I will say up front that since I have no experience in designing public policy I am purposefully not going to try to go into detail about the legislative and economic corollaries. Maybe this idea is feasible; maybe there are unknown downsides.
I am writing without moderating my language or concepts over-much in order to straightforwardly get the idea across. I write from the individual perspective as outlined in the next paragraph. My generalizations are short-hands for well-recognised issues. My use of colloquialisms is not intended to be offensive but to be a clear statement of an idea.
Genesis: I worked 2000/2001 in Indonesia as an EFL teacher. As a white, British, vaguely Anglican male I suppose I brought my own expectations to the workplace. I was surprised (pleasantly so) by the national policy extant in Indonesia of awarding public holidays for a variety of religious festivals from DIFFERENT FAITHS. Thus, I would be told “next Friday is a day off”. When asking why, I would be told it was “Buddha’s birthday”. I note that all major Christian festivals were also public holidays.
Development: Over the last twenty years in the UK it has been my observation that there exists an un-lanced cultural suspicion between different population groups. In particular, there is good evidence that there are demographic groups for whom the cultural integration of citizens of Islamic faith is perceived to be problematic. Moreover, it could be argued that the UK has paid cheap lip-service to its ‘land of many faiths’ public position whilst taking very few significant steps in that direction. Certainly not ones which would be warmly embraced by the entire UK population.
The idea: by now you’ve realised what I am advocating. A (generally, paid) additional Bank Holiday like Christmas Day and Boxing Day but which is Islamic. I guess, Eid Al-Adhar but to be honest I don’t care which one, and neither will the majority of the people to whom I have alluded above (white, nativist by temperament?).
The benefits: the UK actually embraces Islam in a dramatic and meaningful way and IN A WAY WHICH EVERYONE CELEBRATES (i.e. another holiday). Now, perhaps the ‘cost to the economy’ may be measured as too great in, at the very least, narrowly fiscal terms. However, this is cultural innovation on a grand, open and generous scale. It serves the wider benefit of an additional day of ‘family time’ or however citizens chose to enjoy their additional day of holiday.
But fundamentally, although there may be some initial objections (‘why are they getting a holiday’; ‘Islamic takeover’ etc.) the fact of an extra day off (in some cases spent in a public house) will be enormously welcomed. The UK’s international profile is raised in a positive way. Domestically, our Islamic citizens gain respect and recognition at the level of a public holiday (well-deserved and long overdue). To me, the costs seem low and the benefits potentially great. Despite the putative cost to the economy, a happier, better-knit society may in the long term prove more productive overall. Who knows?
1944-11