Dear All,
I fancy debates and I thank you for taking time to share on this sensitive subject of religion. I am increasingly convinced that we are seeing the same thing from different stand-points. I didnot ascribe any other meaning to the words than what I did state as follows; devotion for ibadah and the blessed night for Qadr. The thrust of Ramadhan in my understanding is to enable Muslims to earn the blessings through devotion to God. 
 
Again, Muslims believe that the night of Qadr is a night when angels descend with blessings during the last ten days of Ramadhan and the reason why most muslims spend these nights either in the mosque praying the whole night. To a Muslim, these are very special attributes of Ramadhan and sharing wishes around these issues gives a Muslim a true touch of Ramadhan. That is the basis upon which I chose those words and the reason why I indicted what I intended them to mean.
 
I have a very open approach to matters of religion and personal faith and I share the view that noone should impose his/her religious beliefs on the other. But this should not make us insensitive to the fact that these differences must inform the basis for interdependence. I am also of the view that whether christian, muslim or atheist, each is entitled to a spiritual space without infringing on anothers' space. I did use the word creation because I am again of the view that every creation is answereble to the creator and every creation knows best how to serve his/her creator. It is the basis for diversity and as has been well explained by others, diversity must not yield slavery or servitude but freedom. 
 
I really appreciate your insights and best wishes to you all.
Ochieng M.K


--- On Thu, 9/4/08, Kearney Lykins <kearney_lykins at yahoo.com> wrote:

From: Kearney Lykins <kearney_lykins at yahoo.com>
Subject: [Diversity 152] Re: Ramadhan Kareem
To: "The Diversity and Literacy Discussion List" <diversity at nifl.gov>
Date: Thursday, September 4, 2008, 1:17 PM







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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