Do the Orthodox Jewish workers refuse to handle anything that is not kosher?
I'd check with the company as to the stores policy about what a employee can and cannot refuse to do.
Also how does Target(or other stores) handle employees that may have issues with handling some of the store's products?

First the taxis and now the food. This is America and if they want to work here they have to adapt themseleves like all of us do. Why do I have to deal with her problems when I shop or if I want a taxi. In New York, Chicago, LA, or any city in this country this does not happen. This will be a much bigger issue than we think and if we let it go the floodgate will open which it seems is happening already.

Hello,

As a Muslim myself i completely understand where she is coming from however, I do believe that things have to change when you move to a new country or adopt a new religion. You can't pick and choose what you will do at a grocery store where there is all sorts of Haraam-unlawful things- I think its wrong for Target to accept such behaviour either do the job or get a job where you don't have to deal with 'pork'. This is America not Bahraine or Egypt.

Notice how I said Muslim workers vs Pork.I just cannnot for the life of me understand why we muslims tends to make things difficult for ourselves.It's bad enough lots of people all over the world have negative impressions about Islam but must we,instead of enlightening and be accomodating choose to prove them right.

There is a saying that 'If you can't stand the heat,get out of the kitchen'.Simply put,if you cannot handle pork,don't work in grocery/food stores.The way I look at it,it either you are plain lazy and unwilling to do a honest work to take care of and provide for your family or you are just looking for an excuse to get laid off so you can sue your employer,using your religion as the reason you got laid off.

Instead of hiding behind religion,especially Islam,let me suggest you find another line of work whereby you don't have to touch pork or any other related items Islam forbides us from touching or eating.

I am sick and tired of Muslims who want to enjoy the freedom of living in the US, but want to bring their intolerances and prejudices with them. If I were to live in a Muslim society, there are some things I would have to accept-though I may not like them. Muslim immigrants know that there is a secular and Christian stance to our lifestyle here-that's no secret. If they don't want to handle pork, they should avoid working in a supermarket. If they don't want to handle taxi passengers with Alcohol, then they should not drive Taxi at the Airport. Give the Somali's and other immigrants credit-at least they are working, which is more than you can say for the welfare immigrants coming to Minnesota from Chicago and Gary.

Yet Christian Pharmacists are required BY LAW to dispense morning after pills or have their license revoked? Why is every religion EXCEPT CHRISTIANITY respected and tolerated?

These Muslims at Targert and at the airport need to be put on a plane and sent back to wherever they came from...If they can't adapt to our way of life they dont' need to be here.

Bottom line. People choose to live here. They also choose to work at Target.. Or heck, even drive cabs for that matter. They need to do their job and if part of that job is against their religious beliefs then they need to find a new one. Heck, being a hitman is against my religious beliefs and thats why I choose not to be a hitman. Nobody is entitled to a job. Its a priviledge to work, and yes, no one should be without a job in this country. This is getting a little ridiculous. People need to either learn how to ascimilate into our soceity or leave. We do to much to accomodate new people coming in to this country. Whatever happen to the work ethic our ancestors came here with? Work hard,learn english and still embrace your heritage..Its a beautiful thing, but if you don't want to handle pork because of your beliefs that is fine. Just don't go whining to the employer to change their ways for you. You don't like it, get a new job. Everyone else has to...

I was in the process of moving my sandwich and espresso shop and needed a small amount of roast beef to make it one more day. I went to cub foods and pointed at some angus roast beef in the deli case. The man working there who appeared to be an asian indian kept aking me "why I wanted so much" and telling me "that's no way to run a business spending so much on supplies". I realized then that he was looking for an excuse to not slice or handle the beef. I was LIVID over this!! It was late at night this was the only place with high enough quality roast beef in the area. I complained to the management and found out he had been in trouble for other types of misconduct and was subsequently let go. I never did get my roast beef either.

Come on. If she was wearing a burka, how could you tell she looked uncomfortable by your pork pie? Could you see through her burka? Burkas cover the face. Are you being honest? If she does not want to even touch it, why should anyone eat it? After all, Jesus did not eat pork. If we want to follow him, we should likewise avoid it. Even if you are addicted to pig meat, be a man and ring it up yourself. Stop whining about this.

Dear Chris;
Welcome to the big, wide, wonderful world. Just for your information orthodox Jews will also not handle pork or pork products. They also will not use machinery on Saturdays, which is why orthodox Jews generally do not live more than a mile from a synagoge, as they must walk to and from Friday night and Saturday evening services. This also determined the size of church parishes, and the size of county governments in the original 13 colonies. I don't believe that Muslims face similar restrictions but they must pray several times a day while faceing toward Mecca. So what you see as shocking is in fact just different. And there is a difference between a pharmacist refusing to provide you with a perscription because of a religious conviction and a clerk in a grocery store asking you to wait for another clerk to ring up your pizza...It's just growing pains - American growing pains. And its nice to know we're still growing, isn't it?
Kimit

I am bothered by this. It seems an extension of the Muslim cab driver issue - that the rest of us must adapt to their religious beliefs or be branded "intolerant."

I'm a raging, bleeding-heart liberal, and proud of it. I definitely have a problem with people accepting jobs that have aspects that may conflict with their religious beliefs, and then after accepting the position, demand that the employer conform.

There are lots of jobs that don't involve pork, alcohol, or guide dogs.

In regard to the Muslim employee who would not handle pork while cashiering at Target: Go to work at Bed and Beyond. I'm certain there is no hidden hog in the designer sheets. Jeeeeze, like the Muslim cashier didn't know she'd be handling food when she took the job at Target. I don't believe in gambling for myself but I'll sell you a lottery ticket if I go to work at a local Oasis convenience store. C

Put everyone one of them on a plane and ship them back to where they came from. This is our country, our culture and we spek english here. I'm tired of having to give into a group of people because of their beliefs. Get over it or leave!!!!!!

B as in B, S as in S.

I can’t begin to tell ya how sick I am of this Muslim nonsense. Really enough is enough !

Bottom line here is that employees are hired to perfom specific job functions. If they cannot perform the job requirements as tasked, do not hire them. For those already hired: It is my religious belief that when I go through a checkout line with my cart filled with pork, the checkout person will scan my groceries! Amen!

I have had the same experience. It used to be that Target considered custimers guests. Now it seems that workers with minority religious beliefs are guests. If I have to wait for another cahies to handle the products that Target or any other store sells, perhaps the worker should find another line of work. It's the same with cab drivers and pharmacists who refuse to fill perscriptions for contraceptives.

How is that Muslim can work in banks where interest is charged?

AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!
As a Radiology professional one is reminded of an Ultrasound Technologist at Fairview Southdale who was fired for refusing to perform an obstetrical ultrasound, due to his Christian beliefs, on a woman planning to abort.
Hypocrisy.

I really don't agree with the fact that others have to be inconvienced at the check out lane due to someone else's religion. Now if we gave up our religious ways in the schools and else where then they should have to follow suite. It is not fair to us American's (mostly), to have to stop doing the things that we have been doing for decades. Just because we have had some people move here that don't have the same beliefs. Now I can remember, before other people moved here we did have some Muslim's. But we didn't have to start living differently because of them. If we went to another Country we would have to adapt to thier ways of living, so why can't they do the same when they come here?! And if I have to experience this in the store, believe me I am going to make a big deal out of it. I am going to get the manager involved and if I have to I will file a law suite.

This is just part of my opion.

I've noticed where I live (we have quite a few Somalis moving here) that when I go to the grocery store, many of the employees that are Somali (and obviously Muslim if they do this) have a pair of gloves handy. They will put the gloves on and bag my groceries- no matter what it is. I roll my eyes at it, but hey, whatever they have to do to get my purchases complete is fine. Is this something acceptable to the Muslim community? It could just end the problem if everyone handed out a 50 cent pair of mittens.

Somalis are generally here in Minnesota and the USA because their own land was so lawless, so they yield to a higher authority than Caesar. I have a policeman friend who states that he must patiently repeat police orders multiple times to Somali immigrants, yet he knows they understand his directions the first or at the latest the second time he clearly states the orders he issues in the line of duty. Much of this is about too many people in a club, blocking rights of way, illegal parking, trespassing, jaywalking, etc. These may seem minor but it is not hard to believe it is an attempt to "play ignorant" an avoid not only laws but Americanism. I also am tired of recent immigrants who push their beliefs to the extent that they will not perform service jobs. All other immigrant groups have. The Prophet Mohammed does not rule the USA. As a Christian, I am not uncomfortable saying Jesus does not rule the USA, either. Go along to get along, or get out of that job.

I believe the original poster confused a burqa with the hijab. A burqa covers a person from head to wrist and ankle. The hijab, which is what I've seen most frequently here in Minnesota, covers the hair and often the neck, leaving the face exposed.

Let's not nitpick. I understood the original post referred to the headscarf. I'm certain you did too. Stick to the topic and we might have a useful discussion.

Wow, I didn't know that the people who read the Star Tribune are so racist. Legally, cashiers are not allowed to scan an alcohol purchase if they are under the age of 18, and would call someone else over to scan the item for them. This does not cause delays for customers, so I don't see how the pork issue would either.

I am so glad that Terry pointed out that "...we spek english here," although I am not sure what the word "spek" means. Maybe someone should take some english classes?

My
son's girlfriend is Muslim and does not eat pork.however, she has no problem helping me put away pizzas and bacon when i come home from shopping. She says as long as the product is wrapped, she's not really touching it.I agree with her. If it's wrapped, what's the problem?

Now I don't claim to be an expert on Muslim laws regarding pork, but it seems to me that they are not handling pork, just a package that happens to contain pork. I can see why a Muslim butcher would have a problem, but a cashier?

So what? Your trip to Target took maybe 5 minutes more. Who cares. Stop looking for villains and live life.

yeah, and i was hoping you would show up at my job and do my work for me because it offends me to have to do my job.

Means you will not be killed or discriminated against because of where or how you worship.

No one will force you to eat pork or drink alcohol.

However, your beliefs do not make you a protected class when it comes o job duties.

A company needs to stand up and take this to court, or a legislator needs to grow some balls.

P.S. Christians are not discriminated against. PLEASE get over that nonsense.

Be a man and ring it up yourself? Are you kidding? i dont give 2 cents if Jesus didn't eat pork... that doesn't make it a bad food choice... THE BOTTOM LINE IS IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH DOING YOUR JOB, BE IT FOR RELIGIOUS REASONS, OR WHATEVER OTHER EXCUSE YOU WANT TO USE, TOUGH!!! GET A NEW JOB!!!!!

Hey don’t throw that racist crap into this debate! Those who cant discuss this issue like like adults should stay out of the debate. This has nothing to do with race and all to do with religion.

If your religion prevents you in any way from doing your assigned job then you shouldn’t take that job PERIOD. (Reasonable people with such conflicts wouldn’t even apply for a job that interferes with their religious beliefs. But there is NO reasonable people left I’m afraid)

Its funny its those who yell the loudest about Christian religious influence in our society that are the first to throw up the race card when it comes to debates on this issue.

As has been the case for hundreds of years, if you're going to live in America, you adapt to the ways of America. If you won't adapt, then you shouldn't have come here, and you shouldn' stay here.

My question is: If the pork is sealed in plastic, does this still constitute touching pork? I respect others religious beliefs but don't see the logic. They are not directly touching the pork, therefore they should be able to scan it...yes?

Who’s the condescending smuck who feels a need to point out other peoples spelling errors. Oh the same smuck who call us all racists.

Must be a lefty, because when you can’t win the argument with logic, then go for the name-calling and put-downs!

Maybe we should build a fence of bacon around the country to keep the pricks out.

If the job requirements are lifting a 50 lb box, you should be able to do it or not or be given the job.
Same here -- if job requirements are that you may have to handle pork and you can not, then do not take the job. Nor should the employer give you the job. It is not discrimination, it is a matter of fulfilling a job's requirement. Plain and simple.

We have all kinds of job requirements that are based on age, ability to do the job, etc. The fact that religion makes this person not able to fulfill the job requirements is that persons problem, not the ours or the company.

I never stop laughing at the inferior infidels as we cause them anger as we slowly take over their land. And you are so ignorant you don't even see it happening. Seriously, you don't deserve a country.

Are you kidding me? They should be fired on the spot. Clearly they are incapable of performing their duties and should be relieved of such... actually they should never have applied to be a cashier if they can't handle pork.

If anyone Muslim cannot touch pork in line of work then he must go and not work with food anymore until he learns that it is not part of his religion if he has to work with food.

If I were to refuse to do business with Muslims I'd be a racist but they can refuse to drive me in a cab or make me wait to ring up my pork products. I'd probably even get sued.

If I were to move to a Muslim dominated country would I be able to observe all of my beliefs however I wanted and in public.

Thanks to all of you that donate to the churches and brought these folks here in the first place. Now your complaining about these people. Many times I am on flights that have people coming from other countries with sponsers waiting at the airport, like Lutheren Brotherhood. You get what you pay for and now you have something to complain about. Keep up the social system Minnesota!! Looks like its working fine!

Can't we all just try to be a little more accepting and have a little more tolerance? I personally like the fact that we have such a diverse world and a diverse community right here in Minnesota. That diversity requires acceptance, understanding,tolerance, and above all, respect. I understand that various religious groups have different beliefs and practices. I am glad that we have "faith-filled" people in our community. I think we could use more people truly committed to their religious beliefs. Muslims need jobs too and contribute great things to society. So, if you come across a Muslim working in a grocery store, and they ask you to scan your pork product because it is against their beliefs to handle that, then so what? Is it that big of a deal? Scan it and move on. There are more important issues in the world.

There are pharmacists refusing to give out birth control pills and you people are concerned about a person (who is not making a living wage) refusing to touch your Jimmy Dean? wow. Is this really an issue? If you dont like it, dont shop at Target. You can start your own store and fill it with employees who think and look exactly like you! Oh wait...i am sure you are willing to do mind-numbing labor for 8 bucks an hour.

This was the most reasoned comment I have seen in a long time. Thank you.

Amen!! Why is it that our laws don't allow us to use our Christian beliefs to decide what and how we do our job. Now, let me start by saying I am dating a Muslim man, and have changed what I cook because of his beliefs, but when he is not dining with me, I will pull out the bacon for a good ole fashion BLT. However, he has never frowned on me because of our differences in beliefs. On that note, many Muslims are taking their 5 breaks a day to make their prayers, and many employers are accomodating this. Well, can you please tell me why I have to work on Good Friday, Ash Wednesday, etc???? If my company doesn't recognize these holidays then I am required to work them. We need to take a stand on what is or is not allowed.... this is AMERICA and was built on "IN GOD WE TRUST"

I am so sick of this. People need to get a grip on reality! If you have a job, you do the job. If you can't do the job, find another job. I don't care what your race, religion,fath, belief, cause etc. is, just to the job you were hired to do.

