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| -Short Attention Span Theater- |
| Santa given the boot from a Head Start Program in Minnesota this year. |
| 2011-01-01 |
| Any care to guess the faith of the party that was offended. They weren't Zoastrians. 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. |
| Posted by:Delphi |
| #10 I think this is good: for the first time Head Start is teaching the kids something valuable: Islam's religion of hate extends to Santa and depriving poor kids. |
| Posted by: regular joe 2011-01-01 22:07 |
| #9 OK so I'm Christian and I'm offended that I cant enjoy my customs during CHRISTmas! Who exactly is being the bigot here???? I'm tired of this, I have not tolerance for it, God help the poor muzzie that confronts me or my family! |
| Posted by: 49 Pan 2011-01-01 19:24 |
| #8 I read or heard where some muslim in the U.S. said the muslims needed a Bill Cosby-like sitcom for muslims to counter their "bad" image. I'm under the impression it was Katie Couric, JohnQC. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2011-01-01 17:37 |
| #7 Somali's say "hey, don't blame us". MANKATO — Head Start officials erred in ending Santa Claus visits to St. Peter Head Start classrooms and have unfairly made Somalis into scapegoats on the issue, say two Mankato Somalians who have lived in the community a combined 23 years. “Why put a fire under Somalis?” Lul Ahmed said. “This is a lovely community where we live together. But we’re being seen as negative, and we don’t want that.” Fanah Adam, who has children in the Mankato Head Start program, said respect for differing cultures and customs is a two-way street — a concept that was sullied by prohibiting a Santa appearance because some families in the class reportedly objected to it. “Santa and the families (were) not the decision-makers; Head Start administrators are who sent Santa away,” he said. Chris Marben, who coordinates regional Head Start programs through Mankato-based Minnesota Valley Action Council, said this:“We have Somali families in the program. We’re respecting the wishes of the families.” She did not say how many objected to Santa’s appearance, nor if Somali families specifically objected. Head Start officials have made no comments on the matter since then, but Ahmed and Adam think they need to do so. “They need to make an apology,” Ahmed said. “They need to correct this mess.” |
| Posted by: tu3031 2011-01-01 14:56 |
| #6 "Tonight...on a very special Islamic Abu-Cosbys, Fatima gets genital mutilation against her will. Hilarity ensues..." |
| Posted by: Frank G 2011-01-01 13:42 |
| #5 How long before the Somalians want to change the name of St. Peter? |
| Posted by: tu3031 2011-01-01 12:18 |
| #4 They have Achmed the Dead Terrorist: |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2011-01-01 12:18 |
| #3 At least the adult characters on the Cosby Show represented the result of education and initiative. Their parenting skills also portrayed sensible and, at times, exemplary lessons as to what and what not to do while raising children. It spoke to all levels of society (whether we listened or not). That's why the show was so successful. Can't imagine the 'lessons' an 'Isl*m*c Cosby Show' would teach. |
| Posted by: Mullah Richard 2011-01-01 12:15 |
| #2 I read or heard where some muslim in the U.S. said the muslims needed a Bill Cosby-like sitcom for muslims to counter their "bad" image. I don't think a Cosby like sitcom is going to do it for them so long as some of them are still trying to kill us. |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2011-01-01 12:00 |
| #1 I wonder if they would have allowed (or even encouraged) the Islamic version of Santa. |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2011-01-01 10:50 |