We here in Minnesota are on the firing line on these matters of religion. The latest controversy arises over the refusal of some cashiers to ring up sales of pork products:
Beryl Dsouza was late and in no mood for delays when she stopped at a Target store after work two weeks ago for milk, bread and bacon. So Dsouza was taken aback when the cashier -- who had on the traditional headscarf, or hijab, worn by many Muslim women -- refused to swipe the bacon through the checkout scanner.
"She made me scan the bacon. Then she opened the bag and made me put it in the bag," said Dsouza, 53, of Minneapolis. "It made me wonder why this person took a job as a cashier."
In the latest example of religious beliefs creating tension in the workplace, some Muslims in the Twin Cities are adhering to a strict interpretation of the Qur'an that prohibits the handling of pork products. Instead of swiping the items themselves, they are asking non-Muslim employees or shoppers to do it for them.
Once again, there doesn't seem to be any consensus among the Muslims themselves on whether their religion bans scanning the bar code on a package of bacon and putting it in a bag. Somehow, I doubt that the Koran contains anything directly on point.
While most customers have been offended or worse by cashiers' refusal to ring up some of their purchases, others have urged accommodation of the Somalis' customs--or alleged customs, since the Somalis themselves are divided:
Dr. Shah Khan, a spokesman for the Islamic Center of Minnesota in Fridley... urged people to remember the extraordinary adjustments many Somalis have made in coming to the Twin Cities. "Many of these people are refugees. They may have been tortured. And they came here having never held a book in English," he said. "They're already adapting to our society. We need to adapt to them, too."
Sorry, no. Refugees who come to America need to learn that if you want to be a cashier in a store that sells food, it isn't up to you to critique the customers' purchases. Likewise if you're a cab driver; you don't get to choose your fares based on your approval or disapproval of the contents of their packages. That isn't how it works here, and the sooner that immigrants learn that they can't erect a little zone of sharia law around themselves, the better off they will be.
PAUL ADDS: I agree, but don't be surprised if the Bush administration's Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) gets involved on behalf of "sharia law."
Reader Comments ( Page 3 of 4)
31. Perhaps if we add up the total number of deaths that have occured in the name and/or defense of religion and divide it by the number of religions, we can come up with a formula of who's religion should out weigh the others. This way we can have a sensable policy for the application of who to tolorate and who deserves no special consideration! Of course we could all just grow up and realize that the world isn't governed by some bearded, male, hell damning, virgin allocating, ultimate being! (I like that one. You get extra virgins if you die in the name of god! I wonder where the virgins come from and if they have any say in the matter? Oh, that's right. women are second class people.) Or maybe we should use the 'wo's church has the largest collection of appropiated gold in it to clear the air. Sorry, I was rambling.
Michael at 10:48AM on Mar 15th 2007
32. The end is near. When we get to heaven will we have to stop eating pork or will the non eaters have to learn that pork is good? Can I give up pork for extra virgins. Can I give up a virgin for a nice bottle of white merlot? Its so confusing! god help me!
Michael at 10:54AM on Mar 15th 2007
33. Mr. Hinderaker,
You present an interesting situation - what can one do when faced with religious practice when put into effect in a mainstream American society? My question to you is were you shopping at a store owned by Muslims or was the store a commercially "corporate one" that can be expected to "handle" matters within their store context in a certain way, every time or with a certain degree of consistency?
If the store was of the former type, then I can see where the people can select and replace the cashier if religious rules are effected there within the premesis, although the U.S. Constitution would be "your best buddy" at that stage, and you could always go somewhere else to purchase food, Middle Eastern or otherwise. If the store was a larger more mainstream one, like Safeway(R), or Wal-Mart(R) then one may or might expect an appropriate explanation from the store, and of course, no U.S. Congress would approve of a religious law binding on U.S. citizens, unless the Constitution were changed, and that's not up to me, fortunately.
Good luck, sincerely, with your "online argument", and please have a nice day.
