Airport board getting earful on tougher taxi driver rules (MSP)

Pioneer Press ^ | 2/27/07 | EMILY GURNON

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

Should the airport impose tougher penalties on taxi drivers who refuse to pick up alcohol-toting passengers?

That's the question at hand during a Metropolitan Airports Commission public hearing today.

One of the people who spoke against the harsher penalties for taxi drivers was Hassan Mohamud, imam of a St. Paul mosque and president of theSomali Institute for Peace and Justice.

He said there is no Islamic prohibition on helping the blind with their dogs, but alcohol is a different matter.

"The question is whether there is reasonable religious accommodation for these people (drivers)," Hassan Mohamud said, adding that the proposed penalties were "unduly cruel and harsh."

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

I got your "unduly", right here.

[GeorgiaDawg32]

"The question is whether there is reasonable religious accommodation for these people (drivers)," Hassan Mohamud said, adding that the proposed penalties were "unduly cruel and harsh."

In other words, "How do you expect us to force you into dhimmitude if you won't accomodate us with this? Don't you know our demands will grow once you give in?"

In the words of the Borg, "You will be assimilated. Resistence is futile."

[MagUSNRET]

I suggest this "IMAM" and the cabbies, move to Baghdad International and then they have no worries!!!!!!!!!

[ridesthemiles]

I suggest this "IMAM" and the cabbies, move to Baghdad International and then they have no worries!!!!!!!!!"

Works for me---

I would like to get into a cab with a drink and a plate full of nice juicy pork ribs.... And I do NOT drink...Would do it just to raise a fuss...

[trumandogz]

I have no problem with Muslim Cabbies who choose to give up their spot in the airport line in order to allow another Cabbie to have their business.

[pikachu]

Maybe these cabbies should find other lines of work where they will not have to deal with people carrying booze, or blind people w/dogs, or women dressed in non-burkas. Coal mining, deep sea diver, or some other profession where they could be less offended. Or better yet, move someplace like ... well, maybe, the Middle East.

[Josh Randal]

Hassan Mohamud, imam of a St. Paul mosque and president of theSomali Institute for Peace and Justice = Terrorist Training Center

[muir_redwoods]

Don't these muslims know that every gallon of gasoline they buy is 15% ethanol, actual booze they are buying and carrying around in their cabs?

[EGPWS]

I suggest this "IMAM" and the cabbies, move to Baghdad International and then they have no worries!!!!!!

Make it happen!!!

Then my commute to MSP everyday would be oh so pleasant a drive. : - )

[EGPWS]

Don't these muslims know that every gallon of gasoline they buy is 15% ethanol, actual booze they are buying and carrying around in their cabs?

Your observation should make the head lines!

Give them food for thought.

Are there any pork products in ethanol? ; )

[EGPWS]

Coal mining, deep sea diver, or some other profession where they could be less offended. Or better yet, move someplace like ... well, maybe, the Middle East.

The smart one's would find work that they know they are qualified for.

Crash dummy comes to mind....

[EGPWS]

I have no problem with Muslim Cabbies who choose to give up their spot in the airport line in order to allow another Cabbie to have their business.

That would make for a lot of O.T. for those other two drivers...

[Isabelle]

I would like to get into a cab with a drink and a plate full of nice juicy pork ribs.... And I do NOT drink...Would do it just to raise a fuss...

You forgot to have a dog sitting next to you chewing on the pork rib bones! Prost!

[TweetEBird007]

Dogs are not supposed to chew on rib bones. really bad for them.

[mathurine]

Mohammedans have no rights that other citizens don't have, and any fair-minded citizen should act to insure that they never do.

[jacquej]

Um...

Cooked pork rib bones are not good for them, but raw meaty pork ribs would be a wonderful treat... too bad I can't afford these for my pampered pooches. They have to settle for raw chicken.

[timydnuc]

The wife and daughter got back from a cruise 2 weeks ago. Upon collecting their bags they walked out of the Lindberg terminal to wait for the daughter's fiance. They had purchased run in the Bahamas. Lisa, the daughter, being the ornery little poop that she is, spotted a cab with a middle eastern looking driver in it and dropped everything BUT the booze and began running towards it. She said the guy was waving his arms then put the cab in gear and sped off.
When the fiance drove up both the wife and the kid were hysterical, as was everybody around them, even the airport cop. She's real cute so she can get away with this stuff.

[timydnuc]

run=RUM

[DustyMoment]

Discrimination on the basis of race, creed, RELIGION, national origin, or sexual orientation is against the law. It is unlawful for anyone to discriminate against someone else on the basis of regious orientation.

If the muslim cabbies don't want to accept fares based on the teachings of the Koran, they need to find other work so that this won't be a problem for them. That means that their cab licenses should be pulled and they get to experience looking for work that doesn't conflict with their religious beliefs.

Regardless of who does it, discrimination is discrimination!!

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

The problem with airport cabbies is, that they are the newest to the country. They don't know their way around, so, they get the point-to-point routes to and from the MSP airport.

They're still hardcore in their beliefs. Those that have been here long enough to drive any route requested of them realize that they'll prosper greatly if they just shutup and drive.

The problem at the airport, just like here, at FR, is the newbs.