This incident is very similar to the issue of Muslims not accepting cab fares if riders have alcohol. This group of people should not be allowed to force their beliefs on everyone else. I respect their beliefs as theirs, but I shouldn't be affected by them. We are supposed to be a country where separation of church and state rules. Their beliefs should not hinder their chosen jobs. If their beliefs don't allow them to perform their tasks, they should find different jobs.

I understand why some people are frustrated with this, but to get upset over this when you haven't experienced it doesn't make sense to me. There are ways to compromise in situations like this so that both parties are satisfied.
I actually had a similar situation occur at the Knollwood Super Target and didn't even realize what had happened until after I left the store with my purchases. I believe I had purchased some bacon that day and when it came to be the next thing to ring up, the woman turned on her flashing light and continued to ring up the other things that were behind it on the counter. Another employee came up, switched places with her, rang up the bacon, and left. She then continued to finish ringing up my purchases and neither she nor myself were any worse off because of it. Maybe other stores haven't adapted to this way of dealing with the situation, and maybe some Muslim employees will still react in a disgusted manner even when they are told to deal with it in the way that I encountered. However, there are compromises that don't affect the service we receive and I am just fine with those solutions.

I think this is all a bunch of garbage. If people, I don't care what your religious affiliations are, can't do the job, they don't keep the job. Why do we hold muslims in a different esteem than anyone else? If I don't do my described job, then I don't keep my job....there is no grey area. If you can't handle pork or pork products, you don't get a job at a grocery store where....GASP....pork is sold!!! Likewise for cab drivers. Cabs are sometimes the only method of transportation available, especially downtown in the entertainment district. I am so sick of all the political correctness in todays society. We are far too worried about offending people.

Jesus also was without sin. Can YOU follow him that well?

I have lived in many parts of the US growing up, and I do agree that there are certain immigrant groups that do not want to acclimate to living in the United States, which makes it more difficult for everyone else. My in-laws own a pizza business that has been effected by Muslims that want to work at their bussiness, but refuse to handle pork, which is put on about 75% if all pizzas. It's oxmoronic to want to be employed in a profession where you expect your employer to 100% recognize your religous beliefs & accomodate that. I work in the government, and the county is not giving me a paid day off the pray to the tree gods, if my religion calls for it, nor do I expect my employer to bend over backwards to respect my religous beliefs. If i refused to do part of my job, I would be FIRED!

Leylla,
Thanks very much for your logical post. We need more moderates like yourself to speak out like this in order to keep America free as opposed to sucuming to Sharia.

I saw a place on the web where the Muslims have their own versions of traditional Christmas Carols.
It's here:
http://cruxy.com/store/terriblecarols

I'm very disturbed that we seem to be developing two sets of laws; one for Muslims, one for everyone else.
That's not "diversity," that's discrimination.
As someone posted above, what if a Christian worker refused to check out halal or Kosher food?
What is the difference between halal and Kosher? Did the Muslims copy the Jews' Kosher when they came up with "halal?"

Doesn't matter. They are all going to hell.

The answer for the retailer is to install more self-checkout lanes. This way there's no concern over "handling" of food and many of these jobs can go away as a result. Is this really the result these workers want to see?

Muslims in this country should conform to be able to work. If they don't like it then either go back to your home country where you don't have to handle pork or find a different job.

As a mainstream white guy I find it ridiculous all the preferential treatment that Muslims as a group get, just because they think Islam rocks. I don't think Islam rocks. Your choice is your choice and mine is mine, but employers shouldn't have to bend over backwords because of a choice you made. You could choose to have a different job or a different religion.

Stop whining about alcohol in taxis, guide dogs in taxis, needing prayer rooms, etc... and just work. It won't kill you.

Please note, I have no problem per se with Muslims and Islam itself. It's a choice. However, don't push your choices on me and make me change my way of life.

right up to the moment they took your head off in the local town square.

It's called "enculturation". If someone doesn't want to enculturate, they can go back home. Europe has a problem now, because a whole seperate culture hasn't enculturated.

This isn't about handling pork, it's about an agenda. These people want to force the issue.

I am saddened that so many Minnesotans appear to be intolerant.
I agree that it would probably be good policy for Target to have their Muslim employees that don't want to touch pork man the dressing rooms or work in the tech area instead of the checkout. However, I respect other people's right to follow the laws of their religion when it doesn't infringe on my own. There are plenty of other things to worry about in life instead of the extra 10 seconds it takes to call someone over to scan your bacon.

Dear Muslim population: Working as a cashier means you handle pork. Working as a cab driver means that liquor and dogs are part of the fare. If you can't handle that find another line of work. I am sick of your crying victim over these kinds of issues. The religion is your choice. Stop trying to make it ours.

I work with a Pakistani Muslim who went to St.Cloud State in the 90’s. The guys a “Budweiser Jihadist”.

Maybe that’s the solution. Run all the Muslim immigrants through St. Cloud State for four years and problem solved!

I am on anti-depressants. Can a Scientologist refuse to give me a ride in their cab?

When does it stop.

Allah punished some Jews by turning them into Apes and Pigs... so for a Muslim to handle, touch, or consume Pig meat would be a form of cannibalism. Most unclean. Please show respect for Allah.

How does this differ from the Christian pharmacists who refuse to dispense medications based on their personal religious beliefs? People were up in arms about protecting the pharmists who don't want to give out birth control/day after pills, but yet everyone thinks the Muslims should "adapt to the country they are in or not take a job that conflicts with their religious beliefs."

I call BS on this double standard.

Okay, as a muslim, I'm finding this pretty stupid. No, that muslim doesn't represent the Muslim majority, and I'm betting she is a Somali. I agree, if she can't live with it, she needs to find a different job, just like there are options to put her money in Kosher/Halaal/Permitted investments. She's not forced into it.

I'm so sick of these so called muslims giving me a bad rap and making up laws. There is no law in Islam that forbids touching pork. The only law is that we can't consume it. Unbelievable!

How can they adapt? They can't, they're mostly uneducated on their religion and never open up the Quran and read it and understand it.

If you can't perform the duty of the job which is to scan all items, then you shouldn't be employed there. If this had occurred during a shopping experience of mine, I would have promptly left he store to shop at a store that did not give preferential treatment to certain workers.

Additional preferential treatment for the muslims?

I agree that if you take a job, you should be willing to perform all tasks required. Having said that, the employer has a responsiblity to ensure that each employee has the skills and abilities to perform the tasks required. There are many other things a Muslim employee can do at Target besides cashiering, for example, working in the clothing department. The hiring manager is not blind; he/she should be able to ascertain if a female employee is Muslim and simply place them in a department that does not sell food. It's not that easy with males, but perhaps a few questions (is there a department in which you prefer to work? is a good example) would help. Maybe the problem is not the employee, but the employer being insensitive. Target is a big company with big stores; I'm sure they could find a way to hire people who want to work without causing this kind of "crisis."

Too bad our troops can't kill them fast enough.

It is against my religion to tip Somali cab drivers. I encourage all others to adopt my new religious conviction.

I hope everyone saw this posting, and Muslims wonder why we feel the way we feel.

In case you missed it....

pork jihad
Submitted by Hasarreef Mahogoff (not verified) on Tue, 03/13/2007 - 10:06am.
I never stop laughing at the inferior infidels as we cause them anger as we slowly take over their land. And you are so ignorant you don't even see it happening. Seriously, you don't deserve a country.

It is absolute nonsense that orthodox Jews won't handle pork. They won't eat it but they will handle it if it is part of their job.

any brand of religious zealotry is inappropriate on the part of pharmacists as well as cashiers.

EXCELLENT point, Cindy! I'm so tired of the double standard Christians face!!!

The worker was wearing a hijab, not a burka, the hijab covers the hair and frequently the neck, not the face; besides, body language isn't limited to a persons face, shifting from side to side, wringing of hands and numerous other actions could signify discomfort.

While I am tolerant to a Muslim's desire to observe 'Halal' or a Jew's desire to live 'Kosher' I think they shouldn't choose to obtain employment when they know that employment will conflict with tenets of their faith/practices. Especially groceries, pork is in alot of places you wouldn't think to look. Jello, marshmallows, cereals, etc.

But let's be serious, Jesus didn't eat McDonalds, Twinkies, Ho-Hos or Snicker bars as far as I know either.

We should be living in a secular society, where your job isn't related to your beliefs. And all religions are equally disregarded, Christianity included.

My thought is every thing they refuse to ring up is free , Me think Target would correct that problem when it cuts into there pork profit

I don't care what belief system you may participate in. Please leave your beliefs outside of the workplace. As a customer, it is not my problem if you can't handle pork, or alcohol, or have an issue with a particular group of people, or dispense prescriptions, etc. Whatever your belief system is, it shouldn't negatively impact anyone else's ability to live their life.

If you can't be away from your religion that long, perhaps you should work in your place of worship instead.

When you are hired to perform work for a company, that is what you are expected to do - perform the job you were hired to do. If you aren't able to do that, then you shouldn't be working there. No excuses. No exemptions. Period.

If we start accomodating these people, we give up what we are. This is nothing more than incrimental Dhimmitude and Shria law.

This is what you get when you blindly follow the religion of multicultural liberalism. We are flooding our country with people that we are not insisting integrate, we are pretending all cultures are equal, and our liberal politicians and media will keep us as much in the dark as possible until it is too late and we are just another 2nd rate socialist country.

You know, when our grandparents came over they understood to be an american they had to adapt their ways, their language, and their culture... seems to me these muslims do not feel this way. SO, I say, GO BACK HOME THEN! GET OUT! GO! If you will not conform at all, do not stay here. GO BACK TO YOUR HOME!
Bye now.

My wife had a similar experience at Super Target in SLP shortly after it opened. When the sliced ham came down the belt, the cashier called for a manager who swiped the product. Obviously, most people agree that this is ridiculous. But rather than blame the cashier for trying to stay true to their religious beliefs, I think that we need to look at the role that Target is playing in all of this.

There are a lot of jobs to do at Target besides cashiering. If an employee cannot perform all of the cashiering duties, as soon as Target management becomes aware of this, the employee should be moved to a different job. If they cannot perform a different job because of some other limitation, I think there is no reason for them to work at Target.

We all have a role to play here. A lot of us LOVE Target, probably to a fault. I count myself and my family in that group. Why do we love it? Because Target has what we want at a price we think is fair. So if we are having a problem witht he employees that Target is hiring, then we should SHOP SOMEWHERE ELSE. There isn't one solitary item that Target sells that cannot be purchased somewhere else. As long as we get mad at Target for employing workers who will not complete the job they are assigned, and then go right back to Target the next time we need Ham and toilet paper, we have no one to blame but ourselves.

This is insane! How can this world possibly come to this? Our people need to stay focused on United States Of America and if you want to be an American Citizen, than I would hope that you can live up to the American way. If not, maybe you should re-think about being a U.S. Citizen

Leylla is absolutely right and I am glad that some of them realize this. We are getting tired of allowing people to come and live in this country and we are suppose to change everything to accommodate them. If they don't like it, don't move here.

What? How do you know Allah turned Jews into Pigs and Apes. What is your source?

On the christain pharmisists not filling prescriptions for birth control/morning after pills... it is BS, and they should be MADE to fill those too! There should be no double standard on these issues. It's their job, it is not their place to judge anyone, just fill the darn prescription!

As with any other job, IF YOU CAN'T DO THE JOB, YOU DON'T BELONG THERE.

Why should Target pay 2 cashiers to ring up a pizza? This is rediculous...almost as rediculous as applying for a job where you KNOW you can't do the job...you just want to create a scene.

Fire her and let her find a job in a pork-free environment. I am SICK of bending to meet their demands when they have NO CONCERN OF MY life, belief, or custom.

If touching pork or transporting alcohol is a requirement of the job then another occupation should be in order. If a job requires lifting of 50 pounds and I cannot do that, I don't take that job. It's not discrimination it's a job requirement.

Responding to Pork is Bad @ 5:33am, just because the bible doesn't mention that Jesus ate pork doesn't mean he never did. It never mentions him going to the bathroom either, so he must never have. Jesus did say that "it's not what goes into a man that defiles, rather what comes out."

I think you need to get on that plane and go home!

Send them all back to where they belong!!! This is America!!!! If you have a problem with it, get out!!!
My daughter wanted to get an education so she went to college. I am a widowed mother, and scrap week to week just to stay afloat. She now has $78000.00 in student loans to pay off by herself. She is a white, blonde American female. Now if she was something other, that was let in over the boarders, her education would have been free!!!!! Not $78000.00 in dept at 22 years of age!

Yeah! I like that Idea!!!! and I love pigs!!!

If you find us so inferior and ignorant, then why are you still here? Oh, yeah, I get it...........because if you shot off your mouth in whatever little desert hellhole you come from, you'd have been beheaded long ago!

You know, our grandparents and great grandparents had to adapt their ways, their culture, their language when they came to america. They understood this. Why is it that that is lost to the modern day masses? If you cannot adapt your ways, then go home. I say, GET OUT. GO BACK HOME if you don't like our ways. I have had enough of all of this. For crying out loud, if we are spending one dollar on this crap, it's way too much money. Adapt... or leave.

I thought we were suppose to be AMERICANS. When you live in AMERICA, you are an AMERICAN. Not Somali-American, not African-American, not Asian-American, just AMERICAN. Can we get to the basics? This is not about racism or the fact that we should all speak English to live here, but more the fact that ALL must ADAPT to their enviroment to survive. I own a Dairy Queen and if a Muslim said he would not put BACON on a double cheese burger, I WOULD NOT HIRE HIM, as he could not PROPERLY do the job. IS that Racist, or just good business management? I cannot accomodate, or hire a NON-Muslim to stand behind a Muslim and put bacon on his/her sandwiches......ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!! People need to wake up in America and realize that we need to keep OUR identity. Have whatever religion you want ON YOUR OWN TIME. Business is business and I'm not paying you to do a job that you want to pick and choose what you want or don't want to do......BOTTOM LINE! As an employer I can't hire ONLY Christians, or ONLY atheists, ETC or tell my employees they should be one religion or another.....that's discrimination, so why is it that employees can bring their religious beliefs to work. Muslims and others, leave your religious beleifs by the back door and do your job.