John D. Ella at 10:59AM on Mar 15th 2007
34. I've had it with religious zealots who want to impose their beliefs on the rest of the world. This is a free country and if a job requires you to do something that's contradictory to your religion\beliefs\standards, like I said, It's a free country, which means you are FREE TO LEAVE !!!!! You came here voluntarily you can sure as hell leave voluntarily. This country has gone to hell in a handbasket???!!!???
Ben at 11:09AM on Mar 15th 2007
35. Posters have identified several different situations in which an individual's religious/ethical beliefs are in conflict with the demands of their job.
1) Should a physician, a professional licensed and regulated by the state, be required to provide medical procedures they consider immoral or unethical? By law, a physician cannot deny emergency, life saving care for any reason, but they are not required to perform any and all medical procedures. Certainly, a physician must refuse a medical procedure they think is ill advised- like a steroid injection into a joint that really needs surgery. Plastic surgeons may refuse patients that they believe are not emotionally prepared to make good choices about their surgery. Many physicians will not perform tubal ligations on women under 25, since many such patients will later regret their choice, and most physicians choose not to perform abortions. Naturally, if you take a job working for Planned Parenthood and you refuse to provide patients with information about abortion, you should expect to be fired.
2) Should a pharmacist, licensed and regulated by the state, refuse to dispense medication based on religious/ ethical beliefs? Like physicians, pharmacists are held to professional standards, and may refuse to fill a prescription if they think someone is abusing the drug (or that the person is getting two drugs that cannot be taken together. In general, a pharmacist should not refuse to provide medication prescribed by a physician, but no pharmacy carries every product manufactured. A pharmacy may choose not to carry a product for financial or ethical reasons. A rarely used product will just sit on the shelf and go bad, and I don't think we should require a pharmacy owned by a Muslim to carry medications that contain alcohol. However, if you choose to work in a pharmacy owned by another pharmacist, or by a corporation, you must adhere to the policies set by your employer or expect to get fired, just like the doctor working for Planned Parenthood.
3) Should a cashier or clerk refuse to handle certain products on religious/ ethical grounds.? Unlike the physician and pharmacist, we don't require cashiers to be licensed, or to uphold any standard other than obeying the law. A store may refuse service to a customer who is abusive, but certainly a store cannot refuse service to a customer because of the customer's race or religion. Certainly, if you own the store you choose what products to carry. A vegetarian might choose to run a store that carries only vegetarian products, and would never handle meat. However, if you work as a cashier in a store that sells meat, you should expect to check out the meat products, even though you personally believe, or your religion teaches, that killing animals for food is wrong. If you are unwilling to do that, you should expect to be fired.
People who are serious about adhering to codes of conduct established by their religion willing forego certain activities and certain jobs. That's why some Christians won't take a job that requires them to work on Sundays, and some Jews won't take a job that requires them to work on their Sabbath. Most employers are willing to accomodate their staff, but if your religious convictions prevent you from doing a job, it's time to get another job.
JeanE at 11:12AM on Mar 15th 2007
36. How about a new concept. IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT, SHOP OR PATRONIZE SOMEWHERE ELSE!!!
kennesawmc at 11:45AM on Mar 15th 2007
37. The sad part about this story is that if the salesperson insulted the customer (who is always right) there would not be anybody there to correct the salesperson on the spot. There is something wrong when the paying customer is put in a position of paying for and begging for service at the same time. I would have created a real scene if I had purchased something, which was not obscene, or nasty in any way and the clerk refused to handle it. What if I purchased a red G-string? What business is that of hers. I purchased it in the store that gives her a pay check and she should do what she was hired to do without comment.
If I knew that I was going to work in a place that activities that I objected to on moral grounds I would not seek or take the job. I could not work in a place that sells alcohol. I drink a little but I don't like the idea of selling it to others.
I know when to stop, I don't want the responsibility of watching and limiting someone who might not know when to stop. If there is anything about that job that you cannot do, don't take the job.
E. Doss at 11:24AM on Mar 15th 2007
38. Where does it stop? We keep being forced to accommodate foreigners ti their way of life, while we lose our way of life. Too many of them refuse to learn our language and become legal citizens, yet they can get Welfare, Free Medical treatment, Food Stamps etc. Go to their country and try to get away with that, you would be laughed at. There is no pressure put on foreigners to adapt to our way of life. We are pressured to put up to their way. There is something wrong with that picture.
