When we send our troups to help out in a muslim country, our people are expected to adhere to their cultures. Females must wear head covers, not drive off base, and sit in the backseat. They can't even go shopping without a male escort! But when these people come to America, they think that we still need to adhere to their customs.
Frankly, as an America whose family has been here since 1701, I say it is to once again to make the statement, "America, love it or leave it!" In other words, conform to our customs or go back to where you came from!
Too many of our sons and brothers have died for idiots in other countries and to protect our rights to have them trampled like this.

Contrary to your assertion, this is nothing new. My wife and I noticed it happening a few years ago. It's only in the news now because of blowback due to the airport cabbies.

I've noticed very few Muslims working the checkouts at the supermarket, most likely because they realize that this involves a lot of pork handling. At Target, especially a regular Target without a full grocery, there's very little pork on the premises, so this concern is much reduced.

On those occasions when it's happened, my cashier was almost bashful about asking, "Would you mind?" Fact is, I didn't mind at all. It's less work than holding open a door for a lady with her hands full, for crying out loud.

For the record, I disagree with the airport cabbies who feel they shouldn't have to take fares carrying alcohol. It may be a similar concession, but the inconvenience to the customer is a heck of a lot greater, and I think it's on the far side of the line where social compromises can be made. And I think it's unfortunate that the wives and daughters of these cabbies are taking the brunt of the blowback they've created.

As far as the xenophobes who seem so terribly threatened or inconvenienced by having to drag a few ounces of bacon across a scanner and drop it in a bag? Please do boycott Target, as I'm sure it will make life much more pleasant for the friendly shoppers who aren't so fearful and high-strung.

All the pork products are wrapped in packages, so they aren't really touching pork. If they think they are, why doesn't that logic extend to being in the same building, aisle, or working for a company that sells pork? Couldn't they use thick gloves, another layer of packaging or a tong? Where's the compromise?

Why work at a job where a a religious conflict exist? Who has heard of a vegan wanting to be a butcher?

I tend to be liberal, but I would be insulted if someone wouldn't even touch something I was buying. Sorry Target.

I think this is getting out of hand. First the airport not our grocery stores, if handle pork or liquior is that offensive to them -DON'T APPLY FOR JOBS HERE IN THE UNITED STATES. These people are taking up jobs from American workers that don't bring their religion to work that are unemployed. Why are companies putting up with this- Muslims people are not the majority race. Say if customers stop coming to their place of business because of service we receive due to this, lets see how long their business will last.

Wake Up!!! They came here on their own - they need to adapt to our world.

OF ALL I READ,THIS ONE HIT HOME THE MOST.YOU HAVENT FOOLED ALL OF US,ONLY THE LIBERALS,WHO MAY BE INFERIOR.WE WILL,AS IS OUR NATURE,PROTECT THEM.I DONT BELIEVE OUR PATIENCE FOR YOU WILL LAST FOREVER.I AM NOT TOO AFRAID OF A PEOPLE WHO DIES,TO LIVE A LIFE THEY COULNDT ATTAIN OR MASTER ON EARTH.

You say there is a difference between the pharmacist and the clerk? You're wrong...they are both identical because they are BOTH refusing to do the JOB THAT THEY APPLIED FOR(fully aware of the job responsibilities)!!! If you have religious concerns about performing a responsibility at a job, then you better not take that job. You better take a job that conforms to your beliefs. When you move to a society, you should be expected to conform to their ways of life, and if you don't like it, it's simple....DON'T MOVE THERE!

I am getting sick and tired of the immigrants now imposing their religious beliefs on me. I don't go around telling them I do not like their clothing or that they are speaking something other than english. I would expect that if I walk into a store (Target or elasewhere) that whomever is working in that checkout lane to do their job. We have become so sensitive of discrimination that employers are being forced to hire individuals who then turn around and start enforcing their religious beliefs. First off, I, or we, did not ask them to immigrate here, refugee or not. Second, I can only imagine how difficult it is moving to a new country, BUT, that should not mean that I, or anyone else, should have to change how we do things. I would also expect them to, over time, integrate themselves to the American way of life. Freedom of religion or not, do not tell me you cannot scan a food item or give me a ride in your taxi because of religious belief. All I would have to say is either get a new job or leave!

This is only the beginning. As Muslims grow in political power and get even better at working our system against us there will be other things they will find to offensive to handle. Maybe movies at Blockbuster, or even liquor. I guess handling a severed human head isn't offensive to the followers of the peaceful religion of Islam but a Pepperoni pizza is.

I think a lot of us are missing the big picture, we've already seen several comments from jewish and muslim readers who have said that it is not prohibited by their religion to handle pork. So it seems clear to me that that isn't what is keeping the cashier at Target from dealing with it. It also seems to me that if you take this(religion) out of the equation the problem solves itself. It isn't about racism it's about customer service and doing the job you where hired to do. I think that anyone that believes this is racism or intolerant needs to adjust there thinking on the subjects.

Hey Kimit,

Just for you info orthodox Jews will handle pork. Have you seen heard one single orthodox Jew complaining about about touching pork? the answer is no. besides we have alot of orthodox Jews working on Saturdays because they are doctors. These muslims are taking over this counrty one by one till we all convert. If is Islam is a religious of peace why are they forcing it on the entire world. Because they dont respect are value non-muslims. They are a joke.

Thanks,
Matis

JEWS DON'T COMPLAIN ABOUT IT, THEY GET A NEW FREAKIN JOB!!!

There is one underlying difference in the Orthodox Jewish community and the Muslim community. The Orthodox Jewish community do 90% of the work, shopping and living within walking distance of their homes. They do not have stores that are open on Saturday and the stores they do have do not contain anything non-kosher. As a Gentile, you do not go to that community on the sabbath and expect life to be the same as in your community. The Muslims are not in a community to themselves. They are integrated into our American communities and as such should act integrated. Target can certainly accomodate the cashier by moving her into a different part of the store. Stocking clothing, toys, etc, at the same rate of pay. She should have discussed her aversion to Pork, prior to being hired. It is not up to the company to know all the ins and outs of all religions but if they had known I doubt that they would have hired her for this position.

The muslims are right, the devil has taken over the USA with all this pork and alcohol. Especially when I'm trying to eat my pork sandwich, get drunk and look at fat scantily clad Hooter's Girls.
Ohh how I think back to just a few days ago when pork was not an issue, the good times we Americans used to have with greasy pork all over the laser scanner at the supermarket and casheirs with pork covered hands taking my dollars.
Face it folks we'll just have to take pork underground, back alley black market pork. You should start hoarding it up now!
Maybe Target can set up some pork targets in the back of the store that we can pre-pay for at the non Islam check out line and just go out back and shoot the pigs ourselves. I need to get some use out of these Russian RPGs and AK 47s I bought from my Muslim suppliers anyway.

Racist? What the hell is racist about expecting someone to do their jobs?! That is the dumbest thing I think I've ever heard anyone say. Somebody disagrees with something, and they have to pull the "racist" card....that person being you, in this case.

People under 18 cannot handle alcohol because that is the LAW in the United States. Americans are aware of that law, and therefore have no choice but to comply. But guess what? I'm catholic. If I am considering a job, and find out that there are certain tasks that would need to be fulfilled that conflict with my beliefs, I'm NOT GOING TO TAKE THE JOB!!! It's really goddamn simple. I can't even believe you had to bring race into this. That's absolutely ridiculous!

I was recently at the Super WalMart in Shakopee and was taken by surprise when the Muslim cashier asked me to swipe the bacon I was purchasing and also had me place it in the shopping bag. As an employer, I need help in understanding why WalMart or Target would hire individuals to a job that they cannot do. In interviewing employees I specifically ask, after going over the duties of the job, "Is there anything about the job discription that would prevent you from performing the job to the fullest?" If the answer is yes, I would then look for another candidate. This is completely unacceptable. In the future when this happens, we should all ask for the manager and have him or her ring up our groceries. Also regardless of religious beliefs, employers should not hire individuals who cannot perform to the fullest expectations of the job.

As long as perscriptions for the morning after pill can be withheld on moral grounds this seems fair. These cashiers are adapting to the american way, your religion trumps someone elses freedoms. At least there are plenty of options in where you can get bacon.

You are a goddamn idiot! Comments like this will cause SO much friction, and believe me, you don't want to go to war with true Americans. Because we'll run your dirty ass out, punk! We don't deserve a country? You guy's can't even control your own, so you have to come here!!! Your country is in shambles because of your retarded ways. You're a joke, dude.

She didn't say minority she said she said "people comming over the border...". I believe she was referring to illeagal aliens, who are to some degree e given a free/discounted ticket, in some areas of the country.

Thank you for stating so clearly how this seems to be a debate about entitlement and has lost touch with the ideas of tolerance and religious freedom that we keep claiming this country was founded on. Yes, true history proves that's a crock, but it doesn't mean we can't embrace these ideals now, as a government, as employers, and as individuals.

don't you realize your "raging liberal" politician friends WANT this garbage!?! they constantly break down christianity while uplifting islam, that ohhh so peaceful religion. they would most likely take the side of the muslim, especially liberal organizations like the ACLU, hell they'll probably sue Target soon!!! it astonishes me that people are actually PROUD to be modern-day libs

Hey "Pork is bad" guy. I'll eat whatever I want. Only dictators, and religious fanatics think they have the right to judge me, or tell me what I can do.
Jesus also said, judge least you also be judged, and he also said, vengence is mine sayeth the Lord! So, he tells us that no human being has the right to make such judgements, or punish anyone over such things. That God will be the judge not some puney little man, or woman of the earth. Have a nice day!

Adapt to the way of life over here or go back, we have had thousands of troops die to help prevent these people from slaughtering each other. when does this end?

instead of not doing your job of being a taxi cab driver or cashier, why dont they just be glad to be out of their home country...

fool. he stated hijab, not burka. go flame elsewhere.

Her eyes weren't covered were they? People's eyes tell they're mood, along with body language. If she doesn't want to touch it, you say we shouldn't eat it? What kind of stupid logic is that? Why should my eating preferences be determined by what she is willing to touch or not touch? Your comments show your ignorance, and it is that ignorance which keeps your opinion and thus you from being taken seriously, idiot.

They have no right to refuse.Those things will be applicable only to muslims. We Christians dont do anything when Jesus tomb is removed , do the same thing to Muhammed that's it, forget Muhammed excavate some ordinary muslim coffin there will be a big uproar and the whole world is in Turmoil.

If these people refuse to handle our pork prducts and we are required too, why are they employed. In other words they are getting paid for jobs that others are doing for them. As an African American, can I tell my employer that I refuse to wotk on MLK Birthday and still get paid for it. That is a belief that I believe in.

If you are a raging bleeding heart liberal, thank your politics for this problem.

Common sense dictates someone that does not perforn their paid duties should be warned ONCE then fired.
Your state government NEEDS to enact a law that allows dismisal or non hiring to ALL people who refuse to do their assingned duties because of Religion
good luck.

Remember when target stopped using the salvation army bell-ringers at Christmas time because they felt it imposed on people? Although I personally respect the fact that Target doesn't have a problem with being tolerable of their muslim employee's beliefs, I wonder why the double standard. ... Christians are asked all the time to compromise their beliefs, and like cowards, many have done so. If Christians held firm to their values like the faith-filled and family oriented Somalis and muslims,this world wouldn't be so ugly.

We are all failing to follow the greatest commandments. "Love thy God with all your heart,soul, and being". And "Love thy neighbor as yourself"

I think we need to stop looking at who they are, where they are from, and what their religion is. When my ancestors came to America they learned ENGLISH, not because they thought it would be fun, but because it was and still is the language of AMERICA. When you go to a different country you should expect to have to change some of the things that you do. Please though, by all means embrace your heritage. If you do not believe in eating meat, don't eat meat. But when it comes to performing a job where you deal with the masses, DO THE JOB, if you don't want to handle pork, save up your money and open your own store (where you don't have to stock pork). Why do people believe that majority MUST conform to the minority. I don't care where you are from, what religion you are, what the color of your skin is. I do though believe, because I feel that my parents raised me right, that there is NO free lunch, if you want something you must work for it. So go to work, do your job, speak English, and pay your bills.

When you work in an customer based industry such as Target you do what the customer asks! Keeping your customers happy will ensure that they return. I worked for Target for 11 years and never once did I refuse to ring up something because of my religious beliefs. If this cashier was so uncomfortable because of the pork, why was she working in a grocery store? There are so many places someone can get a job that doesn't require them to deal with pork...

I'm going to start seeking out muslim-looking cashiers. I'm going to take my canadian bacon, lunchmeat ham, bacon, sausage, pizza, etc. and put it on the conveyor belt. When the muslim starts squirming, I'm going to make a scene, then I'm going to detonate the explosives belt that I'm wearing. Oops... Christians no longer kill people for differences in beliefs, my bad. Only the peace-loving Muslims do that.

For all of those shrilly demanding our newest immigrants to "assimilate", I'm quite sure that you all do the same if you are brave enough to venture out in the world and visit another country. You surely spend time learning about the history, culture, and customs before visiting. You most definitely take the time to do this because it would be the polite and respectful thing to do, correct?
Oh, I'm sorry. You all are the loud, obnoxious tourists that the rest of us get to publicly cringe over when visiting another country. You're the ones with giant American flags on your backpacks, sweatshirts, and baseball caps, vehemently complaining how none of "these people" speak English.You like to remind citizens about all the the great US of A has done for them. You're the ones who could care less if you're offending 3/4's of the population because you're AMERICAN, by god, and that means that you're superior to everyone else living on God's green earth.
Please do us all a favor and be honest. This has nothing to do with "assimilation". This has to do with your narcissitic demands that everyone act like YOU do. This way, you will never have to be uncomfortable and challenged in your beliefs. You can continue to live in your own homogenized little bubble, and stay ignorant to the rest of the world and their issues, beliefs, or cultures.
Thank you, and have a nice day.

I believe in giving people the benefit of the doubt and giving those who want to work an opporunity to do so. However; the part I don't understand is why the employees shouldn't be held accountable for their own choices. Do not accept a job somewhere you can not perform the duties expected of you. It makes the idea of accepting wages from someone who sells items you feel so strongly against sound pretty hypocritical. Target and other employers need to take a share of the responsibility in not placing employees in job assignments that they are sure to have conflict with and into situations that are certain to push peoples' buttons. No good can come of this. Don't make the muslims have to defend their beliefs, but don't make christians or pork eaters or anyone else have to defend their right to have it or buy it either.

I am from Africa, in my country there are almost same number of muslims as christian. I agree with comments above that we should respect other's differences, it's also important that we take responsibility. if your relegion/faith does not allow you to work with around pigs/pork then don't, there are many places one can work pig/free. But saying that I can't even touch it, can come out as rude and as shavoling your faith into other's face. Muslim are not viewed as angels around the world, and such unnecessary rudeness is just adding fuel to already nicely burning fire!

Vegetarianism is not a religion, so your analogy is not quite right. America is a land of religious freedom. Therefore, we need to stop talking about oppressing religious actions and start recognizing that religion is an important part of our society (Christian, Muslim and Jew, among others), and remember that the US Constitution is supreme law of this land and it is on the side of the cashier here. Freedom in this country is enduring, too bad bigotry is too. Let's look carefully at the cabbie issue. A cabbie who does not want to take credit cards (due to the card companies taking 2-5% of his fare), no problem. And if a cabbie does not want to take a smoker, no problem. And if he does not want to take people with pets, no problem. But the minute a MUSLIM refuses to transport alcohol due to his deeply held religious faith, he is intolerant of American culture?How inconsistent can we be? The inconsistency is due to bigotry against Muslims, period. It must stop. What part of American culture or Christianity REQUIRES us to haul our liquor in a cab? Yet the cabbie's religion REQUIRES him to not transport the stuff. So really, it is not about him imposing his religion on us, it is about our recognition that a religious belief is more important than getting everything you want when you want it. Now, on to BAD ODORS. It smells like 1936 Nazi Germany around here. If I was a Muslim, I'd feel like a Jew would have felt in Germany in 1936-just before hell broke loose on them. This is a sad state of affairs for my beloved America. We are better than that, aren't we? Why all this anti-Muslim hatred? People on this board say Muslims are intolerant, yet they are saying things like "ship them out", "get rid of them" and worse. Who is really intolerant here? Let's stop and think about what is going on here.

Stories like this one really get to me. Both of my parents immigrated to this country after WWII. My father already knew how to read, write and speak English, but my mom didn't. My father told her that if she wanted to live in America then she needed to learn the language and follow American customs. My father also signed up for the draft and fought proudly in the Korean War, receiving his US citizenship in Seoul Korea. We still ate German style meals every now and then, and after my mom was fluent in English, German was spoken occasionally in our house. I say all this because I still believe in the idea that America is the great melting pot, but I don't think one culture has the right to change the American way of life to just to suit them. I have Muslim and Jewish friends, and I know what to offer and what not to offer them in my home and in turn they don’t push certain items my way. Bottom line: There are many other jobs that do not require the handling of pork. I think the Target clerk needs to find a new job.
FBW-

I am creating a new religion. In this religion called PorkBoozeDoglam I declare the following edicts:

Dogs are sacred.
Pork is sacred.
Liquor is sacred.

It is forbidden to do the following items:

Do any form of commerce with a business owned or operated by a Muslim.

Hand out welfare or any type of aid checks to a Muslim.

Employ a Muslim.

Assist a Muslim in any way, shape or form.

The following holidays will be recognized:

National pork day.
Octoberfest.

Who wants to join?

oh poor young assimilate....non of these people are paying tourist....these are refugee's that Minnesotans accepted and are paying the price for, to this day....I can tell by your comments that you are young and don't have much experience beyond what your parents have bought you.....go ahead....and act as if American's are evil...but just remember...we accepted these people and they have poophed all over us and our once beautiful city!

First off, there is nothing wrong with being proud of where your from! Secondly, if I was going to another country I would not expect them to speak English. The thing is that people shouldn't assimilate, they should adapt. When you MOVE to an English speaking country you should learn to speak English, just as if you were to MOVE to Germany you should learn to speak German. There are a lot of cultures around the world, and I am happy when people bring their culture to America (the great melting pot) but you MUST adapt to be able to live. Learn to speak the language, get a job, don't live off the state. These are the things that you would EXPECT to do if you went to another country, so why should it be different when people come to America!

Regarding this latest article. Why doesn't the star tribune focus an article on why Minnesota was the recipient of so many refuges, who brought them here, for what political purpose and what benefit was derived by this. Also, why not disclose the benefits that some of the employers who hire these refuges are receiving from the state of minnesota. Like alledgedly being reimbursed by the state for healthcare benefits, that are being paid for at the expense of the rest of the states tax payers. Thus giving the employer an employee at less than fair market wages and having the very people who are competing for those jobs paying to have their job opportunity given to one of these people. Hmmmm, something seems wrong with that. Maybe it is big business that wants these people here to lower the wage rate.

You are right.We are better.If we weren't,would people flock here by the millions?Yes we have done alot for the rest of the world.Should we not be proud?Go back in your basement and smoke your dope and listen to your old woodstock album ya hippie.

This is the year of the Pig in China...so all Muslims will die this year.

By your comments one could say that you are a Muslim. "Addicted to Pig Meat?"

Let me tell you something, you better check the labels of all the food you buy buddy. That hamburger that you just bought, in the box. Just might have that "Pig Meat" in it.

Pork products are used as a filler in alot of our products. From the Spaghetti Sauce flavored with meat, to hot dogs.

You are not touching the pork, you are touching the plastic bag that contains it.

Adapt.....or find yourself jobless.

If I go to the store, and an employee will not ring something up for me, I will walk away, and the store can put everything back. Its called customer service and if they are unwilling to "fully" adhear to that, I will not shop there.

