Anti-dhimmitude contemplated at the Minneapolis airport. An update on this story, by Emily Gurnon in the St. Paul Pioneer Press, with thanks to TC:
For the airport, it's about customer service. For taxi drivers, it's about freedom of religion.The Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport is considering tough penalties against taxi drivers who say Islam forbids them from accepting passengers who carry alcohol.
The Metropolitan Airports Commission voted Tuesday to conduct a public hearing on the matter Feb. 27. Cabdrivers, many of them Muslims from Somalia, say they are being put in a tough spot.
"Our people are ready to work with a customer always," said Yusuf Abdullah, 32, of Minneapolis. "I would like to keep my faith, and I would like to keep my job."
Airport Director Steve Wareham said his staff will recommend that cabdrivers who refuse a customer be given a 30-day suspension for the first offense and a two-year revocation of their airport license for a second refusal.
The current punishment is sending the cabdriver to the back of the taxi line, which can mean a wait of three or more hours, drivers said.
"You go behind 200 cabs — that's enough of a penalty," said Girma Asfaw, 55, of Bloomington.
This should prove interesting. The forces of evil in the Caliphate of Minnesota are quite strong but perhaps this time they have met their match. I certainly hope that's the case.
Why do we as a nation, tolerate the imposition
of a foreign custom or a religious custom upon
our rights and freedoms? Sometimes it makes
me feel like taking the law into my own hands.
How will we be able to survive as a viable
society, if we submit to a few scruffy-assed cab
drivers? The people of Minneapolis should be
boycotting these dregs of humanity that are
festering in their midst. Please, lets stop
this insane immigration policy that both parties
have imposed on the American people.
The Airport has done The Right Thing™. Sharia has no place in this country.
I just came back from a few days in a Big City. I managed to get from one borough to the next, and all over that next borough, uptown, downtown, and cross-town, without ever taking a taxi. Subways, busses, even pedibus calcantibus. It was deliberate. I call it: Doing My Bit. Perhaps it could become a habit in certain other cities, such as Minneapolis, and for exactly the same reason, as well.
"You go behind 200 cabs — that's enough of a penalty," said Girma Asfaw, 55, of Bloomington
Muslims constantly exaggerate things to try to forward their victim status. I have flown in and out of MSP many times and have dropped off and picked up family and friends many times and not once have I ever seen more than 20-25 cabs lined up at a time. I'm surprised the writer of this article didn't find his claim of 200 cabs in line to be a big load of BS, you couldnt even fit 1/4 that many cabs in taxi/van/bus area. They cry like my 6 year old niece when she doesn't get her way... "it's not fair that you won't let us treat you like dhimmies, waaaa waaaa". I've have had more than enough interaction with the Somalis in the Minneapolis area and I feel the refugee status they were given was a big mistake. The Somalis tend to live in little enclaves just like the muslims in europe, in MSP it is partly due to the section 8 housing (assisted by us taxpayers), and partly due to the clan mentality they bring with them from Africa and Islam. I hope the airport commission follows through with this proposal, it would be nice to see some anti-dhimmitude for a change. My message to the Somalis is this, you are in the service industry dammit either serve your customers or get a different job. I am sick and tired of the complete arrogance in Islam, watch any clip of Cassius Clay errr Muhammad Ali the man was the most arrogant person I have ever seen and he was serious about it, it wasn't some WWF act. I guess the bottom line is that I am fed up with Islam in general!
"You go behind 200 cabs — that's enough of a penalty," said Girma Asfaw, 55, of Bloomington.
No, it's not. While I lick fresh bourbon off my lips, I might have to wait an extra 15 seconds for you to move your nasty vehicle out of the way of my cabbie, and YOU shouldn't even be here!
However, thanks for publicly accepting the fall back position, it lets me know that you know you are going to lose.
"You go behind 200 cabs — that's enough of a penalty," said Girma Asfaw, 55, of Bloomington.
Posted by Robert
If life in America is such a bitch.. vote with your feet, you filthy somali moslem! We can do without ya.
by the way here in New York we have what is called "car service". They are phone-dispatched on-call black limos, only a dollar or two more than a yellow-cab fare. Their cars are much larger and way more comfortable than a yellowcab.. smell better and most of all - staffed by polite and helpful Dominican [Catholic] drivers.
Someone ought to start such a service in MN if you don't have them already.
One way to keep our money out of the hands of the mofidels.
I simply refuse to take a taxi that is driven by a Muhammedan.
Most of the time they are easy to spot: Scruffy beard & coffee-filter, often a kaftan too. Sometimes people wonder and give me funny looks when I tell them to go first, but I make no beef about it and I say 'I don't get in a cab with a Muhammedan - I don't have to...'