Written be a Euro-Christ-American, oh sorry, JUST AN AMERICAN!

Are you kidding me?!? I work with people from all other countries as well as US, and the others feel in everything they don't have to do something as it goes against their religion. In the mortgage business they feel they don't have to supply this or that as in their country or religion does not call for it. You liv ein the US follow the rules or get out. I work part time at a video rental store and it is against my moral and beliefs to rent the adult films, however I have to check them in and out, I even have to clean them if a customer were to leave a gift in them, if I don't I can be fired. Just as your parents said growing up as long as you live under my roof you follow my rules. Same goes for our country. If you don't like the rules go home. I am so sick of these other flippen people coming here and getting all the perks when you have hard working famlies and single parents(as I am) and we cant catch a break for nothing.

Doesn't bacon and pepperoni usually come wrapped? If so, one's hands never touch the pork. Does this mean that a Muslim may not touch anything that has touched pork? What's next? "I can't work with anyone who has eaten pork"?

judging from the primary blog and the resulting comments - its clear this has coaxed alot of racism into the open. so a couple of people had to wait a bit to get their groceries scanned..wow, the sky is falling. of course, observant jews do the same thing but they are not under attack, only muslims - because that's an acceptable and fashionable racism. judging from the various comments, its clear the vast majority of writers are not fluent in english, and may not have graduated high school much less gone to college. their opinions are not founded on any facts, just raw racist emotion - thus their opinions lack any credibility.

Perhaps, Chris Serres should be more responsible in making a 'newsworthy - blogworthy' mountain out of a couple of extended waiting times to check out pork meat. or maybe that was his nefarious intention all along?

enough, of siding with the 10 % of the squeeky wheel. this is America and we pride ourselves with religious freedoms. when she applied for the job she should of addressed this issue within herself. It takes the time of two people to do a job-somehow that will trickle down in prices. If i was a Peta i would not work in a slaughter house. dah!

For those of you that tell the rest of us to 'get over it'. 'Scan your own groceries'. If you don't deal with the problem while it is small, like it is right now, then you'll have bigger problems to deal with later. Imagine your son or daughter coming home from school, being cheated out of their learning time so the one Muslim child in the class could pray while the rest waited for him or her. Imagine the Muslim ambulance paramedic refusing to come into your home to treat you while you die of a heart attack because you have an 'unclean' pet in your home. Imagine the tollbooth operator holding up traffic, refusing to let the truck through the gate because it is full of hogs to go to the slaughter house. All in the name of religious beliefs. Take a look around folks. Deal with the smaller problem now, or deal with a much, much larger problem later.

If they were hired to do a job and if something they object to doing even though it is part of the job the management should step in and clarify that it part of the work needs to be done reguardless. If the person still refuses the employee needs to find another line of work that does not involve what they object to.
If any other person did this they would be reprimanded or fired for refusing to do the work. The religon issue is getting out of hand, a job requires you to do certian tasks and if scaning pork is one of them then it should be done reguardless, if not find something else.

It's very simple. If you cannot handle the essential job functions, you should not be working there. Don't want to handle something? That's fine... quit and get a different job. If I were the manager, I would fire this employee for being insubordinate.

What ever happened to the seperation of Church and State? They may claim religious rights but we also have the law that seperates bringing religious beliefs into the workplace.
If you want to live in a particular country you must adapt to their lifestyle. You do not need to agree with everything but you also can not expect an entire nation to change its way of life to accomadate you. No other country in the world accomadates foriegners.
If we went into Muslim countries would they so freely accomadate Christians and their relgious rights?

How on earth can you say Christianity is not respected or tolerated? Do we have any Jewish or Muslim holidays that are legal holidays? Do cities put up Eid or Hannukkah decorations? The only thing that isn't respected or tolerated about Christianity is the desire of some religious zealots to force everyone to be Christian.
It is really hilarious that the hypocritical Christian majority dares to whine about discrimination when so many things in this country have been, and continue to be centered around Christianity. If only non-Christians were allowed to be pharmacists or only non-Muslims were allowed to be cab drivers, you could claim discrimination.

The consensus seems to be, even among Muslims, that people should do their jobs. If they don't feel that they can do the job with all that goes with it, they should find another one. The twin cities area is the only place in the country where a small group of radicals are pushing the pork/alcohol/dogs issue. If people don't want to do their jobs, they should find another career.

A hijab is NOT a burka. Hijabs cover the head, not the entire face. Someone so ignorant of the differences of Muslim culture should not be speaking to this issue.

GET OUT OF OUR COUNTRY THEN! It is not like these damn people are forced to eat is at the cash register! We here in America eat Pork, so deal with it. It is our country...not theirs. We don't go to their country and try to change what they do, so why should we let them do it to us? Target should FIRE them. This is unbelivable, I am so angry about it.

O.K........first of all, just because someone doesn't want to touch something, doesn't mean someone else might not want to eat, or touch it themselves. What this really boils down to is that these Muslims that refuse to do their jobs, are just pushing their beliefs on everyone else. Second of all, religious beliefs are fine, as long as they don't interfere with anyone Else's lifestyle, that's what this country was founded on. If you can't or refuse to live by these standards then go back to were your "heritage" is more in line with your belief's, otherwise stop whining about.
This is America, if you want to stay here, then try and assimilate.
I have to do things everyday that I don't believe are right, but it's not my place to refuse anyone any kind of service, because that's what I'm getting paid to do, give others what they want.

take a look at what you just wrote. Maybe we should all just get on a plane and go back to where we originated from and return this place to the American Indians. This land is my land, this land is your land - actually it belongs to all of us to share and take care of. Instead of hating, let's learn from those different. I think it is exciting to see people with different beliefs interacting and making adjustments to show respect for others as long as it does not infringe on anyone's civil or basic rights. Waiting for another cab or scanning your own bacon is a far cry from not being allowed to marry your life partner or have access to scientific education on evolution. Christians and males are whiney because they've been able to call the shots and have their way for so long and now they're going through a phase of resentment towards anyone different getting their way.

I have had the same experience at the Knollwood Supertarget with Turkey Pepperoni.

In the end, the extra 3-4 seconds delay did not impact me in any way. She was very polite and I do not have a legitimate complaint.

if you cacn't adapt to our cultures get the heck out. Why hide the face???? Because they don't want us to see the lying stealing people behind them!!!!!!!!!!!! Plain sick of you foriegn people using your religion!

I worked at a restaurant in Minnesota where several of the waitpersons were students at a local conservative Christian school. Whenever a customer would order alcohol, I would be asked to pour and deliver the drink.

The manager knew that this was a part of their beliefs and when I was hired I was told it was part of my responsibilities. Some of the customers thought it was wierd but considered it a quirk of the restaurant and as long as their service wasn't slowed, it didn't matter.

The same applies for anyone who can not perform a specific job function due to their religious faith. There is nothing wrong with having another person swipe the item, as long as the customer gets checked out just as quickly. Same goes for taxi service, as long as a willing driver is nearby - who cares?

The servers were very nice to me (I was the host, coffee refill, etc person) and they also gave me part of their tip. Some customers even gave me a separate tip. I didn't mind. I also won't mind if another person has to swipe an item or drive me home from the airport. Just don't make me wait.

To 'pork is bad': Jesus declared all foods clean and stated it was not what went into a man that defiled him but his actions. The fact that Jesus did not eat pork is irrelevant.

Moreover, you entirely miss the point. A customer should not be required to ring things up themselves.

Lastly your post seems a bit intolerant of those who enjoy eating animals and have no moral concerns about it. (such as myself).

Just for your information orthodox Jews will also not handle pork or pork products.

Just for your information (and I'm an observant, Sabbath observing, Jew) Jews can handle pork and pigs all they want. We just can't eat them. As a matter of fact the Talmud discusses the concept of deriving benefit from things that are not kosher to eat. Some things cannot be benefited from but non-kosher meat isn't one of them. A beef carcass that is determined to be not kosher upon inspection after slaughtering can be sold for a profit. Likewise, you can use pigs to make footballs and Hush Puppy shoes. You can't eat venison shot while hunting, but the skins and sinews can be used for clothing. Raising of pigs (or shellfish) would probably be prohibited for Jews, but incidental benefit is allowed.

I sell embroidery, including Infidel Attire, pro US and pro Israel slogans on apparel in Arabic. One of my customers suggested doing "Eat pork, it's yummy and tasty", and my rabbi didn't have a problem with it because I wasn't suggesting the Jews eat it.

I think, this is just horrible going to a store a where employees refuse to provide service because of their religion. If you can't provide all the services then find another job. Why do we always have to accommodate just Muslims and Immigrants? There are other nationalties and religions that should be recognized. If you going to do for one group, you need to do it for all.

Why can't Target allow all African-American people to be released and paid on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday? MLK is a federal holiday

Target has made a decision to accommodate Muslim cashiers. The managers are aware of what is going on. If Target wanted to they could chose to modify its approach to Muslim workers. However, this appears to be the route they have chosen to take. Target is a private business and is wholly within its right to chose how it will deal with its workers. If you don't like how it handles the situation, take your business elsewhere. But do not be so spoiled as to expect that you get to determine how Target handles its business. It may be to its business advantage to do so, but it are a private entity just as yourself and have a right to do business as they wish within the confines of the law. for the record pharmacies are different under the law because of the medical implications that are involved in refusing to provide medication.

When I worked at a hotel restaurant years ago, a new manager wanted me to help the bartender by mixing drinks. When I told him my Christian beliefs prevented this, he didn't make me do it. It's not only Muslims who get privileges.

Target has made a decision to accommodate Muslim cashiers. The managers are aware of what is going on. If Target wanted to they could chose to modify its approach to Muslim workers. However, this appears to be the route they have chosen to take. Target is a private business and is wholly within its right to chose how it will deal with its workers. If you don't like how it handles the situation, take your business elsewhere. But do not be so spoiled as to expect that you get to determine how Target handles its business. It may be to its business advantage to do so, but it are a private entity just as yourself and have a right to do business as they wish within the confines of the law. for the record pharmacies are different under the law because of the medical implications that are involved in refusing to provide medication.

So when do all of these job requirement exceptions, per a persons religious beliefs and/or affiliations, start to affect pricing? On one hand I should pay less for having to swipe my own groceries, or perform the basic job function for the employee because he/she refuses to do so based on his/her religious beliefs. On the other hand, is this just going to cause small, but incrementel increases in the cost of goods sold due to the labor disruption every time someone else has to be pulled off of another line to do the job for the person who can't or refuses too because of the belief?

So now, what we have in America, is the cost of goods being affected by religious beliefs. Small price to pay you might say? Well, it all add up others would say.

But let's take it a step further and ask, what if a Catholic who works at Target, refuses to ring up birth control pills, condoms, or the morning after pill? Will that be allowed and will they're job be protected?

And, what about the Jewish person who works for Target Corporation in their advertising department who refuses to work on the weekly grocery ads that include pork chops on sale or any other product that is deemed to be unacceptable based on their religious affiliation?

And, why is does it always seem to start with the Muslim community any more?

Where in the world do we as a society draw the line? And who in corporate America has the capacity to take the bold step forward to say sorry, but not here, not at this company?

I just wanted to comment on the message you left--I appreciate your honesty and willingness to comment on such a touchy topic. You remind us that there are Muslims out in the world who aren't necessarily fundamentalist and who may be unfairly treated because of others.

This is getting way out of hand. There are certain requirements when you apply for a job and if you can't do some of them, you should not get the job. Part of this job is scanning ALL items for a customer. If you can't do that,don't work there. There are rules and you separate religion from your job. You do the job required of you or not at all. I don't refuse to work with individuals who have sex before marriage just because I am catholic. That is just as ridiculous as not handling a pork product because of your religion.

Just to add a comment to yours;

I do not think this subject is related to "looking for villains" as you put it, or racial profiling as some others might, however if I am purchasing products from a CORPORATION, I expect a swift and hassle free trip. It is what we are paying for - SERVICE - if I did not want to be serviced, I would hunt for my own.

I do understand and respect other religiions and races', however I do not see that beeing the problem, I blame it on the CORPORATIONS who do nothing about this horrble service, they are harboring double standards. Employers need to do something, we have no say, but we can complain enough so eventually maybe the company, propietorship, corp....ect will make a legal standing, sadly there is minimal justice in our justice system right now, especially regarding topics like this.

Over all, yes I would be upset if one were to refuse to service me, after all I am placing $ over towards their salary and second, I would not want to be in Target 5 minutes longer than it takes, this is America - time is limited. Plus what if I were already running late? A lot of variables, what if I were to refuse to service one due to the fact I preferred a different brand or ingrediant. That to me is self centered and biased.

I agree if they cannot swipe your items they should not be working at Target. If they want to live and work in the United States they should be willing to do what every other employee needs to do in order to perform their job.

I am catholic and do not believe in abortion, therefore I don't work at an abortion clinic. Get a job that doesn't interfere with your religion.

Are there any Muslim football players? pigskin?

C'mon...everyone acts like previous immigration waves didn't have these same problems. It wasn't all easy and hunky-dory when our grandparents and great-grandparents immigrated to the United States. Some immigrants have been very open about adapting American culture - and some haven't. Past immigrants tend to settle within cultural groups, which is why you have Little Italy and Chinatown in New York. Living in America is a challenge - something people born here can fail to realize. We have to work all the time to remember that our way of life isn't the only way of life. And that's a good thing.

Living in America is also full of opportunity and freedoms that many other countries don't have - which is why so many people want to come here. And there may be an adjustment period - it's growing pains. Deal with it with grace and dignity. Which doesn't mean giving in and letting other cultures dictate to us about our culture. It does mean that considering why our culture has developed into what it is and thinking about how we can change to incorporate the better parts of other cultures into it. America didn't spring full formed into being - it took bits and pieces of the peoples that came to populate it and has been changing and growing ever since. Geez...take a lesson from history, why don't you?

And for the "Christians" complaining about not having Good Friday and Ash Wednesday off - most work places let you have Sunday and Christmas off, don't they? Stop whining.

And who ever was whining about all the "lefties" name-calling and bad mouthing - umm...hyprocritical much?

I think they are taking their religion too far. I understand that there are descrepency in a relgion but if you are unable to work under the following conditions you should look for something that is more suited to your capabilities.

I think they are taking their religion too far. I understand that there are descrepency in a relgion but if you are unable to work under the following conditions you should look for something that is more suited to your capabilities.

