One step forward, one step back

A positive step in Eritrea.

"Eritrea has banned the life-threatening practice of female circumcision, the Eritrean information ministry has said. "

Female circumcision is a barbaric, painful proceedure that is common in Africa and the Middle East. There has been a large push to get this practice stopped and every country that abolishes this barbaric practice is one more country moving into the 20th century (in terms of womens rights).

Now the step backward.

"Though Christmas is 8 months away, the traditional celebration of the birth of Christ in Italian school districts has become a raging controversy.
Parents of pupils at the Casa del Bosco nursery school in the multi-ethnic Oltrisarco district of Bolzano have been informed that at the school's Christmas concert, the students will not be permitted to sing "Tu scendi dalle stelle" [From Starry Skies Thou Comest].
Ths school's teachers singlehandedly made the decision to eliminate the carol to placate Muslim and other foreign born children, though they celebrate Chinese New Years and "learn about the significance of Ramadan."

Sigh.....I have no problem with the school learning about ALL religious celebrations. Bring on Ramadan, bring on the Chinese New Year, bring on Passover, Easter and anything else! BUT you are wrong, wrong WRONG when you allow the children to celebrate every religion BUT ONE!!! That is discrimination, that is bias and that is government entities promoting one religion over another.

The teachers overstepped their boundaries - the local imam even said so (I'll give credit where credit is due). Rather that trying to justify their actions they should just rescind the decision and move on. What will they do?