20051008 - "You forgot our creator who created you," Cynthia Forde
told school board members before the vote. "You keep saying he don't
exist. You ain't the boss. We are. We voted you in. You've got to
change your mind." Forde was one of several Hillsborough County
residents who spoke to the board before they voted to restore school
holidays for the Jewish celebration of Yom Kippur and the days around
Easter. Two weeks ago, following a request from a Muslim group to have
one of their holidays off of school, the board voted to remove all
religious holidays from the calendar. After an outcry that drew
national attention from conservatives, the board reversed their
decision Tuesday, but did not create a Muslim holiday. (Brian Cassella
/ St. Petersburg Times)