You are obviously missing the point. Whether you are a cashier, a stocker, or a meat slicer, you are hired to do a job and perform accordingly, regardless of your beliefs. By refusing to fulfill ALL responsibilities associated with fully meeting the requirements of your job, you are essentially NOT meeting the outlined expectations. It is the employees' job to ring or handle mentioned merchandise, NOT the consumers'. Wake up and take a look around. This is a America, a country of opportuntity. With that being said, America will only provide opportuntites for those that are willing to put beliefs aside for the the sake of getting ahead and making the most out of life by being a productive member of society. Now ask yourself, what is more important to you now? If you choose religion, then there is no one else to blame but yourself for not getting ahead in your career choice. I can personally speak from "dealing" with this issue first hand on a regular basis as a manager of employees with these beliefs. I will say that my own patience is about to run out. Thank you.

I firmly believe in tolerance, I think that is the hallmark of an equitable and fair democratic society. That means we need to be tolerant of each others religious views.

I draw the line in this case though, the employees are not being forced to have the jobs... and I feel this way as well about pharmacists. The checkout person's job is to checkout the goods offered in the store. If they cannot do this then they should not be hired. The pharmacists job is to dispense correct formulatory prescriptions that are given to them by a doctor. If they cannot do this they should not be pharmacists.

Finally if you object as a customer then call the company involved and tell them you object. And that you will take your business elsewhere. In fact why not just walk away from the checkout and out the door, if enough customers do that there might be some changes.

Maybe Target can set up separate checkout counters for people who don't have pork products, which are manned by employees who object to handling pork products. Since they may end up doing less checkouts they would get paid at a lower rate?

Toleration goes both ways... if you cannot handle certain food items in a store that sells such items, you should probably not work there, or work in a position that does not put you into that line of work.

So when do all of these job requirement exceptions, per a persons religious beliefs and/or affiliations, start to affect pricing? On one hand I should pay less for having to swipe my own groceries, or perform the basic job function for the employee because he/she refuses to do so based on his/her religious beliefs. On the other hand, is this just going to cause small, but incrementel increases in the cost of goods sold due to the labor disruption every time someone else has to be pulled off of another line to do the job for the person who can't or refuses too because of the belief?

So now, what we have in America, is the cost of goods being affected by religious beliefs. Small price to pay you might say? Well, it all add up others would say.

But let's take it a step further and ask, what if a Catholic who works at Target, refuses to ring up birth control pills, condoms, or the morning after pill? Will that be allowed and will they're job be protected?

And, what about the Jewish person who works for Target Corporation in their advertising department who refuses to work on the weekly grocery ads that include pork chops on sale or any other product that is deemed to be unacceptable based on their religious affiliation?

And, why is does it always seem to start with the Muslim community any more?

Where in the world do we as a society draw the line? And who in corporate America has the capacity to take the bold step forward to say sorry, but not here, not at this company?

Technically aren't they only touching the box/package the pork is coming in?

5:60 Then say: "Should I inform you [People of the Book] of those, who will have even worse recompense from Allah than the transgressors? They are those whom Allah has cursed; who have been under His wrath; some of whom were turned into apes and swine; who worshipped taghut ... historical documents..Sheikh Ijlin Mosque in Gaza, Sheikh Ibrahim Mudeiris, employee in the Religious Affairs Ministry in the Palestinian Authority, uses the Battle of Badr (AD 624) as a rallying cry for his fellow jihadists to fight the Jews, who are the descendants of apes and pigs. "Then came the great battle of Badr, where the Muslims grew stronger. This brought the third stage of dealing with the Jewish existence in Al-Madina. We have tolerated you for a long time - you offspring of apes and pigs! We have tolerated you for a long time."

I am a Somali and I completely agree, if you can't do the work then find another job.

Must be a righty because he can't see that he is doing the same thing he accuses the lefty of doing.

Just stupid. I cannot even begin to say how stupid this is. Why do you take a job knowing this situation might come up and then complain about it. This is America, we eat pork, lots of it. If you have issues with that do not apply for a job with a company that deals in pork!!!!!!!!!

Imagine the day when the check out lanes at Target are all occupied by Hijab wearing moslems. Imagine the frantic non-moslem assistant manager running from register to register to defile his infidel hands with packaged swine produce that the GUESTS so choose to purchase.

The cashier and cabbie issues are real, but minor. More interesting and ultimately more important is the way American society has been promoted as the one place on earth where everybody gets to do whatever they want -- and that "understanding" has been turned into accomodation of the most trivial aspects of religion and culture, and sometimes into accomodation of less trivial departures from American practice and standards. Does anyone remember that several years ago liberals and Hmong elders actually proposed that we establish clan courts, so that Hmong on Hmong crime could be decided by Hmong leaders? How would these beliefs impact those who wish to depart from the old ways? I'm not going to go back to my mainline christian blue collar past values, marry off my kids by the time they graduate high school and leave their nouns and verbs in constant chaos.

Americans have a lot of dumb habits, and one of the dumbest of the past thirty years has been the assumption that everything we do should be up for negotiation by those with the lowest level of education or experience -- including fundamentalists of all kinds. People who find fundamental christianity or catholicism appalling somehow often feel we have to accomodate other religious and cultural adaptations -- yet we would never expect other cultures to just accomodate our preferences and beliefs.

It's a bigger problem than bacon, but bacon makes a more harangue-able subject. What does it mean to be an immigrant in America? are all immigrants to be accomodated in all things? family violence, child marriage, stoning of adulterers and pillorying drunks? A get into college free card? Or what?

This certianly seems like an inconvenent to customer who may be in the line behind someone with a pork product as well. Also target could find another position for those people with such beliefs.

Although I have mixed feelings about allowing workers to choose not to provide certain products provided by their employees, as in the case of pork products by cashiers and also contraception by pharmacists at Target stores (depending on the availability of other employees to perform the same tasks), I find many of the comments in this thread disturbing. There are many instances of xenophobia such as suggestions that Muslims should to "go back to their own countries" which are completely unwarranted in this debate. It is not much of a choice to remain in the U.S. or return to a war zone with little de facto governance, economic opportunity, and guarantees of human rights as in Somalia. Whatever side of the pork handling argument you are on, there is no need for explicit racism and inflexible suggestions that some rights (freedom of speech and religious freedom on the part of the cashiers)should be automatically relinquished without dialogue in order to assimilate and reap other benefits of life in the U.S. Yes, it may be a minor inconvenience to wait for someone else to ring up your meat, and you probably shouldn't take the job/assign someone for the job if that aspect is a problem, but why are people so offended by the fact that they might be slightly impeded in meeting their consumption demands instantaneously?

This is a silly arguement. Yes, Muslim workers should do what the job requires. I agree there. However, Target hired these folks knowing their limitations going in, and they are making the accomodation for them. Why? Maybe it's the only way to keep a decent number of employees for a reasonable wage. Maybe they don't have a steady stream of applicants for the cashier position and they have to take who they can get.

Has anyone even wondered what Target's stance on this is? There have been countless calls for people to get fired, for them to quit, for them to move out of the country already on this blog, but isn't that decision between Target and their employees? If Target is ok with it, why can't we be? Does it really cause serious emotional or physical pain to watch as a second cashier comes to the rescue?

Does it really kill someone to put their alcohol in a bag and say they don't have it? I have taken dozens of cabs, with liquor in my baggage or in my stomach and I have never had a problem. I shop in Minneapolis every day, and I have never had a problem.

>>Jews will also not handle pork or pork products

The difference is that Jews won't take a job where pork is present, which is their right. It is not the Jews intention to subvert. Islam is all about subversion of Western society. All must bow to Muslim sensibilities. Bacon at Target is just the start. Cave to this, and the anti will be immedietly upped. This is my picture of the prophet -> <: |>

Once again missing the point!

What utter nonsense this is. She was not being asked to go work in the butcher section and hack apart a pig. She was asked to scan a pork product wrapped in plastic and cardboard. She doesn't want to come in contact? Wear gloves! This is one of several incidents where our culture (what's left of it) is constantly being asked, nay, MADE to bend to the will of immigrants. Once upon a time it was the other way around.

Anybody here know what "E Pluribus Unum" means? "Out of many, one." This latest asault on our culture is excused away by the "What's the big deal?" crowd. I won't hold my breath waiting for the PC crowd of these Twin Cities to put the hammer down and say "Enough, already!"

I read through all of the comments posted and have only one to offer. The comments posted say MORE about you as an individual than the issue you are commenting on.

Brain said: "Must be a lefty, because when you can’t win the argument with logic, then go for the name-calling and put-downs!"

Wow. Pot-kettle-black.

We "spek english" here? Where I live, we speak English. If you are going to criticize, make sure you don't live in a glass house.

Don't hate on the people that do eat pork maybe we don't want to follow Jesus. So you man up and get a new job or start ringing up my food. You have no right to be in a job that you can't perform. I just turned down a job because I cannot lift over 100 pounds, by the why I didn't complain.

"I never stop laughing at the inferior infidels as we cause them anger as we slowly take over their land. And you are so ignorant you don't even see it happening. Seriously, you don't deserve a country."

Minneapolis is the scene of yet another intrusion of extremist shari’a law into US society, as Muslim cashiers at Target stores are refusing to handle pork.

Of course, any bacon or pepperoni pizzas for sale at Target would be shrink-wrapped in plastic, then boxed in some kind of cardboard package, so no cashier could ever physically touch the dreaded pork.

But then, this really isn’t about the pork.

Thanks for confirming what a lot of have known all along.

I am confused and obviously need to be calibrated. If the indiviual is being asked to "touch" something wrapped in plastic, are they touching the plastic? Or are they touching the contents? Does the document regulating the behavior cover the aspect of a barrier such as plastic or is this too modern of a concept to be covered? Please help me understand the dilemma.

Whose moronic idea was it to let these people in? If they took a vote, it would be 90% against, so why are they here? Is this a democracy or not?

I am an Orthodox Jew, and I have never encountered another Orthodox Jew who refused to handle non-kosher food in the context of a checkout line. There are some individuals who would not be willing to work in businesses which serve non-kosher food, but then the situation would not be analagous.

Actually you're sort of correct.

While the scriptures indicate that Jesus did, in fact eat meat, it is probable that he did not, as a Jew, eat pork (although on occasion he was charged with not keeping Kosher).

However, the Christian church very early in its existence (just a few years after Christ's ascension at best) received a revelation to St. Peter from God declaring all foods to be clean and together in Council basically lifted all Kosher food requirements.

As this was done by the Apostles themselves, people who intimately knew Jesus thoughts, it is probable this action reflected Jesus beliefs on the issue of mandating Kosher foods for his followers. Since that time Christians have been free to eat, outside of some periods of fasting, as they wish.

I think that the individuals should be FIRED then....... A bunch of crap that these muslims are trying to get away with. We have- kids in schools, no religion- no hats, we are not supposed to bring religion into schools. OK, so why are the muslims being able to PRAY certain times during the day? They should not be able to practice this- unless they build one big building for themselves- they can all stick together. Its bad enough when kids are told they do NOT have to recite the pledge of allegience. I grew up saying it, not once did I think about religion- I said it- thinking we were AMERICANS and was the right thing to do! Quit giving into them- point blank- if they don't want to do the job- fire them- also why should they get more breaks than others? Thats another thing that pisses me off- Here companies are being sued cause some damn unamerican wants to take several breaks- to pray! What a bunch of crap! They are here in America now, deal with it!

I work at HCMC and our muslim health care assistants refuse to feed patients if any part of the meal contains pork. These patients are unable to feed themselves, and sometimes end up waiting 1 or more hours to eat, until a staff member that doesn't have a problem with the food (or the work) can feed them.

I also encountered a new health care assistant that refused to give a male patient a bath because it was "against her religion". This particular patient was unable to do it himself and had to sit in a wet and soiled bed until I could find someone who could help me and it wouldn't interfere with their religion. I will say though, she has since been able put this aspect of her religious practice aside and can now give any patient a bath, male or female.

These patients are vulnerable and it's degrading enough to have to rely on someone to feed you or bathe you, but then to be told "sorry you will have to wait because it's against this persons religion to do their job."

Think about that the next time you are in the hospital and your nurse is too busy to help you because he/she has to do someone else's job because they "can't."

Exactly.

Waiting for another cab or scanning your own bacon is a far cry from not being allowed to marry your life partner or have access to scientific education on evolution.

So when black men complain that they have trouble getting a cab do you tell them to get over it or add it to your list of liberal grievances (along with gay marriage and religion in the schools)? You don't have a problem with Muslim cashiers refusing to handle pork, but you do have a problem with teachers refusing to teach things that are contrary to their religious belifs.

BTW, cabbies (many who are minorities themselves) aren't fond of black riders not because of racism but because, according to cabbies and waiters/waitresses, black people tend to tip poorly or not poorly at all. Surveys of black consumers tend to back up this anecdotal evidence.

To woman whose daughter is is 78k in debt, I am a hispanic female born in the United States.

I completed my undergaduate degree at University of Minnesota in 1995 and my Masters in 2000. I did not have grants to pay my tuition.

I had 28k in undergraduate student loans that took 10 years to payoff.

My graduate degree was financed by my employer.

Student loans are part of the price to pay for an education. Being a minority does not give you a complimentary education.

I'm not a religious guy, but there are plenty of jobs I would never do, and plenty of corporations I'd never work for because of my ethical principles.

That's why I don't apply for those jobs.

If you object to handling certain food products, don't become a cashier at a store that sells them. If you aren't willing to respect doctor-patient decisions on prescriptions, don't become a pharmacist. If you refuse to transport customers in a non-discriminatory manner, don't become a taxi driver.

America is a land of opportunity and a nation built on tolerance. If you can't accept the latter, don't expect the former.

Mulchand1,

I agree with all your comments except having separate checkout lines for cashier who don't want to handle products due to their religious beliefs. Why should Target be forced to hire additional cashiers due to a few Muslims objections over handling pork products? How about an independent pharmacy being forced to hire an additional pharmacist (at around 100K mind you), because a Christian won't handle birth control products. Sure, they may end up doing it to appease a few whiny souls, but it will end up costing the general public in higher prices.

IMHO, this country is becoming hyper-religious, especially with certain Islamic and Christian factions. If this crap keeps up, I just may have to move to secular France.

This is America. If you want to live here you conform to our values and our way of life. We dont you people in this country - most of us dont want you here. You cannot speak the language, cant drive, contribute nothing to the community and just take us space and oxygen.