It's apparent you have either never traveled out of country or very little. Are you even American? I have been all over the world and do not recognize the actions of Americans that you claim. This is our country, I fought for it in Viet Nam and don't need some goody two shoes whom is ignorant to the rest of the world, telling me how we Americans should act towards new immigrants. If they come here and are willing to except for what I fought for and the way we have been for over 200 years, then I have no problem with immigrants. We are a Christian nation that has always spoke the english language. Maybe we need to define what religion is??? Either live as an American or go back to where you came from. Pretty simple philosophy. Love it or leave it...that includes you.

I am sick and tired of these people being able to refuse to do what is required of their job. They then should not be allowed to work as a cashier. I feel they are taking jobs away from the teenagers who grew up in this country, and would be willing to do these tasks. Also, they must refuse to stock items in the super stores that are Pork itmes too. Why can't they be fired just like the rest of us would be if we refused to touch certain items. I would refuse to swipe my own items!!!!
Thank you

In an increasing number of states, "Christian" pharmacists are permitted to refuse to serve customers who have medical needs based on religious prejudices.

In an increasing number of states, "Christian" doctors are allowed not to give emergency rape treatment to rape victims.

Personally, I favor ZERO TOLERANCE for this kind of crap. The "old school" civil rights law where refusing to serve somebody due to racial or religious bias is grounds for termination is good enough to me.

No, there shouldn't be special treatment for ANY religion under the law. A Christian pharmacist or doctor who refuses to provide legal services requested by patients should have his ass run out of the profession. A Muslim who won't treat a customer who wants to buy a pork product just like any other customer should be fired.

You get "the American Way" a whole lot better than a lot of native born members of the Christian Religious Right do. (and if you're a US native. . . sorry about my assumption that you're an immigrant)

The time to exercise "freedom of conscience" is BEFORE taking a job where it affects one's job performance.

Based on your over-the-top, stereotype-filled rant I can see that you have very little of the experience you imply. You sound like the 19-year-old wind-up dolls at the U who repeat whatever their socialist professors tell them without understanding any of it.

I've travelled very extensively and frequently throughout western Europe, North Africa and elsewhere, and in my experience American tourists on the whole are very well behaved and respectful, at least as much as foreign tourists are here. I've never heard an American tourist complain when a native couldn't speak English. And almost all adult American tourists do actually take the time to learn about where they're going. I would go as far as to say that while Americans are at least as good as the rest of the world at being guests, they're actually quite a bit better at being hosts. Americans on the whole are more gracious and hospitable. When was the last time you heard of an American being offended by another countries flag stitched to a tourist's backpack?

At any rate we are talking hear about people who've moved here, and your (completely invalid) counter-argument concerns tourists. Tourists do not have to be concerned with assimilation, residents do.

They are masters at using "our ways" against us, to suit the regression, and the drive toward our appeasement of their will, ie: acting odd on an airplane, and suing after you've been tossed out.

We should do the same in turn...

Go in groups, and purchase nothing but pork products.
several people shoudl check out in different lines, assuring they can't just switch, lanes, or call another checker, as thay will all be busy ringing up PORK. video tape it, then sue them. Rinse and repeat.

Since the 70's, WE have mad it easy for them to remain unassimiated, high maintenance, and the crappy, disfuntional countries they left, are the root of our problems.

People of the Jewish faith handle pork all the time even though it is against their religion.

Between the problems at the Minneapolis/St. Paul airport of Muslim taxi drivers not picking up people with alcohol or service dogs because it is against their religion and now this problem; Muslims need to understand that in this country you have the right to worship in any way you like within your own life; however Muslims need to understand that they do not have the right to inflict their relgious beliefs on others within public workplaces. If the job description conflicts with your religion, then don't take the job.

The rest of us are not allowed to bring our faiths into the workplace in order to change our jobs to suit our religious beliefs. And Muslims are not allowed to do that either even though they seem to continually try to do so.

Muslims that live here live in the United States of America. Get used to it!

If Christians were not discriminated against, why can't we have Christmas decorations in our offices, or nativity scenes on our desk? My mother was told she couldn't wear a 14K gold cross to work because it might offend someone...

WHy can't the 10 commandments be displayed in our court-rooms? Why can't my children pray before lunch or have a Bible study in the school library, or pray before sporting games or graduation because they are afraid of being sent to detention or a law suit??

Secular America DOES discriminate against Christianity and those who choose to take a stand for their beliefs.

If more American Christians stood up for their beliefs like the Muslim population does, think about where this country might be.

Wow...this is a hot topic...and I had no idea people in Minnesota felt this way....this needs to be brought to light....if we stand together...we can beat this! I for one will not shop at Target out of principle...Target is the enabler here!

Where do we ship doctors and pharmacists who are Christian Religious Right crazies who won't prescribe or fill prescriptions for the morning-after pill for rape victims?

Actually. . . Saudi Arabia or Dubai suits me. Or some randomly picked place in Africa. We need Christian crazies in America as much as we need Muslim religious crazies.

The time to exercise "freedom of conscience" is before one picks a career.

I think it is time to head back to Samalia, Ethiopia, Iran, Iraq or whereever they come from, this is America and here in America we do our job. If we are uncomfortable with any aspect of that job we find another one. I would have refused as a customer to scan my own item unless I was getting it for free.

We need Newt to run the show

I love it! Oh thats classic! Gather up the pigs and lets get started!

Alot of people in this country have fought long and hard, some even giving their lives, so that we are not segregated.

Muslims are segregating themselves. Alot of people have not read about the Frigidaire {St.Cloud) lawsuit. The muslims have basically made Frigidaire build them a separate bathroom and prayor room. Also on top of that, they must give them their prayor breaks shutting down production to do this.

This same lawsuit is currently underway agaisn't Golden Plump of Cold Spring.

They want separate bathrooms, they state because the infidels are dirty. They do not want us(Infidel Americans) to use these bathrooms.

This is unreal. One culture has basically come into our country and is undoing everything that has taken 231 years to build.

The muslim faith here in America, prior to the mass exoudus out of Somalia adapted and never complained.

They need to adapt or leave. I won't even bring up their driving skills. Or the fact that they fill that vehicle up with gas, which by Minnesota law is 15% Ethel Alcohol, 85% if its E-85. I wonder if the cab drivers know that they are carrying alcohol everyday? And at that, if they spill it on themselves their body will soak a little of it up.

This has gone way to far. The Judges in these cases need to look at the previous segregation cases and judge accordingly.

Adapt or Leave!

Yes, someone else who see's the light. This is a religion not race issue.

As Americans, we need to remember that many of us were decended from immigrants. Our ancestors came here seeking a better life free from tyranny and oppression, much like the Somalis are doing in Minnesota right now. Since they are not leaving (who would want to return to a place where you are starved and tortured?), the only thing we can do is voice our opinions about our immigration policy to our elected representatives to try to illicit change. Also, maybe try to be the Christians some of us have said we are and follow the example of Christ and be humble, tolerant, and benevolent.

Before I even read your comments on this, I recited (almost verbatim) the words you said to my co-workers all the way to getting the manager involved and making a big deal out of it. Great job!

- Craig

I agree with this writer, if you are hired to do a job than you are paid to do that job. How many thousands of times in my jobs have I not wanted to do something but had to in order to have a job and pay the bills.

Saying no to handling pork, taking passengers in taxi's and not allowing seeing eye dogs in taxis is way out of line. These people are working in a service industry and if you don't want to get paid for it, find another line of work.

FINALLY someone has made the most IMPORTANT POINT, that it is NOT MUSLIMS refusing to handle pork (in this story related to Target) - IT IS SOMALIS WHO HAPPEN TO BE MUSLIMS! my my how short a memory folks seem to have. miraculously we've forgot the thousands of muslims living and making a living in Minnesota for the last who knows how many years, and NEVER an issue about cabs, and NEVER an issue about handling pork. So, let's be clear, it is a group of SOMALIS with their own interpretation of Islamic law (and I refuse to say "strict" because even that doesn't fit in this instance"). Egyptians, African-Americans, Liberians, Saudis...the list goes on and on...NEVER have these been issues...at most, it's been issues around dress and the workplace...but this...this just makes my heart ache. Cause rather than having discussions about more pressing issues of faith, like concept of God and Prophets, Good and Evil, salvation, etc...our conversations are now relegated to these subtle, and specific issues that HAVE NO PLACE in the discourse when dealing with muslims living in non-muslim lands. There is an entirely different set of standards that most of these folks aren't even aware of because being the muslim majority has always been the norm for them. I'd just ask folks for a little patience as the rest of us (muslims) try to work with our brothers and sisters to get better acclimated to their new "home"

Peace to you all!

The best way to handle this is for Target to educated Somalis muslims about their job and expectations that they may be asked or have to handle pork. The other important thing to remember is that the Quran only says that pork is forbidden to eat as it is for Orthodox Jews as well. It does not state that a Muslim can not touch it. There are four main schools of thought or theological schools in Islam that detail how a Muslim should do things thus giving more guidance to verses in the Quran. Each Muslim follows a specific school of thought and also does things that they think are Islamic but are more cultural based then based on the Quran or religion. Somalis may not be handling pork because of cultural perceptions that they can't versus religious ones and the imans and religious leaders in their communities should correct that misconception.

Dear Leylla,

Thanks for your comments. Muslim immigrants have to be taught the "rules of the game" when negotiating America's social and economic realities. For the sake of the country, we have to figure out how all of our people are able to express a common identity. If some Muslims are unable to make a contract with American society, they will not succeed socially and economically. They will remain isolated and live in ghettos.

To blindly embrace "multiculuralism" and "cultural sensitivity" as civic virtues is sheer nonsense. Different cultures are not always equal--some are better, more civil, and more free than others. It is like saying that a culture of cannibals has the same equivalency as any other.

Our Muslim friends, if they choose not to perform certain jobs, they are entitled to do so. But they should know they are also limiting their social and economic progress for themselves and their children. The best solution is to provide comprehensive reality based education about modern life for immigrants. They, therefore, can decide for themselves what they will choose to do or not do.

As for me, I will not shop in a store where an employee does not want to check-out my purchases. I have no desire to shop at Target or any other store where my rights as a shopper are restricted. I seem to recall that the Civil Rights movement brought about the end to discrimmination in areas like this. Remember Rosa Parks? That is freedom of choice for me. If employees choose to accomodate me and the employer is unwilling to serve me without reservation, I will not shope there. And I hope others will see this to.

I have read through most of these posts and see one major problem. I agree that if you can't do a job, then you should find a different one or the employer should let you go.

The biggest problem is that employers won't stand up to this type of behavior because of a fear of being sued. When these types of cases come before the courts, they are often ruled for the employee and therefore the employer loses. They are just trying to protect themselves and their business.

The real problem is that our legal system has become too concerned about protecting each individual regardless of whether they are right and not protecting the public good.

This is evident in cases like this, generally and also in many cases of litigation against manufacturers, where we now have so many labels and warnings on things just so someone won't get sued.

Our country is getting worse and worse and at the rate we are degrading it won't be long before we self-destruct.

I'm appalled at the things we put up with as a society these days and wonder if there are any morals left in the USA.

Let's protect the individual when appropriate and protect the employers and companies when appropriate. We should be looking at society as a whole.

Actually, Jesus said in Matt. 15:11, "It is not what enters into the mouth that defiles the man, but what proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man." In other words, what you eat doesn't make you unclean, but rather what's in your heart. And more from Jesus: "For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." (Matthew 12:34) Furthermore, the apostles (Jewish) were very clear about the freedom of followers of Christ in matters of food and other issues, as long as it did not cause someone "weaker" in Christ to stumble. A good example would be drinking alcohol; if a Christian brother or sister in Christ has or has had a problem with it and cannot drink it, it would be wrong for another Christian, who sees nothing wrong with a glass of wine or beer now and then, to indulge in front of the weaker brother or sister. Some people have the freedom to do things, others do not. It is a matter between the believer and the Lord. We are to be gracious towards weaker Christians in these areas.

Let me first say, reading alot of the feedbacks here brings back alot of the faith I had lost in our American Society. Alot of people have their heads on their shoulders...Enough is enough!!

Your everyday way of life is threatened. Dont be silent. Dont be walked on by these 2nd century throwbacks and their pressure groups AKA CAIR. This is our country and 'they' and people in congress want to CHANGE IT. It will be us that would need to change!! DONT BE SILENCED!

Playing the race card is weak. Give it up. Your transparent as are your motives. As far as WMD's..Yes they were found and they don the Burka. You will lose.

It's like those pharmacists who will not sell condoms or birth control, or morning after pills, due to their religious beliefs. If you don't like it, get another job!

Thanks for clearing that up for me. I must have been hallucinating when I saw hordes of loud, inappropriately dressed, rude American tourists while in Italy, Germany, France, Switzerland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Canada.....
I also love how the assumption has been made that I am completely naive and 19 years old. So what if I was?
Also, it's heartening to see the old "self-loathing liberal hippie" insults be un-earthed, which they always are when someone dares to speak up about behavior by their fellow Americans that may not be so savory.
Finally, I find it fascinating how easy it is for people to show their true colors on an internet message board as long as they can stay anonymous. These comments have shown the true face of many Minnesotans: bigoted, ignorant, hateful, xenophobic. Maybe these stereotypes can replace the worn out "Minnesota Nice"!

I don't even eat meat - but that wouldn't stop me from scanning someones food! People hard worked for that money - they are entitled to buy whatever they want - whenever they want! Even if it's a 6 pack of beer and pork rind!

I'm sure someone who follows lent and doesn't eat meat on Fridays would still scan someone’s meat! I'm sure someone who Jewish, would still ring up their stuff.

I'm tired - SICK and tired of not being able to say "Merry Christmas" because it might offend someone -Hey wait a second, what about that offending me!? I've lived here longer than they have!

I don't care what faith you practice! You can lick toads for all I care - just don't make my life more crap, because I don't.

If I ever call for a cab, I will be sure to request someone who isn't Muslim.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

When ranting and raving about being American, please proofread your entry prior to publishing it for the world to read. "...we spek english" is such a sad reflection of educational standards in the United States.

Thank you.

That they don't have the same problem handling explosives, or flying planes into buildings. Maybe the rest of us would be a little more sympathetic if they weren't involved in terrorist activites everywhere they spread.

Awesome reply. I totally agree.

Are they taking the pork out of the packages? No, they're not even touching the pork, so the idea that they're doing anything prohibited by the Koran is pure nonsense. It's sad when I know more about the Koran than these Muslims.

I find the comment made by Dr Shah Khan to be insulting--"He urged people to remember the extraordinary adjustments many Somalis have made in coming to the Twin Cities. "Many of these people are refugees. They may have been tortured. And they came here having never held a book in English," he said. "They're already adapting to our society. We need to adapt to them, too."

I do not think that we should or feel the need to adapt to them. They have come into this country to seek asylum and expect us to adapt to them??? I don't think so---would they do the same for us if we went to their native country? No, I don't think so. Do not make excuses for their behavior. I am sick of people that do not accept their responsibilities, either in life or job.

Somali's and others have come to this country for a better life. If the job you have chosen involves something that you do not agree with, find a different job. You are hired to perform a task and if that involves scanning my bacon, ham or pork roast, I expect you to do that job. I also expect you to learn to read and write in English and the customs of this country that you now call home. I will allow you your religious freedom, such as in your native country, but under no circumstances am I going to adapt to your culture.

Hi Jenewman....lets check back with you in 10 years and hear your position then....Everybody can tell your young because of you what you wrote (the american bashing)is very typical of someone who has not lived very long and/or on their own. Your little italy/german/switerland trip just confirms you are a college student on mommy and daddy's bill....honey...you have the right to fredom of speech and you go girl...but again...lets here what you have to say in 10 years or better yet...go to somalia and try to express your opinion....if you aren't beaten and raped for having an education and being female...you most certainly will be for expressing any kind of opinion!

Just tell them to sod off and as for that prat who said you should adapt to "THEM", I would say, "go take a long walk off a short pier". IDIOT.

I, for one, am sick and tired of those pharmacists.
They should all go back to pharmacia, or wherever they came from. This was a good country before they got here and wrecked it. This is just a sad sad state of affairs. Pharmacists go home!

Jesus said whatever you eat does NOT make you unclean, but whatever come OUT of you do! He called the people who act so "religiously" when it comes to foods and such HYPROCRITES.

Extremists of Islam has taken people back to the stone age. That's why people come here to this great country where people are taugh to be tolerant and loving. We do not need these immigrants to come here to bring us back to the stone age.

In Christianity, calling others "crazy" is condemed to hell. Yet these Muslims are taught to consider the very same people and country who give them a chance "dirty, sinful, and unclean". And when all else fail, they start blowing things up. Those days are not far off for America. Those days will be the days when they will become immigrants in their own countries. Do they know what's coming?

These intolerant and backward thinking is what making people and countries uncivilized. Coming to America can not solve that problem for people. They must realize that the problem lies in in the heart, mind, and attitude. Wake up, change your thinking and heart. Your life will be better. Then you may be good for the world and mankind. There's enough hate spreading by the extremists. Please show how the rest of Muslims are different! So far, there isn't much sign!

The bottom line here is simple. No one forced these Muslim women to work as cashiers at Target. If they don't want to handle pork they are welcome to open a delicatessen that meets Muslim Shari'a law.

Same is true for the Muslim cab drivers at the airport. If they don't want to carry passengers with alcohol or pets, then let them open a cab company and advertise the fact.

The problem with what is going on is twofold. These Muslims are trying to force the rest of us to live by THEIR laws (shari'a). And they are "surprising" people. You don't expect a cashier to refuse to scan your items when you shop at Target. And you don't expect the cabby at the airport to search your luggage for his idea of contraband.

If this was anything other than a heavy handed attempt to make Americans look intolerant, the women would open their delicatessen and the men would open their cab company.

Right. Well, I am 34, and my opinion in 10 years will still be that I don't need to behave like a blow-hard assclown in public to demonstrate that I love my country. Also, glad to see that you took the initiative to visit Somalia, although I am truly sorry to hear about the fact that you were beaten and raped, because that's what you're basing your comment on, correct? It wouldn't be assumption based on no experience, now, would it?

Thank you for saying precisely what I was thinking without seeming xenophobic or as if you have an ax to grind against Muslims.

It seems today everyone's religion is infringing on everyone else's. It has become ridiculous to the point of absurdity.

It is time to return to what my family taught me were not to be discussed at the dinner table with Grandpa .. [insert sports team name here], Politics and Religion!

Well this seems to create a lot of debate. Few worth reading blogs. Minnesota is one of the states that is full of diversities groups. I believe that with these type of diversities is also what makes Minnesota a great place to be.

From reading these blogs, I find that there are different perspective into this 'pork' thing among the Muslim. One stated that it's okay to touch or associate with pork as long as one does not consumed it, others stated one cannot touch or be near it. Which one is right? This open to interpretation of their 'holy' book depending on who's reading it or how they're taught to understand the meaning of the book. I see a lot of these interpretation happening to the Bible as well. Everyone have their own interpretation on any topic/books.

I agreed with many that the cashier should have not display or show that kind of attitude towards customer. Some used the analogy of a cashier under age cannot sell alcohol to customer in a store and would have to wait for someone who's over age limit to ring the alcohol products, well, that scenerio is totally different from this issue. For one, it is illegal for the under age cashier to do so. In retrospect to the pork issue, it is not illegal to touch/scan the product, it is more of a "personal" belief and/or interpretation of that belief. Also, many pointed out, the product is wrapped by plastics, so the cashier will not come in direct contact (flesh to flesh) with the pork.

I'm willing to wager that the same cashier would have gone near or even touched products (not flesh to flesh) that contains porks in them without knowing that it's has pork in it. There are a lot of products that contain so many parts to make it a whole full item. So, this is a visual preferences of belief, rather then a 'life and death' cannot touch or be near issue.

To sum this up, I'd blame both parties, Target Corporation and the cashier. I'm sure on the application, it ask what you can do and what you cannot do or what you prefer from the employer. Both parties fail at this point. Cashier fail to informed the employer, and the employer fail to meet the employee's discomfort (by at least assigning her to a different area within the store). However, we don't know what is mentioned on the application. Or, how the hiring process went.

