ 9:22PM
Maaxine said...ALI AND SNOWMAN -- BRAVO!!!! BEST posts on this board!!!
1-02-2011 @ 9:27PM
Karin said...Snowman- Thanksgiving is an American holiday. It is a NATIONAL holiday.
Christmas is a RELIGIOUS holiday that many- but not all- Americans celebrate. Santa is a symbol of that holiday.
There are many Americans with roots that just may go back further than your own, who do not celebrate Christmas.
Religion and nationality are two separate things. In this country we have a little law involving separation of church and state. Our founding fathers instituted this because THEY came from countries where the beliefs of others were imposed upon them.
You want to celebrate with Santa? Do it outside of public school hours- or at a mall, church, etc. My tax dollars shouldn't support YOUR religious beliefs while ignoring MINE.
1-03-2011 @ 10:55AM
Snowman269 said...Roots? You shouldn't have went there, heh, heh...
Wiki Jacques_de_Noyon born 1668, is my 7xGreat Grand Father and his Wife was part of the original settlement of NEW ENGLAND! My Family has served in EVERY WAR this nation has ever been in. And I predict we will be in the next one too. We Are Patriots who will defend this Great Nation, no matter what the cost.
Go back and study the separation of Church and State as well, because that phase isn't ever there.
The Amendment PROHIBITS the making of any law "respecting an establishment of religion", IMPEDING the free exercise of religion, INFRINGING on the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering with the right to peaceably assemble or prohibiting the petitioning for a governmental redress of grievances.
The Establishment Clause of the First Amendment OF "1868" has been INTERPRETED by the Supreme Court as erecting a separation of church and state.
Go study up on your history. What your referring to only goes back to 1868. Which is a little over a 100 years ago!
You stated, "Our founding fathers instituted this because THEY came from countries where the beliefs of others were imposed upon them."
"Others" Try the GOVERNMENT making them go to church and killing them and jailing them for refusal.
That is a HUGE stretch to Santa Claus passing out present which the school isn't even paying for. It's people handing out FREE gifts as a form of FREE SPEECH!
Also, did you know, with my TAX Dollars, which I guarantee I pay more than you do. You can request to assemble and have a religious meeting on public school property. Happens all the time, and my FREEDOM of FREE SPEECH allows me to NOT attend.
Happy New Year!
12-31-2010 @ 11:01PM
Lisa said...Are you kidding me, We live in AMERICA and we need to stand up to this! So we are now banning Santa because of someone we let into the United States of America and our children once again have to pay the price!
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12-31-2010 @ 11:34PM
John Savage Crowne-Foster said...1st, head start is a federally funded program and pursuant to the 1st ammendment there should be NO compulsory or exclusionary aspects of any religion in it. A class describing the plethora of belief systems of the world would probably be ok so long as none was given greater precedence or coverage over the others as in all inclusive and equal.
2nd, why do parents, predominantly christian, tell their children not to lie, punish them if they do, and then tell them such a whopper of a lie about a ficticious character where the reward is for good behavior over bad (to get them to 'behave' no less!), that sets the child up for immense dissapointment because the lie is such obvious BS that most all kids figure it out well before the end of their 1st decade? And then we wonder why they go on to think that everything their parents tell them is full of it in their teen years? Isn't it time we grew ip as a species and taught our children the wonder of reality of life rather than filling and confusing their minds with silly fairy tale superstitions based on fear and ignorance? No wonder this world is so messed up! ! Oh, btw, why do rightwingnuts yap about not relying on govt. to help them yet they prey to an alien being to save them!?!? It's all such a totall disconnect from rational thought! Have A Nice Life and remember it's a brave new world out there...
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1-01-2011 @ 12:54AM
Nigil said..."So are you saying If I go to Iran or another Islamic country I can complain about them celebrating Eid and they will stop?"
Heather, please don't compare the United States, a democracy, to Iran, a theocracy. Considering what has been going on in Iran since the revolution a few decades ago, I can say with a high degree of certainty that if you go over there and complain you will just disappear. Unfortunately, there are many countries where there is no freedom of speech and you do not, in fact, have rights. The Supreme Court has interpreted the 1st Amendment such that freedom of religion includes freedom from religion. Its not that 10% as you say are bending the will of the majority. They are just calling on institutions to uphold the laws as they are currently accepted.
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1-04-2011 @ 6:34AM
Emma said...U know is the end of time, it happens to fulfill the prophecy.
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1-01-2011 @ 1:19AM
trans said...Who said Santa can't be Muslim too? Last I remember Jesus and Mohammed loved the same God.