Scan the meat or quit your job. Who is responsible for hiring these people? Are there no 15-17 year old kids looking for spending money? Why do these people get jobs in the first place?

America needs to defend itself from these people before the country we love becomes theirs. Political correctness has gone too far and it is time to reclaim our country before we are overrun.

This isn't worth getting worked up over. Target has chosen to accomodate this, and it may cost me all of ten extra seconds. Another cab is waiting right behind. America has changed a little with every new group to come along. It's all a part of the deal, and to try to go back to "the good old days" is ridiculous, ask the Native Americans or African Americans. I have a much bigger problem with Pharmacists, because you have to come back later or go somewhere else. Another cashier coming over takes (time it) a few seconds. Get over yourselves.

In this increasingly complicated cultural mix, I believe all work positions should have requirements clearly stated, almost like a list of allergens on food products. So applicants can know beforehand and decide if they are willing and able to do them. The list may include any of the following...scan pork and alcohol, transport alcohol, dispense birth control of any kind or any prescription for any condition, Give patients information on all available medical treatment options (not just the ones you believe in), etc. I am all for personal beliefs and religion and I encourage it in my own family but I would never impose it on another nor allow it to infringe on someone else! That is their freedom!

I am sick of Minnesota nice. It's time to take the gloves off. MUSLIMS GET OUT OF HERE!

Okay, as a muslim, I'm finding this pretty stupid. No, that muslim doesn't represent the Muslim majority, and I'm betting she is a Somali. I agree, if she can't live with it, she needs to find a different job, just like there are options to put her money in Kosher/Halaal/Permitted investments. She's not forced into it.

I'm so sick of these so called muslims giving me a bad rap and making up laws. There is no law in Islam that forbids touching pork. The only law is that we can't consume it. Unbelievable!

How can they adapt? They can't, they're mostly uneducated on their religion and never open up the Quran and read it and understand it.

At the same time, it's very frustrating to see all the hate in many of these comments towards muslims. I thought you were better than them? I guess not.

I am so saddend and embarassed of how closed-minded the people in my state - more specifically on this post - are. People from other countries come here for freedom - JUST AS YOUR ANCESTORS DID! I completely agree with the person who said that America is all about change. Only those of you (us) who have white privilege are scared of the change, fearing that we will lose something. There is only gain as we become an even more diverse nation. Open your minds.

Isn't the Mantra of the Service Industry "THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT". If find objectionable to provide service to the customer, then wouln't it be better to find another job?

I had the same problem at the Target and Wal-mart in Shakopee. I am tired of having to be politically correct for a group of people with whom I have not had one civil encounter with. I have never held a prejudice of material nature until my dealing with the Somlian influs in the Twin Cities. My black collegues whom have always lived here share with me how their commumnity is at odds with and resents the influx of this population because they carry clear attitudes of entitlement and inconsideration of and for the black community who paved the way. If you can not assimilate, then find another job or do not establish yourself here. Why does everyone have to have an agenda or be a victom? I work because I have to. And I do many things in my job that I would not otherwise. It is called work. Not leasure time to maximize comfort and insulate yourself from any discomfort or effort. Wake up people. Just because something is not to your maximum comfort does not mean your rights have been violated. If it is at odds with your religion than YOU ARE NOT QUALIFIED FOR THE POSITION. I AM SORRY BUT JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT QUALIFIED DOES NOT MEAN YOU HAVE BEEN WRONGED. It has nothign to do with race or religion as a qulifier has to do with the fact that these peoples self directed decisions have un-qualified themselves.

I was happy to read your post. You are 100% correct, if roles were reversed and i traveled outside this counrty i would expect to adjust in some capacity.

THANK YOU!!

Agree 100%

Isn't the Mantra of the Service Industry "THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT". If they find objectionable to provide service to the customer, then wouln't it be better to find another job?

Pharmacists who will not fill lawfully written prescriptions should have their licences revoked. Cashiers who refuse to perform aspects of a job that they knew perfectly well in advance were part of the job should be fired. If as a taxi driver, you don't want to take fares that have alcohol or guide dogs, then don't drive your taxi at the airport.

This is not about religious beliefs per se. This is about a minority seeing how far other people can be pushed, under the guise of religious beliefs. After all, how much sense does it make that Muslims supposedly can't ring up a package of pork because it involves touching something "unclean," when all meat of any kind in a retail store is wrapped in packaging anyway? Does that mean they can't touch the outside of the refrigerator case because there is pork inside? Or that they can't enter the grocery store because there is pork in there somewhere? Its all BS . . . they should be ignored.

Un-friggin-believable.

I'm generally a tolerant person. I'm sensitive to others. I'm afraid to "rock the boat". But this kind of religous intolerance from these so called "die hard" Muslims really irritates my penis.
Mind you I'm not putting them all in a box. I like to think that you just have a few bad apples among the barge floating down the Mississippi. And a funny sidenote, if they won't let you board their cab because you have booze or a dog, then why are they huddled together in the parking lot smoking up the heaters (cigs)? Isn't that against their religion too? Go figure.
If they want to have the same lifestyle that they had back home, then go back home. This is America. We play the game differently here. In America, we embrace baseball, football, hockey, and basketball. We love steaks, pork chops, and chicken breasts on the grill. We love beer. Some of us love beer too much. And most of all Americans dig porn. And I'd be remiss if I didn't point out the fact that these Muslims that I'm referring to need to understand that we have a gay and lesbian community here as well. You would do best to assimilate, and "embrace" your new found freedoms here in America, rather than bitch about everything that you don't like about our great country. Seriously, sit down, shutup, light up one of your tobacco sticks, and have a Miller-Lite. Less filling & tastes great. And take some time to get in touch with your feminine side. Really, it's okay to hug another guy here and not feel guilty or shameful about it afterwards. We do it all the time.

Have a fantastic day....

It isn't up to the workers to decide which portions of a particular job fit their beliefs, and then perform only those that fit. These folks chose to come here after their belief systems and social mores led to anarchy in their own country. I don't want the US to be like Somalia, so why do they feel entitled to this? There's nothing wrong with maintaining your own identity, just don't force your culture on others. It continues to amaze me how so many people bend over backwards to accomodate Moslems when they chose to deny cab rides to people with alcohol or gay people. If a Christian cab driver refused service to someone who is gay, they'd be punished, fired, and sued for discrimination. The murdered Dutch politician Pim Vertuin put it most succinctly saying that if Moslems want to come to the Netherlands, they need to accept the liberal Dutch lifestyle and attitude. Dutch women will not cover their heads, and will not walk ten steps behind their husband.

Boy are you an idiot! you must be as liberal as they come!!

If you're a business owner, you want your employees to be as efficient as possible. How efficient is it to have another clerk walk all the way down to ring up an item, because the Muslim clerk wouldn't, based on their religious belief? Not very, when I'm at Target, I'm not there to hangout, I want to buy my stuff and get in and out. The majority of businesses have gone to separating employee religious beliefs from how they perform their job and that's the way it should be.

Look people, if you want lower immigration rates, especially groups that are going to go straight to the bottom of the income scale (and absorb more public assistance), than vote for politicians who will move in that direction. This is a democracy.

To correct your statement above, Orthodox Jews are willing to handle pork, just not to eat it.

Yes, we don't constructively use machinery based on electricity or fire on Saturday, and that limits the housing options available to the Orthodox Jewish community. The 13 colonies aren't particularly relevant to that, as they were mostly not composed of Jews, and furthermore, nobody had cars 300 years ago.

The question in this case is "is it reasonable for a person to take a job, when observence of his or her religion will prevent the individual from fulfilling the obligations of the job?"

Good grief, this discussion is intolerant! As long as we're putting people on planes, can we find a plane for all the "Get out of my country if you can't follow my rules!!!11" people? I don't think America is benefiting from the presence of so many xenophobic people. This country's greatness was built on the backs of our own immigrant forebears, and it's hypocritical in the extreme to claim that this country is now "ours" and that others aren't welcome. One of our major holidays is built on our own immigration story! (That would be Thanksgiving.)

Okay. That said, anyone, regardless of religion or position, should be required to fulfill the duties of the job. Whether you're filling a prescription, ringing up a pizza or driving a cab, you should not discriminate. This country WAS built on a strong tradition of tolerance and equality, and that refers to both the new immigrant Muslim and the apparently intolerant "Get out!" faction.

People need to take a deep breath and get some perspective. Personally, as someone who cashiered for many years, I *do* prefer to bag my own groceries and choose to go to locations that offer self-checkout. It's faster and I always know they'll be bagged the way I want.

Yes - Unfortunately I agree with you. How bad does it have to get before we "infidels" realize what is happening. Maybe arguing amongst ourselves is preferable to seeing the truth.

YES YES YES I LOVE YOUR ANSWER

If you agree to work at Target then you agree to follow the job description, first it was taxi drivers at the airport , now cashiers refusing to do the job. I say flat out when in Rome do as the Romans. My first question to the cashier would not have been is it because of your religion, my first question would have been , are you a u.s. citizen? If the answer is they are not a citizen, then I would say go home to your home country and complain about how bad it is here in the USA

Eyes can show a lot of feelings! Anyone here can order and eat whatever they want and no one here is to judge! She got the job at the grocery store and she MUST handle whatever she told too. If someone isn’t happy, they can leave, work elsewhere AND STOP WHINING!

Hijab, not a burka, there's a difference.

I agree with this comment- DEAL with it- you wanted to come here, to be an American- then start acting like and American and quit whining- staing your being discriminated against. If you did not act like that- people would not give you such a hard time. I am an American and proud of it and it sucks that people from other religions come here and trying to change America, I need to say- if you don't like it- don't change us- America- GO BACK to where ya came from!

What is the rule for touching the other products that the hand of the customer who touched the pork touched?

You've got to be kidding. It's the "slowly taking over their land" mentallity that proves you're the typical Muslim racisist and advocate of violence that gives Islam a bad name and one more reason types like you should never be let into the country in the first place. Buy a one way ticket home and don't come back.

Target may be opening itself up to a lawsuit if it is only accommodating the religious beliefs of Muslims.
What about the conservative Catholic who doesn't want to ring up contraceptives, or the conservative Protestant who doesn't want to ring up "steamy" romance novels? Religious accommodation is a tricky business.

Everyone should do a job they a willing to do.
You know before you start working what the requirements of that job are. If cannot meet those requirements you should not be doing that job. Little variations can be taken in to account, but if it is not fair to everyone else holding the same job then you should not be doing that job. Everyone else is working at-will, either their own will or at the grace of someone elses will. If you can't or simply dont want to do the job DON'T !!!

Speak English, pay taxes and do our jobs whatever it may be. There are plenty of other jobs and countries to explore if you don't like it here. Now if you will excuse me I'm going to wash my PORK sandwich down with a BEER and take my DOG for a walk.

Unless you are American Indian, this is not 'your country'..we are all immigrants here.

Target downtown only recently added the expanded grocery section..it's very likely the pork came after the cashier was hired.

In the end, though, what is the big deal? I have scanned my own pork products and it took exactly 2 seconds. The cashier was grateful and relieved and I felt a little better for showing a stranger a simple kindness.

I don't see "Americans" lining up for these jobs, so we should just be glad there is someone willing to take the low-paying, low-benefit service sector jobs.

This world is changing and that includes our little city..those that can't or won't deal with it are going to have angry, bitter lives and who needs that?

Your arrogance is a shield behind which you hide an inability to decipher and analyze the logic of on point arguments. Your assumption of people’s levels of education based on blog notes are clumsy and incredulous and is not what the argument is about, generally. Regardless, the inference you make that one of a less formal education is incapable of reasonable arguments and conclusions of logic is in itself irreconcilable with common sense. You would never be successful in the practice of law because you have a demonstrated inability to remain on point. In my experience I have discovered people often "go there" when they are offended by the opinion of someone they don't agree with, but can not also explain why their disagreement is correct. It was cute.

I would like somebody to please, please, tell me why diversity is such a great thing. I hear it all the time. It's politically correct. The only thing I don't hear is why is it so good? How does it make my life better? How does it make our community stronger? Help me out here, cause so far, nobody can seem to explain it.

I had the same experiance. The worker would not ring up my Hormell Pork or ham, but did not have a problem with a leather football made of pig skin. Is it all pork products or just that we eat. What about all of the side products make from pigs, like some soaps and other products?

This issue belongs to Target. The customer input is limited to whether they got good service. If you were delayed because the cashier could not or would not do their job, it does not matter whether it was due to a religious belief, poor training or a broken arm. You report the problem to Target and it is their job to deal with it.

I was at a Target store this week and the cashier had trouble ringing up some fresh vegetables because he did not understand the booklet that had the necessary instructions. Another person had to step in and run the cash register. It looked to me like a training problem, but it is Target's job to deal with it.

If someone has a religious conviction that prevents them from doing part of their job, the employer has to have the option of terminating their employment (or better yet, not hiring them to do that job in the first place). I do not have a problem with someone following their religious conviction as long as they are willing to get fired (or not hired) as a result.

Just to provide some information, "Halal" is an Arabic word derived from the word which roughly means "praise," while "Kosher" is the Hebrew word for "fit."

Halal is not "copied" from Kosher, but they are very similar in their restrictions on meat preparation. In most cases, for an item to be certified as Kosher requires a more stringent level of supervision than Halal does (because of additional concerns about separation of milk and meat in Kosher law).

For meat products, both Halal and Kosher laws specify a very precise type of slaughter, and both laws guarantee that no pork or other forbidden meats will be included.

It just seems that this is an issue of someone "picking and choosing" different sections of their beliefs. Similar to the Taxi cab issue. How far will it go? Can a muslim EMT refuse to help someone who is intoxicated? How about a Muslim police officer refusing to protect and serve someone at a bar. Can they "pass the job onto someone else". You may answer NO. But I would have said the same thing 10 years ago about shopping in supermarkets. Companies need to take a stand before each religious sect starts adopting their own policies that do not function in everyday life.

If the situation you described happened to me at a certain store, I would never shop there again.

It's a simple issue. It doesn't bother me to have some one else scan the product. I would think that management would monitor the issue and if posed a problem they would have to make changes. Let's not get emotional about this, it's about business. When my decision begins to cost me money I have to rethink my hiring policies. It goes for the taxi issue at the airport.

I am not going to change. So if you do not want to live like an american then go back where you came from and live like you want to live. But oh that is right where you came from was a stinking pit! So you had to come here and bring the slime from that pit with you.

