Parents protest suburban school's Halloween policy

[RC's Sweetheart]

Ok... I was watching the 11 o'clock news tonight and saw this come across the ticker at the bottom of the screen.... WTF!!! I couldn't believe what I read... What is this world coming to when all it takes is one... foreigner to come in and change "OUR" holidays.... I know children don't understand.... and I think this is just ridiculous.... I, also, would have been one of those parents to keep my child at home in protest as well.... Thanksgiving would be called a "Fall Festival" and Christmas would be called a "Winter Festival"..... This is sooooo wrong!


Parents protest suburban school's Halloween policy

Some students stay home from school

http://a.abclocal.go.com/graphics/v3/global/stockgraphics/icons/wls_byline.gif By Ben Bradley

October 31, 2006 - Some parents are upset with a decision to replace a Halloween party at their children's suburban school with a fall festival. Some parents kept their children at home Tuesday to protest the change.

Halloween is a day many children look forward to all year so the decision to change Halloween festivities at an elementary school in South Elgin is not sitting well with some parents. At least 19 students stayed home from Fox Meadow School on Tuesday. Their parents called the school to say their kids would not be attending class to protest what some see as political correctness gone awry.
"I can't believe it's come down to this!" said Gloriane Brennan, parent.
Gloriane Brennan is one of a handful of parents who decided to keep her kids home from Fox Meadow Elementary for the day.
The new principal of the school decided not to hold the annual costume parade for kindergarten through third graders in large part because last year a few dozen parents asked that their kids not participate in Halloween celebrations.
"When a school event, policy, or decision effects one person or many, we feel it warrants taking a look at and taking appropriate actions so all kids can be involved in a celebration," said Kris Houser, Elgin District U46 Spokesperson.
The school's Parent Teacher Organization stepped-in and held a costume party at the school Friday night. More than 300 people attended. But this group says it wasn't the same as an "in-school" Halloween celebration.
"They've been having it for most of the years I've been there and now they're not and it makes me feel sad," said Michael Ribando, 3rd Grader.
"We can call it a 'Fall Party' but there's no reason to cancel it because a small group of people don't want their children to participate," said Alanna Ribando, Parent.
While creative costumes weren't in the lesson plan at Fox Meadow School, a block away, these parents believe their kids learned a lesson in standing-up for what they believe in.
"We told her in this country you have a way to protest -- you have a voice. This was our voice," said Kim Schmidt, Parent.
Fourteen of the district's 40 elementary schools do not have Halloween parties. The decision is up to each principal.
The school does plan on celebrating Thanksgiving. There may also be a party just before winter break -- but, as is the case in most schools, these days it would be called a holiday party.

[Peggy]

Actually it doesn't say anything about a foreigner. It's a group of parents saying they don't want their kids to participate in Halloween festivities, and another group protesting the school succumbing to the pressure.

Truthfully, I used to be one of the parents who didn't want my daughter to be involved in any Halloween stuff, since, as Christians, we denounced celebrations of halloween. So I do understand where they are coming from.

However, today, I believe that it should be up to each individual family to decide whether their children will participate, and the entire body of children should not be "punished", as it were, because of their beliefs.

[RC's Sweetheart]

The parents that kept their kids out of school was in protest of that they should keep the halloween costume parade.

I meant to add that in the news ticker on my news station here.. it said it was due to one arabic parent...

my parents were christian too but I wasn't raised in church... and I guess how I view halloween isn't as a pagan holiday.

But I do remember in elementary school..... we had a week long teaching about the piligrims and when it came to christmas... we always learned about how all the countries all over the world celebrated christmas and what they called santa claus or called him st nick.... but we were also taught about the jewish religious holiday as well... but we didn't change Merry Christmas to Happy Holidays...

[Peggy]

No way will I ever change Merry Christmas to Happy Holidays. CHRISTmas is what it is - the celebration of the birth of Christ. That'll never change for me.

