Ellen Gonzalez
(8
July 2004)
"Muslim holiday stamp"
This is not new. It came out on
September 1, 2001 BEFORE the twin towers disaster, and was released again
a year later. The U.S. Postal Service issued the Eid stamp commemorating
the Muslim holidays Eid al-Fitr (marking the end of Ramadan) and Eid al-Adha
(marking the end of the pilgrimage to Mecca) as part of its multicultural
Holiday Celebrations series.There are also stamps for Christmas and Hannukah,
but these stamps are simply available to each religion for the sending
of their holiday cards, and Muslims do send cards. The words on it read
"blessed feast", much like our holiday greetings read "Merry Christmas"
or "Happy Hannukah".
I agree that it is not a great idea, but
it was done before 9/11 as a gesture of honoring other religions that are
practiced in our country. I guess the Buddhists and Hindus will be next
in line, followed by the Druids. It is available by request only, so one
cannot really boycott the stamp. I'm not sure if it will be available this
coming holiday season. How sad that the government will issue these stamps,
but take the cross off the historical Los Angeles city flag. We could cite
countless other examples of the "separation of church and state", which
we know are usually against the Christian faith.