But, overall it'll save everyone a lot of un-necessary verbal trashing across at one another if ANYONE who is in a position where they will have to deal with issues which will conflict to their personal preferences of belief/culture/habits to stop that line of work and find a new position. You put yourself in that situation, no one forces you to be in that situation.

Well a lot said and I hope it makes sense :) It's my two cents among others.

We are all immigrants if we trace our family trees back far enough (except Native Americans). Originally immigrants came from Europe (mostly) and came here wanting to work hard so they and their families could have a better life. They also respected the culture of the USA, and wanted to become United States citizens.

The problem today is that most of the immigrants who come here from Islamic and Latin American countries, are here for one thing, and that is American money, and benefits/entitlements. They have no desire to live like Americans, or share in our way of life.

I'm not anti-immigration by the way, the fact is I have no problem with people coming here legally and contributing to our society. My feeling is, however, if you don't want to contribute to the American way of life then maybe America is not for you. You should either go home or find another country that is willing carry you on it's back.

Ok Now if they had to HANDLE the Meat I could understand them having a problem with that.

If I brought a Side of Pork wrapped in paper with the Juices bleeding thru the paper I could Understand them Not wanting to handle that.

But We are talking about them handling a Plastic Wrapper Completely Sealed.

I would say that they are probably handling the Toaster Scrambles from pilsbury without objected to them.
the ones with Sausage Bacon ham.
But they are NOT Touching Pork they are handling a Piece of Plastic.

If they WERE Handling the pork I would expect them to be wearing Gloves and an apron or I wouldn't buy the meat.

In Short Get OVER it. Its plastic NOT Pork.

Diversity is perversity. That is a quote from Michael Savage!!!

I liked the bacon fence idea too!!

They don't seem to have any problems handling primer cord, blasting caps, batteries, plastic explosive, C-4, Semtech, or trinitrotoulene. They just have problems with pork?

We need educated, intelligent people. We don't need superstitious people, with uneducated belief systems. Wanna pray 5 times a day... well do it silently, or go back to Somolia, we'll easily get along without you. We have enough Mexicans, we don't need any more low end workers.

Way to go. I personally think it is fine if there are immigrants who have different beliefs, but if that means you won't handle pork--it is your responsibility to not take a job where you will; it is not the company's responsibility to accommodate when the job depends upon you doing something you don't believe in. Thanks for your comments.

It's all politics. They're just trying to push the system to see how much we as a society will take. I live in Grand Forks, ND. There is a Muslim women who works at the local Walmart who wears the headscarf and has no problem at all handling pork products when I purchase them. She is probably the friendliest employee there as well. My point is although she is devout she is not going to push her beliefs on someone else. That's the decision she has made.

I am sick and tired of hearing my fellow somali/Muslim folks complaining too much about every thing. The founding fathers of this county were Christians. When we came to this county we well ware aware of the availability of alchol and pork . I lived in the US for about 15 years , and my first job was a cashier at the Rite Aid Stores in DC. When I worked there, I had no problem ringing the sells for alchol buyers.

I don’t drink alchol nor do I eat pork , but I didn’t have any problem selling it cuz I need a job and I have to pay bills.

They should be greatefull the fact that they have jobs that pays them in order to help their families back home. Do not come here and try to change how people live. I certenly wouldn’t appriciate if a non muslim cab driver were to tell me get off my taxi you are MUSLIM. And the same goes for Muslim cab driverd or cashierd not to descriminate people. This is a county of law, if you don’t like it pack up your bags and live Minnesota Nice!

I'm sorry, but if you can't do the job, don't take the job. Her God should understand she is doing it as a job-related service and not a personal choice. My friend was in a bad car accident. The doctor said she could go back to work but only stand for 3 hours. As her job is a greeter, customer service helper at the door by the check out and she stands her whole shift, she asked if she could have a chair to sit down every 3 hours for just a bit. She was told "no, it is not a sit-down job." Come on! That's an extreme of course, but where does it end? What other products? And then what if I object to a certain product and I work at a store like that? Pornography in the form of a girlie magazine at a gas station? Condoms? Birth control? Do I refuse to sell it because my religion says it is not acceptable? On and on and on. The woman in question should find a job where she is not subjected to something she cannot bring herself to do. An employer should have the right to terminate or move her to another position if she cannot do the job she was hired to do.

As an American and a Muslim, I feel like I have woken up in the twilight zone.

I will go to the said Target store buy a package of the said meat, identify myself as a Muslim and walk through the check out counter.

I will ofcource have to donate the said package to a food shelf. No wait, perhaps I cannot give the said meat to someone, how about if the person is really hungry, should I let him starve. Perhaps I have to throw the package away. Aghaaa I don't know what to do. This is something I have never done before ...

Getting there will be a challenge though, I have to get there without driving my car. It has certainly been manufactured by infidels who consumed prohibited things. Because I refused to pay intrest, my car payments are default and it is being repossesed.

Even if I had my car free and clear, Lobbying by the infidels requires sale of an ethanol blend gas in winter. Here is another way infidels are messing with gods plans. A little warmth in our little neck of the woods never hurt anyone. But I digress..

I could ask my Amish friend to take me down town, but he is only free on Friday. I cannot travel on sabbath. Oh the agony of life amongst the infidels...

Seriously, is the author yanking our collective chains, blogging about a questionable incident to unleash a torrent of bigoted and racist comments from the residents of one of the most tolerant state in the union. I don't know.

But the first thought that popped into my mind was, I need to experience this inconvenice for myself. As an American, one spending time in pursuit of happiness I cannot comphrend this.

Even as a Muslim I don't get it. As a paid employee I am contractually obligated to follow the policies (direction of my employer) of the corporation that I work for. Islam and Islamic law is clear on this issue.

Now guys please, before you jump all over me, I will say this muslims are bound only by their faith. The five pillars of islam that are adhered to by all muslims world wide. This is the common thread that binds muslims world wide to their faith.

Culturally there is very little commonality between muslims world wide. I am not sure if it is possible even for Muslims, much less lay Americans seperate cultural beliefs from religious beliefs when confronted by unusual behaviour. Each one certainly out doing the other with claims of adherence to Pure Islam.

First step taken by radicals in any religion is to stake claim to the purity of their beliefs.

However, what was surprising are calls for muslims to go to Irak or where ever the "war on terror" is in progress ignores the reality of the muslim demographics world wide.

There are there are over 1 billion muslims world wide and the largest populations are outside the countries where the "war on terror" is in progress.

I am sorry I really don't have anything meningful to say. I will however do this. Everyday, when I look in the mirror, see my new hair cut and spandex tights. I will say to myself, relax you are in America jack, people wierder than you live in this country. Why the people next door are French Canadian and the couple down the street are cheese heads from Wisconsin. A Muslim with a bad hairdo and spandex tights will fit right in.

"we don't go to their country and try to change what they do". What a load of crap. One word for you "IRAQ".Or did you forget about that.

Dr. Shah Khan stated that Somali's and others are adapting to our culture and we should understand and adapt to them.
No. I don't think so.
You adapt. Or get fired. Get fined.
I don't care if my stock in Target goes down because you are going to protest.
The public will support them much more than they will lose because you are pissed at them for 2-4 weeks.
Eventually the case will be forgotten, even by the protesters and they will go back to working and shopping at Target.
More of the whole, less people in the divided portion, so to speak.
As for any other Cross Section of the populous, its about whats fair, equal, and kind.
If you want a job, you do the job.
You don't get to choose what parts of the job you don't want to do.
Don't want to do it? Quit.
You knew what the job entailed before you took it.
My guess is that the presumably good Dr. Khan and his good people haven't adapted or even attempted to adapt at all.

How stupid are Muslims to realize they are NOT handling pork, but handling packages that contain pork. Please, for the sake of everyone....GET INTO THE 21'ST CENTURY!!! You don't see the Amish running around refusing to handle clothes with zippers or park their buggies in parking lots with cars. Do you as Muslims even understand what those laws were about? We have modern science and even more important STOVES to cook the pork and kill any bacteria or parasites that exist on it. Further, this superstitious ban on pork seems to have been borrowed from the Jewish faith....something that Muslim's would never admit.

becuz you are going to have to move, and good riddance. Our country is not yours.

This aversion to pork is a well known and possibly beneficial fact. If you've read about the Moro (Muslim) insurrection in the Philippines at the dawn of the 20th century, you will find many parallels to the present Iraq situation. There were many Muslim extremist atrocities, murders and attacks on the American soldiers during that time. To combat this, Blackjack Pershing,of WWI fame, ordered several of the captured insurgents to be tied to a stake, wrapped in freshly removed pig skin and shot dead in view of the local population. The executed Muslim, having touched pork at the moment of his death was thought to be damned for eternity. Forget about heaven and all those virgins!! The attacks ceased almost overnight once word got around. I think we should try this in Falluja and see how things shake out. Worth a look.

WHY do I feel like we are the ones that are having to adapt to "Their" beliefs? Isn't this America!!! adapt to "our" country! Prayer time in our schools, special homework in their language? Come on, and they cry racism, learn our language, get a job, get off welfare. But, they can some how afford newer cars, cell phones ect... Interesting system we have here huh!

This article really shows the racism and bigotry that exists in our country. Such incidents happen like .01% of the time and it becomes a news story ONLY because Muslims are involved. It's Islamophobia. You’re going to look back in about 40 years and think of what stupid, racist fools you were. Just like how (some) former anti-black people now feel.

As many people have noted, she has no right to work at this store if she can't do the job.

Second, I'm pretty sure I know the woman referred to in the story. She has worked there for months and never had a problem touching pork products before. Mark my words, other muslim employees, around the city (possibly nation), many of whom have been handling pork for years without any qualms will now claim that - for religious reasons - they no longer can.
Just like with the somali cab drivers many of them that now refuse to transport alcohol have been doing so for years.

This stuff is orchestrated by the Muslim American Society in conjunction with many local mosques and "muslim cultural centers." It is an orchestrated attempt to probe our will to stand-up to their aggression. We need to send a message now and fire all of these a**holes

Kindness is important to me.

If it makes someone elses life better, I am more than happy to do something simple like ringing up my pork and bagging it. I am not below bagging my own groceries as a kindness to someone else.

I respect their religious conviction. And by trying to make their lives better, I also pay respect to my own religious conviction.

Do unto others...

I doubt that there is anything that an Orthodox Jew might refuse to check out or handle. I have a good friend who was in charge of bacon production at a major meat packing plant. Never tasted it, but did all the quality control that went with the job.
The short answer is that an Orthodox Jew would not refuse to deal with the products in the store. Won't take it home, will always wash before eating (we do that anyways), but work in a store that has those items for sale?
No problem.

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

LoL, Good idea. Now we need to get a lawmaker on board to author a bill for the building of such fence.

Keith Ellison might be a good place to start getting support for a bill.

This bill could provide jobs for those that want them. This could provide great opportunities for the learning of team work and getting along with others that may have a different lifestyle.

The Christian religion used to embrace the idea that Sunday was a day of rest. Many years ago, the only commerce available was convenience type stores, gas stations and the corner store. No malls or other Target type stores were open.

I say to Christians now, let's go back to those days. Let us all rest on Sunday's. Let us have peace and quiet and spend time with our friends and family.

Let us get together on a Sunday and discuss this further. I will barbecue the best ribs in America, bought on a Saturday and paid to a Muslim who was not afraid to handle a packaged pork product.

Let's not loose our cool over a piece of meat, and get all bend out of shape over it. When you open your doors to group of people you don't share much with, there is bound to be some culture/religion clashes. If Target doesn't have a problem with this system, you as the customer shouldn't either. Everyone came to America one way or another, so instead of telling the Muslims to go back to their countries why don't you simply go to another store. And PLEASE, do not beat the patriotic drum for us, it will only fall into a deaf ear.

It is very unfortunate that instead of us trying to bring people together, we rather go for things that will help draw the division even wider. It is especially more unfortunate if we consider ourself as true followers of jesus. We are not acting as healer rather we are trying to cash on each and every opportunity to ignite the fire.

I personally know many muslims who works hard and contribute to the development of this land. They do all those jobs which we wouldnt do or cant do, but out of millions of those muslims we only bring one into publicity since she didnt provide a good customers service. It may not be because of her beleifs rather it may be because of her lack of education or because of a bad day. Did we ever look at our fellow citizen who will refuse to serve or badly serve none white. Did we ever give this much media coverage to those people. No! a reporter would never even listen to those people complain becuase ..... ? Do we think Jesus, Moses and Mohammad were white/caucasian? because we all knew they were born in middle east, so most likely they were not white or blonde, so if we discriminate by color, would we refuse to serve them?

It is a shame that we are spending so much energies on such pitty issues and spreading more and more hatred among people rather than helping to bring people together. Shammmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmme on such reporting.

You dont need to check, I know many stores and business would allow Jews to take satureday off because of the religion. We all knew in almost every democracy around the world, christians are allowed to take sunday off. We shouldnt make this is a big issue. This is just one case, which doesn't mean every muslim might be doing like this. We know many strip clubs with nude dancer, we knew many gay and lesbians on band wagon during gay parades and majority of them are christians, it doesn't mean all christians likes nudity or all christians are gay and lesbians. So please understand it as a single case. There are over billion muslims in the world and we will always find few orthodox, but majority of them are as good people as we could think of.

Go down to HCMC (Hennepin County Medical Center) and take a look of the number of immigrants that are receiving free health care. We even bring their extended families (those of retirement age) to this country - completely nonproductive individuals. We pay for it all, we even pay for the interpreters. We are getting reamed!

This is no different from the pharmacy workers or doctors who refuse to deal with birth control pills because of their religious convictions.

If we allow one group to refuse to do part of their job because their religion says it's "immoral" or "unclean," we must allow all people to do so. At least this is a great deal less dangerous than refusing to give people medication because the pharmacy clerk believes their lifestyle is immoral.

Most Muslims who entered Europe came shortly after WWII during the reconstruction effort, or due to political asylum later on. This has to mean something! If your willing to leave your homeland to help build another country or you have to flee your homeland due to political oppression (escape from death), most NORMAL people would be extremely grateful to their new host country, which offers freedom, opportunity and happiness. But no! They want us to assimilate to their culture and the eventual conquest of the west.

Be happy your women can drive automobiles and hold a job, speak their minds and pursue an education. And be happy you were allowed into a "free" country, where one can aspire personal & economic growth. If you can't stand it, go back to your dirt floors and donkey-propelled infrastructure.

Learn English. Go to a job interview dressed as a normal "western" person, not some head to toe covered spook. Love your new land that gave you life!

NOT. Quick quiz - how many other religions require you conform or die? How old was that girl Muhammed slept with. I'll give you a hint - you will only need one digit. So, pork is not touchable but beheading is okay? Rock on Islam...

It's not about checking out bacon or carrying a passenger in a cab who has a bottle of wine or a dog. It's not a problem to scan the item for the cashier which is not a big deal - the crux of the matter is that we're helping them to implement their Islamic law or sharia law. Little by little or inch by inch is how they do it...this is just the beginning. We need to watch very carefully what they're up to or life as we know it will be gone!

Someone mentioned segregated washing facilities and prayer rooms in an American business. That's submitting to sharia whether the business knows it or not... We have our own constitution and laws which have served us well for centuries yet these are what they want to change so as to accomodate their own religion, Islam, which in reality is a political religious cult.

Islam means submission and they're taught to fight us until the rest of us "infidels" submit. That's the reality and that's who Bush is inviting into this country by the tens of thousands. Muslims are like this now - just wait until their numbers rise!!!

"But no! They want us to assimilate to their culture and the eventual conquest of the west."

How exactly is not being comfortable scanning bacon related in any way to you?

It's not. She was just uncomfortable scanning bacon. She wasn't trying to convert, change, attack, or harm you or anyone else in any way.

It's bacon folks. Stop being so pig-headed.

Jesus was an observant Jew. He did not eat pig meat. He followed the Torah that forbids it. The early Christinas afte Jesus likewise did not eat pig meat. This came via the teachings of Paul long after Jesus. Paul taught the Christians to eat the pig meat.

ALl this fuss about the bacon, but no one seems to care that the greedy companies are doing away with cashiers so you scan EVERYTHING yourself. Self-checkout is the solution to this problem. Pork lovers will be handle all the pig meat they want, and Muslims will be able to avoid all the pig meat they want and the companies will be all the richer. It is already happening, but you all are stuck on the pork debate without looking at the big picture.

Check out this website and find out what other terrible things the so called Religion of Piece has done all over the world:

-----> http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/

The idea is all the same: Submit to Islam or die!!!

WAKE UP AMERICA!!

STOP THE ISLAMIZATION OF AMERICA!!!

Oh puh'leez!!! In 40 or so years from now the world will not exist because of the so-called religion of Islam and it's demented followers! Stupid? Racist? Bigots?

I call it Islam and it's Muslim followers.

I totally agree here. Yes, it may not have been that big an issue to have someone else scan your groceries, but what will it be next. I worked in public housing for many years and with many minorities. If they could not understand English they brought someone who could. I don't think it is being intolerant or racist it is being fair. I have had experience with the military and the police departments for my career and minorities have had the upper hand for a long time. If you were a white male with no college background, but you had 5 years experience you were passed over for the black, asian, somalian.... who had no college and no experience. I still do not understand it. We should all be treated FAIRLY the same. I am now a single parent of non-minority statis with debt from the divorce. I can't get a credit card or buy a house, nor can I even find the right people or agencies to help me with this. However, immigrants are given credit, assisted living information, case workers to help them find employment, housing, schooling, and daycare. I am all for the melting pot idea, but it seems that is fast becoming the melted pot, and the non-minorities are stuck in the fire.

Co-founder of CAIR (Council on American-Islamic Relations) Omar Ahmad is quoted speaking to a group of California Muslims expressing his hope of seeing an America under the domination of Islam. In that article, Ahmad is quoted as saying,

"Islam isn't in America to be equal to any other faith, but to become dominant. The Koran ... should be the highest authority in America, and Islam the only accepted religion on earth."

So now you know what these Muslims are up to. What are you going to do now? Dismiss this fact so you can be a politically correct hero, or act now to stop it??

What do you mean except Native Americans? Unless they popped out of the ground, then they came from some where else.

There are different of opion on this in the Muslim world about handleing pork product. Than woman who convert to Islam but is still marrage to than non-muslim man is except to cook pork meat for him. The Phamist that refuse to hornor than doctor who say needed that medine
is acting illegal, let say than racist evan Christian refuse than AIDS patient needed for anti-AIDS is breaking one of the 10 commemt(Jew,Christian and Muslim have the 10 comment) it the AIDS patient die due to a lack of drugs.

Many culture have ban the eating of pork meat as it is than unclean and unhealthly meat to eat. They must soak pork meat in very strong alchol for many week to kill a good percentage of the parsite liveing in pork meat. One of the first meat remove from patient with heart touble is pork meat and anything that is pork.

I'm glad to see that for a refreshing change common sense is prevailing in 95% of the comments. My 3 cents:

1) America is a nation of immigrants and our strength comes from the diversity of assimilating multiple cultures. With 7% of the world's population, we have about one third of the world's economic output in large part because of the new ideas and innovation the come from immigrants bringing their cultures to the U.S. and becoming a part of our economy. I get concerned that the recent restrictions that make it more difficult for immigrants to legally become a part of the U.S. will stifle our economy.

2) We don't expect immigrants to give up their culture or religious beliefs. Hopefully their children will learn English and American ways while also preserving their heritage, religion and language. However, as every preceding generation has done, immigrants need to adapt their ways to fit in to our society, or as nearly everyone has said in the other comments, not put themselves in jobs or situations that they feel would compromise their beliefs. Part of what makes the U.S. great is that you have the freedom to choose what job you take.