David Rosenberg at 12:26PM on Mar 15th 2007
39. You think the cabbie and cashier situations in MN are ridiculous, listen to this... I lived in the UK for 8 years, returning to the US in 2004 and saw a story come out of one of the larger northern English cities, where a primary (elementary) school was pushing a vote to remove the "Three Little Pigs" from the school library and kindergarten rooms due to "sensitivities of the Muslim students and community". Plain and simple here folks, how retarded can you get!! I suppose muslims go tell hell for just hearing the word pig, pork, hawg etc.. being uttered or see it written. I'm stretching on this one, and if I offend anyone, so what... The thing with ALL religions is that they are a learned thing, meaning no one is born with knowledge of it. People either get it handed down from family or or become influenced by someone with a religious affiliation of some sort. When your "free-will" to choose your religion and it's practices embarks on a campaign to convert and instill it's ways on others (christians and muslims seem to be the only religions that thrive upon and cherish this policy when interacting with others of different or no faiths) then your "free-will" becomes the "no choice option" for everyone else. We call this oppression in normal society. Q: I wonder what would happen if I refused to accept a cab fair or to ring up a purchase just because I didn't like the individual... A: I'd be sued for discrimination for sure. Seems to me that religion can justify what it wants, when it wants and how it wants because it dictates so. Personally, this is what I refer to as institutionalized madness... Your thoughts???
lcw at 9:51PM on Mar 16th 2007
40.
In Wisconsin, we have a law that allows pharmacists the right to refuse to dispense legally prescribed medication because of "moral" objection - what's next? The Amish getting jobs at the department of motor vehicles, and refusing to dispense drivers licenses on "moral" grounds? Thankfully, we don't need to worry about that, as the Amish don't have an agenda.
kgr0506 at 11:47AM on Mar 15th 2007
41. IF THOSE DAMN RAGHEADS DONT AGREE WITH AMERICAN WAYS,SEND THEM BACK WHERE THEY CAME FROM!!
BETTER YET!!DON`T LET THEM KEEP COMEING HERE!!
GOD BLESS AMERICA, LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT.
STEVEN BROWN at 12:27PM on Mar 15th 2007
42. Poor babies cant touch bacon... boo hoo! Well guess what buddy boy? Refuse to scan my bacon, and I guarantee you will be wearing it! Oops! Did I just accidentally open the bacon and spill it on you, poor muslim? Shoot, I'm sorry, I guess you need to go home, take your monthly bath, pray to allah for forgiveness 20 times, then return to work a week later... If your precious muslim sensibilities havent been too offended, that is.
scotty at 12:03PM on Mar 15th 2007
43. Poor babies cant touch bacon... boo hoo! Well guess what buddy boy? Scan my bacon or I guarantee you will wear it! Oops! I am so, so sorry! I am such a klutz! Really, I didnt know that bacon was opened... and so sorry for accidentally spilling it on you! A thousand apologies. I guess you better go home, take your monthly bath, pray to allah for forgiveness 20 times, and return to work a week later... if your precious muslim sensibilities havent been too offended, that is.
scotty at 12:11PM on Mar 15th 2007
44. Target needs better lawyers, if they're letting the Muslim cashiers get away with this nonsense.
Here's the argument: Someone who works in a place that requires them to handle pork products is not "qualified" to do their job if they can't handle pork products.
By the way, I have lots of Muslims in my family whom I love dearly, and I still think this is a croc.
Work someplace else!
cj at 1:07PM on Mar 15th 2007
45. If a doctor or pharmacist is independent, as many are, they have every right to do whatever they want within the law. If the doctor or pharmacist works for a company then they are bound by the rules of their employer.
As the Somali checker is an employee of Target she is bound by their rules. The taxi drivers are bound by the rules of the taxi company and the issuer of their license.
If I was wearing a Star of David when I went to check out would it be OK for the Somali checker to not check me out because she can't consort with a jew?
Chris D at 1:30PM on Mar 15th 2007