Should Eid become a state holiday? Sure, why not? Maybe along with Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur?

I was saddened, horrified and aghast when I read the bigoted responses that two Maine lawmakers made when the proposal from Rep. Mana Abdi, D-Lewiston, was made to make the two Muslim Eid holidays state holidays.

The U.S. and Maine have freedom of religion laws and for them to say that they “don’t mind having Muslims live here” as long as “they don’t try to change our country” and “we must not tolerate any other nationality or religion to override our own” is beyond unbelievable. They should be ashamed of themselves, and I am ashamed that they are our state politicians.

As a member of another religious minority (I am Jewish), why can’t we have a law that allows each of us to celebrate our holiest days? Why can we not be the country and state of freedom of religion? Why can’t we be tolerant of each other and wish well for each other? And why can’t we be the state where immigrants find the freedom that they came here for? That is the promise of the U.S.

Beverly Braaten
North Yarmouth