Muslim Cab Drivers

Submitted by Gerald Ewig (United States), Oct 10, 2006 at 22:37

Sent to MAC on 10-10-06

Honorable Members of the Metropolitan Airport Commission,

Please reconsider your proposed "solution" to the problem of Muslim cab drivers refusing to accept passengers carrying alcohol. This situation is just another example of a foreign subculture which immigrates to the US and, instead of integrating itself into American culture and accepting this countrys normal standards of tolerant behavior, attempts to impose the intolerant behavior of the immigrants homeland. Please understand the long term effects of your decision. You are sending this group a message: by banding together, they can impose their intolerant, Islamic religious laws on Americans who do not share their religious views. If you surrender to this behavior, you will be setting a precedent that will come back to haunt you. Today, Muslim cab drivers are refusing to transport American citizens carrying a bottle of wine. I understand Muslim cab drivers in some countries are already refusing customers who travel with seeing eye dogs. What's next; a refusal to transport a woman who is not dressed according to Muslim religious standards?; refusing to accept a passenger because he is wearing a crucifix?; how about refusing to accept a passenger who may be Jewish? As things now stand, an American soldier returning home to his wife from active duty carrying a bottle of wine could be refused cab service because he may upset a Muslim cab drivers religious sensibilities. Is such a situation acceptable to you? I sincerely hope the answer is no.

The time to put a stop to this is now. Cab driving is a licensed, regulated form of public transportation. Unless the cab driver is in fear for his personal safety, he should be required to accept the customer without reservations. If this is unacceptable to Muslim cab drivers then it would be best if they found other employment or returned to their homeland where they could more easily practice their religiously discriminatory practices. Muslims have every right to practice their religion in personal situations. They have the right to refuse to give a friend or neighbor a ride in their personal vehicle if that person is carrying alcohol. However, when they are engaged in commercial transactions in the United States, they must learn to accept American norms. If they refuse to accept such norms, they should expect negative economic sanctions. They have no right to expect the MAC or any other governmental authority to sanction their behavior. They have no right to recreate their failed cultures in the United States.

Sincerely

Gerald Ewig

Milwaukee, WI

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