3) I expect you to behave the same as I do when I go to your country. I've had the priviledge through my work and pleasure to spend time in 21 countries outside of the U.S. and sell my company's products through distributors in 18 countries. When I go to another country, I learn enough of the culture and religion of the country to conduct myself accordingly. For example, in Malaysia I am careful not to show the bottom of my shoes by crossing my legs. I am not giving up any of my Christianity, but I respect your religion and culture and don't expect anyone in my host country to change their ways to accomodate my beliefs. Likewise I don't tell our distributors "This is how we sell our product in America, so you must do it our way". Rather, I learn about how they conduct business in their country and adapt our policies to fit their culture. Except if the norm is bribery and corruption -- If I can't find a distributor who will conduct business in accordance with our ethics, then I won't sell our products in that country. I expect the same conduct from you when you come and settle in my country.

4) I agree with others that Target management is making a big mistake in accomodating this nonsense. It can quickly spiral out of control and negatively affect all of us as consumers, employers and employees.

5) I am very glad to see comments from other Muslims speaking out against what's going on. The minority who are insisting on special treatment make it more difficult for all Muslims to live here. The "Go back where you came from" comments unfortunately get applied to all Muslims and makes it more difficult for them to get jobs and be accepted in our community.

So... Welcome to America. Welcome to Minnesota. Please enrich us by contributing to our economy, arts and sports. Welcome to our schools. Our children are enriched by friendships with chidren of diverse backgrounds. Preserve your culture. Share your culture and beliefs. Just don't impose you beliefs on others.

We offer you the freedoms we have as the greatest nation on earth. In return, we expect you to obey our laws and adapt to our way of life. If you can't do that, please leave. There are thousands of people from countries all over the world who would do virtually anything to have the priviledge of being here in your place.

The rest of us need some accomodations too! We've been really dumb all these years allowing our religious rights to be usurped. Let's face it, we're just peeved because we aren't getting anything!

We all need holidays off. Don't know how I got stuck working so many of em!

We all need Sundays off.

We all need access to a quiet room for rest and reflection.

Next, I'm getting ready to start a new religion. I'm open to ideas from all. I'm still trying to come up with a good name. Here are some of our basic tenets:

Paying taxes, tributes, or fees is against my religion.

Working more than 30 hours a week is against my religion. Being paid for 40 hours a week would be a reasonable accomodation.

Ready to sign up?

She was wearing a headscarf or hijab
http://preview.tinyurl.com/3yprfh

not a burqa
http://preview.tinyurl.com/2skvep

or a niqaab
http://preview.tinyurl.com/35cohr

the hijab shows the full face which is easily taken for it's expression.

semantics semantic...sigh.

Hijab(head scarf), not burka-read the article.

You are correct in your analysis but for the fact that Mr Bush was not the one inviting the immiggrants. It was Mr Clinton and the other liberals who years ago saw them as another source of dependency votes. Get them here - make them dependent on teh Welfare system and they will vote democrat all the way along.

One way to look at it - once our country becomes like theirs in the form of rules and values, they will cease coming here as the oportunity will all be gone.

A little town of Herouxville issued their own set of rules:
http://municipalite.herouxville.qc.ca/Standards.pdf

They are sooo far ahead of us...

Compromise will work only when both parties are willing, and when the solution doesn't create undue disruption or cost. The compromise described above, in which a back-up cashier was called to handle the haram product, will fail under other circumstances.

For example: 1) When a back-up cashier is not available due to heavy customer traffic; 2) When the ratio of Muslim to non-Muslim cashiers increases resulting in too few back-up cashiers.

Additionally, the store will have difficulty scheduling cashiers, making certain there's an adequate mix of Muslim and non-Muslim workers at each shift.

While these may be relatively minor disruptions, people are delayed and doing business processes are complicated.

In the United States' free society, citizens have rarely imposed their own life choices on others. What if every non-drinker and non-smoker refused to sell those products to customers who came through their checkout line?

Tolerance needs to be a two-way street. When the majority accomodates the minority, the minority should reciprocate. If someone is so sensitive to the habits of others, that person should seek employment in an establishment where the offending products are not for sale.

'In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person's becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag ... We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language... and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people.'
Theodore Roosevelt 1907

We are taught in islam that we must abide to contracts we signe with other parties. In this case the contract could be a( Visa, Green card, etc...), and the other party is the US.When accepted to live in this country we have to abide by the rules that govern this country and respect their Religion, Culture and way of live.
Yes drinking alchol,eating pork, gambling etc.. is forbiden in Islam, and as a Muslim I have to make the decission where to do I have to work to avoid this type of conflict. Therefore If these Muslim cashiers choose to work in enviroment where pork or alcohol is serverd than either tell your employer to give you an another position where you don't have to deal with this or find you another job that you will feel confortable.

Peace to All.

I'll join! I've always been suspicious of people who hate dogs. And bacon. Bacon is a dogs favorite treat and dogs are related to pigs, so we have a full circle of sin here.

We'll wash away our sins with alcohol, while the bacon sizzles and the dog begs for it!

Sizzle, sizzle!

Shut up and keep to the subject. If you don't like when someone makes a spelling mistake keep it to yourself.

The Company must make a reasonable accommadations for a person's religious practices(civil rights/1964)so:
1.This person should not be in a position where they refuse to serve a customer, prolong their transaction, or require unnecessary help to complete that transaction. They should be reassigned to an area where it doesn't violate religious beliefs.
2.I,as a customer, have the right to cease that transaction at anytime I feel I'm am not being treated with respect,good service or service that is offensive to my beliefs(not religious,as a customer)
3.It is the right of every consumer to boycott any establishment that allows this to happen to them. I WILL BOYCOTT ANY THAT ALLOWS THIS TO CONTINUE!

Amend the US Constitution: "Any religious order that infringes upon a person's inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness or that is subversive to this Constitution shall not be afforded the protection of the first amendment."

umm....its not like scanning your own groceries out of respect for someone elses religion is going to kill you. Boohoo you had to scan one thing, so what? Don't we have bigger issues to worry about? and if you don't...then i suggest you start reading newspapers and start to care. There are people dying out there, and your sitting here worrying about having to scan your own product. Get a life.

You people kill me. Please do boycott Target. I'm sure Target will totally notice the impact of the 10's of you not shopping there any more who are so outraged because you couldn't buy your dead pig products immediately.
Best of luck to you, idiots.

To Kimit the Frog

There is NO difference between Christian pharmacists being required to dispense RU-486 and Target workers handling pork. In either case, it goes with the job. Dispensing abortion pills is not a health matter for the customer, just for the baby being killed. While I personally applaud the pharmacists for taking a stand, there is no job guarantee with our freedoms. If you speak out, the government cannot get you, but your employer can.

Grow up and get a different job. Go sell vegetables at a Vegan Market!!!

first the government sent me to vietnam to fight the commies. then they bring sir charles to this country in droves. i was totally pissed at first then realized that most of them become hard working and hard studying folks i would pull for.

then they sent the boys to somalia to help out those fighting whinning we can't protect ourselves from ourselves somalian muslims. of course they brought them here and i'm totally pissed. to the muslims living in america go convert a part of the world that isn't my country. i could care less what religion you practice but do it privately.

then we have iraq----what a cluster---- will we never learn. my ancestors were also immigrants but for the most part they became damned good americans. three generation of my family served their ccountry proudly. i refuse to make concessions to any faith, religion, or creed that refused to accept the american way of life.

The absolutely vile hatred that people are willing to spew onto an internet message board where they can be cloaked in anonymity never ceases to amaze me. How are some of the comments on here even remotely acceptable by anyone's measure? Why is this suddenly ok? This has veered from a debate regarding one company's choice in how to deal with employee's religious beliefs and into a forum for hate-mongers to hurl their barbed insults and threats at a group of people who live in our state. How many of you have even made an effort to get to know your Muslim neighbor or co-worker?

To mplslib,

If it's OK to hate Nazism, why is it not OK to hate Islamism? Both destroy people's freedom and lives. Would you tolerate the Nazi? Islam is Nazism disguised as a religion. It's a political force under a religious name. Why didn't you see that already?

Why would any business keep an employee who refused to sell their products?.. If you refuse to perform your job duties, you should be fired - in this country, you're free to go home and pray to whomever you like and I'm free to tell you to kiss my ass.

It's seems clear, that this is simply a way for yet another religious group to try to control others. If a company like Target builds special lanes for this type of ignorance, let them. I won't change lanes, I just won't shop there anymore.

Since these service positions depend on my business, I'm going to be very selective who I give that business to. If I call for a cab, I'll make sure they don't send one with a Muslim driver just in case they have something against the bacon I had for breakfast. If I have to wait for someone else to ring up my groceries, I'm walking out of the store and going elsewhere. Maybe they'll get the point that it is not exceptable to not do your job here in the US. I've stopped giving my business to any company that has poor business practices or customer service. I don't discriminate. If I'm giving someone my hard earned money (I do the work I'm paid to do), I expect to get a good product or service.

What are they going to do during the upcoming weeks before Easter when every other customer is buying a ham???

I mean Native Americans were here before the United States and therefore did not immigrate to this country.

excuse me you liberals what religion was it that carried out the killing of over 3000 americans hmmmmmmmmmmmm.

If you have a problem with handling pork or dispensing the morning after pill, I suggest that you get another job ASAP! You cannot tell me when you applied for the position that you were not aware of the potential for conflict. So tell me, why the heck did you apply for the job?? I suggest you think in more depth and detail about any potential conflicts before you apply for the job. How much clearer can this be, don't apply if you can't fulfill all the job requirements.

I would love to see everyone in the area going to Target and buying bacon at the same time, then when we're requested to scan it ourselves we can say "My religion forbids me from scanning my own items when I buy them." My father was in immigrant. He came to this country, learned the language better, and integrated himself into the American culture, eventually becoming a productive citizen. That's how it's done, not the other way around. You don't go to another person's house and start making the rules. Adapt to US or go away.

I'm just curious, does this same cashier refuse to scan a can of bean & bacon soup? Or Totino's pizza bites? If she is truly set in her belief about handling items that contain pork, then she probably shouldn't be handling many of the grocery items, nor some of the pet food items, as many of them contain salvaged meat from various processing plants, including pork producers, and what about leather? I've seen some really nice pigskin leather purses and jackets in my day. Hmmm...... does she take the time to read ALL of the ingredient labels of ALL the items in the store and then keep a mental checklist of what she can and cannot handle??? This strikes me as odd that she'd refuse bacon & or pepperoni pizza, but not the hundreds of other items that contain pork as one of its ingredients. Way I see it, she needs to scan everything, or nothing..........

We live in a free country, we all have to tolerate things we personally don't care for. It's part of the price of having the things WE like available. If something bothers us so much that we refuse to do it....or be near it, we probably shouldn't be there in the first place. Alcohol against your beliefs? Doubt you spend a lot of time in liquor stores or bars. Working on the Sabbath against your beliefs? If you are serious, you will find an employer who will not require you to work that day. Don't belive in homosexual relationships? I'm guessing you aren't ever going to be involved in one. I'm also guessing that you also aren't trying to ban liquor stores, employers, and what people do in the privacy of their own homes.

Part of freedom/living in a free country is the freedom to make choices that impact only ourselves without being hurtful of others. Our laws pretty much define what we as a society consider hurtful,therefor illegal, and if what we do is not illegal, we need to tolerate it in others. Don't have to like it, but we do need to put up with it and allow others to partake/live. Last I checked, Pork and it's associated by-products ARE legal, so it needs to be tolerated, especially as many are pointing out, IT'S WRAPPED!!

Bottom line is, her working as a cashier at Target makes about as much sense as a zealot anti-smoker working at a Kwik Trip and refusing to sell cigarettes. Doubt KT would put up with it. Cigarettes, like pork, may be against your cultural/personal beliefs, but both are legal products. (if anyone is wondering, i believe the zealous pharmacists are out of line, too, their job is to dispense medications, and educate people about them , not second-guess physicians and decide they can be judge and jury for others)

Okay, done venting now, although I am going to check with the management of my local Target about their policies, and if I'm relly bored, make a list up of ALL the grocery items in target that contain Pork so the cashiers can be truly educated about what they can and cannot touch, as we have all learned by now, it's not the pork itself that is evil, it's also the packaging it comes in!

Blessed be all, and may all this craziness come to an end someday, and for the record, my grandparents immigrated from Germany just before WW2, and did EVERYTHING in their power to be "good Americans" and assimilate. They were so thankful to be away from Hitler and that chaos that they counted their blessings and fell in love with what this country had to offer.

The reason why this is happening in Minneapolis and not in Chicago or New York is that Minnesotans are the most politically correct, liberal, and effeminate culture that I have experienced. That is why the Muslims are experimenting with imposing their beliefs on your community first. It is all part of a greater plan. If they tried to pull those stunts in Chicago they would be fired right away with no questions asked. So, in answer to your concern, Minnesotans are WEAK and that is why they are being picked on so badly. I know this because I lived there for a few years and I never saw so many sensitive pussies in my life!

You speak out against racist but obviously you are a classist and a snob. Do you think that only college graduates have a valid opinion. I have a college degree and I am a lousy speller even with spell check; just like some people are bad at math. Oh and by the way mister or miss educated person a lot is two words, duh. I gueass this means your opinion is not worth while.

The person who does not do their job due to their religion makes it about religion.

Im with you pigman! !!!

We need to take our America back before there is nothing left to take back!!!!!!

First of all I would like to say, that as a Muslim who was born and raised right here in the Twin Cities I am truly fed up with some Muslims who come to this country and want to impose their uderstanding or rather their misunderstanding of Islaam on the people of this country. I am a convert to Islaam. I have been Muslim for about 16 years. I have traveled to other countries and I have spent 4 years studying the Quran, sayings of the Prophet Muhammad, Arabic grammar,and Islamic Law. I studied these sciences under qualified scholars of Islaam. It is very unfortunate that Islaam has gotten a bad name and image in the past years. The real tragedy is that the image of Islaam is being destroyed by those who claim Islaam as their religion. This is mostly being done by Muslims who come from other places and eventhough they are from places where there is Muslim majority and those Muslims may have been born into a Muslim family and have been taught the Quran since childhood, they completely lack any understanding of the teachings of Islaam or its laws. They do not represent the relgion of Islaam. They represent their own backwards culture then they try and claim it is Islaam. I am sick and tired of it. I am a Muslim who prays 5 times a day,who fasts during the month of Ramadan, who eats according to Islamic diet(which by the way prohibits eating meat that is not Islamicly slaugtered, not just pork)and I try to do my best to show kindness and respect to all people even if they hate my guts. This is the example that the Prophet Muhammad has left us. The majority of Muslims scholars say that it is lawful for a Muslim to work in a place where unlawful things (pork, alcohol etc.)are sold if there is no other means of employment to be found. I would like to add a statement to any Muslims that read this and that is we as Muslims in particular, Muslims in America, we need to stop picking and choosing the aspects of Islaam we want to follow. What I mean by this is that dont make a federal case out of touching pork but then you will turn around and lie and commit fraud on immigration papers, for example. In Islaam one of the most major sins is to lie and commit deception no matter if it is a Muslim or a non-Mulsim involved. Islaam teaches humility and understanding towards all people, we need to practice more of these things also. So lets not be pick and choose Muslims. Finally I would like to say that to all of those who are not Muslim please do not let some ignorant, backwards, indivduals or groups make you think that they represent Islaam and the Muslims as a whole.

Allah be damn, what the hell is wrong with these folks? First the taxi's and now grocery workers? People need to get their heads out of their asses and leave their religious beliefs at home when you're at work.

To mplsib,

The liberals would have everyone believe that all cultures and relgions should "just get along" no matter what crimes they commit, *especially* to their own people.

Those cultures that don't respect their own people sure as hell aren't going to respect the Americans. Look how they treat their women for Christsake.

I've got one question for everybody. Is there anyone of you who supports this bacon situation willing to go live in a Muslim country for just one week? I'll bet not.

agreed

This Islamic bride learned the truth about Islam.

I’ve lived and worked all over the world. It is clear that your imams intend to isolate Muslims from Western culture. One day, you or your offspring will be forced to decide between 21st century civilization or 7th century Islam.

Look at your “religion of peace” in this video. Why do your imams keep silent? Until your leaders speak out against this sort of primitivism, your future is threatened.

Your imams clearly want Muslims to suffer in the United States. They hope to use you to infect the rest of the planet. Let’s hope you and yours will grow up before it is too late.

Initially, my reaction was the same as many others on the site—that it would be time consuming and rather ridiculous to constantly have someone take over the “line” every minute.

But examining the situation beneath the surface I thought "what a beautiful arrangement”. Here are people from cultures and families worlds apart, working together respectfully to be part of a productive community. In a world that is riddled with war, anger, and poverty, isn’t this example the best of what we could hope for? In a society that is becoming global so quickly, the more understanding and learning, the better. Sometimes we need to take the small positives in difficult and unusual situations and run with them.

Here is something worth reading for the majority of those responding to the site--Embrace the concept of difference.

"Learning occurs when individuals are exposed to the unfamiliar. Individuals whose backgrounds and life experiences differ from one another are a rich source of socio-cultural learning. Exchanging viewpoints, discussing experiences, and sharing aspects of culture, language, and customs are powerful tools… "

Issues can be looked at from different perspectives of teaching/learning vs economic influences. Taking the time to reflect on different views isn't always a bad idea, even though you don't agree.

Maybe Minnesota is sick of being the receiptiants of the constant flow of welfare trash....We need to come together on this issue and stop letting these people take advantage of our system....I am a single middle class WORKING mom, I get no assistance from the government and have to pay my own insurance, daycare, housepayment and yes....pay for my own food...in the end...I live off of 125.00 a week and that has to pay for my diapers, food and gas to get me to work....why do I do this and not collect welfare?, well for one I am white and I can't get welfare but also I am proud to support myself and my family...these people have no self respect...our tax payers money should help people who actually contribute to society and are worthy of it!

First of all, I'm just aghast and frankly shocked at the sheer level of anger, disgust, and bigotry being expressed and condoned on these message boards against people who happen to be practicing their faith.

America was founded on religious tolerance and if there are some Muslim workers for whom touching and eating pork is banned then RESPECT that fact people instead of throwing a malicious, self-destructive tantrum as another proof of "terrorists Islamizing" taking over. lol...

In fact I find it surprisingly accurate and completely understand why pork is considered "dirty." As a University Pathologist TA, I can tell you more parasites and worms dwelve in porks than any other major consumed meat and fish by Americans.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDBAG0KPLcs

Surely the grocers are not refusing to pack 99.9999% of other groceries. In my experiences, I can vouch that I haven't met more generous, gracious, forgiving and helpful people (in general) than people of the Islamic faith. Rep. Keith Ellison's magnanamity in the face of redneck, right-wing, xenophobes like Mr. Virgil Goode is a good example.

Ciao!

It's madness to permit demographically significant numbers of Muslims into America. Look at the painful lessons that the French (with their Arabs) and the Germans (with their Turks and Kurds) have had to learn. Who could possibly argue that those countries would not be better off if they had never let them in. They'd have spared themselves widespread riots and continuing under-reported heavy crime, crumbling slums and ruined cities, ethno/racial/religious tensions, large pools for mass-murderous terrorists to swim in undetected, and an overrall transformation of daily life from being pleasant, prosperous, safe, and normal, to being none of those things.

Don't listen to the arguments based on compassion; international law and refugee agreements require that refugees and asylees be housed as close as possible to their homelands. That is not the USA for any Muslim country.

And don't let anyone try to draw parallels with America's past immigration experiences. We had a hell of a time assimilating the first wave of Irish and Germans, taking well over a century to fully Americanize these people who are so close to the original British stock that founded the USA. We are still not completely done assimilating the second wave - the southern and eastern Europeans, which has also taken a century. And both groups were white - a key factor helping prevent being a permanent "visible minority", as well as being either Christian or Jewish, both religions familiar to historical America. At a minimum it will take many many centuries to assimilate nonwhite Muslims; what benefit they can possibly offer is worth centuries of tension and conflict? What's our track record of other nonwhite groups fully assimilating after centuries among us? Ask the Indians, Hispanics, and blacks.

