Posted on 10/02/2006 3:12:49 PM PDT by Rakkasan1
Cabdriver Muhamed Mursal doesn't wear his Muslim beliefs on his sleeve, but he soon may broadcast them via a light on top of his cab.
Mursal and hundreds of other Muslim cabdrivers at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport refuse to take travelers they know are carrying alcohol. No one is searching bags, but a Napa Valley wine box or a see-through bag from the duty-free store can be enough to leave a fare waiting for the next cab. Airport officials estimate that happens at least three times a day.
Now, the airport and cab drivers have worked out a proposal that calls for cabdrivers who won't carry alcohol to have a cab light that's a different color. That way, the airport workers who hook up travelers with taxis can steer alcohol-carrying fares to cabs that will take them. Airport officials hope to have the lights ready by the end of the year.
(Excerpt) Read more at twincities.com ...
Sounds like a very good reason not to ride in a Muzzi cab. Never know when they'll turn Jihadie on you.
Still, personal safety is one thing, an overdeveloped ability to "take offense" is a hog of a different color.
Oh, and in a previous thread about this silliness, it was pointed out that the cab drivers are already carrying alcohol - in their gas tanks - because ethanol is grain alcohol... So, maybe they will have to go out of their way to find a gas station that is alcohol-free...
It's a private business transaction. If muslims want to decline business, that's fine.
I'm not sure how any travelers could have a big bottle of alcohol available to be seen, given the flight restrictions on liquids.
This sounds like a pretty bogus story to me. Who's going to have three ounces of whiskey in their baggy of carryon liquids that a taxi driver would notice?
Mr. Cab Driver won't stop to pick me up
Mr. Cab Driver, I might need some help
Mr. Cab Driver only thinks about himself
Mr. Cab Driver
Mr. Cab Driver
Mr. Cab Driver don't like the way I look
He don't like dreads, he thinks we're all crooks
Mr. Cab Driver reads too many story books
Mr. Cab Driver pass me up with eyes of fire
Mr. Cab Driver thinks we're all 165'ers
Mr. Cab Driver, f#*k you I'm a survivor
Let me in
Mr. Cab Driver
Mr. Cab Driver
I wonder what these cabbies do if they pick someone up at a grocery store who may have bought a six pack?
Well for one thing the pharmacy will still let you in the door to buy whatever they are selling.
Remember back in the bad-old-days of Jim Crow the argument was made that as Walgreens is a private business they can choose not to serve anyone they want. This was rejected. It was decided that "public accomodations" must serve everyone. A taxi is very much a public accomodation. Therefore the drivers must not be allowed to discriminate on religious belief. Cearly in trying to enforce their religions dogma on passengers they are doing so.
The taxi commission should say: no dice. What if a taxi drver said "I won't carry gay couples, because their acts violate my sense of Christian propriety!". Ha! Imagine the outrage.
As far as the pharmacists are going, I think many of them have lost.
between that and fewer and fewer people in my suburb even speaking English at the stores, Minnesota is becoming another Kalifornia.
I don't know, but when you figure that half their business in the downtown area comes from people taking a cab because they're too drunk to drive and it's too far to walk, it seems ill-advised for them to make a stink about carrying liquor.
Or better yet, leave behind those tiny bottles in their cabs, hidden in the seat.
Just make sure you don't aim toward mecca.
Simple. If the cabbie comes up in the queue and doesn't want to take the next fare, he can drive out and around and wait.
I remember one time I when I was driving a cab in Houston I saw two people trying to flag me down one black, one white.
I picked up the black guy and told the white guy, "I don't pick up white folks!"
My passenger laughed and gave me a $20.00 tip.
What about E85?
Ah, branded carry-on luggage.
BFD, in my opinion. I usually have to go out of my way to get to the front taxi in line. I'll actually avoid any marked Mooslim cab, even though I won't have any booze with me. If they're prepared to boycott me without knowing me, I'll definitely boycott them.
publicaffairs@mspmac.org
You won't be given a choice. Read the article. The DISPATCHER there will tell people which cab to get into. Meaning that if the next cab in line is Muslim, and you are not visibly carrying alcohol, you will have to use that cab
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