In years past, I've always gone ALL out for Christmas, with decorations, music, get-togethers. My last hubby wasn't really a "christmas person" so I lacked the enthusiasm to do too much, plus my son was very young and wouldn't have known the difference anyway.

These past 3 years since my divorce, I haven't been all that excited about the holidays, didn't have anyone to share it with. I let my son go to his dads' since there wasn't really anything to do at home. Why should he be bored because I didn't want to be alone? So, I've been alone both holidays.

I'm hoping that these upcoming holidays will be different this year.

[RC's Sweetheart]

I did a bit more diggin and found the written story plus the news cast video of it as well... the story I original posted was from October last year.... this is link is the one that was on the news just last night...

http://cbs2chicago.com/local/local_story_271104049.html

If you watch the video it will also mention that they allow the Muslim children to pray during Ramadan {sp?} but said that is on the students lunch time and that's their time... but... ummm excuse me... didn't we remove prayer from school... and you'll also here one of the higher ups in the school district mention something about schools having to remain netural but yet they are allowing these students to pray... when our children can't???? what's wrong with that picture?

[Peggy]

yep yep I do agree with that. Blatant discrimination

[Kent]

And then some ask why the rage and hate and the groups ready to start a revolution ...... not that I am of course, but I have an ongoing supply of ammo ;)

[RC's Sweetheart]

that's so true kent.... did anyone see where the story about the noose being hung in a police locker room in i think it was long island ny?.....

ya think they copy catted those kids from Jenna ??? *shakes my head*

[Kent]

Haven't heard of that but in a way it's all protected under freedom of speech. When the suckpreme court said it's freedom of speech to harm the Flag of my Nation because it's only fabric after all, to me that goes for a noose as well, afterall, it's just hemp turned into a rope turned into a noose, right? Not symbolic of a damn thing, just like the Flag is only cloth and not symbolic of a thing .... according to them ;)

[Peggy]

"they" are a bunch of idiots, imho. :rolleyes:

[RatherBeCamping]

I know that's what People think about Christmas Peggy, but they have been duped. it has nothing to do with the Birth of Christ and hasn't for centuries. It is a celebration of family and all mankind.

The Noose in a police lockerroom was here in Richmond, VA.

The bottom line with symbols is they are just that symbols. Whether a nitivity that someone sees as religious, while another sees as festive, a noose one sees as racist and another sees in poor taste as a joke.

As far as the flag goes, Burn it up I say. it is your right to. Just remember it is those of us who served that gave you that right, and not some newspaper or the ACLU.

[Peggy]

Burn the flag the CORRECT way.

And BS that Christmas has nothing to do with the birth of Christ. You don't wanna get me started, really you don't.

[RatherBeCamping]

Sigh

[RatherBeCamping]

The Gospels do not pinpoint the date of Christ's birth. The reason is probably that the focus of the Gospels is on the kerygma or mystery of redemption — the passion, death and resurrection of Christ. This focus is also probably why St. Mark's Gospel does not even include the Christmas story, but instead begins with the baptism of the Lord at the River Jordan. Prior to the legalization of Christianity by the Emperor Constantine in 313 A.D., no universal date or even formal celebration of Christmas is found.
After legalization, the Church was better able to establish universal dates for feasts and to organize their public celebration. Moreover, the Church had to address emerging controversies concerning Jesus as true God and true man, and how He entered this world. Such concern would focus more attention on the importance of celebrating Christmas, the birth of our Lord.
On the more "practical" side of this issue, Roman pagans used to gather at the hill where the Vatican is presently located to commemorate the "Birth of the Unconquered Sun." This pagan feast was celebrated throughout the Empire either on Dec. 25 (according to the Julian Calendar) or on Jan. 6 (according to the Egyptian calendar). Although not proven with certainty, some historians credit Constantine, who declared Sunday as a day of rest in the Empire, with replacing the pagan festival with that of Christmas. Remember that the title Christmas is derived from the Old English title Cristes Maesse which means "The Mass of Christ." So Today's Christians celebrate "The Birth" of Christ, while in reality it has to do with The whole Life of Christ.