When I see them in hotels (like on my last trip to the Gold Coast)
I changed my reservation. I don't even get into an elevator with them: I don't have to.
I discriminate and I make no apologies for it.
That's what's called Tolerance and living in a free society . if the Cab drivers Don't want to drive certain people or want to have standards based on their Religion then they have no right to do so while working in the Service Industry. they can't have it both ways. they don't want peoples religions and lifestyles imposed on them so they should at least do the same.
I prefer the original concept of having a light on the top of Muslim cabs. The Muslim cab driver would have the right to establish standards for passengers. Passengers would have the right to choose which cab to take.
Maximize separation of the two cultures. When the time comes, everything will be easier and more humane.
lets stop
this insane immigration policy that both parties
have imposed on the American people.
Posted by: kiko at January 17, 2007 11:03 PM
That would be my dream come true! But all they talk about is more of the same; more illegal Mexicans, more savage muslims, more hordes from the third world, and this nightmarish scenario is promoted by both parties! Last but by far not least, if all goes as planned with the Prosperity and Security Scam, our borders will be erased entirely and all of Mexico and beyond will be free to overrun our country. That's happening already and explains why Bush refuses to protect the borders. He's priming us for the main event. I can't wait.
We might as well face it; the wishes of the American people concerning immigration are totally ignored by 75% of the people we elect and send to Washington. They follow the marching orders of the unelected bureaucrats in the U.N. and the elitist social engineers in the C.F.R. Short of revolt, I see nothing we can do about it and too many Americans are oblivious to what's happening. They won't wake up and pay attention until it's too late.
"If life in America is such a bitch.. vote with your feet, you filthy somali moslem! We can do without ya."
== posted by MeaniMo. (wanker).
The person you refer to in such a way was noted as a Christian, if you read the whole article.
That diatribe really was out of the bowels of prejudice.
Unkind regards
payingattention
Hugh
What infidel fuels do subways and buses run on?
Hugh,
Not all taxi drivers are indoctrinated bigots.
"For the airport, it's about customer service. For taxi drivers, it's about freedom of religion."
Airport wise, no contest. They have to provide a non discriminatory service and THEY are the boss and they take the responsibility and absolutely so.
The taxi drivers have absolutely NO right to try and impose their -erhem- "religious" prejudice on to others.
The choice should not be put on to the customer whether to take a cab driven by a Muslim or not under their conditions.
The choice is with these backward and arrogant - lucky to be in America - ingrates.
Don't like the rules?
Then find another job.
Don't want to compromise your "beliefs"?
Then find another country.
The message is clear to these bums.
You don't cherry pick freedoms.
I prefer the original concept of having a light on the top of Muslim cabs. The Muslim cab driver would have the right to establish standards for passengers. Passengers would have the right to choose which cab to take.
I thought so, too, for a moment.
However, that would leave them room for future changes in their favour. When all taxis are taken over by those not carrying alcohol.
Just the way they always do it (check the article on nigeria)
Why doesn't the airport allow for multiple cab companies to park and wait for customers. I would call my company Infidel CAB CO.and proudly have the the words on the door "God Loves You"
or is the airport afraid of turf warfare at the curb?
s/on
My religion allows me to rape, pillage & steal. God has made you for my bounty. My God allows me to steal your property unless you acknowledge my superiority and unless you join my community paying me a 2 1/2% tax per annum. I am allowed to murder you and take your wife for my pleasure. My God is merciful because she will be my property and will therefore have some status after you are dead. Your children, if not killed, will have a second chance in life (as my slave) to adopt my religion. If you ever try to depart my community, my religion allows me to summarily decapitate you. If you have never sought me out and voluntarily joined my community you exist out there as a piece of bounty like a wild cow that I can butcher or sell at the market place at any time for any reason. And my God knows best. And if you criticize my God or me, you are to be summarily killed. This is my religion and I demand freedom to worship and practice my religion in accordance with your civil laws that guarantee me freedom of religion!
s/off
How any advocate of this religion is not segregated from humanity and put in a prison or a mental hospital is an affront to humanity!
This decision is bullcrap.
The Mpls Police Dept Licensing Division should enforce the terms and conditions of the hack licenses they issue. If the cabbie violates the license, the cabbie loses the license.
But no, Islam is a religion, and the City is run by a member of the Green Party who thinks he's managing a Bennetton ad, so the Moslems get a free ride here.
Maybe the Dept of Commerce SBA should call the subsidized loans issued w/o collateral to these Moslems, which is yet another form of discrimination in their favor.