The cold hard reality, the fact that exists regardless of whether you are comfortable and safe publicly admitting it, is that Muslims as a group (spare me individual anecdotes) do not work and play well with others. Look at a map of the Muslim world; every single border is torn with conflict and strife due to Muslim intolerance and aggression - from Indonesia to Thailand to Kashmir to the Caucuses (Chechnya, Armenia v Azerbaijan) to Israel to the Balkans to Darfur to Nigeria. And, again wherever they have been foolishly allowed in, they are ruining - Spain, France, Germany, Scandinavia.

This is like a piranha pit full of haters. Most of you are small-minded bigots. As for getting on a plane and going back where they came from -- Muslim-Americans are Americans. They have a right to be here. And if you believe that tolerance and diversity are American values, then you're un-American. YOU get on a plane and go back to wherever your Grampa came from, you twit.

In America, there is not one way of life that remains the same. The people of the world come here, and the culture changes. You don't realize or appreciate the things that you've adapted into your lifestyle that were brought here by immigrants. You don't get to determine what the American way of life is on your own.

Jews are the predominant race/nationality/religion/ethnic group in New York for over a century and yet the street signs are still in English and you can buy ham sandwiches in Jewish delis even if the owner himself will not eat it.

This is because Jews are not looking to turn the world into a Judaic caliphate. Muslims on the other hand cannot abide, tolerate, or stand infidels.

If any American company hires a Muslim that cannot do the job for which he was hired, that company should be boycotted. For security reasons, knowing how Muslims feel about all infidels, no enterprise where the handling of food is involved should ever hire a Muslim.

Of course, this would be less of a problem if we simply refused to allow any more Muslims to come into this country.

And please, spare me the racist epithets, the correct term is bigot. I am proud to be bigoted against a religion that wants me to convert or die. Nothing personal.

The pilgrims were here before the United States was here.

the other day my son and i were discussing how, when people drive up behind someone who is going slower than they are, they think [or say] "stupid!" because they think the other driver is going too slow; and when the same person has someone drive up behind them they say [or think] "idiot!" because they think the other driver is going too fast.

same person, same scenario, same reaction--only a different physical position [either in front of or behind the other driver] for the angry name caller.

my son asked me, "when did we all become so angry?!?"

reading these posts here, i cannot help but ponder not only "when" did we become so angry, but also "why?"

it may take quite a bit of time, but do some serious soul searching, and also educate yourself. know who your real enemy is and take your anger out on the one[s] that righteously deserve your ire. otherwise, you are just as guilty/wrong as anyone, and are a bald-faced hypocrite when you point your finger at another.

ABUZAYD: Sorry to hear you converted to Islam. Too bad you did not check up on the history of the religion with its extreme violence (over 250,000,000 murdered in the last 1,400 years!) as well as the actions of its founder, Muhammad, who owned many slaves and thought blacks were subhuman.

This had NOTHING to do with the size of the county governments.

Learn some history, will ya?

The seat of the county was placed so that it could be within a day's horse ride from anywhere in the county.

Same thing with church parishes. There's no requirement in either the Catholic of Protestant churches that you can't ride to church and must walk.

Over hear in Wisconsin so far I've not been denied having my bacon scanned. But I have been denied the ability to purchase cigarettes or liquor because I refuse to provide an ID. Wisconsin law requires that store employees check the IDs on everyone under age of 27 for such purchases. The problem is I am well over the age of 27 and some stores check the IDs of senior citizens. Now, if it is not required and deemed by some people unlawful discrimination and an undue hardship to provide an ID TO VOTE; then I don’t see why a store should require an ID from other lawful citizens to purchase a pack of death sticks.

With all that in mind I’ve to conclusion that such actions of a retailer also amount to unlawful discrimination and thus under those circumstances I have the right to shoplift their products to force them to obey the law if they fail to do their lawful obligations.

I’d love to play that out in one of our kangaroo courts of law. Imagine a counter suit against Copps alleging unlawful decimation, citing various court rulings on the hardship of requiring IDs to vote as precedent. It would also make a good criminal defense. You have to be a Democrat to even think of such stuff. After all it all depends on what the meaning of is is.

Thus, if Target does not want to lawfully sell its customers bacon. That is an undue hardship upon the customer and it is unlawful discrimination against the religious beliefs on the part of the customer pure and simple. Thus, such customer has a right not to pay for the bacon and Target is obligated to provide it for free. As a matter fact Target should have offered to reimburse the shopper in question the cost of the bacon. It would have provided Target good well and would have compensated from damages caused by their intolerant religious fanatic employee.

I think their employee needs to attend a sensitivity seminar on diversity and tolerance.

What's next? Cat Meat for the Mungz. Let the Sue Molly Annes fetch the carts if they don't show bacon love!

It is sad that "true American" are filled with such hate and ignorance. In a country built off the sweat and blood of those that "came from whatever desert", one would think Americans would have a certain and acknowledgeable respect for those willing to work the jobs that "true Americans" refuse to take.

You complain "that we have to publish everything in 800 languages" and "force our kids to put up with non-english speaking students". Why would our school systems not view this as an opportunity to help the children grow and advance? If our children were taught the language and history of other, non-european cultures, as children throughout the world are taught english, we would gain a better understanding of each other and perhaps some acceptance.

I am truly concerned about the present and future of this country. There is far too much hate and ignorance eminating from "true Americans" for me to believe that we ever have a chance to repair our image with the rest of the world. It is almost as if most people in America are proud to wear their badge of ignorance on their sleeve, trying to disguise it as an American flag.

Accommodating a particular group of people based on religion or otherwise is a dangerous path to go down. It is exactly that approach to immigration that has resulted in such problems here in Norway and in Europe in general. In the debate on how to handle integration the US is always looked to as a case on how to achieve successful integration. By separating the private sphere and the public sphere, integration in the US has always been a case of be, and practice as your please in private, but adjust to society as large in the public sphere. Also, the US tradition of keeping religion in the private sphere, and separating church and state, has ensured that an impressive variety of cultures has successfully integrated in US society. Muslims should not be given special treatment, as they have in Europe, with terrible results.

It's sad how the internet allows people to anonymously say things they would never say in public. To those who say, "leave race out of it," I simply ask why? It seems that though you're afraid to address your feelings on this matter.

As far as I can understand a religion does not have the facility to cause any thing. Therefor, a religion did not kill over 3000 americans, no more than chrisitanity has carried out the killing of hundreds of thousands of Iraqis. 911 was carried out by criminals who happened to be muslims. Not the same thing.

If you are an AMERICAN CITIZEN, you must realize that SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE only applies to you. If you are an AMERICAN CITIZEN, the LAWS only apply to you. How many AMERICAN criminals do you see protesting in the streets for their CIVIL RIGHTS. I guarantee you, none. How many illegals do you see protesting in the streets for their CIVIL RIGHTS? Thousands and each and every one of them is a criminal according to our US CODE of law. Americans are being so politically correct on behalf of these people, they are taking away their own civil liberties and not even realizing it. I as an american citizen have the right to live in a country where people are treated equally and fairly under the law. That is what our laws stand for and our country stands for. I have to pay my taxes every year or suffer severe penalties, but our government is going to forgive 5 years of an illegal's taxes when they grant the blanket amnesty. Wouldn't you as an AMERICAN citizen just love not having to pay your taxes for 5 years. What a deal? These facts are sad, but our country has become so politically correct that the country as we know it is dwindling away right before our eyes. Enjoy the America you knew, because in 10 years from now the land will be here, but country values and heritage won't. As the Muslim man said, we are lazy American infidels and don't deserve a country. Why are only a select few trying to save this country?

Your sad and embarrassed and I am distressed by what people like you would have the US look like. America is not "all about change". It is about freedom and the rule of law. Fools like you say "only white people" are scared of change. You would have the US bend and weave to satisfy every belief that some immigrant brings to this country. It seems tro me that the immigrants do not want to change. That is the issue here. If their beliefs were worthy, why is their country in such a mess? Let the immigrants do the changing. Your brains have fallen out of your "open mind". By the way, these Muslims are handling plastic, not pork. Such nonsense!

Do you really think this is just about scanning pork products? Do you think that incident with the Imams was a misunderstanding? Of course not. They staged that to get EXACTLY the reaction they got. This is how Europe got corrupted and they know it. Give em an inch and they'll take a mile. Now they (Muslims) are asking for separate bathrooms at some workplaces because we (the infidels) are dirty. They already want separate prayer rooms and breaks to pray 5 times a day. Where does it end? We give in now and 5 years from now there will be a mosque on every street corner and a PA system blaring out afternoon prayers. Welcome to the United States of Allah. Thank you very much but I like my pork chop on a stick washed down with a cold beer and then let my dog lick my fingers clean. That is the United States of America!!!!

Will I have trouble buying the Tremors DVD at target because it has Kevin Bacon in it?

Local people should go in and buy some pork, booze or cigarets every chance they get and go through that cashier's line. Store management should not be coddling such idiocy and will grow tired of having to send someone to ring these things up.

To the poster who stated that Islam is actually Nazism disguised as a religion, I am truly sorry that you believe that. To be frank, I don't even know how to respond. Clearly, your beliefs are so far skewed from mine, that I doubt we could even begin to find a middle ground. I guess I am fortunate in having met many Muslims that are intelligent, peace-loving, hard working contributers to our society; people who loudly and frequently denounce the actions of extremist fringe groups that perform terrorist acts. I am sorry that you have not had an opportunity to have the same experience.

In your post you write that we need to do some serious soul searching. That we are angry....and "know who your real enemy is". Understand that since Osama bin Laden declared war on the United States and September 11, 2001, we may be a bit angry.
People who follow radical islam idealology are our enemy. These radicals have made that very clear by declairing war on us. They do not want to assimilate into our culture. WE are to submit, become slaves or die. I wonder if YOU know who the enemy is? First it's the refusal to scan pork.(we submit)..then what? Death by a thousand cuts perhaps.

Not a big deal, but origianlly the author of this story said the cashier was wearing a burka. When this mistake was criticized and his honesty about his pork pork purchase experience was questioned, he went back and changed "burka" to "hijab" in his article. He probably caused more confusion by doing that.

jew is not a race either

As a Somali who works in downtown Minneapolis and shop at that Target store in the artcle and often talk to these Somali/Muslim female cashiers with their red head scarves (hijab), I see one thing that most commentators and the sensationalist journalists overlooked in the whole unfortunate incident and that is the phenomenon known as culture shock. These young immigrant/refugee/muslim/somali (many titles? welcome to era of global interdependence and connectivity) girls came from totally different world/background/culture with their parentsor extended families as refugees. They came to a totally new world/culture, somewhat alien yet modern, fast-paced and fascinating. They have to adapt,compromise,and that is a process, a struggle that doesn't come easily and instantly. In the meantime they have to make a living and support their families still back in refugee camps in Africa. They do jobs the average american won't do and earn a minimum wage as cashiers, janitors, parking attendants, fast-food burger flippers fulltime while at the sametime they go to school,learn English and aim for college and for better future.

And now they are going through the culture shock but as they settle and become familiar with America and its wonders, they won’t be as different as they are now. Give them 4 or 5 years and you will see them as more accepting and welcoming to everything American. Just look those who were before them.

You will see them in colleges as friends and as classmates. They will become your nurses and pharmacists.

They may even become your link to the world as american ambassadors who will spread the goodness and generosity of American society.

It is just they are new and they have still to juggle and negotiate with opposing world views. Inside them, there is already a clash of civilisation and a clash of emotions going on. But I know that They are not here to impose any thing on you for they are themselves as confused and uneducated as many of you.

But these girls have no enmity, hatred, xenophobia as manifested by some commentators. And that is the most encouraging thing. So, please, take it easy. there are far worse things happening in this world today like wars,AIDS, poverty,and environmental disasters. An inconvenience by some young girl at the register is a minor nuisance that can be tolerated and ignored.

Brian wrote:
"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)"

I agree. If your religion prevents you from dispensing birth control pills, don't take a job as a dispensing pharmacist. If your religion prevents you from dispensing morning after pills to rape victims, don't take a job in an emergency room.

KAMuston --

On the same token, those Orthodox Jews do not take jobs that might require them to come in contact with pork to begin with (when was the last time you saw anyone wearing a yarmulke standing behind a counter where pork was sold?), whereas Muslims do, then either complain or require others to fulfill some of their own responsibilities. They are quick to place themselves in situations from which they can claim victimhood because of their religion.

In short, the Orthodox Jews carry their own weight by taking jobs they can do without reservation.

And who might you be?

Do a good orientation and when you go in line:

if ( clerk == muslim )then
find a new line;

end of story;

This is the most obsurd thing I have ever heard. When a person applies for a job, they assure the employer they can handle every responsibility of the job. If anyone applied for a position which handled groceries, I'm sure the employer would have second thoughts offering that individual a job considering they do not want to comply with all requirements of the job. This is NOT a violation of equal opportunity employment. This is simply a choice of which applicant is most suiatble for the job. An amish man probably wouldn't have a job at a used car lot.... Do I need to explain why??? Plus I'm sure there are plenty of seasonal workers who are on unemployment who would be more than happy to swipe the bacon in the off season. Find another job if you won't perform all the functions of the position you are applying for!!!! Save us all from bad and useless press.

For those interested in finding out what Islam is up to in America, please watch this documentary trailer video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nx41yXoL23g

For more info, go to:

http://www.WhatTheWestNeedsToKnow.com
http://www.jihadwatch.com

Earlier today I wrote to Target and told them my family wasn't going to shop in their stores until they got a backbone and fired people who weren't willing to do the jobs they were hired for.

Their response:
Target is fully committed to providing guests like you with consistently fast, uninterrupted checkouts. That's why I wanted you to know, that in an effort to balance the concerns of our team members while ensuring that we maintain our ability to provide the highest-level of guest service, Target provides our team members the following options:

- Wearing gloves while cashiering
- Working in another position in the store
- Transferring to another position at a nearby store.

We're confident that these options are a reasonable solution for our guests and team members. Of course, we always appreciate hearing feedback from our guests. That's why I'll be sure to pass your comments along to our Store Operations team.

Thanks for writing. I hope we'll see you again soon at Target.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Hanson
Target Executive Offices

So let me get this straight Target Corporation. It is wrong for the Salvation Army to have volunteers ask for donation to HELP needy people around the Christmas season. Yet it is ok for a cashier to slow down your customers, possibly offend them and impose religious views upon their purchasing decisions that are not of their own.

Ok, I'll remember that the when I need to make a purchase, I'm sure a more customer friendly company will enjoy the money you would have gotten.

They came here for FREEDOM...yet their goals seem to be to rob us of ours and turn OUR country into THEIR communistic land (while our men and women are overseas right now dying to protect their stupid culture). I don't think so!!! Go home...as I approach the pearly gates of heaven awaiting acceptance, the judgement upon me shall be how I lived my life, not what I ate for dinner!!!!

While employed in a techincal patient care position at the local university, I had the unfortunate pleasure of taking care of a male Muslim. It brought joy to my day to watch that poor, brain-washed, schizophrenic, cognizant dissonant man (because of his Islamic beliefs) go from Dr. Jekyll to Mr Hyde at random. He had been informed REPEATEDLY that seeking services at our facility would involve physical contact with women, and yet every time he arrived, it was with the same outrageous behavior. I really enjoyed being told I could not touch him because I was "but a female." That wild-eyed look and the rantings just gave me the warm fuzzies! And then there was the female Muslim supervisor of the record keeping department who tried to force all the women employees under her direction to keep their arms covered to their wrists on the job, even though it is NOT university policy, it was her personal religious conviction! Many complied for fear of losing their jobs! Every person on this forum who has posted that the big picture here is the incremental implementation of Sharia law on the society at large is 100% correct. I do not trust Muslims, I never will, and it is my right to associate or not associate with anyone in this country based on my personal convictions and freedom of conscience given to me as the gift of my Creator, not man (government, religion...etc.) Lastly, as long as the majority of real Americans continue to vote into the two party system, Republican or Democrat, this situation will continue to spiral, and we will have no liberty left. We the people are not being represented by the people we keep voting into office. How many times are we going to bang our heads against the wall and expect it not to hurt? Look into the Libertarians, the Constitutionalists, and many of the other political party options available. Reading the majority of posts on the forum has given me a renewed sense of hope. I am thrilled to know that so many of my fellow Americans are not blind to the truth, and really desire to do what it takes to reclaim our nation. Thanks to all.

WHY IS IT TAKING SO LONG FOR OUR OPINIONS TO POST? I HAVE SUBMITTED MANY POSTS THAT ARE NOT GETTING ON TO THIS BLOG. ARE YOU SCREENING WHAT IS GOING ON? AGAIN, WHY IS THIS TAKING SO LONG?

If you cant do the job,get out of this country.Most americans will help you pack your bags so you can go back to what ever hole you crawed out of,in what ever 3rd world you came from.We dont need you here or do we want you here.By the way I was not surprised to read about the person named Sigleman not complaining,hes a attorney,wonder why.I bet he can see the dollars falling into his pocket now.

Well, good Minnesotans,

HERE COMES CAIR!!!!!!

The Saudi Wahabbi bankrolled 'ally' of our war on 'terror', is coming to 'protect civil rights'!!

Of course they don't have an office in Saudi Arabia, where non-muslim civil rights don't exist!

Read all about what's coming to town below.

http://www.anti-cair-net.org/

I have lived here all my life, and worked at real jobs since age 12.
I haven't had it easy, and in fact have had it rough i.e. poor, for much of the time. I work for everything I have. I have gone w/o health insurance, for example, for a period of ten years during one time.
I don't believe this group of immigrants, i.e., the Sommalians, as a whole have been respectful of being here, and the people who have worked and lived here all their life.
I work amongst them, live amongst them, they are EVERYWHERE in Minneapolis.
The women have purposely bumped into me while at stores. Co-workers have lied to me. they have openly cheated and brag about how they cheat, and cheat the government. the walk into a store and purchase something with their EBT food stamp card, walk out to their mini-van, and drive to their subsidized apartment they cheat income on.
They succeed, in the short time they are here, in getting all the finacial aid for school they want, and dont pay a cent. I know one person who has been living for free and going to school for free for 4 years-- with no end in sight. She owes not a dime- all free.
I work with some of the rudest ones you can imagine, who think they are better than anyone else, and won't even bother to come to anyone else's level.
that they don't have any sympathy/empathy for the blind person with a seeing eye dog is no surprise. But when it comes to them, they go to the Dr's office in droves for every minor complaint and believe me, Iknow this. they then expect to be waitied on and catered to way above and beyond the norm. I go to Smiley's clinic, and they fill the waiting room withminor complaints, on their medicare. They are even the front desk/schedulers, and I called one day for an appt- I dont go often, and this was an urgent thing, and she had no appt, but learned later there had been one-- hmmm-- to fill for someone she knows? And I couldnt come out and say it-my true feelings/thoughts on this 'because it isnt PC'.
I have had my car minorly swiped by two Sommalian drivers--I have never ever been in an accident. They all have cell phones- I guess I am too busy paying my own bills and 100.00 per paycheck medical insurance to afford one yet.
I have had some cashiers at Marshalls in Bloomington look at a clearance item I picked out and act as if it really weren't- call the manager over to verify- as though I had switched the tag- wasteing my time and insulting me. I have had some who act like they dont understand you when I know they do. They just feel entitled, and dont care about others. Is this a population of narcissists? Do they need a couple generations to ingrain some kind of decency into? And the thing is they are always challenging everything, like everyone is out to get them. there is the Sommalian Association, or whatever it is. They dont want to assimilate into this city, they want to fight and bully. they have lost my respect completely, I can hardly bear to see them- they make me cringe. I wish I could move the h-e-doubletoothpicks away from them.