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1-01-2011 @ 1:22AM
Tamir said...I am Muslim.First i wanna say that i totally disagree with banning Santa from visiting the school,and i don't regard Santa to be any symbol of christianity nor any other ideology,he's just a character adored by millions of children all over the globe who brings gifts and candies to little children drawing smiles over their faces and giving them a happy and a good hope for the new year.Nothing at all has to do with religions regarding Santa.But here's a point a wanna clarify,who said this is a true news in the first place?I mean why do i have to believe this headline in the first place,isn't it possible that this might be a fraud imposter headline whose poster INTENTIONALLY wants to give a bad image to Islam and Muslims and to gain all these negative reactions and reviews that clearly show up here in all the comments and users responses?I mean i can simply post a fake or fraud headline here saying wotever bad things about christians or jews or any other ideology to gain all these outraging agonising responses.Just all i'm asking for is to make sure about the truth of the headline before attacking or posting hostile responses against Muslims or any other religion.
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1-01-2011 @ 3:19PM
Jen23 said...u said this's fake, huh!!! do u've any clue 4that?? If not, why u start to feign'out things not sure of?Here r !muslims, if something against them, yell and say"THIS IS FAKE"
1-01-2011 @ 11:13PM
JoeMama said...http://mankatofreepress.com/local/x1531216993/Santa-gets-the-heave-ho-ho-ho
1-01-2011 @ 1:34AM
Mike said...Muslims have an agenda here in United States and we are so worried about being politically correct that we are helping them. It's just sad.
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1-01-2011 @ 3:02AM
Alex said...From the children's perspective:(semi expletives used to emphasise feeling from a child's pov)
No Santa because of those effing kids
Muslims stop me having any fun
Wait till the s-heads come back next time
All muslims are fun stoppers
Regardless of what adults feel this is the reaction of children
The muslim kids are probably p-offed with their parents for doing this to them. They will really feel ostracised.
Wonderful state of affairs. Nothing quite like bringing people of different cultures and beliefs together. Annoyance to parents and children. An experience that can last for a lifetime
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1-01-2011 @ 4:39AM
Ben McDougal said...The proper response would of been to inform the Somali parents that this is a learning environment where children are being exposed to part of a culture. They can opt out of the experience for their children, they can allow their children to participate and enjoy themselves, and they also have the option to request that the school expose the other children to a Somali Holiday. If your culture is so nice, let us see and learn about it.
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1-01-2011 @ 8:52AM
Taha said...As a muslim, I can not agree more with most of you. The idea is to encourage tolerance toward all's beleives. not toward my" believes. So. tell those parents to start considering Home schooling! unless it is agains the law, then no one can oppose such a tradition,
the fact is, immigrants have the biggest mouth when it comes to rights, but some times they confue ther rights, with their idiologies.
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1-01-2011 @ 9:18AM
Goforbroke said...Ha ha, I think it's funny that the Muslims that have commented to agree that Santa should be banned, also couldn't resist putting their own religious references in as well.
Here's the thing. Are you a citizen? No? Then who gives a f*** what you think? You're a visitor and have no right to complain about American tradition.
Wait? You are an immigrant citizen? So you took the oath of allegiance? Did you say that part at the end "so help me god"? Hmm... How does Allah feel about you saying that? God in this context was obviously not referring to Allah. Isn't this offensive to the Muslims? I think you should complain that. Also, "in god we trust" are christian symbols that appears all over the currency. This is blasphemy to Allah so you must never spend it or you are endorsing christianity,
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1-01-2011 @ 10:34AM
Shawn Dream said...As an agnostic, watching people who believe in one judgemental magical creature they have never seen lie to their children for several years about an entirely different judgemental magical creature they have never seen is HILARIOUS.
Are you testing to see if your children are better at identifying patterns and liars than you are?
1-01-2011 @ 11:52AM
Freeman said...Ha ha, this comment is the dumbest of all!
Please at least become familiar with what you're talking about before you expose your ignorance with this sort of comment.
In the Koran, Allah refers to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Any reference to the Jewish / Christian God is indeed also a reference to Allah, you just didn't know that before.
Ignorance, prejudice, and fear go hand in hand. Your comment firmly covers the first two - what is it you're afraid of?
1-02-2011 @ 9:34AM
Nemesister said...It is perfectly obvious that mooslums are coming here to take advantage of our welfare system (we need welfare reform) and invade our country and our culture over time through demographics. We'll all be dhimmis unless we put a stop to this. A good place to start would be a moratorium on mooslum immigration. Too bad our current president is a sympathizer with the enemy.
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