Job Discussion Forums

[posh]

Bahrain hotels have Christmas trees in the lobby.

Last year, with a straight face, I asked my boss to have the 25th off. He laughed.

I went to Sinai in December. It was great and you can easily get there from Tabuk without flying. There is a ferry from Saudi that Ive heard of but never found any online evidence of. Better is go to Aqaba in Jordan and catch one to Nuweiba. I stayed in very laid back Dahab as Sharm is full-on tourism with sharks on land as well as in the water. Beautiful hotel for 50 bucks a night.

[BadBeagleBad]

[2buckets]

[i]Christmas, Easter, and Sundays are all regular workdays in the Gulf. Keep in mind that in the US, we completely ignore the Muslim holidays and they rarely, if ever, get any time off for their holidays in the vast majority of the country.

Outside of Saudi they are more tolerant of decorations in that they sell them and the stores that cater to Christian expats do decorate. But it is very low key there too.[/i]

VS

On the PC east coast of the USA, Eid holidays are part of the annual schedule and schools are closed. NYC and parts of New Jersey are examples.

[johnslat]

Dear rtm,

"If there are an estimated 1.5 million Christians out of an estimated 28 million citizens, that'd be 1.5/28 = .0537."

But wouldn't you have to count the Christians as part of the population (although not of the citizenry?) I'm sure the Muslims in the US are included in the "total population figure." That's why I gave the figure 1/29.5.


Regards
John

[veiledsentiments]

[It's Scary!]

The U.S. military respects the fasting period and reminds people to consider those who fast. But, no accommodation is made otherwise.

There is a rumour that at least one day is given to them for al-Eid. Personally, for me, I let all know that they have Saturday and Sunday off.

But, that's only because I'm such a softie!

It gets them every time!

[Kornan DeKobb]

[mashkif]

[veiledsentiments]

[Betrayer of Hope]

[johnslat]

Dear mashkif,

"BTW< Do you have any evidence that there is a systematic discrimination going on against Muslims in the States, particularly discrimination that is somehow fundamentally worse than discrimination against any other minority?"

I guess it depends on your definition of "fundamentally worse."


�We should all agree that it�s wrong to blame an entire community for the wrongdoing of a few. Guilt by association is not the American way,� said Democratic Senator Dick Durbin, who chaired the hearing.
He said Muslims account for less than 1 percent of the U.S. population but more than 14 percent of religious discrimination cases investigated by the federal government and 25 percent of religious discrimination cases involving workplaces.
The Justice Department has investigated over 800 incidents of violence, vandalism and arson against people believed to be Muslim, Arab or South Asian, since the September 11 attacks."

http://btx3.wordpress.com/2011/03/29/discrimination-against-muslims/

Regards,
John

[sheikh radlinrol]

[johnslat]

Dear sheik,

"Alternate side of the street parking holidays are a subtle, yet meaningful way in which the state publicly recognizes the diverse religious values of its citizens. In New York City, for example, parking regulations are suspended out of respect for different groups� most sacred holidays, such as Yom Kippur for Jews, Diwali for Hindus, and Eid al-Adha for Muslims. Significantly, religious holidays for specific groups that warrant suspending parking regulations exist alongside secular anniversaries and Christian holy days that the majority celebrates for which schools are closed or workers are given the day off. In other words, New York City has multi-level holidays permitting different types of exemptions that recognize the values of particular groups as well as those of the broader community."

http://www.stlawu.edu/academics/programs/government/stories/2171

"Alternate side parking is a traffic law that dictates on which side of a street cars can be parallel parked on a given day. The law is intended to ensure the most efficient flow of traffic, as well as to allow street sweepers and snowplows to reach the curb without parked cars impeding their progress. Some proponents also regard the law, which can be quite inconvenient for drivers, as a way to encourage the use of public transportation.

"In many towns and cities, alternate side parking is reserved for certain times of year. In other places, such as New York City, it is a year-round rule suspended only for holidays and certain events."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternate-side_parking

Regards,
John

[sheikh radlinrol]

Thank you, John. As ALWAYS you have an answer. Your wife must have the patience of a saint. But what happens at midnight to the cars that are already parked? Do their owners have to go out and move them to the other side of the street?

[johnslat]

Dear sheik,

" Your wife must have the patience of a saint."

She does, indeed!

" Do their owners have to go out and move them to the other side of the street?"

" . . . which can be quite inconvenient for drivers, . . ."

Well, they can either do that or take the risk of getting a ticket. But there aren't too many parking enforcement officers out on the streets between midnight and 7 a.m. The real danger is the Sanitation Department - which IS up very early.

"Ever come down five minutes too late to move your car for alternate side parking only to find the Sanitation Department has slapped on one of those stickers that's totally impossible to get off without leaving scratch marks and a sticky residue on your window?"

http://gothamist.com/2011/04/05/councilman_wants_to_ban_those_embar.php

Regards,
John