I have been following this in the news for a while now and only feel discuss when I think about how far we as a people have come just to find out that nothing has changed. We say that this is the land of the free but yet we want to make everyone limit what that freedom is. I left my home and country to do my job and that was to defend a nation that I believe gave everyone the right to practice what ever religion they choose and yes being a Muslim fighting an anti Muslim war was and still is a hard thing to live with; but I am. So if you can not deal with something as simple as not having your pork rang up at target how can we deal with the problems of all Americans! It saddens my heart to hear all this over something so dumb! Let's talk about education, health care, welfare reform! Oh by the way most of them work at Target and other store so that they are productive citizen and not a burden on society. Bottom line no-one but you can change what and how we treat one another and remember our children watch, listen, and repeat the things we do and say!

But pharmacists are not required to, the way I understand the law. They have a right not dispense morning after pills, however they have to provide information on where they can get them.

That being said many Christians do not even respect and tolerate members of their own faith. Think Baptists and drinking? Any Christian worth his keep should support the Muslim for doing what he/she believes is right. Both Muslim and Christian share the same Old Testaments.

Signed, just a lonely Pilgrim passing though this world to a bigger and better one that has been promised to him.

It seems clear that these workers are homesick for the joys of their native land, so why doesn't Target do everyone a favor, open up a SuperTarget in Mogadishu, and transfer the workers concerned there? No problem with handling pork there, and these workers can get reacquainted with the rich, wonderful culture of their homeland. Clearly the decline in diversity will be rough on us poor Minnesotans who are left behind, but I think we're ready to make the sacrifice.

Im not sure what bothers me more. The original story or some of the responses to it. Mainly what bugs me about the responses is that so many people immediately associate ALL muslims as being immigrants. So first of all let me say just because someone is Muslim that does not automatically make them an immigrant. So when people say.. "Muslims should assimilate to our country or go home" it just makes me laugh because guess what....... for some of us, this is home!

And on 2nd thought the orginal story bothers me more and heres why. I am a Muslim woman, I am an American, and I am also a Target employee. I happen to love my religion but when I see anyone take it to this extreme it just annoys the heck out of me. In a world where for the most part our religion is misunderstood do we really need to add fuel to the fire over such trivial things?! Whats next.. the vegetarian Hindu who refuses to scan any meat product at all??? I have 6 people in my family thats a lot of chicken and beef. So if the cashier wont scan some of my items and slows me down on grocery day Im not gonna be happy.

Ok as Muslims we dont eat pork and we dont drink alcohol but I for one am not not gonna refuse to scan someone elses products if they bring them to my line. I also dont believe in paying interest on credit cards and loans but I dont refuse to collect my paycheck from the Target Corporate Office who makes much its money in this way, nor do I refuse to scan your credit card if you own one. So with all due respect to my fellow brothers and sisters in Islam can I just say to those who refuse to handle pork products...GET OVER YOURSELF! Its not like the pork isnt packaged, your not touching it with your bare hand, your not slaughtering the swine. The customer isnt asking you eat the pepperoni pizza with him. Just scan the darn thing, take his payment and be done with it!!!!

Consider this...if someone applied to work in the stock room but was unable or unwilling to lift heavy objects would we hire them?? NO. And why not, because as just stated they are unable or unwilling to do what the job requires. Therefore if you cant bring yourself to pass a pepperoni pizza or a package of bacon over the scanner, GET ANOTHER JOB AND STOP MAKING OUR RELIGION LOOK LIKE ITS FULL OF A BUNCH OF BACKWARDS, INTOLERANT IDIOTS!! Take a job at Michaels Arts and Craft store, or JC Penny or any other store where theres no chance you might accidently touch a cardboard box that ...oooooooooooooo... might have a pepperoni in it. ( rolling my eyes as I type )

From one Muslim to another...stop being so ridiculous!

While the media (including this publication), may be sensationalizing this story, my guess is that it is a very select few (less than ten) that are acting on orthodox/fundamentalist beliefs.

Why aren't people equally as pissed that certain businesses are closed on Sunday? So called 'blue laws' are still on the books and are based on Judeo-Christian Sabbath observances.

My issue is that people compare this to pharmacists refusing to dispense meds. In a supermarket, there is plenty of hands available to complete the job. In pharmacies, there might only be one professional that serves communities for hundreds of miles.

Also keep in mind that the best way to break workers spirits is to pit them against each other. Black vs. White, Christian vs. Muslim... this may be the ammunition that big business needs to fire ALL cashiers and install self-service checkouts.

"If you are not greatly inconvenienced when the 18 year old checker at Cub Foods has to call an older worker over to scan your beer, there should be no great inconvenience when the worker wearing the Hajib whose line you voluntarily stepped into calls another worker over to scan your bone-in half ham. "

WRONG! It is ILLEGAL for anyone under 21 to sell alcohol. That's the LAW! However, it is NOT the LAW that muslims may not handle pork. And it is NOT the LAW that muslims may not transport alcohol or dogs in cabs. It's a personal choice! Get it right! Not analogous by any stretch of the imagination! Sorry, better luck next time! Buh-bye!

Most browsers have spell check... And jobs that pay a living wage are hard to come by. You tell immigrants to 'learn English' (and your assumption that all Muslims are immigrants is pretty narrow), but your post proves that some native English speakers/writers need to go back to remedial school.

"This has to do with your narcissitic demands that everyone act like YOU do. This way, you will never have to be uncomfortable and challenged in your beliefs. You can continue to live in your own homogenized little bubble, and stay ignorant to the rest of the world and their issues, beliefs, or cultures."

Yep, that's right. That's how free, non-savage societies generally work. It's usually a group of like-minded people that agree to live together and abide by the same laws and function in society in an agreeable manner. What you seem to be asking for is America having radically opposing groups that engage in civil war because their beliefs and cultures are so radically different that they kill each other over it, like, oh, say, in Iraq? Sunnis/shiites anyone? Let's hear you talk about being uncomfortable when they start blowing themselves up in Walmarts across the country. Because that's what you seem to be asking for. It's a good thing that a majority of people here aren't willing to let that happen. Go preach your blind tolerance in Iraq where it would be MUCH better served!

Thank you, and you have a nice day, too!

Since it's very likely many immigrants come from a country where there's no/insufficient separation of state and religion, it's bound to take some time for such issues to be resolved. In the meantime, why not spend your time taking part in, or organizing activities that promote greater cohesion between the different ethnic/cultural/religious groups? Surely, that'd produce far greater results than idle speculation and waiting for someone to take some action or for a miracle to appear.

Frankly, I envy you Americans. Your country allows for free speech and you enjoy a lot of civil liberty rights. Mine does not and were such an event to occur in my country and I wanted to do something about it, there's the fear and issue of provoking someone in a mighty position of power. And the consequences would be jail and plenty of public and media humiliation. And then, what would I face? Perhaps isolation from everyone I know and even exile.

What if your job is to kill others in the military and you are conscripted to do that job? I have relatives who spent time in prison because they refused this job based on their religious convictions and when the government gave them a desk job they still refused because their religious beliefs prescribed that they take no part in the war machine. This religion is Judeo-Christian based, although most Christians regard the sect as a cult.

The definition of value is 'a belief that is consistently acted upon'. When was the last time most of you 'Christians' practiced that??

I am a true believer in separation of church and state. I am fine with Orthodox Muslims not wanting to handle pork, just I as am as fine with Jehovah's Witness' not wanting to participate in the war machine. You can bitch about the extra five minutes in line as soon as the government stops putting people in prison for not participating in war.

Then go back to your "own" country. We work here, not complain.

Dear Christian population: Working period means all seven days a week. Working as a pharmacist means you dispense drugs. If my birth control pills I take to alleviate the effects of my Endometriosis raises an issue with you, maybe you shouldn't have chosen this profession. I think eating unleavened bread and drinking wine calling it 'body and blood' is odd and rather cannibalistic. Your religion is your choice. Stop trying to make it mine and indoctrinating our government with it.

"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."

"sarcasm" Totally. Because with the Jews it is all about money.

Aren't stereotypes fun? "/sarcasm"

"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"

So you are assuming everyone in this country subscribes to a Christian belief system?? Sorry to disappoint you, but this country runs on a constitutional republic. Freedom of and freedom from religion. This country is comprised of Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Jedis, etc... Some of us believe in NO religion. And guess what, honey- Most of this hodgepodge was BORN in this country.

Take your jingoism over to littlegreenfootballs.com.

"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!"

Boo freakin' hoo. I am a white redhead female born in the US that amassed a little over $10,000 in debt for college. Maybe instead of scapegoating Muslims for your daughter's plight, you should blame the American Government for instilling a Calvinistic higher education system.

In debt? C'mon! That's the American Way!!!

Somehow, on judgement day, I don't think that whether or not you ate a pork chop is really going to matter all that much. Surely, there are other asects of our lives that matter much more. Think about it logically: Back in the day, not much sanitation, not much hygiene, hand washing wasn't a priority, trichnosis and other sanitation related diseases abound. The elders needed a way to get folks to be cleaner, cook food more and be more healthy... what better way to get the zealots to pay attention than to say that "GOD SAYS NOT TO EAT PORK!" Similar logic applies to alcohol. Fast forward a few thousand years and you have groups of people that really really believe that God has something against a ham sandwich and a beer.

Here's an interesting point regarding do-gooder religious groups bringing refugees here: Consider the instances of meningitis and tuberculosis increasing in our schools (as is the case in other states where 3rd world imigrants are "saved" by Christian groups). I was in Walgreens a week ago and a Somali woman was asking the pharmacist about the festering sore on her arm where she has a "prick" a few days ago. The pharmacist told her that she was having a positive reaction to a TB test and needed to see her doctor. The lady said that she didn't have one, coughed and left for the bus stop.

"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."

When my Czech great-grandparents came over, they were met with nothing but stereotyping and discrimination. They were ghettoized to their own part of town. They were ridiculed for not speaking English. And both my great-grandfather and grandfather fought for this country.

Have another helping of 'Liberty Cabbage' or 'Freedom Fries'.

And your narrow view that all Orthodox Muslims must be immigrants really diminishes your argument.

"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."

I agree. And Christmas shouldn't be a Federal holiday either.

"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."

Yet the American dollar keeps falling lower and lower than these 'second rate socialist countries'. They must be doing something wrong...

Question- Do the Orthodox Jewish workers refuse to handle anything that is not kosher?

Answer - No refusal. (1) Jews who keep kosher don't eat anything from a pig, BUT DON'T EXPECT NON JEWS TO ABIDE BY THIS PROHIBITION. (2) Jews who are checkout clerks in grocery stores are, like other Jews, logical thinkers - we will scan & sell all the products sold in the store - that's part of the job! Otherwise we shouldn't be working there!

One exception - if I were working at Wal-Mart and for some bizarre reason Wal-Mart decided to sell "Mein Kampf", I would refuse to sell it. But them I would also make a big fuss and quit in a blaze of glory.

If the pork is packaged then they are not really touching the pork at all they are touching the package and they have no religious or legal leg to stand on. I am so sick of these people saying we have to abide by their ways. This is our country, They moved here. Why should I change for them. They don't want to handle my pork products, or give me a taxi ride when I have some beer or alcohol with me. Why should I excuse them from their job to pray 4 or 5 times a day or because they don't want to touch my bacon?? They are forcing their religious and personal beliefs on us, and we are supposed to just take it!! I say B as in "B*&%", S as in "S#@*". This is OUR country if you don't like it Leave!! Were not forcing you to stay.

Are you stupid in the head.

So what if I told you to use the other drinking fountain that was reserved for you skin color. It was only a few steps away from the one marked 'white only".... what's the big deal?

So first of all let me say just because someone is Muslim that does not automatically make them an immigrant. So when people say.. "Muslims should assimilate to our country or go home" it just makes me laugh because guess what....... for some of us, this is home!

The Target pork incident occurred in the Twin Cities, which until a few years ago had a tiny (and seemingly well-assimilated) Muslim population. According to a CUNY study, Minnesota's total Muslim population was less than 5000 in 1990. Today there may be as many as 50,000 people just from Somalia. For a small state like Minnesota this would represent a cultural and economic shock even if they were all Swedish Lutherans.

Brilliant commentary. Unless freedom loving people wake up, Islamofascism and political-correctness will DESTROY our way of life.

The moderate muslims in this country need to speak up and take action against the extremists in their midst, or face a backlash like never seen before.

I couldn't agree with you more.It's astonishing what 'our brothers and sisters' in Islam will do these days in the name of Islam.Just when you thought it couldn't be any worse when some taxi drivers at the airport refused some fares,the latest Target stores episode is way out of line.I mean how can you applied for a job as a cashier at a store like Target and refused to scan items from paying customers who ironically pays your wages.

I am in the US Army and 'am presently deployed in Iraq.It's bad enough I have to explain to my fellow soldiers that there is a big difference between Religion and Culture.I realised this is where most people get it all mixed up and it's funny just the other day I was in the dining facility and talking to this guy who actually believed Muslims are supposed to be sad all the time.I asked him why and he said that's what he was told and seeing the way things are in the Muslim world right now.Ofcourse I told him he got it all wrong and told him being a Muslim,I am very happy.

Talking about the dining facilities here,I like cheese omelet but I only eat in the dfac where they don't prepare ham on the same cooker.Meaning there are places where they do and there are places where they don't.I had people asked me a million times why I don't eat pork.I told them my religion forbides me from eating pork but I have no problem getting it for my battle buddies who does.

I think it's high time we as Muslims come together and dialogue about what the Holy Quran said and seperate it from whatever our different cultures are.Like you said,to some of us this is home and I might not be from Somali and for the record I have nothing whatsoever against Somalis(I have quite a few as friends)but referreing to Muslims as Immigrants is to say the least degrading.

At least Target was smart and realized that we were not going to tolerate that crap. Let's hope the rest of America wakes up and realizes that Muslims are the ones that need to assimilate, not America. The Muslim community needs to understand that they are no more special than the rest of us and must abide by the SAME RULES as every other American. If that is too difficult for you then don't let the door hit you on the way out of the country!

If I don't want to handle something I would not put myself in a position where I'd have to handle it to do my job.
SOME Muslims are working hard to make ALL Muslims look bad.

these muslims cashiers are being paid to do one job at target: scan your products. If they can't do their job, they can't expect everyone else to accomodate to themselves. Anyone who's religion and personal beliefs will hinder them in a job shouldn't sign up for that job in the first place. I think Target is being way too lenient on these cashiers, if any other person refused to do their job, they would get canned. Target is afraid of their public image getting hurt by firing muslim workers, b/c of how they will all respond with a big civil rights mess. Muslim worker need to supress their beliefs to do the only thing in their job description: scan products. Otherwise they don't have to take the job in the first place. If target is too scared to fire these workers who are refusring to do their job, they should re-assign them to bathroom cleaning duty, hopefully their religion will allow them to do that. And no, i dont think "all muslims" are like this, and im not being racist, but the truth is, for the normal, moderate muslim american citizen, stupid things like this from others with the same religious backgrounds are making them ALL look bad.

As Christians, we do not want to encourage the pornography market. Therefore, my wife would never take a job selling porno movies. And for whatever reason that she would, she wouldn't ask other store workers ring the porno videos up for her... leaving her to sell only the oils, feathers, and batteries. That's insane! She'd never get a jonb there in the first place.

How about this: if you don't want anything to do with porn, then don't work in a porno shop. If you despise the sinful act of eating or touching tasty bacon, then don't get a job selling it.

Wow!!!! What a controversy! Stoopid!

" If she does not want to even touch it, why should anyone eat it?" You make absolutely no sense and are a complete idiot.

Enough already, get out of my country and go back from which you came!!

I was recently at the new JCPenny's store in Eden Prairie, where I was waited on by a Sommali Cashier. She did not greet me, smile or acknowledge my presence in any way except to take my money. I greeted her, and thanked her, but felt like I was completely invisible. I have had this experience in other stores with other Sommalis. It seems that if you are not muslim, they don't feel any obligation to be polite. I've always been taught to treat others with respect no matter who they are, but apparently those who practice Islam are allowed to be rude and arrogant and still be 'good' muslims.

In her job, my sister had to deal with many Somalis (and just about every other significant minority group) on a daily basis for years. She says the Somalis (especially the women) are extremely difficult to deal with. Rude, selfish, belligerent. The Hmong - fine, the Mexicans - fine. The Somalis - awful.

This is absolutely ridiculous! If Target doesn't put a stop to this behavior immediately it will open a door to Muslims claiming that everything is against their religion! If they can't be around pork, alcohol or dogs then they should be banned from all grocerie stores, restaurants and for that matter going outside in general. If they don't like western society then they should go back to where they came from! The things that are banned from touching or being around were never, ever a problem until now... Why now?? Because they know that they can get away with it. Soon companies will be required to pay them to sit and do nothing because they are required to pray to Mecca 5 times a day! I respect others religions and what they believe in but there must be a line where people have to say enough is enough. If Target allows this behavior I will never shop there again, there are also several others that feel the same way. We need to start taking back our country. If someone doesn't like our rules and our country they can leave. They need to remember that they are guests in our country.

For those who think that this is just about the pork, have you seen what's going on in the UK? The Muslims are demanding more and more and basically turning the country into an Islamic state. Read the article below and wake up!

Stop the islamization of America NOW!!!

--

MUSLIMS: 'BAN' UN-ISLAMIC SCHOOLS
21/02/07
By Gabriel Milland

DEMANDS for a ban on “un-Islamic” activities in schools will be set out by the Muslim Council of Britain today.

Targets include playground games, swimming lessons, school plays, parents’ evenings and even vaccinations.

And the calls for all children to be taught in Taliban-style conditions will be launched with the help of a senior Government education adviser.

Terry Sanderson of the National Secular Society said the report was a “recipe for disaster”.

He added: “Schools with even just a handful of Muslim kids will find they have to follow these guidelines because there aren’t the staff to have one set of classes for Muslims and another for the rest.

The report, Towards Greater Understanding – Meeting The Needs of Muslim Pupils In State Schools, says all schools should bring in effective bans for all pupils on “un-Islamic activities” like dance classes.

It also wants to limit certain activities during Ramadan. They include science lessons dealing with sex, parents’ evenings, exams and immunisation programmes.

The holy month – when eating and drinking is not allowed in daylight hours – should also see a ban on swimming lessons in case pupils swallow water in
the pool.

When swimming is allowed, boys should wear clothing covering their bodies “from the navel to the neck”, even during single-sex pool sessions, while girls must be covered up completely at all times, apart from the face and hands.

The MCB adds that schools should ensure contact sports, including football and basketball, “are always in single-gender groups”.

Even school trips are targeted in the report, which wants them all to be made single-sex “to encourage greater participation from Muslim pupils”.

It wants Arabic language classes for Muslim pupils, and says the Koran should be recited in music classes. And all schools should ensure they have prayer rooms with washing facilities attached, it says.

In art classes, Muslim children should not be allowed to draw people, as this is forbidden under some interpretations of Islamic law.

And while the MCB insists that all British children should learn about Islam, it wants Muslims to have the right to withdraw their children from RE lessons dealing with Christianity and other faiths.

The MCB says special treatment and opt-outs are necessary because otherwise Muslim pupils will feel excluded from school activities and lessons.

http://www.express.co.uk/news_detail.html?sku=1264

Oh, please. I've been treated with indifference and worse by more lily-white "Minnesota Nice" cashiers than I can count. (I'm lily-white myself.) This is hardly a Somali or Muslim trait, and it's bigoted to say that it is.

At first they refused cab fares from people who were in possession of alcohol or with dogs. The imams are suing the airlines because of "descrimination". Now, they refuse to scan pork products to American people, in our own country. Sounds like they don't belong in this Western country since it does not follow their "views". They are not welcome to work at my company, but I doubt they even have the required degree to do so.

At first they refused cab fares from people who were in possession of alcohol or with dogs. The imams are suing the airlines because of "descrimination". Now, they refuse to scan pork products to American people, in our own country. Sounds like they don't belong in this Western country since it does not follow their "views". They are not welcome to work at my company, but I doubt they even have the required degree to do so.

Target has accomodated the Somalis by "reassigning" them to other areas. What they should have done is FIRE THEM!

If a white Christian were to refuse to handle alcohol (which can be sold at grocery stores in most other states), Playboy magazines, or R-rated DVDs while citing "religious beliefs", that person would be told to "either do it or find another job!"