That's what's called Tolerance and living in a free society . if the Cab drivers Don't want to drive certain people or want to have standards based on their Religion then they have no right to do so while working in the Service Industry. they can't have it both ways. they don't want peoples religions and lifestyles imposed on them so they should at least do the same.
Posted by: Concerned Canadian at January 18, 2007 01:46 AM
CC:
I don't know what part of Canada you are posting from but I am posting from Toronto and there are a number of aspects of this story to ponder.
#1. Few Toronto cabbies actually own their cabs, or their taxi plates, let alone hold a financial interest in the company operating the dispatch service. For drivers to deny service to a fare simply because the fare might be carrying alcohol on the basis of the drivers' religious beliefs being carried out to the ultimate degree to the economic detriment of those other interested parties is unfair and unreasonable.
On the other hand, imagine the hue and cry if a vehicle owner, plate owner or dispatch service was to make it policy not to provide drivers who refuse service to travellers carrying a legal substance or with a dog, for that matter, on the grounds that it conflicted with their "religious" beliefs (as opposed to a bona fide health-and-safety issue).
#2. The drivers' own licenses are just that -- licenses, granted to them under certain conditions and carrying certain obligations to serve the public. They have the right to deny service to people on the basis of any threat to their health and safety, but that's about it.
If these devote persons don't like it, let them find other forms of employment that don't contravene their religious beliefs.
Sounds like the Airport Commission is making progress.
A faster way to ressolve this might be a for passenger with obvious liquor bottle to get into a cab that won't take fares that carry liquor. Then, if asked, refuse to leave the cab. See if the police arrest you. If they do, go to court and have a test case. A kind of civil disobediance for the 21st century.
I flew into MSP this past summer. I don't use cash for cabs as I don't know how much the fare would be and for safety purposes. Therefore I use a credit card. I asked for a cab that took credit cards. the dispatcher pointed me towards a cab. The vehicle clearly displayed the symbols for the major cards. I don't trust what is displayed. I asked the driver (and yes he was obviously Muslim) "do you accept credit cards?" The answer was "no". i called over the dispatcher and said this cab does not take credit cards even though it is indicated that it does. The dispatcher questioned the driver and the driver said no he doesn't accept credit cards. The dispatcher chewed him out and forced him to remove the decals then and there and then sent him to the back of the line.
so yes these folks will do whatever they can to skate around the rules. We just need to stand up to their idiotic requests. we need to start acting like the Aussies.
I wonder what would happen if a Christian driver refused to take as passengers who are obviously Muslim?
NeverSubmit,
In her January 3 article, Ms. Gurnon stated:
"Many of the airport's Somali taxi drivers refuse to accept passengers who are carrying liquor, because their faith forbids it."
I sent an email to her asking:
Shouldn't the taxi drivers be challenged to prove the veracity of their religious claims?
I notice in this most recent article that she is now merely reporting what others assert, rather than stating such claims as fact.
It's progress.
I think it is instructive for us to stop and detail the importance of what Hugh refers to as "Doing My Bit." Imitating this behavior can provide quite a number of benefits to both individual and society at large. By avoiding taxis, not only do you deprive someone who is at an above average likelihood to be at odds with our way of life cash, which he in turn is probably at a below average likelihood to report as taxable income and is probably at an above average likelihood to send to the lands of Islam, whether for the legitimate support of his family, or for less savory reasons, rather than reinvesting it in the local economy; but you also will help to conserve petroleum, reduce gridlock and pollution, improve road safety for other pedestrians, and maybe even improve your own health while saving money and getting a more visceral knowledge of the city. Taxis are generally large, inefficient, high mileage vehicles, driven in a very aggressive manner carrying only one passenger, which means low per capita fuel efficiency and high per capita emissions, as well as added danger to other traffic and pedestrians, and increased noise and gridlock. Contrast this to spending your money on bus or train fares. You are likely to spend substantially less, and the money that you spend will go right back into the local transportation infrastructure. In addition to the intrinsic safety and fuel economy of public transportation, many cities are switching their bus fleets to from conventional diesel power to compressed gas power or diesel electric hybrids, further reducing petroleum use and emissions. Further more, many local trains already run on domestically produced electricity, meaning zero local emissions and no middle east oil. Additionally, the walking you do between train stations and bus stops will improve your health, and allow you to see aspects of the city that you might have missed while cooped up in a taxi. I only take taxis in emergency situations. Seems like a no-brainer to me.
