The New York Daily News is reporting that newly elected New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said Monday that he’d move forward with closing schools for Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, two Muslim holy days, and for Lunar New Year. But he was hesitant regarding Hindu festival Diwali.
This is a part of a trend among progressives on both sides of the isle to incorporate Islam into American society using a variety of methods including the school calendar. Meanwhile, Christian holidays are marginalized, having their names changed to the time of year that they occur.
“It is complicated in terms of logistics and school calendar and budget. But it’s something I want to get done in a reasonable time frame,” Mayor de Blasio stated appearing on WNYC’s “Brian Lehrer Show” on Monday.
Interestingly, the mayor said he hadn’t taken a position on whether Diwali, the festival of lights celebrated in India and other South Asian countries, should be observed by New York’s schools.
