AP: Booze, dogs too much for some Muslim cabbies...

[nedbal]

MINNEAPOLIS - Some Muslim cab drivers are refusing service to a growing number of passengers with alcohol or dogs, and officials at Minneapolis-St. Paul International airport are trying to fight it.

"Our expectation is that if you're going to be driving a taxi at the airport, you need to provide service to anybody who wants it," said Patrick Hogan, spokesman for the Metropolitan Airport Commission.

Each month, about 100 people are denied cab service at the airport, and refusals for religious reasons have grown in recent months, airport officials said. About three-quarters of the 900 taxi drivers at the airport are Somali, many of them Muslim

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16472393/

<more>


I say take their license away / fire em , etc jail em also if they refuse a "service dog"
to me It's not just about the airport cabs, what if I call or hail a cab on a street that doesn't have much cab traffic, They need a different type of job and I say make that career change decision for them

the religious PC's may flame away

[kevinbgoode]

1. This will likely enrage the wingnut evangenitals. ..

they don't like to be out-righteoused by any other competing religion.

[LeftofU]

2. First the Irish and now this...

when will it stop.

[Squatch]

3. Cut 'em loose. Failure to perform assigned duties.

[kysrsoze]

46. Exactly. No difference between this and pharmacists dispensing birth control

If you have a personal problem with alcohol and pets, find another job.

[aquart]

4. Religious Jews don't seek work in bacon processing plants.

Neither do religious Muslims, come to think of it. If your religion prevents you from doing a jopb, don't apply for the job.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

5. This is fine with me.

Assuming it's not seeing eye dogs.

[originalpckelly]

17. Why? I can understand someone making a choice...

in another business, but when people are being denied service simply because they have dogs, and that's not against company policy, I think we need to reconsider if that isn't a form of discrimination in itself.

No one's making the cabby eat the pork.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

21. If it's the cabbies cab...

then he sets the rules.

I'm perfectly fine if a business has rules on par with "no animals allowed (barring service animals of course)" or "no alcoholic beverages allowed."

It's not like he's saying "no muslims allowed."

[originalpckelly]

23. True, and I can see how non-Muslims wouldn't want dogs in their cabs...

but there are usually some standards associated with the business. We have a cab driver on DU, and I wonder what they think.

There are some standards which cab drivers must hold to, even if they have ownership of the cab. If they get to use a company's brand name, they must follow the standards the larger company has for service.

[nosmokes]

25. we're talking service dogs! like guide dogs for the blind - you don't have a choice

this isn't paris hilton and that overgrown rat she hauls around, we're talking about animals that hwelp people w/ disabilities cope w/ the world. it's against the law to refuse them service.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

28. Are we?

Because I didn't see the article cite one example where a cabby refused to admit a service dog.

I think we are talking about pets.

[nosmokes]

51. yes. we are.

from the article:(emphasis mine)he belief that carrying alcohol or dogs, including those that help people with disabilities, violates religious beliefs is "unfortunate," Airports Commissioner Bert McKasy said.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

52. Yes, I read that part.

No where in that article is does it state any muslim cabbies have refused service dogs.

[nosmokes]

54. so waddaya think BAH, he was just talking about service dogs to hear his own voice?

or maybe, just maybe there had been an incident or two or more? which makes more sense? sheesh.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

57. Well if there was an incident, by all means, let's hear it.

I'm sure there've been complaints- from people who weren't allowed to have their pet dogs, or open containers of booze in the cabs.

If somebody actually couldn't take their service animal into a cab, why isn't the story more specific?

[slackmaster]

56. A dog is a filthy animal

[hughee99]

62. Personality makes up for a lot. :) n/t

[slackmaster]

67. So, what if someone DID have a Service Pig?

[hughee99]

71. He'd have to be ten times more

charmin' than that Arnold on Green Acres, you know what I'm sayin'?

[NoPasaran]

68. It wasn't dogs that invaded Iraq

[NYC Liberal]

6. I agree. Look, if you're working as a cab driver your job is to drive people

around, where they want to go. If you can't do that, for EVERYONE, then find another job. Same goes for those CHRISTIAN fundies who refuse to do their job as pharmacists.

[Mandate My Ass]

11. Agreed. Everyone must do the job they were hired to do

They let the fundie pharmacists get away with this crap under the false accusation that it infringes on their freedom of religion to do anything about it. Denying approved medical care has nothing to do with practicing one's religion, it's bias plain and simple. The cabbies are no more or less wrong than the pharmacists. They both need to do what they were hired to do or find another line of work.

