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

Lisa Irving lirving1234 at cox.net
Fri Feb 25 06:33:53 UTC 2011 

Wow, your pup puked in the cab. I'm glad all ended well and that the cab 
driver was all right with coming to pick up a second time. My guess is that 
your willingness to try and clean up his cab went many miles with him.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tamara Smith-Kinney" <tamara.8024 at comcast.net>
To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, February 22, 2011 8:25 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Muslim cab drivers: not a slam on their beliefs


> 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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>>
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