P.S. If I ever have to go where you come from I will respect all your customs and beliefs it would just be nice if you could respect ours!!!!!

how do you figure? because you are taking all the jobs no one else wants? or because we believe everyone here deserves the same chance and you all come here because you are getting chased out of your homeland becasue you are too inept to maintain any sort of control for more than an hour at a time, to take advantage of the opportunities we allow everyone forcing your brand of hate and evil on us? we see you coming, we just see you as a minor threat and one that is easily fixed if it became a problem.

I think when you commit to a job description you honor that commitment. If I were checking out a pork product and someone asked me to check out an item because they won't for whatever reason, or even worse, if they called someone to do it for them, I'd be offended and probably leave no questions asked. If your religion keeps from doing a certain job, work somewhere else, this is a free country. There are plenty of jobs in the USA that probably don't require port or alcohol handling.

I agree wholeheartedly... it seems kinda strange that here in America, a country founded on the ideals and beliefs of Christianity, should now bend over backward to be accommodating to other religions, but FORCE pharmacists to dispense the "morning-after" pills, despite the fact that it interferes with CHRISTIAN morals and beliefs!!! When did we as Christians become the minority in a country of Christianity??? I am sick and tired of this... if you come to America, then you damn well better learn to adjust, and if that's not for you, then there are plenty of other countries on this great planet! If I go to another country, I'm certainly not going to expect them to conform to my ways... quite the opposite. "When in Rome..."

Idiotic comment. The writer said HIJAB! Not burka. THere is a distinct difference. Wise up before you shoot your mouth off.

Can someone please send me the list of things that seem to trigger these hissy fits in Muslims? I thought I had it down, but the list keeps growing.

There is an old saying that goes along the lines of 'your freedom to swing your fist ends where my nose begins'. Dhimmisota, prepare to get your nose bloodied.

You may be able to spek English, but you sure can't spell it!

curtisandcarol- you have missed the point. The bleading hearts in this country have made it against the law to ask when taking an employment application or doing an interview for a job the persons age, religion or, sexual preference to name a few. If Target did as you suggested they would be in violation of the prospects civil rights.

I would like to know why pork by-products do not raise a concern to the handling of by Muslims. A lot of products carried by stores like Target have pork by-products in the production or as a raw ingredient. http://www.mnpork.com/education/swine.php please see the mnpork website under education to see how many products they actually touch aday.

Come on, don't be an idiot.

You'd imagine wrapped would make it ok, no different than using gloves... Yet, we have a class of people in this world who prefer to raise issues rather than get along. Alcohol, in a bottle, unopened, in a bag or suitcase? Actually I have to applaud those doing this, they stir up more conversation than any of us in ages over our taxes, school reform, and many other subjects which come to mind.

I think the real story is not the immigrants exercising their freedom of religion, but the intolerance of the people who are already here. The Star Tribune should just publish this entire thread on the front page.

Disgusting.

The issue is larger than what I've yet seen discussed in this thread. The law is written to prevent religious discrimination. There are city agencies, state agencies and federal agencies whose sole purpose is to investigate claims of religious discrimination. As part of that investigation they will look at what reasonable attempts an employer made to accomodate religious beliefs. By having a second employee swipe the pork product, you witnessed Target's attempt to accomodate. Were Target to reassign, fire, or insist the employee handle pork, it would spend thousands of dollars responding to the investigation by the agency, which is done for free on behalf of the complaining party. Then if there's a finding of discrimination, that would become the foundation of the claimant's lawsuit. An employer has little hope of overcoming that finding in a civil suit. By the time the trial is over, an employer will have spent $50,000- $100,000 in defense costs, and any award to the plaintiff will include his attorneys fees, costs, emotional distress, etc. Win or lose, it costs a lot of money. So from the employer's perspective, a second cashier for 5 seconds probably seems like a great alternative. This incident is only one example of what employers face every day. It hasn't anything to do with the religion involved, its the state of the law today.

Kimit,
Please explain the difference between the pharmacist being required to handle something in violation of religious beliefs and the cashier refusing to handle pork. You seem to imply that because someone else can be called to ring up my order the behavior is ok. Does this not requiring hiring and staffing on the basis of religious beliefs so that at no time the checkout areas are staffed entirely by Muslims with objections to handling pork? This is clearly illegal.

The pharmacist may believe a life is at stake, yet the beliefs of the customer seeking a morning after pill likely differ. I may find ham or bacon a tasty way to satisfy a want of my own-- say ending my hunger. Would it not be consistent for the State to step in at retailers selling groceries to preserve my choice in foods?

Terry! You're just as dumb as these Muslims. First off... this is not your country! Last I checked, all but the Native Americans can truely call this their country. Second, learn to speak, spell and write in proper english if you feel you are that special! Third, do you even have a culture to represent? Are you a plain old MUTT like most of us? If you have to leave, where would go and do you even know where you came from? At least these group of people you're talking about know where they came from but can't go back because we as Americans stuck our nose into their business and gave them an excuse and reason to come here. If you want to blame anyone... blame your stupidity and our so call government!

for a lighter look at Islam, come check out this little poem, in the name of Diversity and Dialogue-Inviting
http://cruxy.com/info/6925

I recommend all US citizens buy a copy of the Koran and read it for themselves.
It is quite eye-opening, whether you are Christians, Jews, Atheists, Buddhists, or even Muslims.
How many Muslims have actually read their own Koran?

...I'm still not certain that I read this posting correctly. Are you really discussing taking over our land? ...and did you really say that we don't deserve a country? If that's the case, why are so many Muslims leaving their homeland to come to the United States? If the Muslim population is so concerned and irritated by so-called religious persecution, why don't they stay where their religion is widely accepted and embraced? I will again say what has been said so many times in these replies: if there are reasons a person cannot perform certain responsibilities required for a job, that person should not be employed in that position. Enough said.

The individual who called you to complain about the cashier is mad at the WRONG person. He should be mad at the Target Manager who hired the Muslim woman to be a cashier in the first place. The Target Manager has hired an individual to perform a task... which she is not able to perform.

This would be like hiring a blind crossing guard.......the Target Manager is the one to be upset with not the woman for being a Muslim.

I believe the "pork jihad" was a joke.

As a fellow Muslim, I think it's ridiculous that she wouldn't touch the meat. If that's the case, then she shouldn't be working at Target. Go work at Best Buy or some other store where touching such foods won't be an issue.

They are not burkas, and you can indeed see thier face. I don't think its a good idea for you to respond to things you know nothing about. Unless you're a liberal, then you probably make a living doing that.

Stop Whining??? It would never be an issue in the first place if the woman behind the counter would have simply just do her job as she was hired to do. Then all this reckess comments about this issue would have never been brought up at all.
If we did not want service, then we would have done it ourselves as we like it to be. But, on the other hand, if we wanted service, then we would expect the service person to help service our needs as they were hired to do.
This has nothing to do with any types of personal opinion you have and be kept to yourself. You are out in the public sector and you should be glad to be a part of American strong heritage in helping each fellow American, regardless of who they are.

The answer to that is probably no, but I think a little more patience on both ends of the spectrum (to this issue and MANY others) would do everyone a lot of good. Life is too short to be mad about little things like this!

if they won't handle the pork, fire them. No remorse required. That is what would happen to the rest of us at our jobs if we wouldn't do something that was expected as a basic part of our jobs. Before they get too hungry they will find another job. It is a pretty darn simple. Are we talking about teenagers or religious people? This is what we teach our children. If you aren't willing to do the job...the kid down the street would be happy to do it for you. It isn't about religion at all. It is economics 101. Maybe we should try educating them. Oh...that's right...we just let anyone come to America. Well...they will learn the hard way then. Hmmm...or the liberals will cater to them and we will get a lot more of this crap. Where is the common sence?

This has happened to me the last 2 times I shopped at St. Louis Park Supertarget as well. Everyone has to wait in line while the clerk calls a supervisor to scan and pack the products.

It is a comedy of errors - the last time, the clerk actually asked me what was in the meatballs I was buying. In other words, she was so ignorant of her own religion she wasn't sure if she should be offended by "touching" the purchase. So, to be safe, she wouldn't scan it.

Another time, in true "Minnesota nice" fashion, the woman apologized to the clerk when he explained he was Muslim and couldn't touch it. The customer said "I should have known better".

Bottom line: freedom of religion, of course. But not freedom to harass those who don't believe as you do.

If you work at a drug stort, you sell whatever the drug store sells, even birth control pills. If you work at a bar, you sell liquor. If you work at Supertarget, you sell pork. If it offends you, work at the electronics counter, customer service, the Photo developing place, or pick up carts from the parking lot.

The sacrifices commanded by a religion are precisely that: certain activities are closed off to you, becuase of your belief. That is the point of the sacrifice, as the Lenten season teaches Catholics and Lutherans. If the sacrifice entails no sacrifice, and the employer and the consuming public must instead sacrifice, the duties of religion are turned on their head.

It's funny that right wingers blame leftists for the Politically Correct tolerance of behavior that they find intolerable. In fact, it was Christians who, in the 90s, introduced this dubious application of the idea "Freedom Of Religion", claiming that they were persecuted if forced to serve someone they didn't like, hire a homosexual, or most analogously, to refuse someone an oral contraceptive prescription at Target.

Now these same people, who would protect a pharmacist (well paid, well trained, in full understanding of her ethical dilemma) when she refuses a morning after pill to a rape survivor are all up in arms because their ham and alcohol are tripping them up when an uneducated worker misapplies her religious belief. It's a double standard, obviously, and particularly ugly when applied so vigorously in a case where the stakes are so low: A delay at Target? Really.

So, is allowing people to choose which products they will handle a matter between the employer and employee? Perhaps. Someone makes a good point above when they suggest that uneducated immigrants are some of the only people who will work for Target's pittance of a wage. Further, many Muslims posting here suggest that this refusal stems from a wild misinterpretation of Islam: probably a fresh outgrowth of break room culture rather than a deep seated political movement prepared to claim America and scour the land of infidels. Of course, educated Muslims are also concerned by this upswing in bizarre orthodoxies.

Anyway, there's an adjustment when two cultures collide, and we're in the middle of that. Let's be cool to each other and clear about the expectations. I'm a little annoyed at Target, however, for tolerating religious extremism whether it impedes my shopping for frozen pizzas or puts my sister on the path to a back-alley abortion.

And by "our" country you do realize that that means immigrants! This country was founded on people seeking religious freedom and other freedoms that we "Americans" have taken for granted. How much do you now about the Islamic faith? Or any faith other than yours?! Have you taken the time to educate yourself? I doubt it. You're too busy forgetting what our ancestors came here for and not to mention the horrible things that many of them did to the native people and each other once arriving. How about you get over it and if you don't like it you can move back to your country of origin. I'm sure there isn't a religious war or guerilla warfar going on there, like there is and has been for MANY years in many other countries. Oh and by the way.... Welcome to AMERICA!

Cabbies, cashiers; who's next? Maybe by the time Muslim terrorists get around to setting off a nuke somewhere in the western world, there won't be much "tolerance" left in the non-Muslim world.....

If something in your job is against your beliefs (religious beliefs or just ethics), it's time to find a new job!!

If we allow a muslim to not touch pork products, or a pharmacist to refuse filling a prescription, what's next? If I'm a vegetarian working in a grocery store, can I refuse to ring up meat products and expect to keep my job?

I'm sorry, but if you take a job... DO YOUR JOB or find a new one. If I were asked at my job to do something I felt unethical or against my personal beliefs, I would certainly do whatever I could to get out of that job ASAP.

You're not the kind of person that I would think is "giving into" these people at all, are ya? Stop complaining and deal.

Please.... please... stop it with the racist and intolerance claims. If you want to talk about intolerance lets talk a little bit about Islam. There is no more intolerant religion on earth.

Don’t kid yourselves you wacky liberals. Everything EVERYTHING you have ever fought for in your life is in direct contradiction to the religion you profess to protect. (As long as it isn’t Christianity it needs to be protected)

So the only logical conclusion I can reach is you believe there are some votes to be had there!

It is a Muslim's right not to have to touch products their religion forbids, and they should not be discriminated against for doing so. A policy should be put into place for someone else to scan the items for them so customers are not unduly delayed.

At Whole Foods, I have had some people (usually vegans)refuse to touch any kind of meat as they were ringing up my order. They simply had someone else swipe the items and I was out the door in a jiffy. Vegans are not a protected class, but religious persons are, and I have no problem with either group having another person swipe the items. I'd swipe them myself if that made it easier.

I am disgusted by several responses that I have read and it saddens me to know that while living in Minnesota I was surrounded by many small minded people. Oh yes, you must be what what is referred to as Minneosota Friendly, very friendly if people do what you want, when you want, how you want and according to your personal views or beliefs. Scan your own fipping bacon, or are you too good for that. Get over it, don't dwell on it, live your life, quit being such a crybaby!. Travel, see the world and you will find that you have it pretty good.

I hope our intelligence services now knows where you are. Take over my country, I don't think so...There are plenty of us "infidels" who can hand you you *&^ in a fight!!!

The resentment expressed has NOTHING TO DO WITH RACE or RELIGION. We resent it because ANYONE else who is discovered to be UNWILLING or INCAPABLE of doing their job would be fired as UNQULAIFIED. I have no finance or accounting degree. I only went to law school. If ANY one of the Muslim cashier supporters on here will be agreeable to letting me prepare and file their IRS tax statement right now…and do nothing about the revelation that I CAN NOT do the job for you after you have hired me…I will F***ing shut my mouth and walk away for ever. Honest. I had the same problem at the Target and Wal-mart in Shakopee. I am tired of having to be politically correct for a group of people with whom I have not had one civil encounter. I have never held a prejudice of material nature until my dealing with the Somali influx in the Twin Cities. My black colleagues whom have always lived here share with me how their community is at odds with and resents the influx of this population because they carry clear attitudes of entitlement and inconsideration of and for the black community who paved the way. If you cannot assimilate, then find another job or do not establish yourself here. Why does everyone have to have an agenda or be a victim? I work because I have to. And I do many things in my job that I would not otherwise. It is called work. Not leisure time to maximize comfort and insulate yourself from any discomfort or effort. Wake up people. Just because something is not to your maximum comfort does not mean your rights have been violated. If it is at odds with your religion than YOU ARE NOT QUALIFIED FOR THE POSITION. I AM SORRY BUT JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT QUALIFIED DOES NOT MEAN YOU HAVE BEEN WRONGED. It has nothing to do with race or religion as a qualifier has to do with the fact that these peoples self directed decisions have un-qualified themselves.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't the Muslims actually touching the plastic that covers the pork? Does their religion prevent the touching of plastic? It's not like they are asked to gut and butcher a pig.