Bring it on!

[skooooo]

7. same as some pharmacists..

..wanting to pick and choose what responsibilities they will honor.

[Behind the Aegis]

32. BINGO!

That is EXACTLY what I was thinking when I read this article.

[ck4829]

8. Well, the 'christian' Right better defend them

They wanted to make hospitals able to refuse to treat people on religious grounds.

http://dickmacalive.blogspot.com/2004/04/michigan-law-will-let-doctors-refuse.html

[Kagemusha]

9. I've heard there's lots of Muslim taxi drivers but...

Is this for real? Is this something that's being organized by religious people?... because it's not something likely to end with sympathy for them, either by the public or the law...

[slackmaster]

10. Racism at its finest

Anti-non-Semitism.

What right do cabbies have to discriminate against Alcoholic-Americans or Canine-Americans?

[salin]

12. I think I read this story about a year ago - is AP retreading stories

or is this just a really old story?

[truebrit71]

13. Fire 'em. Do NOT impose your religious beliefs on me...

...whether they by Jewish, Christian or Islamic...Keep them to yourself...Or find another job...

[torrentprime]

19. Right, but...

Isn't that up to the cab company? And shouldn't the cab company be able to choose its own policies? I don't agree with disciminating against people, but I don't see the need to force a cabbie to transport stuff (e.g. alcohol) if s/he doesn't want to.

[originalpckelly]

20. If that's not the policy of the company, the employee is doing something wrong.

This is over the line. It's forcing one's religious beliefs on others.

[truebrit71]

26. No. If you are contracted by the airport to pick up passengers...

...that is what you do. End of story.

[gollygee]

30. Cabbies have to have commercial driving licenses

so long as they have a license, the government can make rules.

[SemperEadem]

87. Isn't there a law against having an open container of alcohol

in a moving vehicle anyway?

Is it about a person with a bottle of wine for a dinner party to which they're riding or someone who is clearly drunk and is drinking out of an open container of alcohol in the cab? I think that there is a world of difference between the two.

With regards to service dogs, that is clear discrimination and seems to be in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

[judaspriestess]

14. why would anyone go to a country with different views

on religion and be offended on a regular basis? I am all for immigration but if its going to affect your lifestyle then why bother?

I don't think, actually I know I would not move to a strict Muslim country knowing full well how their religion works.

[nedbal]

18. Ah the real reason they're here... could it be they're terrorists :)

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

38. You're calling them terrorists now?

Hmm.

[hughee99]

74. I think he was kidding, note the ":)" n/t

[nedbal]

75. Kidding and jokes are based on a bit of truth, the question I was responding to was .......

From judaspriestess who asked

why would anyone go to a country with different views

on religion and be offended on a regular basis?

IT's easy for this paranoid mind to jump to the taxi drivers must have come here to be terrorists.

Especially since they find some of the tasks of driving a taxi here repulsive

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

42. Apparently, Muslims get VERY offended in Holland

And don't much care for Danish cartoonists.

But to refuse someone a ride because of a dog or some booze? Time to look for a new job.

[Little Star]

15. MADD is not gonna like this.

Hows a drunk suppose to get home??????

[originalpckelly]

22. I know.

This is actually quite reprehensible and ridiculous. If the company wants to set forth an official policy of not transporting dogs, then they should do it. Though I have to say, that's out and out discrimination against the blind. Blind people don't get a choice in life to be blind (usually) most Muslims have the choice of taking a job as a cabby or not. We don't expect a religious fundie to take a job in the porn business and then not work with his clients based on religious beliefs, why should we allow this?

[torrentprime]

16. Slippery slope

While I don't have a problem with a cabbie choosing who and what to transport, this can be expanded into protected classes, and that is dangerous. What if a Muslim refused to transport a Jewish man? What if a Christian cabbie refused to transport a gay man or lesbian woman? A Mormon (20 years ago) refused to transport a black man?

But: "jail them / fire them"? jeez, relax. I don't think there is a constitutional right to have your alcohol transported across town, so while people need equal protection, a 99 Chardonnay does not. So in a free society, there is nothing wrong with a cabbie choosing what to transport, subject to constitutional protections.