We come in and rescue these Somalis from their Third World cesspool. We bring them to America, give them FREE housing, FREE medical care, FREE food, welfare, etc. Benefits that many of our OWN CITIZENS are not elligible for. How do they thank us? By causing problems in the workplace and trying to force US to accomodate THEM. Guess what? YOU immigrated to OUR lands. YOU assimilate to US. We DON'T assimilate to YOU. If you cannot accept this, go back to where you came from.

The reason they get away with this is because America has become too dumbed-down, too politically-corrected, too gutless to stand up and say "enough of this nonsense." SPEAK UP, America! If you don't rise up NOW, the country you lose will be your own!

I recently moved to the cities (though I was born here), from a small town, and I had really hoped that I was entering a place of open-minded, tolerant people, but I am sad today to know that I was, apparently, wrong.
I work at Target, overnights, there are many people who work with me who hail from Somalia, and are incredibly kind people, who are never rude to me simply because I am not a muslim, but, they will not stock the pork products, and that is just fine. They do any other work asked of them, and the rest of us simply slip in, and finish up any pork products they did not put on the shelves. Though I'm sure the bosses wish they would not have to think about these things, but, that's what you get when you live and work in a country where religious freedom is, supposedly, one of our core values.
The reason I feel it is harsh and cruel of all these people to demand that they get jobs elsewhere is that Target is such a wonderful place for people who are members of a minority to work. It is one of the very few companies in the country that has such extensive policies on diversity, tolerance, and anti-discrimination, it even goes as far as to make it so that it's easy for gay couples to get their partners insurance. I have rarely heard of a company so accepting of diversity, and I that's why I do enjoy working for it. There is no question why they would want to work there, and if those of you who do not have to deal with the daily persecution of living in this country as a minority, especially one so under fire because of a small group of people at the moment, did any research on the matter, or, hey, got some hobbies to take your mind off of trivial things, then this wouldn't even be an issue.
I have had to wait for a cashier to get help for many different reasons, and it never takes more than a minute. I wish that people would sit back, and listen to themselves. "Go back to your own country!!" is not going to help anyone, and is only going to be make you look ignorant and ridiculous. Are you Native American? If not, then, maybe you should head on back to your own country until you're ready to accept the fact that the reason this country is so great, is that it's a place where people of all cultures, religions, races, etc, can coincide.

Cindy...AMEN to your comment!

LOL to your comment. But it's the same here in Florida (and elsewhere I am sure). The hispanics demand their children be taught in American schools in their native language of spanish. What I'm wondering is...if I move to ANY OTHER COUNTRY would I be able to demand that my children are provided a government paid English speaking teacher because I refuse to learn the language? Ridiculous!

People are griping about discrimination and all kinds of non-relevant garbage. This is nothing like the Christian refusing to dispense morning after pills. This mulsim person did not refuse to sell the item , as the Christian did, it was just that she couldn't scan it and needed someone to help. Someone else mentioned about Jewish people handling non-kosher foods, well talking about accomodating , have you looked at the majority of your products lately? To accomodate less then 2 percent of our population, the majority of products you purchase are already marked as being Kosher, wether you like it or not. You are also paying a a little extra for the Rabbi to "bless" it too.

You can tell the people here making comments that are absolutely anti-muslim when they mention Sharia laws and dhimmitude. Usually these paranoic people are also afraid of some Caliphate returning as well.

What a lot of people need to realize is that a lot of what is Somali Culture is being stereotyped as Islamic culture, the lady that goes to the JC Penney store, think of it this way, these women come from a culture where they are barely outside the home, they are covered most of the time and can not work outside the home, they barely talk to anyone outside of their clan, this is the way they've been for a few hundred generations...you actually think that being in the US for a year or so, is going to help the assimilate?....this is a learning process for them....they have to grow..and until they do, we have to be patient i guess..no other choice.
No if Bush Sr. hadn't gone in there and started the war..we'd be okay with out them

So when all you people are referring to Americans, why don't you just say what you really mean; "White People." Being an American means many things and represents many religions, so stop trying to make all of us "white" & "Christian." I respect all people, we all have a right to be here. This country belongs to no one. It belongs to all of us. If you really want to go back in history "white Americans", ask yourself, did you find yourself assimilating to the Native American Indian's way of life or was it the other way around. "Assimilate or get out, go back to where you came from, that's what shouldv'e happened to you. So what do you really have to be proud of. You destroyed an entire culture, a way of life. So now can you also forgive, and move on.

Thank goodness someone in your family went to college. Hopefully at $78000 she bought herself a thinking brain. Can't say the same for you.

You make a great point about people who are blithering idiots when it comes to proper use of the English language when posting online. LEARN HOW TO PROPERLY COMMUNICATE USING THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, AMERICANS!

Apart from that one point, you are an idiot. The Star Tribune will gladly bend over for any whiny group complaining about the US. You sound like that yourself. The readers are not the issue.

Take note of the Islamification of other countries. Do you want your daughter to have no legal rights? If you're pro-choice (wow, I'm really going out on a limb, here) abortion is illegal under Sharia law. Does that pose a 'moral' dilemma for you? Women can't even drive in Saudi Arabia. Ever hear of an honor killing? Sick culture.

It's not about whether things would be delayed at checkout. Take this farther, and you have seperate lines for pork customers, alcohol, lingerie, anything made by Jews, etc. If these folks don't want to handle pork, they should not accept work for which they are unqualified. If this is unacceptable, I suggest their prompt return to those wonderful countries from which they came. And you, if you don't want to use your brain for anything but a seat cushion, don't offer opinion online. Thank you.

I don't understand religion. They will kill humans in the name of religion, but not eat pork.
FOrget the pork thing. Just run you money on a pork product. They love money and they will take your money. Also just see if they lick their fingers. It works for all non pork observers!

You people make me sick.
"Oh, boo-hoo, my life is so terrible. I had to wait to get my ham scanned."
"I'm having my way of life threatened because I can't be guaranteed to only have to come in contact with white Europeans during my ventures into the outside world."
"Nobody understands that America is really only set up to be a country that tolerates white Christian values, and the rest of you better adapt immediately or feel our wrath."
You all have no freakin' clue what it is like to truly be persecuted or threatened for your way of life. No idea. So just because some poor Muslim girl who was probably never even allowed out of her house before she moved here, and is now working and having to constantly deal with passive aggressive comments and suspicious looks just becuase she has brown skin and is wearing a head covering, and is being offered NO tolerance, NO assistance in asssimilating, and NO kindness from the customers that she is required to deal with; just because she is maybe trying to hold on to something that has been told is a vital part of her religion- everyone has to sit and piss and moan and talk about how their very way of life is being threatened.
Give me a break. Nobody looks at you funny when you're out in public. Nobody is stopping you for the extra security screenings at the airport and causing you to feel like a threat just because of the way you look. Nobody is telling you you can't go to church. In fact, you all can pretty much do whatever the hell you want, when you want it.
People talk about Minnesota nice all of the time, but obviously this is a bunch of crap. Clearly, this state is filled with a bunch of bitter, hate-filled, close-minded jackasses, who aren't able to even try to make any effort at all. It's utterly impossible for you to even make the jump in reasoning that this may have been isolated. Nope, guess not.
Maybe it's all of you hate-mongers that need to leave. Perhaps Florida? Then you can annex it off to your own lily-white, "good Christian", "family values" state. I doubt very many people would miss you.

Oh boo hoo whoever you are you make me sick yourself...just blabbing things that are besides the point....its not about the wasted minutes at the counter....preach your bullshit somewhere else....this isn't about Christians against Muslims....the whole point is that if you can't do your job find a different job. If your own religious beliefs interfere with your job, then don't work there and be of inconvenience to others. If I was asked to scan my own pork product at the check-out counter then I better get a huge discount for it. If I wanted to scan my own items then I would've gone to the self checkout counter & scanned everything myself. I respect the Muslims but this is America.If you choose to live here & practice your own personal beliefs then go ahead but if it affects others then they have a right to stand up for themselves.

Oh boo hoo whoever you are you make me sick yourself...just blabbing things that are besides the point....its not about the wasted minutes at the counter....preach your bullshit somewhere else....this isn't about Christians against Muslims....the whole point is that if you can't do your job find a different job. If your own religious beliefs interfere with your job, then don't work there and be of inconvenience to others. If I was asked to scan my own pork product at the check-out counter then I better get a huge discount for it. If I wanted to scan my own items then I would've gone to the self checkout counter & scanned everything myself. I respect the Muslims but this is America.If you choose to live here & practice your own personal beliefs then go ahead but if it affects others then they have a right to stand up for themselves.

Right- you're saying that this has nothing to do with wasted minutes at the checkout counter, and then you say " If I was asked to scan my own pork product at the check-out counter then I better get a huge discount for it." Good one, there.
Then you say how you respect Muslims but then say " If you choose to live here & practice your own personal beliefs then go ahead but if it affects others then they have a right to stand up for themselves." So basically what you're saying is that if you had no choice but to get a job at an establishment that was open on Sundays, and your personal beliefs stated that you could not work on Sundays, then I could fire you for not working on a day that I needed you? Becuase the job market is so limitless for recent immigrants to this country that don't have a wealth of education. Why, I'm sure that the Muslim employee who is being used as the example here could get a job just about anywhere she wanted.
Yep, you've totally convinced me. Thanks ever so much.

Hello'
I just got wind of this on my rss view I'm from Australia and this does not suprise me, A KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) In Lakember a suburb of Sydney I can buy a Zinger BBQ Bacon & Cheese Burger but they will not give me the BACON!!!!! Very unhappy these are arab muslims

Please, do us all a favour and leave our country. We have enough racists in America as it is.

Yeah! Ya know what? I am also sick of Christian pharmicists imposing their religious beliefs on me by not selling me contraceptives! Curse those christian immigrants.... inhabitants for not selling me my contraceptives.

First of all, our military members are not "conscripted" to kill others. They join the U.S. military as volunteers, KNOWING they may face a likelihood of war.

These muslims came to this country, also by choice. If they choose not to do their jobs, Target should fire them. If they so resent Western values, as is increasingly becoming obvious, we should deport them.

First it's taxis, now it's food. Next, are muslims going to refuse to speak to or serve American women who are not dressed like them? Where does it end? Just how intensely are muslims going to voice their opposition our lifestyles, our freedoms and our flag?

Muslims, you have no intention of joining the American melting pot. On the other hand, you despise the presence of Americans in your native countries, so stop bitching about life in ours.

Assimilate or leave -- got it? We infidels are beginning to get fed up.

This doesn’t make any sense. Why should Muslims get special treatment? I think it’s hypocritical of them to choose to work for a company that sells pork (among other things) that they are offended by in the first place and then refusing to ring up certain items when it’s required of them to do so in order to get their paycheck on the basis of religion just accentuates that fact. It seems like they just want to disrupt our businesses on purpose in order to promote their religion in a public place by trying to make people feel bad who don't follow it. Then they wonder why there are so much bad feelings about Muslims in this country. It really is no wonder. I say if they won’t do their job then they should get fired just like anyone else would, not just transferred because they think they are better than everyone else. If they get their way then what’s to stop other cashiers from refusing to sell different products simply because they don’t think that people should be allowed to have them? Do all employers who sell pork need to start screening their employees before they are hired and be encouraged to avoid hiring Muslims? If so then what about other products that might interfere with other religious beliefs? Do we need to force employers to make special accommodations for everyone’s religion, regardless of what type of business they run? I see this getting way out of hand. If we let this go then pretty soon we could find ourselves in a total state of religious segregation in all public places, which goes against our Constitution. This cannot be allowed. Muslims, just like everyone else, either need to get with the program and learn to make smarter decisions for themselves in order to get along in our society or get out of our country altogether if they can’t adapt to our way of life.

Amen to that. Pretty soon they'll be wearing burkas in their Driver's License pictures and demanding the Miss America pageant contestants not wear bikinis because it offends their religion.

Well, apparently we're all supposed to adapt to everyone else's way of life. I guess the thought of America being the melting pot of the world is out the window and is now becoming the garbage can of the world where whatever was thrown in last is on top and gets their way. Hopefully, anybody with a brain that cares won't let our country deteriorate to the point where we have suicide bombings at our schools, malls, airports, etc.

I came to this country as an immigrant and have among my friends people with diverse religous backgrounds. We all understand that when you live in another country you cannot insist on all the stuff you are used to back home. It's another country for crying out loud. And isn't this much better than the war zones of Somalia or the Middle East? To me this is ignorance and arrogance gone berserk and too many employers are making too many concessions to people who think they are better than anybody else. Those overly religious folk need to be taught some perspective and someone ought to be looking at their community leaders and what kind of influence these people have. Just because these people live in a self-imposed prison they don't have the right to force it on the rest of us.

The United States is a Christian based country. Anyone who voluntarily comes here should respect and adapt to our culture as we would have to do in their country. GO HOME if you don't like it.

When Jesus Christ our Lord decides He's had enough you and those like you, you will be judged and cast into Hell and the Lake of Fire. You won't be laughing then.

If it starts with Muslims not taking fares in their taxis from people who have alcohol with them and not selling pork or alcohol, where does it end?

Smoking, and red meat are unhealthy and could be construed as killing yourself, and that is against just about any religion. Should people be allowed to refuse to sell these items? How about cars and knives, these items are responsible for hundreds of deaths a day. Would selling these items constitute being an accessory to the taking of a life?

Where would it end?

Truth be told, I seriously doubt that any great number of orthodox Muslims will ever be able to fully integrate into American society without constantly trying to convert it to suite themselves through "Islamification", which unfortunately requires the total eradication of all other ways of life, no matter how much patience we try to have with them to learn tolerance as we have. The point is that in order for us to get along with them and vice versa, they are the ones who are going to have to change, not us, and I don’t see that happening. We are the ones who are being open-minded and willing to accommodate them as much as possible, otherwise they would never have been allowed to move into our country in the first place, but it looks like they are just never going to be happy unless they are living in a total religious state where every word of the Quran is made into the law of the land. I find that very ungrateful.

Think about it, how is anyone who so zealously believes in a religion that is so extremely restrictive on every aspect of life ever going be able to practice tolerance towards anyone else who doesn’t think exactly the same way they do? The sad truth is they can’t because their religion actually forbids them from doing so. Of course, it is exactly the same problem as with orthodox Christians and Jews and just about every other major religion in the world today, not just Muslims. That’s why orthodox Christianity was suppressed in America long ago, because otherwise there would never have been any way for us to form a government that promotes freedom of religion and prohibits religious persecution that was suffered by our ancestors for so long.

Unfortunately, most Muslims have simply refused learn from ancient history and so continue to repeat it in modern times. That’s why there is still so much hatred and violence in the Middle East between the Sunni and the Shiite, because even though they are both Muslim groups they interpret the Quran a bit differently and so are intent on eradicating each other just as the Protestants and Catholics once were long ago. It’s a shining example of how archaic the Arab culture is compared to the rest of the world. And if they are that intolerant toward each other then how can they be expected to get along with non-Muslims? The answer is they can't unless they change completely their attitudes.

Don’t get me wrong, I am willing to fully welcome all Arab people who want to come to America to live a better way of life that is based on freedom but there is no way that I am going to put up with them trying to convert our country into other oppressive Islamic state just because they don’t think they can live any other way and can’t stand to be exposed to anything that is non-Muslim and so think that they should get special accommodations and privileges from our government in order to preserve their barbaric way of life as much as possible and yet still call themselves Americans. That defeats the whole purpose of coming to America and people like that just don’t belong here at all. And it’s not because they are Muslim or Arab, it’s because they are intolerant religious zealots who don’t want to change and instead are intent on changing all those around them who they consider “infidels”. And I feel exactly the same way about Christians who still feel the need to force their religion into every aspect of our society. It simply cannot be allowed.

Things like this pork incident may seem innocuous and some people may think that we would be better of just letting it slide in order to avoid arguments, but I disagree, because I think that this is just the tip of the iceberg. You let them have their way with this and the next thing you know we will be having our public school systems invaded by Islamic extremists who want to indoctrinate our children with sexism and bigotry just like the MCB is trying to do in Europe right now. It’s disgusting. We need to stand by our own laws that already prohibit discrimination even when discrimination is mandated by someone's religion because we simply don't want it in our society and it has no place here. And if Muslims can’t deal with that then they need to get the hell out.

There is a such thing as too much tolerance. The example is right here.
With too much tolerance it is putting a strain on everyday life for non Muslims. It is also changing the way that Americans have to live. Obviously now we are put out because of their religious beliefs. (Cabs, stores, etc..)
I agree with the freedom of religion, but it shouldn't interfer with others freedoms!

Why in America are we expected to integrate to them? They should be integrating around us. They should find a way to fit their religion around daily life in AMERICA so that it doesn't put out anyone else. EVERY other religion has to do this, why are they special? Why can they pray 5 times a day on the clock? If a Christian wanted to pray in the break room with others they most certainly wouldn't be allowed as other religions might be "offended" That is exclusion and not American at all.

If they do not want to come in contact with pork, they shouldn't work any place that has pork.
Why does a second person have to stop what they are doing to deal with the pork for the cashier? It would seem that this is not practical or efficient and maybe she shouldn't be a cashier in the first place.

What's next? Am I going to be expected to cover my tank top when I enter Target because there are Muslims there and they may be offended by the sight of my skin? I am sorry but this is AMERICA and we can wear wht we want and we can buy pork and carry unopened bottles of alcohol in cabs. It isn't illegal so they just have to deal.

Too many concessions are made to them and pretty soon American will be just like their home countries.

If exceptions are made for Jews, why not Muslims?

If exceptions are made for Hindi, why not Muslims?

If exceptions are made for Christians, why not Muslims?

Everyone is acting as if the only ones being granted an exception or special treatment are Muslims.That is false. Employers have made all kinds of exceptions for all kinds of religious reasons. If it has been OK in the past, why is not OK now? If it is OK for other groups be granted exceptions, why not Muslims?

What is worse is that this was a quite little thing happening at Target and bothering no one until the Star Tribune stuck their nose in it.

Again, how is not wanting to touch pork opposing our American lifestyle or values?

Why stop with bacon and sausage. The way it sounds is that anything containing pork is bad, right? What about all the stuff that has pork fats and other by-products in it. i.e. some baby formulas have pork pancreatic enzymes in it, some cereals have marshmallows made out of animal fats, anything with gelitin like yogurts, jello, puddings, chewing gum, cheeses, cosmetics and even over the counter medicines (what do you think holds those gel caps together). The list goes on and on and on. Pork is Pork. I say pile the stuff up at the end of the checkout and buy it somewhere else....oh yeah, could someone please pass the bacon???

"there are many people who work with me who hail from Somalia, and are incredibly kind people, who are never rude to me simply because I am not a muslim,"

As long as the are nice about it, you don't mind that they are pushing their morals onto others. You don't mind that there is a slow and systematic take over of "Western" civilisations as long as it is done nicely by sweet people.

Okay well when you get up for work one day and leave your house and find all women covered and morality police on the streets you will have another story....

TO THE GUY WHO WROTE THIS....
All,

"I'm an American who voluntarily chose to emigrate from the United States to the Netherlands. This was years ago. I feel more Dutch than I do American. Yes, I suppose that makes me a traitor, in spite of being a veteran, a former police officer, etc.

What you have here, is simply probing. The muslim population is simply trying to see how far they can go, without being rebutted. That you're even having the discussion shows that you've lost it.

We've had the same thing here; cab drivers that tried the old 'we won't drive people who have alcohol' routine. The answer was, from the Amsterdam Cab Drivers Union, was that if you want to pick and choose, do it someplace else, unemployed. The result, they pick up everyone now from the airport.

All, it's simply testing and probing. How far can they go? Where will they stop?

Pork in a plastic wrapper? They won't touch it? Be grateful the smelly cow even deigns to take a job. Here, they simply go on the welfare, squat out 12 kids, and collect the social benefits, and we all end up paying for it.