Maybe we should invent some sort of mechanical arm that picks up the pork for the Muslim checkout people and automatically scans it for them. Wait...that is what their job is. Read your job description!! Next time I'm at Target and I have a Muslim checkout person I'm going to hand them dollar bills that have been marinated in pork juice. I will politely tell them as I'm leaving that they have just touched pork juice, are sinners, and will burn in hell because they touched the wrong type of food. But here's a conundrum: will they go to hell if they unknowingly touch it? I think they will according to their strict intrepretation of the "rule". NO EXCEPTIONS SINNER!!!

the kid down the street will scan in your pork next time you come through. Tolerance...would be giving them a second chance to scan in the pork. Religious tolerance...is fine when it doesn't affect someone else. This isn't persecution...this is about getting someone able and willing to do a job. Stupid liberals.

Check your facts. No one is forced by law to dispense the morning-after pill. Pharmacists who, for ANY reason, do not want to dispense it, must direct the client to someone that can. Completely different.

In addition, Muslims are not refusing to let you buy a product. They are simply asking someone else to handle it. The reason pharmacists got into trouble was for refusing to dispense the morning-after pill, and that is why legislation was required to allow patients access to it.

Christians enjoy many, many protections, and take them for granted at every turn. I am very tired of hearing about "oppression" against Christians.

Do you think that because you used the word "nefarious" that makes you intelligent? I find that laughable, and very "egregious". Do I meet your requirements now to have my opinion count? The bottom line is that more and more Americans are getting tired of people coming here and not only refusing to assimilate, but continually criticizing our beliefs and our culture. There are a lot of people that have a problem with people coming here illegally, or refusing to assimilate, or carrying another flag when protesting, or all of the above. This does not make them them racist. By the way, an opinion is just that - it is not required that an opinion be based on facts, that's why it's called an opinion - or a view, a belief, a judgement, an outlook, etc. Maybe you should look the word up Mr. College graduate. You really are a boor.

Every religion states that if you are not a follower of that religion you will go to hell. And since there are more then 2 religions in the world, that means everyone must be going to hell.

Come on people, are you kidding? Put up a bacon fence to keep the pricks out? You got to be kidding me. I thought Americans had more tolerance than that. But you are just ignorant I guess. Everyone has quirks, everyone has issues. Is it really that painful to wait a few seconds for a co-worker to ring up the pork? You should be ashamed of yourself.

she get paid for doing her job, how would you like it if they told you you have to deliver your own mail or ring up your own groceries. you apply for the job, so you do your job right or quit. PERIOD. how stupid can you be.

RE: Muslim workers at Target refuse to handle pork
Submitted by Greg (not verified) on Tue, 03/13/2007 - 10:51am.
As has been the case for hundreds of years, if you're going to live in America, you adapt to the ways of America. If you won't adapt, then you shouldn't have come here, and you shouldn' stay here.
================================================

Greg! Are you saying we as Americans should wear feathers and leather thongs and smoke piece pipes? By your remarks... we should adapt to the Native Americans... shouldn't we? Go back and read the history books... you NUM NUT!

I'm shocked and saddened by most of the comments on this. I am a white, christian female. I live in a country that was built on the culture of european countries, but one that was also wanting a freedom from religous persecution. I think it's wonderful to live in a country that respects all traditions, regardless of the origin. Now I have no problem handling pork. But I also respect that some people do. I have my own religious convictions, and god help anyone who tells me I am wrong for sticking to them when the going gets tough. Yeah, I've brought alcohol home from a vacation and told that to the cab dispatcher. Yes, I had to wait a whopping 30 seconds while he found a cabbie who would drive me. I'm okay waiting 30 seconds if it means a cab driver can feel good about his work day.

Similarly, I am okay with either scanning my own dang pork or waiting an extra moment for a different employee to do it. It's a very small price to pay in my opinion. Was anyone hurt? Were anyone's rights abused?

Here's another thought...while they choose to not handle pork, or drive a cab with alcohol, you too have a choice. Don't shop at Target if you don't like it that they make such allowances for their workers. Don't give cab companies your business--get a friend to pick you, pay to park, take a bus. Personally, I like it that there are companies that treat their employees as people and respect the differences that exist, if only we all were so lucky.

The writer of the article said hijab, not burka. The hijab covers the hair and neck, leaving the face uncovered.

One group for everyone to consider, ACLU!

Hey I am a lefty! lol, anyway I was recently at target and bought some food, and was asked to scan the products myself. I just thought it was kinda weird, but I do understand, but I also feel that if you cannot do the job, someone would.

Talk about warmongering; Take the time to read through the hostility invested in many of these posts. Scary...

I mean, get real folks! First there is the imam thing, then the cab drivers who refuse to take passangers with liquor. Now this!! Another muslim with a "religous" belief!!!... can't scan pork!!! that is rediculous!! Is this what "religion" does for people? I for one ( actually it's million's) will stick to the fact of evolution any day.

Religion has absolutley no place in the work place, or in government. The muslims that can't hack the custom's in our society should keep there ubsurd beliefs at home. It seems what they are trying to do is push their oddities onto normal US citizens.

If they don't like the fact that we ( Americans) love our pork,and a drink or 2(alcohol fortified, of course!)and the fact that no true American would ever think of praying 5 times a day, (now thats another real oddity)they should go back to the middle east and deal with there own culture in their own land.

On the 5 times a day to pray thing, there is actually a police force in saudi Arabia that enforces the 5 time a-day thing! Now if you took a survey and could get people to answer honestly I'd bet that 99% would say that is just damn crazy!

This should about cover how I feel about muslims getting away with this. If they can't do the "whole" job, fire em. Better yet send them to the prayer police!

PS- the word "muslim" does not deserve to be capitalized.

Racist? Since when is islam a "race"? islam is an ideology, and as such is subject to any criticism that anyone wants to direct its way, or towards its adherents.

Sounds like you are the one in need of an education, Islam is many things but it is not a race.

Diversity is a great because of all the new ideas, thoughts, discussions, that evolve from mixing up different groups. At the same time it fails when common ground is not found and protected. Most of need to work in order to survive, to put food on the table, clothes on our backs, and food on the table. I can't afford to have too many high moral standards if I am to make my basic needs met. I can switch jobs if the company I work for behaves or expects me to behave in a manner I find immoral. I may not find a job that pays as well as the previous job, but that is my choice to make.

We can make religion a priority in our own homes. We cna accpet people of differnt faiths into our own homes and accomodate their religious beleifs then.

There is a time and place to accomodate diversity. When you find yourself unable to accomodate someone else's beleifs in a job, switch jobs. Do not expect everyone to change their behavior to accomodate yours. I don't smoke, but I don't begrudge the smokers their smoke break. I don't pray 5 times a day and I don't begrudge the people praying. I'll just keep on working and get a head of the rest of you.

Thank you Chris for bringing up this issue. Looking at the comments indicates the vast majority agree that Target employee should be working elsewhere (or in another aisle). Most will not tolerate those who would force Sharia and dhimmitude upon them.

Seems Minnesotans are waking up to Islamic hypocrisy:
http://www.startribune.com/10142/story/1051080-a1051079-t23.html

Mr.Professional: Killing an unborn baby is made exactly equal to handling a pork meat pizza, in your view.
Even a child should be aware that there is a great
moral difference, between these two topics.
Pardon me? I thought the Medical Oath was given
to save lives, not end them.

Close minded? Here is close minded you loser Puke. This is America, we exploit everything we can, and are probably exploiting you. Point is, America is about money, if you are not adding to the value of something (and that doesn't have to mean an intrinsic value) then we dislike you, you are no good to us. These people need to contribute to something without complaining in some form or another about tolerating us as Americans! Open your mind to this, Deordorant!

Maybe the correct perception would be. Us VERY TOLERANT Minnesotans have had enough of this B.S. We are getting this crap jammed down our throats every day, from cahiers to taxi drivers, to flying imams.

Putting myself in their shoes I would go out of my way to not impose my beliefs on my host country. I would be well aware that it was people of my religion who killed the innocent on 911.

I just wonder where they get all this …my rights crap. Who did they learn that from? Its not apart of the counties they came from.

Keep it up libs and the head-dress will be on your head!

If all people would simply stick to "facts", religion would become non-exsistant.

Therefore: Anyone could handle your pork, haul your liquor, etc. There would be no imam's.No praying 5 times a day, the list goes on. A much happier place!

I'm amazed that nobody is pointing to Target here. It's Target's sole discretion whether they hire an employee with special religious requirements. Same goes for the cab companies. If companies choose to accommodate their employee’s beliefs and you as a consumer don't like it, you can shop at Wal-Mart or Cub or Rainbow or better yet the mom and pop corner store. If companies don't want to make the accommodation then they shouldn't hire the person, or should feel free to fire them.

Freedom of church and state means the government can't force you to be Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Taoist or anything else. It doesn't mean an employee refusing to do their job has legal standing if the employer doesn't wish to compromise.

This is a Democratic, and more importantly, Capitalist society. Neither Target nor the green and white cab companies are government entities. They respond solely to their net gains. If they lose enough money they will change their stance. I personally banned Target a few years back after they removed the Salvation Army bell ringers at Christmas due to the heavily Christian atmosphere they instill. Amazingly though, Target still wants me to purchase my Christmas trees, angels, stockings and ideally every present from them....I don't think so.

I think Trump said it best when he said, "You're fired."

If you can't do the job, get a different job - period.

What some people fail to realize is that this isn't about being Muslim. It's about ANYONE, regardless of religion, complaining that they can't do a job that they chose to do because of selective religious beliefs.

This is every bit as bad as someone not distributing birth control pills because of religious beliefs. It may not be as much of an inconvenience, but how much time it takes away from your day is not the point.

Also not the point is how much you are paid for the job. I don't care if you make six dollars, or sixty thousand dollars. Getting paid a crappy wage doesn't mean you don't have to do your job.

The key here is choice. If you choose a job, and you cannot perform the functions of that job for any reason, then you don't deserve to have the job. Period. Whether you're Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Agnostic--I don't care. Do your job, or find another one.

Pork is Bad: The article does not mention a burka. The cashier wore a hijab, which does not cover the face. Further, what do the cashier's beliefs about what to touch have to do normatively with what people should want to eat? Finally, how does being "a man" entail doing the job for which the cashier is paid? Since you know nothing about Islam, I assume your bias is about the meat. Too bad you have let that muddle your head and tried to argue the unarguable: That this cashier's actions are acceptable and the person complaining is the problem.

I am neither INFERIOR nor an INFIDEL. You are deceived and one day you WILL NO LONGER LAUGH.
America has a big heart and made a huge mistake
in trying to appease INFIDELS LIKE YOU. The Holy
Bible is true and the prophecy tells what will soon
happen to evil people like you. The God of all
creation will be the judge. I pray that your eyes
will be opened and your heart changed before it's
too late.

For their own sake, I hope that the clerks who refuse to touch pork products also adhere to some of the other tenets that make Islam such a great religion. They should refuse to sell newspapers, magazines, or books to women: females aren't supposed to read or be educated. They should refuse to scan artwork: iconographic imagery is an abomination. They can pass on scanning the pet food, too: dogs are unclean.

If the clerks are women, they shouldn't be at the checkout counter without a husband or a male relative on hand to protect their purity and guard their honor. They certainly shouldn't be driving themselves to work. And, to be truly model Muslim women, I would expect that they would all have undergone genital mutilation at an early age.

While they're at it, maybe the Muslim clerks should also insist that the managers turn off the Muzak on the PA system. Isn't music forbidden? What if some shoppers decide to hum along while they wait for a backup clerk to come scan the bacon? That would be truly offensive.

You are missing the point Susan. They are paid to do a job and they are not doing the job. What about the blind person with a dog at the airport that can't get a cab because 85% of the drivers are Muslim? As another poster put it "Does that mean a cabbie that is a Scientologist allowed to deny people taking anti-depressants?". Where does it end? I say right here. Cab drivers drive cabs and that involves dogs and liquor. Working at target as a checkout involves scanning pork. If you can't tolerate that get another job.

I disagree with that comment, my son was declined a job as I am sure a muslim was hired........and I have scanned my own pork products there as well, being a white, male american is now a tough hurdle in getting a job, they would rather hire someone who cannot fully do their job!

"Cabbies, cashiers; who's next? Maybe by the time Muslim terrorists get around to setting off a nuke somewhere in the western world, there won't be much "tolerance" left in the non-Muslim world....."

Oh my God, did you just equate a cashier at Target to a muslim terrorist?

Blaming somebody because they took advantage of the law as its written, is like blaming someone for going 30mph in a 30mph zone. You may not like it, but that's how it is.

I would like to add that refusing to help someone in need of a guide dog is not only discriminatory, it's cruel. Decidedly, concessions are made to help people with disabilities in this country. Again, the consumer's rights must be protected here. People choose to purchase pork products, but they certainly can't control or change the nature of their disabilities.

Come on, do your job or go do something else. We are not here to conform to your beliefs. This is America and you have the right to do anything you want within the law. Not make your own up as you go along.

All of this is a provocation to force the hand of our society. And as it is now, our society that is so constrained and strangled with the ideology of multiculturalism, we will bend over backwards to accomodate all things muslim. We're killing ourselves. Read Bruce Bawer's "While Europe Slept: How Islam is destroying Europe from Within" and you'll get an idea where we're headed. This is how it starts. Before long you'll start seeing these issues as justifications for terrorist attacks. Islamists dream up any perceived or imagined injustice to justify attacks. As Americans, we all need to stand up and affirm that if you want to live here you have to assimilate. That's what being an American is all about. If you don't want to do that, that's fine. Go live in another country - or better yet, stay in your own. It's time to take a stand on something America... are you ready?

"judging from the primary blog and the resulting comments - its clear this has coaxed alot of racism into the open."

ummm, Islam is not a race, therefore the term racist doesn't apply in this situation.

When I go to Target and I am buying basic stuff I will use any lane but if I know I might have somthing "forbidden" in my basket or cart I avoid the lanes the have Muslim employees even if they have no people waiting in their line. I am a in and out person when it comes to Target and I dont like waiting in line for a manager or any other non-muslim person to come and swipe my bratwurst or pepperoni pizza. They came here, they need to adapt to U.S. ways of life. I know if I had to move to a muslim country I would adapt to their ways of life.