Where this decison should be made is the individual cab company: it can make rules that either allow or prohibit its contracting cabbies from making cargo decisions.

[gollygee]

41. They're licensed

They could have their commercial drivers license revoked. I don't think anyone thinks they should be put in jail for it.

[nedbal]

43. I DO think they should be jailed for refusing a "service animal/dog"

[spoony]

83. JAILED?

I could see the argument for license revocation, or a fine, but...jail?

[trekbiker]

63. It is against the law to drive drunk..

If cabbies refused to drive drunk people home it would be a safety problem.

[Warren DeMontague]

77. Unopened booze is a legal product.

I don't know about "Jail them", but I think they should be patiently told that if they are unable to function as a cab driver because of their religion, they should find another job. Particularly since, as others have noted, like pharmacists they are licensed by the state.

[gollygee]

24. This is like pharmacists who won't give out birth control

get a different damn job if you can't do your job.

[truebrit71]

27. Exactly.

eom

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

29. More like landlords who don't want tenants keeping pets.

[Behind the Aegis]

35. Service animals are not considered pets

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

36. No, service animals and pets are not the same thing.

Paris Hilton's chihuahua is not a service animal, and she does not have a constitutional right require cabbies drive it around.

[Behind the Aegis]

39. At least we are in agreement on that...

...but the refusal to transport seeing-eye dogs is a violation.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

40. Yes, clearly.

And such a cabbie should clearly lose his/her job.

But I see no example in the article where such a thing actually happened.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

44. I wouldn't refuse to drive the Chihuahua

I'd be tempted to leave Ms Hilton at the curb.

Nothing against her religion or anything, just sayin'.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

45. LOL

:thumbsup:

[xultar]

64. I have these 4

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

88. Ay Caramba! That's a lot of Chihuahua!

The one in your right hand - is that an albino?

Anyway, ok, you and your dogs can ride in the cab.

I'm still not sure about Ms Hilton, though.

[slackmaster]

69. "Service dogs" are the "medical marijuana" of pets

Some people have genuine needs for them, but most I've seen were gotten as an excuse for taking your dog wherever you feel like it.

[Critters2]

70. I wish I could do that, but trust me,

no one would EVER mistake the beagle for a service dog. Or even a well-behaved dog. Especially if there's food around.

[slackmaster]

73. I know a guy who used to put on sunglasses, carry a white cane, and walk his cat

On a leash.

He'd do bizarre things like go to his local police station to get his concealed firearms permit renewed.

Nobody ever tried to stop him.

[gollygee]

37. If it were for religious reasons and the pets were to be there short term

and damage to their apartments was unlikely to be caused by pets, it would be more the same.

[Warren DeMontague]

48. So what if their "religion" says they can't take black people in their cabs?

Or women without veils? How about unmarried couples who might be on the way to a motel for probably purposes of ungodly fornication?

Tough. Either suck it up, or find another line of work.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

58. Then that would be a violation of their civil rights.

This isn't rocket science.

[Warren DeMontague]

76. If they can make arbitrary moral judgments about whether passengers can carry booze

they can make arbitrary moral judgments about unmarried people screwing, or about women not wearing veils.

The bottom line is, if their religion prevents them from being able to function as a cab driver- that means driving people who are carrying booze, because carrying booze is legal- then they should NOT be cab drivers.

THAT is what isn't rocket science.

Please explain how your defense of their "right" to make these calls is any different from the fundy defense of the "right" of pharmacists not to fill birth control prescriptions?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

78. ...

"Please explain how your defense of their "right" to make these calls is any different from the fundy defense of the "right" of pharmacists not to fill birth control prescriptions?"

The difference is that people have a fundamental right to have access to medication. They do not have a right to demand that their pet chihuahua and their bottle of Old Crow get to ride around in a taxi.

[Warren DeMontague]

79. Old Crow is a legal product.

I still say the cab drivers need to do their jobs, not pick and choose.

As far as your post, I like how, now, it's the passengers' fault- you know, for demanding that these poor oppressed fundamentalist cab drivers cart around booze and dogs. :eyes:

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

80. It doesn't matter if it's a legal product or not.

Giant erotic styrofoam hats are legal products. That doesn't mean a fancy restaurant won't kick you out for wearing one.

"As far as your post, I like how, now, it's the passengers' fault- you know, for demanding that these poor oppressed fundamentalist cab drivers cart around booze and dogs."

