Holidays and Fair Housing...

So here we are duing the Holiday Season when many of us celebrate different religious holidays. As an apartment manager of a small community, I thought it would be nice to make a holiday cd for my residents. My quandry is, although it will be all instrumental, will I be discriminating if it's all Christmas music?

Although I find it sad that we even have to have this discussion, I guess it's necessary. Yesterday, I purchased enough blank cd's and jackets along with cards to cover all of my units and as I thought about it last night, I re-thought my wonderful gift, in fear that I could actually be sued for distributing this gift to my residents. I know I have at least one muslim resident, so even with one, there is still the danger of a law suit. :unsure:

Could you make a photo CD instead and use pictures of the property and maybe Residents' pets?

Hello Rachel,

You could also let the tenants know you want to make a Christmas Cd for them and send it to the ones that say yes. To others you could send something that they felt were more appropriate.

As for the Muslim, they know about Jesus, it is just they see Him as prophet and a messenger of God. There is a large misunderstanding within the Christian community about the Muslim religion. Even though I am a Christian, I spent time in the desert with Muslim people and they knew me as a Christian, but they respected me as I did them and we learned from one another. In the Koran Jesus known as Isa there is a passage which translated reads, "Behold! The angels said, 'Oh Mary! God gives you glad tidings of a Word from Him. His name will be Christ Jesus, the son of Mary, held in honor in this world and the Hereafter, and in (the company of) those nearest to God. He shall speak to the people in childhood and in maturity. He shall be (in the company) of the righteous... And God will teach him the Book and Wisdom, the Law and the Gospel'" (3:45-48). The Muslim objection is that God says let it be and it is so. So they have a problem with seeing Jesus as more than a prophet.

If you have a fear of being sued, then I would think about what Mindy recommended, or have something which gives another way of looking at things. You may have some of the Jewish religion as well. There may even be some atheist and those are the one which normally will sue! Shame on me for saying so, but most times I read about this, it is the case.

Now having said all of that the other thing is send a note to every unit and let them know you will make them a Christmas cd upon request as a celebration for this time of the year.

I could make a different kind of CD my property isn't one that would make a good holiday cd. If I could get by with my music cd, I would really love that. I have to give this some thought. I was so excited when I first thought about all of this. It only takes one resentful resident, to make a law suit. And they don't even have to be a non-christian. The more I think about it, the less inclined I am to proceed. I think airing it here just solidified my decision.

I do find it sad that in our country we are held to such high "politically correct" standards and yet if we were in another country (won't say which) that we could literally be put to death for not observing or respecting religious customs of their country.

Thanks for sharing. I know what to do...or shall I say...what NOT to do.

It is fine to say which country you think would put you to death on here as I think that anyone on here would understand or at least I hope would concerning matters such as these. I may be getting away a bit from the fair housing portion, but I love studying different religions as it gives me a better understanding of people and where they are coming from. Like any place you have those who are radicals and all it takes are a few to taint a whole group. The most killing through out history has been with a religious theme of some sort and there are those who would corrupt and twist to breed hate and fear! Politically correct is something which can be taken to extremes! Me, I am a business owner and I still say Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! If one were to be technical our Christmas tree did not come from the Christian belief, but from the pagan beliefs and there is a story behind it as the reason why the tree was kept! See got me started, sorry! I know what you mean though, believe me I do!