[Peggy]

Actually I know why we Christians celebrate Christmas, since I are one :)

No, there is no pinpointing the actual birthdate of Christ. In all reality, His birthday is probably not even in December. What difference does it really make? Christmas was established in this country to celebrate the birth of Christ. Many of us even bake a birthday cake for Jesus, a custom in my family for ages. Christmas is just as important to me, as is Easter, which celebrates the resurrection of Christ.

A Christian celebrates the Life of Christ everyday - or should.

Which is one of the reasons I hate to see Xmas and bunnies lol. AARRGGHHH...

[RatherBeCamping]

No Christmas is the celebration of Christ as a whole. Not His birth. Unfortuinately many Christians believe what you believe and it is simply, and historically not true. The "Celebration" didn't even begin until over 300 years after His death.

[Peggy]

yep that I know. hmmmmm... I suppose millions of Christians are wrong?

[RatherBeCamping]

Welp I just posted Historical facts to you and you ignore them ...... Millions of Christians who believe that Christmas is/was ever intended to celebrate only Christ's birth are WRONG!

[Peggy]

uh yeah, right

[RatherBeCamping]

God and Christ are not religion. Religion (Christianity, Judaism, Islam) are all man made. And again, please find a reference to the celebration of Christmas ANYWHERE including the Bible prior to 300 AD.

[Peggy]

Excuse me - God and Christ are MAN-MADE?!?!?

and I suppose that you have proof of that?

Had you read my post above, when you mentioned 300 yrs before we began celebrating the birth of Christ, I replied, yep I know that.

If you want to come in here like a bulldozer, get it straight.

[Kent]

Lets take a deep breath and remember we all have personal opinions and sometimes we won't change them, sometimes other might allow us to rethink are stance and don't forget, there is the right way, the wrong way and my way and as long as you agree with my way you'll never be wrong.





:rofl:

[RatherBeCamping]

I said RELIGION is Man Made

[Peggy]

Yes you did, I just went back and re-read it. Sorry, these meds are screwing with me a bit. Your sarcastic blah blah blah's aren't helping. ;)

You're correct, religion is man-made. Which is why I say that I am not religious, I am a Christian. BIG difference that most people confuse as the same thing.

[RatherBeCamping]

Well then I won't tell you about the Pagans (Who were men) who invented Christianity)

[Peggy]

St Peter wasn't a pagan, Neither were any of the other disciples/apostles. Christianity started with the Book of Acts.

[RatherBeCamping]

sighhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

[Peggy]

sigh all you want to, LOL. CHRISTIAN means Christ-like. To be a Christian mean to live Christ-like, or at least as close to it as is humanly possible, which of course all Christian fail at.

SO, why would a pagan, be the originator of Christianity. That makes no sense whatsoever.

[Kent]

--
As far as the flag goes, Burn it up I say. it is your right to. Just remember it is those of us who served that gave you that right, and not some newspaper or the ACLU.


Burn it up? How can you even say that? Where in the swearing in ceremony at our induction did they have you recite that you will serve to give the ****tards the right to disgrace the same Flag you swore to protect? I sure as hell don't remember it from my induction.
The rights they have is to assemble for the purpose to protest, so say they dislike the government without fear of jail and so on, but no where have I seen or heard it's okie dokie fine to piss on, improperly burn or disgrace any of the Nation symbols that blood was spilled to protect. You and I could both go find the fancy and confusing mandates and such to explain our views but the bottom line and common sense thing is some things shouldn't need laws to protect and our Flag is one of those things.

[RatherBeCamping]

Christianity started out in Palestine as a fellowship; it moved to Greece and became a philosophy; it moved to Italy and became an institution; it moved to Europe and became a culture; it came to America and became an enterprise............................