Fault? They're not at fault. They should just quit whining about it. What, am I supposed to pretend that they're being oppressed fundamentalist cabbies?

[nedbal]

81. big difference between a restaurant and a cab on a remote street....

or a driver refusing a rider at a airport where there are a line of cabs waiting to go,

it annoys me yet it's the drivers loss at the airport cab line.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

82. Well, yeah, there's a difference.

Ones got wheels and doesn't serve food.

But they both have the right to refuse service.

[nedbal]

84. Ok then I can refuse Dogs, Drunks, Jews, Blacks, Irish, Untouchables, Pedophiles etc.. etc...

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

85. No, you can't.

You can refuse anybody based on their race, gender, religion, disability, and so on.

[mondo joe]

59. I believe cabbies are licensed and are subject to a variety of

regulations about service, no?

[onager]

31. Muslim cabbies too much for atheist in Middle East...

First of all, I agree with your opinion on these yahoos. It's exactly the same as Fundie Xians who take a job in a convenience store, then decide their Chosen Delusion just won't let them sell a Penthouse magazine or alcoholic beverages.

These people need to learn that...contrary to what the preacher or imam told them in their formative years...not everyone on earth shares their fantasy about an invisible man in the sky.

Having said that, I could rant for hours about my experiences with cab drivers in Muslim countries. Especially Egypt, where I've lived/worked for about a year and a half now.

Almost every "regular" cab you get into here has a small, cheap book of Koranic verses on the dashboard...the local equivalent of a Plastic Jesus. (There are tourist cabs, generally cleaner, in better condition and more expensive than the "regular" cabs. For potential tourists coming to Alexandria, the regular cabs are yellow and black. The spiffier tourist cabs are blue, usually Peugeot 504 station wagons.)

Those regular taxicabs are often 30-yr-old Russian Ladas that haven't had any maintenance since they rolled off the assembly line at Ural Automotive Plant #3 during the Breshnev era. The windows are always broken but you get plenty of fresh air from the rusted-out floorboards. And you'll need it, since many Egyptian cab drivers are chain smokers. I smoke myself and even I start wheezing sometimes. Last week I rode in a taxi where the entire front suspension seemed to be desperately trying to escape, probably out of sheer embarassment.

And if you're a foreign female passenger, expect the following questions from your cab driver: "Are you married?" (And if not, "Why not?") "Do you have any children? How many?" "Would you marry an Egyptian man?" (Acceptable answer: "Thanks, but I just need a ride downtown...")

Since they're obviously under the protection of Allah...cough...everybody in Egypt feels free to drive like lunatics. But especially cab drivers and minivan drivers (over here, minivans are just larger, more dangerous taxicabs).

Almost every day, the newspapers carry stories about some horrific traffic accident that kills a bunch of people. About a month ago, two minivans had a head-on collision on the Alexandria-Cairo Desert Highway. 13 people died and 20 were injured. That's THIRTY-THREE PEOPLE in two vans!!!

I've personally seen bodies flying out of mini-pickup trucks used as illegal taxis, with a jury-rigged flimsy camper over the pickup bed. Those are sights I will carry with me to the grave, and I could really do without seeing any more. Especially when the bodies belong to very small and helpless humans.

But if you ask the average Egyptian driver why this slaughter happens, you'll usually get some pious bullshit about how traffic accidents are simply "the will of Allah."

I usually tell them my own theory, which just gets me a blank look even if the driver speaks fluent English: "So...they don't teach physics in Egyptian schools?"

:rofl:

All this gets about a thousand times worse during the "holy month" of Ramadan and the major religious holidays, when everybody is anxious to get home. Last Thursday was the beginning of the the Eid al-Adha (Feast Of The Sacrifice) festival. I had spent the day on a long drive to a job site in Northern Egypt, and we ran into horrendous traffic jams coming back into Alexandria (where I live).

Once I had to roll up my window because two idiots had got out of their cars and were pummeling each other in the middle of the street, right beside my head. That happens all the time.

I also lived in Saudi Arabia for 2 years and drove there...mostly because I was in a city (Jeddah) and that limited the amount of sheer insanity that could happen.

But when I was driving to the airport on the Jeddah Ring Road at 2 AM in the middle lane, I'd occasionally encounter some asshole who would get right on my rear bumper at 80 mph, blow his horn and blink his lights, insisting that I pull over. Even though the shithead could have easily passed me in either lane, to the left or right.

