[nagdu] Muslim cab drivers: not a slam on their beliefs

Tamara Smith-Kinney tamara.8024 at comcast.net
Tue Feb 22 16:25:41 UTC 2011 

Lisa,

This makes sense.  Goodwill goes a long way.  I have my 'tude, and there is
only so far I will go there, but it always helps to demonstrate in some way
that one is willing to bridge cultural gaps.

Hm...  I did the car training for my pup in cabs, and the first one she
puked in was driven by an Iranian gentleman.  She timed it just as we were
pulling into our street to be dropped off at our apartment with our
neighbor's daughter, who thought it was all very funny.

The cab driver was not amused, and he appeared to be quite upset over the
need to clean the cab fully which would cost him the rest of the day's
business.  He wasn't rude or obnoxious abou it, just bemoaning to himself.
My neighbor and I flurried about cleaning up the quite impressive mess,
spraying this and that, getting every last bit, but he still seemed to be
planning to spend the rest of the day cleansing the cab.  He did not mention
the company's "drunk charge" for such messes, though, so I remained unaware
of it.  I threw every last bit of cash I had on me to him to help, although
it wasn't much.  My neighbor apparently threw her last cash to him, too, so
that helped.

So I figured I would never ride with that guy again.  Only a couple of weeks
later, my young pup and I were out exploring a bit beyond our usual
boundaries and for some reason ended up having to call a cab for rescue
without being able to give an accurate location.  Sigh.

Guess who was driving!  He showed up in a flash, greeted us like old
friends, told me he had taken the call from someone else because he was
close by and he remembered me and my dog and so on and so forth.  We had a
very happy and chatty ride home, minus the need for cleaning up (whew!).

He'd told me on the first ride that he immigrated from Iran in the 70's, so
it is possible he is not Muslim.  But it was clear that the doggy deposit in
the cab at the end was very distressing.  Still, we've ridden with him
since, and it has always been a very pleasant experience.  I do get the
impression he is happy that I've got some car manners impressed upon the
wriggly curly one.  /smile/

So you just never know.  I have had drivers from another cab company who did
appear to be middle eastern who were less than enthused about the dog and
who wanted to keep a close eye on her at all times, lest she get up to
something.  But they have not been rude or refused us service.  So it just
goes to show you, I guess.  /smile/

Tami Smith-Kinney

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Lisa Irving
Sent: Tuesday, February 22, 2011 12:00 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Muslim cab drivers: not a slam on their beliefs

Yes, Lyn, Bernie and I have had similar experiences. I'm still willing to 
offer the handy wipes. I really don't expect the Muslim to accept it. It's 
more of a peace offering and my desire to show that individual that I'm 
trying to respect their religious practices around dogs.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Lyn Gwizdak" <linda.gwizdak at cox.net>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, February 20, 2011 12:51 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Muslim cab drivers: not a slam on their beliefs


> Hi Cheryl,
> I learned about this from a Muslim store owner in my neighborhood.  He had

> no problem with my dog as long as my dog didn't touch him.  I was fine 
> aboout that and I did ask him about that rule so I would know about it. 
> He told me about dogs being "unclean" and that a person had to wash before

> prayer. I thanked him for the explanation.  I think things go better if 
> people are willing to ask and learn respectfully about other's cultures 
> and religions.  I enjoy learning about these things.
>
> BUT, I will NOT accept discrimination in a taxi where my dog is on the 
> floor and making no contact with the driver. If I know someone is Muslim, 
> I take extra care to ensure that my dog dosen't touch the person or his 
> clothing.
>
> Lyn and Landon
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "cheryl echevarria" <cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com>
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Friday, February 18, 2011 4:24 PM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Muslim cab drivers: not a slam on their beliefs
>
>
>> It says in the Koran, that no man should eat from where the dog has 
>> licked.
>>
>> We are not eating from the plate that the person is eating from.  My ex 
>> is from Egypt as I mentioned I read and asked about the Koran.  We had 
>> dogs they had dogs, but when the dogs kisses you, you wash your hands. If

