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Since when did muslims really become so offended by our national independence day celebration taking place during Ramadan? Never before.
This isn't an anti-muslim thread, it's an anti-PC American liberals looking for some reason to act stupid thread. The muslims in Indonesia have never and aren't now looking for this accomodation. This is just stupid liberalism on parade once again.
Believe me, if I wanted to find something muslims were doing wrong I could. This isn't it.
No one is offended (except you) . This wasn't a closed door Americans only July 4th celebration, it was meant to be a PUBLIC celebration with the citizens of Indonesia. It makes no sense to hold this event when the people you're throwing it for can't attend. The embassy can still honor July 4th amongst the embassy officials.
Did you read none of the replies in this thread? There are multiple posts that answer your questions. I guess they weren't telling you what you wanted to hear so you just ignored them.
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Originally Posted by Unsettomati
It's called diplomacy.
Did you even read the article? It's not some private, embassy-staff only festivity. Rather, as is typical, it is a public festival meant to engage the populace of the local country. It doesn't occur to you that it is far more effective to reach out to the locals when they're not already engaged in their own celebration, not to mention one that contains a fair amount of asceticism?
Do you have a problem that the July 4th celebration at the American embassy in Tel Aviv features kosher food, with meat and dairy carefully segregated?
Necessary? No. Neither is having a celebration on July 4th necessary, or even having one at all, for that matter.
But the entire function of an embassy is to facilitate relations between nations, and in this case it was determined that the best way to do that is to go ahead with the celebration to engage Indonesia and its mostly-Muslim populace, but not to do so when they are not otherwise going to be involved in a religious rite that, among other things, requires day-time fasting and various other pious behaviors.
As for why this year - um, you're not aware that Ramadan follows the Islamic calendar, and so slowly progresses around the year of the Gregorian calendar? A little googling shows that July 4th hasn't fallen during Ramadan since 1983.
Quote:
Originally Posted by LS Jaun
Non issue. Looks like they were celebrating with the locals as many of the locals were fasting during Ramadan.
Quote:
Originally Posted by graceC
Oh please, it's called common sense. The celebration is intended for general public, not just embassy staff members. If they don't move it to June, they will have nobody attending since the locals are fasting during the day during the month of Ramadhan. They don't move the date out of respect for the religion, they do it so they have a successful celebration.
[quote=kanhawk;39945850]Since when did muslims really become so offended by our national independence day celebration taking place during Ramadan? Never before.
T
Like was said, it last happened in 1983, so we'd need someone to remember that far back to see if there was any special consideration. As an aside, I used to work in Jakarta for a couple of years. It wasn't much of a celebration until the evening of the end. Otherwise, the people would drag around all day from hunger and thirst, counting the minutes until they could sit down and eat dinner. Then wake up at 4am and stuff themselves with food before sunrise. The years when it fell during the long days of summer were even worse. This was recounted to me by the Muslims I worked with. I kept no such schedule. If the usual celebration is intended for visitors to the embassy, any food would be taunt.
I'm sorry, but is this really necessary? How is celebrating our national independence day inside our own embassy some affront to Islam now? This wasn't necessary before but now it is?
Independence days at embassies are often huge affairs with large parties involving many other embassies and other local dignitaries.
It makes sense in a Muslim country.
As someone who spent a few July 4ths at the American embassy in Indonesia, I can tell you, it will be a boss party.
My parents did a few July 4ths at the embassy in Turkmenistan. I wonder if they will change the date, too.
Whether it's US soil, you're still a presence in their country.
I can't imagine many Americans would be thrilled if an Embassy in the US threw a big joyous party (for whatever holiday they celebrate) on our Memorial Day.
Most Americans have no idea what Memorial Day is even about.
I'm sorry, but is this really necessary? How is celebrating our national independence day inside our own embassy some affront to Islam now? This wasn't necessary before but now it is?
Are there circumstances where people celebrate their birthday or anniversary on dates other than the real ones?
From you position, everybody should be entitled to the day off for celebration of their birthday. If the boss says no, then the boss is bad.
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