I'm just guessing, but I suppose that is just part of the insane macho culture here in the Middle East. It's not enough that you can merely pass another car. You have to prove your domination of the situation by forcing the other driver to pull out of your way.

I see the same attitude in Egypt. A LOT!

End of rant. I'm going back to drinking now.

[UndertheOcean]

49. Very accurate rant !

High Five !

I lived in Jordan , and people drive like crazy. I was afraid of going past 40 mph there.

[trekbiker]

66. excellent rant.. n/t

[crispini]

33. That is not OK.

I like what that one fellow has to say:

But many Somali taxi drivers do not have a problem transporting passengers with alcohol and are worried about a backlash, Omar Jamal, executive director of the Somali Justice Advocacy Center,told the Star Tribune newspaper. Jamal said he supports the tougher penalties.

"We tell the taxi drivers, if you don't want to do this, change your job," he said. "You are living in a country where alcohol is not viewed the way it is in your country."

[Lurking Dem]

34. .

The belief that carrying alcohol or dogs, including those that help people with disabilities, violates religious beliefs is "unfortunate," Airports Commissioner Bert McKasy said.


This is unacceptable. It is EXACTLY the same thing as right wing Christian pharmacists refusing prescribed medication orders.

[Warren DeMontague]

47. I agree. If your religion prevents you from doing your job, find another job.

Same thing with pharmacists who want to lecture women about Jesus or find out if they're married before filling their birth control prescriptions. Time for another line of work.

[UndertheOcean]

50. Without much ado ..just fire there A$$es

Religion is fine and dandy are long as you keep it between you and good ol'daddy in the sky.

[xultar]

53. You mean Mr. Sprinkles and I can't get a ride? I'm angry now.

[Critters2]

60. Apparently, Mr. Sprinkles is unclean

The idea that the Vegan Beagle would be unclean even after a bath (before a bath I might see) is offensive to ME!! And people who think that way won't be riding in my car any time soon (my car is REALLY unclean!).

[mondo joe]

86. Just get the pup a SERVICE DOG vest.

[xultar]

90. I'm going to consider it. He gives me service in a mental health sort of way.

He makes me happy!

[mondo joe]

55. Ha! The next version of Pharmacists who won't fill birth control prescriptions.

HA!

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

89. Yes, another group who should have their licenses pulled

Refusing to fill a prescription?

I imagine their lawyers have them covered.

[InvisibleTouch]

61. I took a cab to the airport with a Muslim cabbie once.

I was travelling with my little Pomeranian, and cabbie said he couldn't take the dog unless he was in his travel crate - that is, not riding on my lap or sitting on the seat. He wasn't rude about it at all, just let me know that it was part of his belief system and he hoped I would understand. Since the crate was coming along anyway, it wasn't a big deal - I just put the little guy in his crate, and then he could ride with me in the back seat, no problem. Rather than making a scene about it, it worked out well for all of us. Now if the cabbie had refused to transport a dog at all, I'd have been in trouble.

[Book Lover]

65. In defense of the drinkers

While I see the majority of posters here are discussing the dog issue, which is fine with me, I feel someone must stand up and defend the people transporting wine and other alcohols purchased from out-of-country.

It's in a sealed bottle and bagged, not being drunk from an open container. And you're not going to drink it, right? So what's your deal? Your parents, religion, and/or culture never taught you how to drink like a responsible adult and it's my problem? No, friend, not in this country.

Final note: I feel sorry for those cabbies who are not part of this movement; ripe for abuse by their fellow cabbies as well as customers who will lump all of these fellas together.

[Rex]

72. I reserve the right to refuse service to anyone.

No shirt, no shoes, go swimming!

[sweetheart]

91. Let there be reciprocity then

I took a cab from San Francisco airport and the cabbie stopped by the
side of the road and took his carpet out to go pray while i had to wait
in the cab half way to my destination.

Should he have told me about this delay before picking up?

I expect a licensed cab to have certain standards, ideally with a london-style
cabin that accomodates wheelchairs, dogs and luggage without any social commentary.

[nedbal]

92. yes he should have told you of his planned delay n/t

[AZBlue]

93. If they don't like it, get another job.

If a vegan goes to work at McDonald's, are they supposed to get rid of all their beef and chicken products? I don't think so.