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| Home Front: Culture Wars | |
| Airport battles some | |
| 2007-01-08 | |
Officials on Wednesday asked the Metropolitan Airport Commission for permission to hold public hearings on a proposal that would suspend the airport licenses of cab drivers who refuse service for reasons other than safety concerns. The penalties would also apply to drivers who refuse a fare because a trip is too short. Drivers would have their airport licenses suspended 30 days for the first offense and revoked for two years after the second offense, according to the proposal. "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," commission spokesman Patrick Hogan said. The commission is expected to vote Jan. 16 on the request for public hearings. Airports Commissioner Bert McKasy said the issue raised by Muslim cab drivers who say that carrying alcohol or dogs, including those that help people with disabilities, violates religious beliefs is "unfortunate." "I think it's pretty much the consensus of the commissioners and the staff that we have to provide good service to the public, and that's pretty much the bottom line," McKasy said. Each month, about 100 people are denied cab service at the airport. Airport officials say that in recent months, the problem of service refusals for religious reasons has grown. About three-quarters of the 900 taxi drivers at the airport are Somali, many of them Muslim. Hogan said the goal is to have a new policy in place by May 11, when airport taxi licenses come up for annual renewal. "We want the drivers to know about the policy in advance, so that if they don't think they can work under these conditions, they have the option of not renewing their license," Hogan said. Hassan Mohamud, imam at Al-Taqwa Mosque of St. Paul and director of the Islamic Law Institute at the Muslim American Society of Minnesota, one of the largest Islamic organizations in the state, said asking Muslims to transport alcohol "is a violation of their faith. Muslims do not consume, carry, sell or buy alcohol, and Islam also considers the saliva of dogs to be unclean, he said. Mohamud said he would ask airport officials to reconsider. But many Somali taxi drivers don't have a problem transporting passengers with alcohol and are worried about a backlash, said Omar Jamal, executive director of the Somali Justice Advocacy Center. 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." | |
| Posted by:Besoeker |
| #12 “Islam also considers the saliva of dogs to be unclean.” "but their urine and feces make excellent fuel and clothes' detergents. Plus, the dachsunds are excellent as Koobideh" |
| Posted by: Frank G 2007-01-08 22:15 |
| #11 “Islam also considers the saliva of dogs to be unclean.” I think I will send that one into the Myth Busters. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2007-01-08 22:08 |
| #10 Taxi Taqiyya |
| Posted by: bigjim-ky 2007-01-08 18:26 |
| #9 "Muslims do not consume, carry, sell or buy alcohol..." I am call BS on this. I know for a fact Muslims DO SELL alcohol I can easily walk to at least 2 places they are doing it in my very own town, it's hard stuff too, not just beer and wine. This is just more Saudi funded radical Suni islam. Follow the money, it's Saudi money trying to infect this nation with this satanic moon god cult or destroy it so they can take out Israel. Saudi Arabia is not our friend and never will be. |
| Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom 2007-01-08 17:33 |
| #8 and don't forget the womin... |
| Posted by: rjschwarz 2007-01-08 16:44 |
| #7 There is something basically wrong with a culture so oppossed to booze. |
| Posted by: rjschwarz 2007-01-08 16:43 |
| #6 There's something basically wrong with a culture that hates dogs. |
| Posted by: rjschwarz 2007-01-08 16:42 |
| #5 Why not just deport their asses back to Somalia and let the Ethiopians sort their attitude problems out? What total imbecile decided we needed them over here anyway? RUN 'EM OUT! |
| Posted by: mac 2007-01-08 15:53 |
| #4 “Islam also considers the saliva of dogs to be unclean.” This is will most certainly invigorate the age old debate; Is a dogs’ mouth cleaner then a |
| Posted by: DepotGuy 2007-01-08 13:40 |
| #3 Why not have a Muslim/Non-Muslim cabbie stations? That way everyone could avoid the argument and make a clear choice. |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge 2007-01-08 11:27 |
| #2 ...if they don't think they can work under these conditions, they have the option of not renewing their license," Hogan said. How about we rephrase that: ...if they don't think they can work under these conditions, WE have the option of not renewing their license," Hogan said. That's better... |
| Posted by: tu3031 2007-01-08 10:20 |
| #1 More fiddling around by the Commission. Get off your worthless a***s and do something! |
| Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 2007-01-08 10:11 |