>> you are sitting in the back seat of a car, that has nothing to do with 
>> touching the dog.
>>
>> The biggest compliment you can pay me is to recommend my services!
>>
>> Cheryl Echevarria
>> http://www.Echevarriatravel.com<http://www.echevarriatravel.com/>
>> 1-866-580-5574 or 631-456-5394
>>
reservations at echevarriatravel.com<mailto:reservations at echevarriatravel.com>
>>
>> Affiliated as an Independent Contractor with Montrose Travel 
>> CST-1018299-10
>> Affiliated as an Independent Contractor with Superior Travel
>> Affiliated as an Independent Contractor with Absolute Cruise and Travel 
>> Inc.
>>  ----- Original Message ----- 
>>  From: Doug Parisian<mailto:eggmann at mts.net>
>>  To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog 
>> Users<mailto:nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>  Sent: Friday, February 18, 2011 7:16 PM
>>  Subject: Re: [nagdu] Muslim cab drivers: not a slam on their beliefs
>>
>>
>>  Both in the US and Canada, we have laws guaranteeing specific rights to 
>> our
>>  citizens and the beliefs of other cultures do not trump these rights.  I
>>  have no plans to carry handwipes, or any other kind of wipes to folks 
>> who do
>>  not accept our laws, that is their problem, not mine.  With many cell
>>  phones, one can take pictures of such offenders and use them for all 
>> kinds
>>  of subsequent actions.
>>
>>  Doug: Suck it up buttercup!
>>  ----- Original Message ----- 
>>  From: "Buddy Brannan" <buddy at brannan.name<mailto:buddy at brannan.name>>
>>  To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
>>  <nagdu at nfbnet.org<mailto:nagdu at nfbnet.org>>
>>  Sent: Friday, February 18, 2011 5:51 PM
>>  Subject: Re: [nagdu] Muslim cab drivers: not a slam on their beliefs
>>
>>
>>  > Is it just me, or does the washing unclean objects/body parts/etc. 
>> seven
>>  > times sound a little obsessive compulsive?
>>  > --
>>  > Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
>>  > Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY
>>  >
>>  >
>>  >
>>  > On Feb 18, 2011, at 6:42 PM, Lisa Irving wrote:
>>  >
>>  >>
>>  >> Hi Dan,
>>  >>
>>  >> It can be exasperating when some one perceives their religious
>>  >> preferences supersede the law.
>>  >>
>>  >> I've discussed this matter; guide dogs riding in cabs driven by 
>> Muslim
>>  >> cab drivers. A Muslim friend of mine explained to me their hand 
>> washing
>>  >> rituals and why they frequently engage in this ritual. I get it. She 
>> also
>>  >> told me that the drivers who are insistant  that they won't transport

>> a
>>  >> dog of any type, tends to be devout about his beliefs. Nevertheless, 
>> she
>>  >> agrees with me that such beliefs should not over ride laws. Together,

>> we
>>  >> came up with a viable solution. I haven't been in a position where I 
>> have
>>  >> tried this.
>>  >>
>>  >> I'm all right carrying handy wipes and offering them to the devout
>>  >> Muslim. It's a gamble. The devout Muslim faith isn't going to 
>> disappear
>>  >> anytime soon, nor are my rights as a person with a disability. So,
>>  >> finding common ground and the middle plane seems to make logical
>>  >> sense. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dan Weiner"
>>  >> <dcwein at dcwein.cnc.net<mailto:dcwein at dcwein.cnc.net>>
>>  >> To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog 
>> Users'"
>>  >> <nagdu at nfbnet.org<mailto:nagdu at nfbnet.org>>
>>  >> Sent: Friday, February 18, 2011 3:16 PM
>>  >> Subject: [nagdu] And that reminds me of the cab driver issue
>>  >>
>>  >>
>>  >>> And on the subject of cab drivers, it is patently ridiculous that
>>  >>> someone's
>>  >>> supposed religious concerns should even be an issue for us. I'm
>>  >>> referring to
>>  >>> the Muslim cab drivers you mentioned.
>>  >>> It just shows that our rights as blind people mean much less or 
>> nothing
>>  >>> at
>>  >>> all when compared to some idiot cab driver.
>>  >>>
>>  >>> Dan W.
>>  >>>
>>  >>>
>>  >>> _______________________________________________
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