Yeah, how dare someone care. Every time someone goes through with something "unclean" another worker has to take time off from their work to do the Muslim's job. A whole line of people are inconvenienced, possibly two lines given another worker might be coming from another line, every time this happens, so that the cashier who chose that job isn't offended by our infidel ways.

When does it stop? Will some Muslims decide the can't take money from the opposite sex because they might touch? What about unveiled women--should us *whore* Westerners not be served at all?

Not entirely sure that comparing a cashier who won’t scan pork and a clerk that can’t legally scan alcohol really works. Besides, and please correct me if I am wrong, don’t you have to be at least 18 to work in a liquor store??

I have a feeling that this person was referring only to the head-dress that many women wear on a daily basis. True, he or she likely mislabled it; one would not be able to ascertain facial expression through the veil that accompanies the burka. But, have you ever actually seen a woman working at target, cub or anywhere else in the TwinCities with her face covered? It seems, to me, rather uncommon.

You're an idiot

You are absolutely correct, bacon is way to perishable. We should use something that will last longer like a slim jim. Snap into it! So the bacon fence idea is off, slim jim on.

To clarify. Orthodox Jews will handle pork and pork products, we're not allowed to eat it. Also, Orthodox Jews know that if there's something we shouldn't be doing according to our religion, we don't take those jobs that it will be a problem with. We don't expect accomadation by the public at large. This is not American "growing pains", America has a value system that we expect people to manage and acculturate into the American system. As an Orthodox Jew, I certainly have things that I can and can't do - but I don't expect everyone to bend over backwards for me either. If these Muslims can't handle a job, they should either find a job they can manage without accomadation, or find a new country.

Thankfully, our forefathers were smart enough to put the separation of church and state into the constitution. Ironically, some Americans are afraid of GW’s religious beliefs – I hope they realize that those fears are misplaced. There is a real religious threat out there and it is not Christians or Jews. That said, regardless of you religion, if you chose to live in America, check said religion at the door. There is a reason you left your own country, so stop trying to re-make ours in your old country's awful image.

You're wrong if you don't think it interrupted customer service. I worked in a grocery store. Every time that light goes up another manager or cashier interrupts what they are doing to help you. If you had only had a couple or a few things then the entire line would have been held up because they would have been rung up and you'd have to wait for the other person. For this to have to happen every single time a Muslim cashier is offended a) inconveniences numerous people, reducing customer service b) costs the store money. The more Muslim cashiers who think this way, the more inconvenience and money.

I'm so horrified by the hatred and intolerance I see here that I'm going to limit my comments to a reponse of this statement:

"and the fact that no true American would ever think of praying 5 times a day"

Please read: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_true_Scotsman

If you want to argue, at least know your fallacies.

If you went to get your car's oil changed and the worker had some religous objection to touching oil and refused to do it would you jump under the car and change it yourself? I don't think so. If you would you are an idiot. Muslims have every right to practice their beliefs but if they want to work in this country they also need to find a proper balance. The bottom line is that Target provides a service to the consumer. If the employees fail to live up to the consumer's expectations then they aren't doing their job. In the end they are only hurting themselves because Target will probably put in all automated checkout lanes. Where will they work then?

Melissa, you (and most other Americans) really need to read up on islam. I would suggest reading the Koran, Sunna and Hadith. They are the texts that muslims hold as the inspired word of Allah. In those texts you will find that the idea of a happy multicultural world where everyone is free to follow the dictates of their own conscience unfettered by religious interference is not something that is possible in an islamic context. Simply put Islam divides the world into two spheres - Dar al Islam and Dar al Harb (House of Islam and House of Conflict/War). As a resident of "un-islamic" America you live in the house of War, and therefore muslims are under a koranic duty to offer you three courses of action. 1) You may either convert to islam and live by Sharia law, 2) you may accept 2nd class status as a "dhimmi" (a person who does not enjoy the same benefits under Sharia as a muslim) and pay the "jizya" (a tax paid by dhimmis to make them feel "subdued"), or 3) you will be killed. That's it. And that is the context in which you need to view these current events.

Jesus said all things made is good for food, even the prok, I think people should stop making such a fuss about what goes in the body, it is what comes out that matters. Yes, I think the woman in the Target store should seek employment else where We live in an american society, ever hear the phrase" when in Rome do as the Romans do?" This is America do as the Americans do, when you touch something that you think is unclean, wash your hands, that is why we have soap and water. Get with it and stop being a b------------.

As a fact I can tell you that Orthodox Jews are allowed to handle in pork and pork products...I don't know where you got your information from.

Mmmmmmm, bacon fence...

Do you people understand now why the Europeans expelled Muslims from thier lands. It's going to be time to do it all over again.

The United States owes Serbia an apology for what we did to them in the late 90s.

End all Muslim immigration to the West and begin an extensive monitoring of the ones that are while we figure out what to do with them.

Yeah, who cares if a bunch of inferior infidels were held up because a Muslim took a job she was not willing to perform? Seems to me like YOU are the racist; expecting everyone else bend to one set of beliefs. You have no argument so you scream racism. Muslims should be able to take any job they want, change the job requirements, and everyone else should accept the inconvenience, whether in a taxi, grocery store, bank, wherever. And, of course, if Target decides to not hire Muslims who won't perform THEIR work, that would be racism and the Muslims should be awarded millions in a discrimination suit.

And when have observant Jews held up lines not touching wrapped pork?

By the way nitwit, it's not smart to criticize others' writing when you can neither punctuate or tell the difference between "its" and "it's".

"More Moslems came, and soon a small mosque was built, which attracted yet others. As long as Zoroastrians remained in the majority, their lives were tolerable; but once the Moslems became the more numerous, a petty but pervasive harassment was apt to develop. This was partly verbal, with taunts about fire-worship, and comments on how few Zoroastrians there were in the world, and how many Moslems, who must therefore posses the truth; and also on how many material advantages lay with Islam. The harassment was often also physical; boys fought, and gangs of youth waylaid and bullied individual Zoroastrians. They also diverted themselves by climbing into the local tower of silence and desecrating it, and they might even break into the fire-temple and seek to pollute or extinguish the sacred flame. Those with criminal leanings found too that a religious minority provided tempting opportunities for theft, pilfering from the open fields, and sometimes rape and arson. Those Zoroastrians who resisted all these pressures often preferred therefore in the end to sell out and move to some other place where their co-religionists were still relatively numerous, and they could live at peace; and so another village was lot to the old faith. "
Boyce, A Persian Stronghold of Zoroastrianism, pp. 7-8;

I agree with others first the Taxi's, now stores that carry groceries. This is all gotta come to an end. If they came to the U.S. for freedom that is fine. But don't expect a company to change their policies for you. It would be like refusing to help Somalians because of who they are or their religion. They came here for a reason which is basically why immigrants come here to the U.S. But they need to realize yes they may have certain things that they may not be allowed to do in their religion, but they also need to learn they need to make changes. Everybody else has to make changes. If they can't handle something because of their religion then get a job where you don't have to handle or deal with that particular thing(s).

I too had a similar situation at the Knollwood Super Target, although the cashier ringing me up would not touch any product that contained any meat, not just pork. I had no idea what was going on as he was in no hurry to share with me why he was reaching around all of my groceries to grab my paper products, etc. When I did ask what he was doing he barely mumbled at me and I had to ask again what was going on. He then said he couldn't touch any meat and called for the cashier next to him, who had her own register to manage. She looked at how much groceries I had and told him she couldn't help him with all that, understandably so. He then called for a manager and proceeded to just stand there until the manager came. This was very frustrating as I was spending a large sum of money and had already spent more time than I cared to in this store. If I am paying for these goods, then I expect the service to go along with it to ring up my purchases promptly, without further inconveniencing me. Seeing as there are more than 30 registers in this store, wouldn't it also make sense to place him on a register down near the clothing vs right next to the food? Not that that should even have to be an issue, as I agree that they have no business working with products they can't handle. There are far too many other occupations these people could obtain that fit within their restrictions.

-- In the end they are only hurting themselves because Target will probably put in all automated checkout lanes. Where will they work then? --

Fine with me. It'll be quicker and I won't have to put up with any religious BS. Hopefully automated checkouts make their way into pharmacies. Then we won't have to be subjected to some bible-bangin' Christian fundie, who won't sell birth control pills.

We don't need to read the Koran, Sunna, or the Hadith. Just like you don't need to read the Bible. This is America the land of freedom. People are allowed to practice any religion they want to in the privacy of their homes or church. I don't keep a crucifix at my desk or pray the rosary. I say my prayers to myself. I don't ask my employer to put a chapel in the building. If I want to go to church on Good Friday I have to take the day off of work. Since we live in America we don't live in any house of Islam. We live with the freedom to chose what we want to do outside of our work. If I don't fulfill my job duties I won't have a job. If people can't do a job duty for religious reason then they need to find a new job. The not handling pork or not giving people cab rides is insignificant at the time but the take over has to start somewhere. I found it interesting that Muslims make a big deal out these trivial things but yet they won't denounce the terrorism that occurs in the world today. Minneapolis has a Congressman that can do things to improve the image of Muslims in America but yet he does nothing.

I was at dinner Saturday night with friends in uptown, and we asked the waitress what kind of protien to order for one of the Thai curries. She said "oh, I'm a vegetarian, I always get mock duck with that. But I've found a lot of meat eaters don't like mock duck, so I'm not sure what choice you'd like."

Imagine if she had said, "if you order chicken, beef or shellfish, I'll have to get another server to your table!"

Anyway, in fact she was friendly, professional, frank about her vegetarianism without any judgement. She had no problem bringing us our chicken Satay, despite its brutal spearing with sharp wooden sticks and hot charcoal-y grilling!

We went on to discuss the MSP Taxi thing with our out of town friends, who were pretty amazed at how totally un-customer-focused many of the cab drivers are.

It may be an economic reality that cab driving and Target cashiering are some of the easier jobs for Muslim immigrants to get, but it should also not be a big deal for folks to just get quietly re-assigned, or fired, if they can't or won't fulfill the basic job requirements.

As an observant Jew my whole life, I have never heard such nonsense! The prohibition on pig products in Judaism has to do with EATING PIG, not handling sealed packages of bacon! If an Orthodox Jew has a problem handling packages of pig products or any other non-kosher foods, he or she should not work at a place that requires him or her to handle said items. Also, Orthodox and other observant Jews walk to synagogue Friday evening, Saturday MORNING and Saturday evening. Please don't pretend you know about Jews when you don't. We Jews have lived in America for a long time, and have NEVER asked for the kinds of favoritism that Muslims (the unwilling to assimilate into American culture types, not all) have been asking for of late. If you want to live under Sharia, I believe there are quite a few countries in the world today that will allow you to "enjoy" that. But if you want to live in a democracy, please stop making excuses for exterimism and stop expecting America to become Islamized. I for one have no intention of doing so!!!

Get a clue or get out!

In THIS country a burka is only worn to cover the head, not the face. Working a retail job at Target puts you in the SERVICE INDUSTRY! If you don't want to work in the service industry there is no law that says you have to. Go get a job as a maid or a street walker. We go to Target for the service and selction. So, "Pork is Bad", you are obviously a muslim which is fine. If you don't like living in the world most diverse and free society, LEAVE!

This is very similar to the pharmacists refusing to fill birth control prescriptions. I have noted a negative tone in the media regarding the pharmacists Christian beliefs. I will be interested to see if this same tone is in the muslim articles.

I agree with the poster on 1st page. The Muslims are after World Domination and the sooner our Society realizes that the sooner we can start the purge.
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FYI--Freedom of Religion is in the Constitution. The separation of church and state is NOT but it is a statement in a letter from Thomas Jefferson.

On another note, for those who think Christians are not discriminated against, you are living in a cave or something. I have a friend who, as a Christian youth pastor, cannot step foot on a certain high school campus. He can if he is a parent, but as a regular Joe who happens to be a "pastor," he cannot. At said campus, students wishing to begin a student-led Bible study have been denied while other religious and other groups are allowed. From what he says, this is a common occurance for youth pastors and they have to jump through a lot of hoops no one else does. If we are going to be equal, we need to be equal. Just because you have not experienced discrimation does not mean it is not out there.

As to the Muslim checker--what about all the packages the pork touched while it was in the cart? By touching a package of pork would they not be contaminated as well?

And should/could not the large Muslim population in Minnesota be coming alongside the sects raising all the ruckus with the cabs and now this? It seems when something is said it is that these are "radical" ideas and that the more "main stream" Mulsims would not have said issues. Can you help the rest of us understand? You are allowing the Muslim faith a black eye because the only things we hear/see are from "radicals." We could all use something positive from the Mulsim community to balance the negative media of the last few years.

Orthodox Jews would not work in a place where they would be unable to serve customers (speaking as an Orthodox Jew). Our employers should not have to worrry about whether we will do the job we have been hired to do.
If a person has an objection to handling a product Target sells, they should find another place to work. No one is forcing anyone to work in Target.

Employers may make accomodations for religious holidays, but they should not be required to make employee accomodations with regard to customer service.

He said she was wearing hijab, which is just a head covering, not a burkha.
Hijab covers just the hair, not the face.

Mr. Christian:

Some people are prescribed birth control pills for other reasons than contraception. The medical condition PCOS, for example, utilizes birth control pills as one commonly-used treatment option. And yet a "Christian" pharmacist can decide to refuse to fill the prescription based on his personal beliefs?

Would a Christian refuse chemo or radiation therapies as a treatment for cancer because there is a risk of sterilization?

Don't ASSume that a medical treatment is only being used for one reason.

Why don't we just have a meat free checkout? Like the 10 items or less line? Or better still a new store chain - Muslim Mart. And we could have a separate line for the Muslim cabs. Starting at the bumper of the last non-Muslim cab driver. But why stop there? Why not make 2 completely separate autonomous societies? How hard could it be? *Rolls eyes*

disturbing developments going on here,

are the management of the store aware of this person who cant sell his produce

You don't get it. I did not suggest asking questions that might be in violation of civil rights "In which department would you prefer to work?" does not violate anyone's civil rights. Target has the responsiblity to place applicants in appropriate jobs if they are going to hire them. It is not against the law to ask questions, that's what an interview is. NOT hiring an applicant based on his/her religion would violate his/her civil rights. Why do most people in this thread think they have the right to engender intolerance, hate, and bigotry! (You need to learn to spell it's BLEEDING heart liberals, and yes, I am one. I also work for Target.)