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Rory J. Koopmans, B. Admin., 716 Sherman Avenue SW, Calgary, Alberta T2W 0W2

December XXIVth, MMX

Hon. David G. Hancock, QC, MLA, Minister of Education, Progressive Conservative, Edmonton-Whitemud

Dear David:

As I & many other Christian students celebrate Christmas Day & the Christmas season with our family's, we must remember II practice tolerance & understanding of other religions & religious faiths & doctrines this holiday season. As a matter of fact, we need II practice this year round. As do other cultures & religious groups have II of eachother.

I IV instance have a friend whose little niece is a Muslim. So I of course respect her right as a student of Islam to celebrate say Ramadan. Just as she respects her aunt & uncle IV celebrating Jesus Christ & Christianity as Presbyterians. Both Allah/Muhammed must be respected IV providing much in the way of decent quality doctrines for them to be respectful.

My friend is Orthodox Jewish, so he believes Christ was an important messenger, while at the same time, not the promised Saviour. This of course is his right. Just as its important IV students II understand that its important IV him II celebrate Hanukkah. What's really weird (& kind of cool) is his wife is Messianic Jewish, so she believes in Christ. So an interfaith marriage to be sure. Even neater is the fact that one of their student aged children is Jewish while the other has indicated he believe in the temple god of Buddha. I mean what great parents, total religious freedom without persecution. This is the kind of freedom & sense of multi religious respect we need II instill in all Alberta students today.

Merry Christmas, Praise Allah, Shalom,

Rory

Source: Myself.