After Yeshua's (Jesus) death, his followers formed the Jewish Christian movement, centered in Jerusalem. One of Yeshua's followers, Simon Peter, may have headed the group. James, who was either Yeshua's brother, cousin, or friend, took over leadership later. They regarded themselves as a reform movement within Judaism; they continued to sacrifice at the temple, circumcise their male children, follow Jewish kosher food laws, etc.
Saul of Tarsus, originally a persecutor of the Jewish Christians, reported having a vision of the risen Christ, 34 AD while on the road to Damascus. Adopting the new name of Paul, he became the greatest theologian of the early Christian movement. His writings, along with those of the author(s) of the Gospel of John, provided much of the theological foundation for what has been called Pauline Christianity, a movement that he spread throughout the northern and eastern Mediterranean basin. Paul's ministry was directed mainly to Gentiles -- non-Jews. Another belief system was Gnostic Christianity. They taught that Jesus was a spirit being sent by God to impart knowledge to humans so that they could escape the miseries of life on earth. They regarded the Yahweh of the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) to be an inferior, short tempered, vicious creator deity who performed many genocides, and other evil acts. In addition to Gnostic, Jewish, and and Pauline Christianity, there were many other versions of Christianity being taught. Often, there would be a number of conflicting Christianities being propagated within a single city. After the destruction of Jerusalem by the Roman Army in 70 AD, the Jewish Christian movement was largely dissipated. Gnostic leaving Pauline and Gnostic Christianity as the dominant groups. Gentiles within the movement took over control of the former movement.
The Roman Empire recognized Pauline Christianity as a valid religion in 313 AD. Later in that century, it became the official religion of the Empire. Church authority became concentrated among the five bishops or patriarchs located in Alexandria, Antioch, Constantinople, Jerusalem and Rome. Gnostic Christianity was severely persecuted, both by the Roman Empire and the Pauline Christian churches. It was almost exterminated, but is experiencing rapid growth today. With the expansion of Islam throughout the Middle East during the seventh century AD, power became concentrated in Constantinople and Rome. These two Christian centers gradually grew apart in belief, and practice. In 1054 AD, a split was formalized between the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches; their leaders excommunicated each others. The split remains in effect today. Efforts are being made to heal the division. However, they are making little progress.
The Protestant Reformation in the 16th century led to a split within the western church. The Protestant movement further fragmented into what is now thousands of denominations (http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_cf.htm) and groups. Christianity as you know it and I know it is an enterprise. You can be a "Christian" nad live your life through Christ and try to be as "Christ Like" as possible. I suppose that would follow the teachings of Paul, but there are not millions of folks like that. There are millions and millions of catholics, prodestants, baptists, etc etc who also claim to be "Christian", when in fact they are merely trapped in a religion called christianity which has nothing to do with being Christian. Our Belief has been turned into what I quoted in the beginning. An enterprise. Ala Pat Robertson, Billy Graham, on and on and on. I am a Christian Pegster...I just don't subscribe to the religion of Christianity.

[RatherBeCamping]

Burn it up? How can you even say that? Where in the swearing in ceremony at our induction did they have you recite that you will serve to give the ****tards the right to disgrace the same Flag you swore to protect? I sure as hell don't remember it from my induction.
The rights they have is to assemble for the purpose to protest, so say they dislike the government without fear of jail and so on, but no where have I seen or heard it's okie dokie fine to piss on, improperly burn or disgrace any of the Nation symbols that blood was spilled to protect. You and I could both go find the fancy and confusing mandates and such to explain our views but the bottom line and common sense thing is some things shouldn't need laws to protect and our Flag is one of those things.

In my 22 years of service I swore to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States. In accordance with that document, I support and defend the right of any citizen in this country who deems it necessary to do whatever they want to the flag. I never said I liked it.

[RatherBeCamping]

"You and I could both go find the fancy and confusing mandates and such to explain our views but the bottom line and common sense thing is some things shouldn't need laws to protect and our Flag is one of those things."

And pretty soon the other side is gonna make laws which go against you. I say don't screw with the constitution just to serve a means of appeasing one side vs another.

[Peggy]

Thanks for the refresher course ;)

Neither do I subscribe to the "religion" of Christianity. I subscribe to the teachings of the Holy Bible and and strive to live as Christ taught that we should live. :)