Religon and Taxi Cabs

[SurfDemon]

I thought this story was interesting from a couple of view points.

http://edition.cnn.com/2007/US/01/25...ies/index.html

"We're doing a story about the conflict between the cabbies and the airport. The Muslim drivers have been refusing to take passengers carrying alcohol, such as wine or liquor purchased at a duty free shop," I explained.

....

I asked why Adan would object if I were carrying alcohol.

"The one who drinks, the one who transports, and the one who makes a business of it, they have the same category," he said.

"So, by my transporting my alcohol in your cab, you are sinning?" I asked.

"Sinning to God, yes," he replied.

Adan is not alone. About three quarters of the 900 cabbies serving the airport are Muslim, and many have been regularly refusing passengers carrying beer, wine or liquor.

At first I thought "fair enough" if they object strongly, then just get the next cab, it's a bit like Wee Free's refusing to work on the Sabbath. But then I started thinking along the lines of "Well, there a limited number of cab licenses issued by the city, so by taking one of those licenses you are assuring the city that you will treat everyone equally...."

What is the next step? Born again Christian cabbies refusing to carry Goths or unmarried couples?

So personally, although I understand where the Muslim Cabbies are coming from, this is not a situation where it's a plumber who refuses to work Saturday's etc. and you can just call up another plumber. But this is someone who is out working and utilising one of the city's restricted taxi licenses and deciding who they will and will not serve. As far as I'm concerned they should yank their taxi license and give it to someone who can do the job for everyone.

Thoughts?

[Shaggy Hiker]

In this specific case, it would be fine with me, but as you point out, there are cases where I would object. Therefore, it is not fine with me. A person with strong religious beliefs should not take a job that will put them into direct violation of their beliefs.

However, in this case, I disagree that the cabbie is tarred with the same brush as the passenger. A person should not be responsible before their god for things they were not aware they were doing. Further, if it is a sin against god to convey a person who is not conforming, then why is it not a sin against god to condone a person who is not conforming?

[capsulecorpjx]

This is as stupid as the Christian pharamicists who refuse to sell birth control.

[crptcblade]

Or the Jewish deli owners that don't sell hot dogs.

[Shaggy Hiker]

Or the pastafarians who won't sell tomato sauce.

[capsulecorpjx]

Well plus I don't understand why its a sin to transport alcohol.

As my Iranian friends told me the main reason alcohol is forbidden is because people don't want to pray to god while under the influence, and they pray up to 5 times a day. So its a personal use issue, and maybe a selling issue, but transport ban seems excessive.

[nemaroller]

Frankly, is this is a real big issue?

IF they comprise 75% of the cabbies, and its their choice to refuse service to those carrying alcohol on them - well I guess tough luck for me eh?

If however they are under contract by their city license to not discriminate - well then tough luck for them.

[rory]

what city is this so I make sure to stay clear ..??
sounds like a bunch of nuts! I could see if the passenger was consuming it or was drunk .. also what about the muslims that work in or own liquor stores or convenience stores?

[davebat]

This would be like a vegetarian getting a job at McMucks and refusing to serve anything other than chips and apple pies. Lol.

[crptcblade]

I could see if the passenger was consuming it or was drunk ...

Isn't that one of the better times to make use of a cab? Okay, maybe not if a person is still drinking. But if you're drunk and call for a taxi (or have it called for you depending on the level of drunkitude) and the driver decides to keep on going because of that, then what?

Do you think a lawyer wouldn't be able to make some sort of case if you then decided to get in your car and drive because you were refused service?

If they are under any level of goverment contract, then it should be illegal for them to discriminate against anyone, unless they could somehow prove that they felt the person posed an immediate threat to them.

[rory]

Isn't that one of the better times to make use of a cab? Okay, maybe not if a person is still drinking. But if you're drunk and call for a taxi (or have it called for you depending on the level of drunkitude) and the driver decides to keep on going because of that, then what?

Do you think a lawyer wouldn't be able to make some sort of case if you then decided to get in your car and drive because you were refused service?

If they are under any level of goverment contract, then it should be illegal for them to discriminate against anyone, unless they could somehow prove that they felt the person posed an immediate threat to them.

dont know .. we have no drunk driving laws here ..

if there was, wouldn't they also be inotixated in public, which in those countries that do have those laws, normally Public Intoxication is illegal?

[crptcblade]

Yes, but public intoxication is different from walking from a bar out to a cab. And said person wouldn't have been wandering around intoxicated if the cab had picked them up.

[space_monkey]

Its their decision, they have a right to refuse service to people even though their license is granted by the city its still their business. Cities grant business licenses to all businesses with out conditions and i don't think conditions should apply here.

[rory]

boycott the muslim cabs is all .. thats what I would do if this was infact the case, and i depended on them to help carry my alchohol .. LOL.

[MasterBlaster]

Its their decision, they have a right to refuse service to people even though their license is granted by the city its still their business. Cities grant business licenses to all businesses with out conditions and i don't think conditions should apply here.

It is not their right. They are city licenses. White supremests used the exact same logic you are using in the 50's and 60's to support segregation of whites and blacks. What's next, I can't take a cab because I ate a pork sandwich at lunch and may have a crumb of unclean animal on my shirt collar? Hey these somolians did such a great job managing their own country, why not let them come over here and undo 60 years of civil rights legislation.

[nemaroller]

Someone on another site brought up the fact that most stations around the Minneapolis area have 10% ethanol in the gasoline - which means they are carrying at least 1.5 gallons of alcohol in their cab on a full tank.

The 'authority' has proposed fining cabs with a 30 day suspension of their license if they refuse service based on the mere transport of alcohol.

The funny thing is these are mostly Somalians and the majority never heard of such a sin in Islam - its only the local Muslim chapter that wrote it into their 'bylaws' and is trying to widen their authority.