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.