I didn't mean to suggest that all taxis in all cities and towns, are always to be avoided. Not at all. I'm happy to get into a cab in Washington with an Ethiopian Christian, a Nigerian if an Ibo or a Christian Yoruba, or a Haitian cab driver, who may be pleased if you suddenly break into fitting song: "pour la patrie/pour le drapeau/mourir est beau." But I'm not going to consciously further the cause of Islam in the Western world by furthering the well-being of Muslims, and that means I'm going to choose my rug store, my furniture store, my restaurant, carefully avoiding in the latter case those that offer "mediterranean cuisine" and are named "Oasis" or "Algiers," and I will find out a bit more about the change of ownership at that now strangely overstaffed pizza-parlor, the one where the workers appear to speak not Italian (nor Greek), but rather Arabic, though the walls offer an ostentatious display of pictures of Napoli and Anacapri and Palermo, and there may be mandolin music or the CDs of Modugno, and everything is being done to make sure that la Bella Italia and not the Qur'an is what comes to the minds of innocent customers.
DebV - your points on al-cohol are well taken. Please remember it's the duty of believers to coerce and force their Islamic agenda on the rest of the world, so it's not anything like a 'religion' where people are charged with personal ethics and responsibilities. It's not really about Muslims staying away from al-cohol. It's about forcing everyone to avoid alcohol in public.
They don't seem to understand that operating-room alcohol is isopropyl, not ethanol. They are absolutist and literal and intend on forcing everyone to comply with their map of the world.
It's not really about personal growth through abstinence nor is it about being a serious, sober person in control of all emotions and faculties at all times.
It's about controlling the agenda and the outward behaviors of others.
It's a pathetic excuse for a 'religion'.
OK – should all of us Twin Cities based folks get together to stage our own little counter-demonstration at the Feb 27th meeting that the airport is putting on?
We could make up our own “We support Jihad Watch” signs – see how the local media covers that!
Take a page from CAIR. Find a blind person with a seeing-eye dog. When he is refused service, sue the cab driver and the taxi company under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Occasionally I would prefer NOT to be picked up by some of these characters. I once got a ride home from the Oakland airport with a son of Allah who had no neck and weighed about 300 pounds. I had him drop me off at a business district a few blocks from my house. More recently I was able to locate an Indian cabbie who didn't appear quite so threatening.
Incidentally, I don't tip immigrants of any nationality. I figure being in America is enough of a tip and usually more than they deserve.
Practicing Catholics abiding by religious principles would not work in an abortion clinic/capital punishment death squad. Peaceful Quakers probably won't be found employed in military recruitment. Observant Jews will not be butchering pork. Devout Hindus will not be serving pork (or any other meat). Conscientious Protestants do not become professional thieves. Not too sure about Buddhists (with apologies for my ignorance) perhaps with the right thinking/attitude, employment as such is issue free?
Muslims: Don't work with infidels if by doing so causes you to transgress religious boundaries. Welfare's run out? Can't find a job? Go where there are no infidels and work/live. Problem solved.
Can you imagine a cab driver ever complaining - about anything at all - to his employer in Somalia? Who died and made the USA the complaint department for the world?
Jay, you note, "Take a page from CAIR. Find a blind person with a seeing-eye dog. When he is refused service, sue the cab driver and the taxi company under the Americans with Disabilities Act."
Page taken and expanded upon .. as evidenced by NorthWest Airlines coughing up $$$ to all the Sheiks too late for the plane.
WEll, if the Somalis don't like it, they could move back to somalia
Watch the Somalis backtrack as they find that their Islamic demands are not getting anywhere. They will moan and groan but they will kowtow and backtrack. But this little bit of backtracking is no good in the long run, as they are here and their population is increasing rapidly.
Daisytoo posted: Muslims: Don't work with infidels if by doing so causes you to transgress religious boundaries. Welfare's run out? Can't find a job? Go where there are no infidels and work/live. Problem solved
Not really, they will move to the UK, where our courageous leader Blair, will grant them benefits and handouts not even available to us poor citizens, who are just there to fund the Muslim invaders.
Why don't these cab companies take a stand?
If anyone in my business refused to serve my customer for such stupid reasons as these Muslims, they would be gone..real quick. Let the ACLU bastards sue me.
These assholes represent my company and insult customers who wish to do business with my company that supply a livlihood for these assholes. They would be gone instantly.
DP111,
What do you think .. after the Channel 4 expose` .. do you sense the tide turning a bit in England? I'm TV free ( I know, I know .. the History channel, Discovery, 24, old movies, whatever .. no thanks) .. and so perhaps I overestimate the impact. I've a feeling if we had the guts to monitor mosques on US soil and put the findings on TV it could create a turning point (compass pointing firmly towards reality for a change) here. People do watch an awful lot of television - and in my experience, seem to take things they see on it quite seriously.