Posted on 04/27/2006 6:55:59 PM PDT by ButThreeLeftsDo
A growing problem at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International airport is making it difficult for some air passengers to catch cabs.
Some cab drivers are refusing to take passengers because they are carrying alcohol, such as bottles of wine or cases of beer, which conflicts with their religious beliefs.
"He loaded our luggage into the trunk, he saw our box carrying duty free liquor from Jamaica and told us he would have to take another cab,” says passenger Greg Kline.
Kline did not easily find another cab.
"We approached the next cab in line, he just closed the cab and took off without a passenger, as did the one next to him,” he says.
Airport staff say Muslim drivers have refused to take passengers with alcohol 922 times in the past year.
Airport policy does allow drivers to refuse a fare, only if they return to the beginning of the cab line, which can mean a wait of 3 to 4 hours until their next fare.
Airport officials have been meeting with the Cab Driver Advisory Board to resolve the issue. They say they have investigated policies at other airports, but concluded that the problem is unique to MSP.
Maybe the Muslims can find another country.
But if it were loaded with Khat you know they wouldn't have a problem then.
This is just another example of
"We're here, we're Muslims, and we're in your face, infidels!"
Bottom line, end of discussion.
They already have a similar policy; from the article:
Airport policy does allow drivers to refuse a fare, only if they return to the beginning of the cab line, which can mean a wait of 3 to 4 hours until their next fare.
If this policy were enforced, the problem would be solved. For whatever reason, this isn't being done.
Nice catch. BTW Different employment results, too.
BTW Welcome to FreeRepublic.
You are obviously reading some other article, Wali
That would be insenitive. Can't offend the mooselimbs now can we?
Call Danny Glover ASAP!
This phenomenon is not restricted to Moslem cab drivers. You might also run into a state law or two that can create problems for a cabdriver who has a DUI on his record, and so on.
Gee, I'm sure they'll scream discrimination or religious persecution if they are reprimanded, as the airport rules state, or otherwise sanctioned or forced to take all riders. I wonder if they'll start inspecting patrons sandwiches for traces of ham or bacon?
Comment 15 was removed (for profanity, I guess), but the poster made this point: the actions of the cabbies in this story are similar to those of pharmacists who refuse to dispense birth control pills on religious grouds. IMHO, an independent cabbie can decline whatever fare he chooses, as an independent pharmacist can refuse to sell whatever drugs he chooses. If either is working for someone else, he needs to follow his employer's policy or risk being canned.
You have that right. If the muslims want to lose fares due to booze, that is their business. I believe that any business should be able to refuse anyone for any reason at any time. It's their business not ours.
Well, comment 15 has reappeared.
Do you believe, then, that pharmacists should be forced to fill orders for the "morning after" pill, even if it is against their religious beliefs?
The real issue in Illinois was Executive Tyranny. The real issue with the cab drivers might well be something else (I suggested DUI, but maybe somebody got busted for "unlawful transport" and that spooked all his friends).
Remember Dr. Freud's once telling the lady "Sometimes madame, a cigar is just a cigar." This problem affecting a single place sounds like it might have a specific cause having nothing whatsoever to do with religion.
Can I choose not to use cabbies that are muslim?
In the Washington DC area, at all the major airports, you can chose cabbies who are not Moslem nor Hillbilly, but not often!
Wonder how big the outcry would be if it was Fundamentalist Christian cabbies (do those exist?) refusing to carry liquor toting fares?
It would be a far, far different response.
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