Ujwala, et al, 

The reason I perceived Ochieng's post as a circulation of religious doctrine is because it is a circulation of religious doctrine. 
Sure, it is warm and friendly, and its congenial tone is well taken. But its content is another matter. It is patently doctrinaire. 

See for example the term ibadah, which Ochieng translates as "devotion", but is more commonly translated to mean "submission" or "worship."  The reference to "the night of Qadr" is another point of doctrine, referring to the night that Allah revealed the Quran to Muhammad.  Ummah is the community of Muslim believers. As such Ochieng's message is not a casual, ecumenical greeting of goodwill. 

Ochieng wishes that Allah grant us ibadah during the night of Qadr, and make us the best ummah. This certainly constitues a statement of religious doctrine. 

I am not opposed to learning about religions. I am simply questioning whether nifl.gov is the appropriate vehicle to communicate in the manner Ochieng did. If it is, we should be prepared for more of the same, from all quarters.

Regards,

Kearney
 
 
 
Kearney_Lykins at yahoo.com
 
C: (614) 787-2202
H: (614) 760-1407



----- Original Message ----
From: Ujwala Samant <lalumineuse at yahoo.com>
To: The Diversity and Literacy Discussion List <diversity at nifl.gov>
Sent: Thursday, September 4, 2008 7:09:35 AM
Subject: [Diversity 141] Re: Ramadhan Kareem

I am surprised by this comment. All schools have
Christmas holidays, Easter break... surely those are
religious holidays? In elementary school, my son
brought home St. Patrick's day crafts, and of course
Father Christmas was a theme as well. Separation of
church and state in state schools is.... non existent.
In my son's school holiday list, Yom Kippur is listed
as a holiday. And I can assure you we have a strong
Hindu and Muslim population. Wishing someone for their
religious holidays (and we have seen Merry Christmas
being wished prior to those holidays) is hardly
perpetuating a religious doctrine. If anything, this
information helps us to understand different
religions, and understand the cultural backdrops of
our learners. There have been questions about Persian
(Irani) New Year, Diwali, and for those who have Hindu
students, Ganesh Chaturathi (the festival of the god
Ganesh) started yesterday.

Diversity is not just having a multi-ethnic meal and
simplistic multicultural parties. It is about learning
in-depth and in a profound manner. I am curious how
this explanation was perceived as a means to circulate
religious doctrine. 

With best wishes,
Ujwala Samant





--- Kearney Lykins <kearney_lykins at yahoo.com> wrote:


> I am surprised that no one has yet commented on the

> propriety of using a government listserve to

> circulate religious doctrine. 

> 

> Has The Diversity and Literacy Discussion List now

> become a vehicle for promoting religious

> holidays and disseminating prayers? 

>  

>  

>  Regards,

> 

> Kearney Lykins

>  

> 

> 

> 

> ----- Original Message ----

> From: Ochieng kh <ochykheyr at yahoo.com>

> To: The Diversity and Literacy Discussion List

> <diversity at nifl.gov>

> Sent: Tuesday, September 2, 2008 10:02:45 AM

> Subject: [Diversity 129] Ramadhan Kareem

> 

> 

> Dear All, 

> Many of you have Muslim students who are celebrating

> the blessed month of Ramadhan. I would like to wish

> them Ramadhan kareem. It is a month of deep

> reflection and self-restraint while praying for

> spiritual purity, good tidings and endless bounties.

> 

>  

> It is a blessed opportunity to reflect upon and

> grapple with the issues that afflict the souls of

> not only the Muslim ummah but the greater creation

> of Allah (SWT). 

>  

> It is also the time to ponder and generate solutions

> to such issues as injustices, inequality, wrongs

> visited upon the poor and vulnerable, unity of the

> ummah, corruption, leadership, marginalization,

> environment, prejudices and stereotypes, etc.  

>  

> Ramadhan is an important month of Patience, sharing

> and selflessness and a time to seek the mercy and

> forgiveness from Allah (SWT) 

>  

> May Allah (SWT) grant all of us us the

> ibadah(devotion) of the night of Qadr(blessed night)

> and make us the best ummah. 

> RAMADHAN KAREEM 

> Ochieng M.Khairallah 

> 

> 

>      >

----------------------------------------------------

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