Wow, Cambridge, Massachusetts’ public schools are closing for Eid al-Fitr in the 2011-2012 school year.
Check out this article from Sunday’s Boston Globe: “School system to get Muslim holiday.”
“At a time when I think the Muslim population is being characterized with a broad brush in a negative way, I think it’s important for us to say we’re not going to do that here,” [Cambridge School Committee member Marc] McGovern said.
Cambridge schools already close for some Christian and Jewish holidays, and McGovern said he believes Muslims should be treated equally.
“The issue that sort of came up was should we celebrate any religious holidays, but there was not the will to take away Good Friday or one of the Jewish holidays,” he said. “So I said, if that is the case, I think we have an obligation to celebrate one of the Muslim holidays, as well.”
I kind of want to move to Cambridge, now. Wow.
The last line is fantastic: “Can’t please everybody,” he said. “You have to do what you think is right.”
Tags: a surprising turn of tolerance, Boston Globe, Cambridge, holiday, Islam