This has got to be the most lazy, ultra-sensitive group of bums the US has ever seen. Fortunately, in Europe, we have their number. I hope it's not too late for you in the states. You keep on harping on how the Eu has lost it; well, we're deporting the turds who won't fit in. How about you, USA? How many have -you- deported this month?"

YOU ARE A FAT LIAR. I LIVE IN THE NETHERLANDS AND WE DO NOT DEPORT ANYONE. WISHFUL THINKING YES BUT NOT REALITY. EVEN WHEN THEY KILLED THEO VAN GOGH FOR MAKING A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT THE TREATMENT OF WOMEN IN ISLAM THEY WERE NOT ADMONISHED. WHAT HAPPENED? THEY QUITE PLAYING THE DOCUMENTARY ON TV TO NOT UPSET OR OFFEND THEM FURTHER. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PRSON WHO WROTE THE DOCUMENTARY? THEY ASKED HER TO LEAVE THE NETHERLANDS SO THERE WOULD BE NO MORE PROBLEMS. WE HAVE ONE PARTY HERE PVV THAT GOT A FEW SEATS IN PARLIMENT AND THEY STAND FOR FORCING INTEGRATION OR REMOVAL OF MUSLIMS AND WHAT? EVERYTIME HE OPENS HIS MOUTH OTHER PARLIMENT GROUPS DISMISS HIM. WHY? THEY DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO LIVE IN A BUNKER LIKE HE DOES AND NOT BE ABLE TO EALK THE STREETS LIKE A NORMAL PERSON. THEY DON'T WANT DEATH THREATS.

MUSLIMS HOLD THIS COUNTRY HOSTAGE BY FEAR. FEAR OF DEATH AND BOMBINGS. THIS COUNTRY ISINTOLERABLY PC AND PRETTY SOON WE ARE GOING TO BE AN ANNEX OF TURKEY AND MOROCCO. BECAUSE OUR PARLIMENT IS TOO CHICKEN SH** TO STAND UP AND REFUSE TO TOLERATE THIS OPRESSION.

OUR RIGHTS TO FREEDOM OF SPEECH ARE LOST EVERYDAY AS A CONCESSION TO THEM. SO DON'T TRY TO CRAP ALL OVER YOUR HOME COUNTRY AND TRY TO ACT LIKE WE ARE MIGHTIER HERE BECAUSE NOT ONLY ARE YOU BEING AN @SS YOU ARE LYING.

Those other religions don't disrupt a normal functioning society. That's the difference, billy. Whether it's making a big to do about what products they can and can't touch in a very public job such as a checkout, or what fares you will take in a very public job such as a cabbie, or praying loudly and causing a big commotion on an airplane, it's all disruptive and people that know how to behave in a public setting don't have to put up with it. There is already a set standard of rules, manners, and behavior in this country and how we conduct ourselves in public. Follow them and you can still practice your religion and fit in to society. Not rocket science, folks.

I think people are just ingorant. I don't know why all of a sudden you all are enraged by this article, you act you have to deal with this sort of stuff everyday, in some cases some of you have never even met a somali in your life or even experience anything near this situation and you come on here talking all this big talk, its all BS, face the fact, its called freedom of religion. If you're so against it go shop somewhere else or go to a different cash register. You act like all the damn cashiers are muslims! In fact there are self check outs now a days, if you don't want to waste an extra 10 seconds of your life, go to one of those dammit!
It's not their fault that they work there, they're just trying to make a living and what do you know about the difficulties of going to a new country and having to adjust to it? that's right you don't so don't be going around assuming that yall did so much to make them feel comfortable and accomodate to their livings when in reality its vice versa.
And to those who suggested that they should be put on a plane and go back to where they came from.
FYI you act like this country is yours, if you're not Native American you shouldn't be talking, it was your people that took this land away from them so that the same time you're saying go back to your own country, look at yourself first, this land was never yours to start out with.
Also some people mentioned that the Muslims shouldn't force their religion onto you, you forced your religion onto others so what makes you have the right to make those statements?
YOU ALL ARE SO IGNORANT and its NARROW MINDED people like yall thats making this situation worse than it really is. You should be focusing on more important issues than arguing against something that doesn't even effect you.

I say throw out every single muslim in this country! Send them back where they came from. They are trouble makers and hypocrites!

ISLAM IS A PREDATORY RELIGION

To OsakaBill,

After reading most of your comments, I think I know what the problem is: You are making an incorrect assumption that all religions are equally peaceful.

I understand you want to do the right thing by being fair to everybody. But the sad truth is that some religions are inherently more peaceful than the others. Islam is certainly at the bottom of the list.

If you read the Koran, you would think you are reading a "Book of War" complete with lies and deception instead of a religious holly book. It's all about kill, kill and kill. It devides the world into two: one for the believers and the other for the inferior infidels. It is a duty for every Muslim to subjugate or kill every infidel they can find. The Koran says there will be no peace in this world until every person is ruled by Islam.

You may say you've never had any Muslim trying to subjugate you or convert you to Islam. Well, not yet. Muhammad instructed his followers to keep a low profile and be peaceful when they were a weak minority in the Arab land. (This is when many "peaceful" verses were written. Some Muslims love to quote them to show how "peaceful" Islam is.) But once Muhammad had his armed forces built and grew more powerful, he turned violent and started killing those who didn't believe him.

So once the Muslims population gets bigger in this country, expect you will get more and more of their unrealistic demands (with threats). It's in their Koran! The pork and cab driver things are just a beginning.

Another problem with Islam is that Muslims consider the Koran as literally the word of Allah (despite its numerous grammatical errors!!). That means it cannot be changed or adapted to modern times. That's why Islam is still stuck in the 7th century while the rest of the world has moved on.

The Koran being Allah's word also means its teachings must be followed by Muslims with no question asked. That's the reason such barbaric acts as stoning to death, honor killing of family members and killing of apostates are still practiced in the Muslim world today. Unlike other religions, Islam simply cannot be modernized.

What else is unique about Islam? Islam is the only religion whose holly book specifically tells its believers to impose their beliefs on non-Muslims or kill them. If you are a Christian or Jew (People of the Book), you have 2 choices: Convert to Islam or live as inferior under subjugation and humiliation of the Islamic rule (e.g. paying the infidel tax). If you're not a Christian or Jew, you also have 2 choices: Convert to Islam or die! Which one would you choose? Islam is definitely the religion of the bigots.

Some people mistakenly believe that Islam is a religion of peace being hijacked by the terrorists who "misunderstand" Islam. But as you can see from the violent Islamic teachings in the Koran themselves, these terrorists actually got the Koran right. They are the true Muslims who follow Allah's will exactly what the Koran tells them to. Without a doubt, Islam is inherently violent and intolerant! How tolerant can you be of this intolerant cult?

This is just the tip of the iceberg. I hope you find the time to learn about the real Islam. I'm sure the more you know, the more you will agree with so many of us in the civilized world that ISLAM IS A PREDATORY RELIGION that doesn't deserve to be treated equally like any other peaceful religion.

It is only natural that most of us look at Islam with suspicion simply because of what their holly book tells them to do to us.

Excellent book to read: "The Truth about Muhammad" by Robert Spencer. It's a New York Times Bestseller and PC free.

Good luck.

Exceptions like this are not made for Jews. Name one Jewish Holiday that is a legal US holiday?

That being said, I was in a Detroit Movie Theater and tried to buy a Beef Jerky stick. There was only one cashier at the concession stand and she was Muslim. She told me she would have to wait for the manager to come down to ring it up as she was not allowed to touch the product in question.

"That's ridiculous" I said. "It's in packaging" She still refused, meanwhile I'm missing the pre-views. By the time the manager came out of his office from 2 floors up, it was 3 minutes into the start of the film and I had gotten to the Theater in plenty of time to even catch most of the pre-views.

Upon expressing my displeasure, the Manager shrugged his shoulders and said "Sorry, she's the only one I have to work the stand today". "Totally unacceptable" I told him. He walked away and the girl who refused to ring up the Beef Jerky get's indignant and says "Might as well get used to Muslims and their customs because we are going to be the majority soon enough".

I kid you not. After the movie I reported her insubbordination to the Manager and he said she was just lashing back because she perceived my impatience to be an insult to her as a Muslim.

No admonishment to her would be forthcoming. This was an AMC theater by the way. I now avoid them.

Any orthodox Jew would have no problem handling a pork problem. Islam is a Cult which was rendered a "world religion" through War and Terror. Look at its history in its entirety. It even takes the Jewish Torah, etc and parodies it to derive its "koran". G-d hhelp us if we succumb to these lunatics.

WHEN THEY DON'T WANT TO DRIVE PEOPLE THAT DO NOT MEET THEIR RELIGIOUS WAY, AND THEY DON'T WANT PORK ON THE MENU FOR THEIR CHIRDREN IN MICHAGAN, AND NOW THEY DON'T WANT TO HANDLE BACON AT THEIR WORK PLACE AND IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IN FLA. BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ANY BACKBONE CANCELED REGLIGOUS HOLIDAYS IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, WHAT IS NEXT MAYBE THAT WE CHANGE THE NAME OF OUR COUNTRY TO MUSLIMS STATE OF ALI. IT IS TIME FOR THEM (THE MUSLIMS ) TO GO BACK TO THEIR COUNTRY . WE AS A NATION GIVE MORE FREEDOM FOR RELIGION THAN ANY OTHER COUNTRY IN THE WORLD. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH WAKE UP AMERICA.

I am a Muslim and I am here to tell you it is only a matter of time before you all see you cannot run from the inevitable coming of Allah PBUH.

Soon ALL of you will know the shara'a and ALL of you will turn over your lands to us. If you think it's not happening now, turn on your local and national news programs. From 6 Imams to 400 million future adherents to the true Faith of Allah PBUH, you will become true fruit of Islamic Law or perish by our swords.

It's only a matter of time.

Assalam Alaikum my Furture Brothers and Sisters

Are you kidding me? Christianity is the least tolerated religion in this country! Every other religion can make claims of something being a religious belief and get excused from something but not Christianity.

The Constitution grants us the right to practice whatever religion we choose without the government establishing laws regarding religion. It does not prevent me from expressing my religious beliefs in any forum including schools as we have long been led to believe.

This is worth repeating:

ISLAM IS A PREDATORY RELIGION

To OsamaBill,

After reading most of your comments, I think I know what the problem is: You are making an incorrect assumption that all religions are equally peaceful.

I understand you want to do the right thing by being fair to everybody. But the sad truth is that some religions are inherently more peaceful than the others. Islam is certainly at the bottom of the list.

If you read the Koran, you would think you are reading a "Book of War" complete with lies and deception instead of a religious holly book. It's all about kill, kill and kill. It devides the world into two: one for the believers and the other for the inferior infidels. It is a duty for every Muslim to subjugate or kill every infidel they can find. The Koran says there will be no peace in this world until every person is ruled by Islam.

You may say you've never had any Muslim trying to subjugate you or convert you to Islam. Well, not yet. Muhammad instructed his followers to keep a low profile and be peaceful when they were a weak minority in the Arab land. (This is when many "peaceful" verses were written. Some Muslims love to quote them to show how "peaceful" Islam is.) But once Muhammad had his armed forces built and grew more powerful, he turned violent and started killing those who didn't believe him.

So once the Muslims population gets bigger in this country, expect you will get more and more of their unrealistic demands (with threats). It's in their Koran! The pork and cab driver things are just a beginning.

Another problem with Islam is that Muslims consider the Koran as literally the word of Allah (despite its numerous grammatical errors!!). That means it cannot be changed or adapted to modern times. That's why Islam is still stuck in the 7th century while the rest of the world has moved on.

The Koran being Allah's word also means its teachings must be followed by Muslims with no question asked. That's the reason such barbaric acts as stoning to death, honor killing of family members and killing of apostates are still practiced in the Muslim world today. Unlike other religions, Islam simply cannot be modernized.

What else is unique about Islam? Islam is the only religion whose holly book specifically tells its believers to impose their beliefs on non-Muslims or kill them. If you are a Christian or Jew (People of the Book), you have 2 choices: Convert to Islam or live as inferior under subjugation and humiliation of the Islamic rule (e.g. paying the infidel tax). If you're not a Christian or Jew, you also have 2 choices: Convert to Islam or die! Which one would you choose? Islam is definitely the religion of the bigots.

Some people mistakenly believe that Islam is a religion of peace being hijacked by the terrorists who "misunderstand" Islam. But as you can see from the violent Islamic teachings in the Koran themselves, these terrorists actually got the Koran right. They are the true Muslims who follow Allah's will exactly what the Koran tells them to. Without a doubt, Islam is inherently violent and intolerant! How tolerant can you be of this intolerant cult?

This is just the tip of the iceberg. I hope you find the time to learn about the real Islam. I'm sure the more you know, the more you will agree with so many of us in the civilized world that ISLAM IS A PREDATORY RELIGION that doesn't deserve to be treated equally like any other peaceful religion.

It is only natural that most of us look at Islam with suspicion simply because of what their holly book tells them to do to us.

Excellent book to read: "The Truth about Muhammad" by Robert Spencer. It's a New York Times Bestseller and PC free.

Good luck.

I work in the area of welfare/health care. It is amazing how these Somali feel entitled to public support and abuse it for every little thing. They are demanding, degrading to others in their manner, rude, and threatening. they leave people cowering and just wishing they would go away. They seem to think Americans owe them everything and they dont have to work for it. they certainly don't understand that other people actually have to pay for these endless services that they get, or that Americans bend over backwards for them (they demand every little service they can get, asking for some that arent there, they want EVERYTHIING FOR FREE). When will this stop? Will there be a limit on this? The welfare abuse is amazing!

Your dreaming clown. It will never happen due to you are all escaping from your countries merciless goverment and non thinking ways. Over here it will always be the free and not your ignorant ways of life to suppress the will of the American people. You will all perish by your own hands in time and even if your allah is all powerfull it will not be enough to take the rightestness of the freedom of OUR country. You better head be to where you came from as in the hole you crawled out of such as your country....It time you all wake up and join our ways or get lost.

Good question! The answer is - an orthodox Jew WOULD NOT have taken a job that would so obviously compromise what his/her belief system is. So then the next question is...why would someone (i.e. muslim) willingly and knowingly accept a position within a major retailer that would clearly, logically violate the proclaimed belief system of that person? Answer - to garner public sentiment and ultimately file a lawsuit against the great American satan. Everybody wins, nobody goes home a loser...except us!

A year to the day after 9/11, I received via snail mail the most obnoxious piece of Islamic propaganda I've ever seen. I was livid. The fact that it arrived on that day was no accident, and thank God (Jehovah) the people in my community rose up and voiced our displeaure loudly. Haven't heard a peep from them again. For those of you who love to quote the OT to make us Christians look bad, please learn a little more about our religion. The OT ceremonial laws are for the Jews, not the Christians. When Jesus came, he fulfilled the law, and nailed it to the cross. We Christians have a renewed relationship with God via Jesus. It's about relationship, not religious practices. The moral law of God is written in the hearts of all men-who are all free to accept it or reject it. Free conscience is also the gift of God folks, but freedom of conscience is not an Islamic practice. Islam is not just a religion-it is a political/cultural/religious system. There CANNOT be a separation of church and state with Islam-period. Those of you who refuse to see the insidious nature of what is occurring here are guilty of destroying our liberties right along with the Muslims. In that propaganda packet I recieved, they said the Jews, Christians, and Muslims all worship the same god. We do not. It makes me sick to even think of it now. In the OT, God's mercy was already demonstrated as well. King David was smart enough to understand that God desired mercy, not sacrifice. He disobeyed the law and ate the shew bread from the table-lightening didn't strike him down. He understood that they were hungry and needed food, and that was the only food available, so they ate it. King David committed adultery with Bathsheba-he was not put to death, nor was she. Yes, there were consequences, our actions always have consequences, but David repented, and he was forgiven. He was shown mercy. There are many more examples of God's mercy in the OT, all pointing to the coming of Christ. The Jews haven't had a temple to sacrifice in for 2000 years, and they're still here..... The thoughts and issues brought up on this subject are quite valid. CAIR has been quite vocal about their goal to Islamisize this nation via the political and judicial process. In Saudi Arabia there was a fire in an all girl's school. The young girls fleeing the building were chased back in by the religious police force because their heads weren't covered. They all perished in that fire. Do we want that shit to happen here? It is valid to ask, how far will this go? It is sheer folly to pretend it's no big deal. Human nature being what it is, we will always have people in any collective group committing evil-they are the exceptions. It's backwards with Islam-for them it's the rule, not the exception, and for any poor soul born into that evil, they know they will die if they leave, even questioning it can bring death. Islam rules by fear and terror. And for the record, if any person, Jew, Christian, whatever, cannot do their job because of religious convictions, they need to find a new job.

Melissa--did you read this below?

Submitted by Hasarreef Mahogoff (not verified) on Tue, 03/13/2007 - 11:06am.
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.

So, Melissa, are you willing to be so tolerant now? They think we are inferior infidels, enjoy making us angry as they slowly take over our land, and that we don't even see it happening. They feel that Islam should be the religion of the world, and they think they can take over. Well, there are billions of people on earth, most like to eat pork, and we will never convert to Islam. In their dreams!! I would not have checked out my bacon myself, I would have told her she should get a job cleaning toilets or sweeping floors, and I would have asked the manager to fire her for insulting me. It is supposed to be against Islam to revile other people.

Emilie, did it occur to you that perhaps you were being baited and took the bait hook, line and sinker?

And the punchline is... the employee was subsequently let go, but then got a lawyer, sued the store for discrimination (based on his religion), won a gazillion dollars, and then bought the store, closed it down, and turned it into a mosque!

One store at a time, until... can you say "sharia law?"

Wake up, Paris! er, I mean, Copenhagen! er, I mean, London! er, I mean, Minneapolis!

This was not a big issue until a Star Tribune writer made it one. I think this was blown way out of proportion. This also shows what a bunch of insensitive people we having living amongst us.

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Masked men believed to be Islamic militants dragged the corpses of two soldiers through the streets of the Somali capital and set their bodies on fire Wednesday during fierce battles with government forces trying to consolidate their control of Mogadishu.

Medical officials at Mogadishu's three hospitals said they had recorded at least seven dead and 36 wounded by early afternoon in some of the heaviest fighting in Mogadishu since the Islamic forces were driven out in December. Dahir Mohamed Mohamud Dhere of Medina Hospital said doctors there were treating 36 wounded government soldiers.

An Associated Press photographer saw insurgents drag the bodies of one Ethiopian soldier and one Somali government soldier through southern Mogadishu and set them on fire.

Women pounded one of the burning bodies with stones as a handful of young men watched.

A similar scene grabbed the world's attention after Somali militiamen shot down a U.S. Black Hawk helicopter in 1993 during a failed American mission to capture a warlord. The images of American troops being dragged through the streets led to the eventual withdrawal of U.N. forces and years of anarchy in Somalia.

Why the hell should I ring up the pork, do I get a discount for ringing up my own sales. If they want to work there they should do what the job calls for.I am sure there are some Americans who need jobs who would be happy to ring it up.

Wounded Afghans say U.S. forces fired on civilians after suicide bomb

JALALABAD, Afghanistan (AP) — U.S. Marines fleeing a militant ambush Sunday opened fire on civilian cars and pedestrians on a busy highway in eastern Afghanistan, wounded Afghans said. Up to 16 people were killed and 34 wounded in the violence, officials said.
A suicide attacker detonated an explosives-filled minivan as the American convoy approached, then militant gunmen fired on the troops inside the vehicles, who returned fire, the U.S. military said.

As the Americans sped away, they treated every car and person along the highway as a potential attacker, said Mohammad Khan Katawazi, the district chief of Shinwar. But Maj. William Mitchell, a U.S. military spokesman, said those killed and injured may have been shot by the militants.

More than a half dozen Afghans recuperating from bullet wounds told The Associated Press that the U.S. forces fired indiscriminately along at least a 10-kilometer (six-mile) stretch of one of eastern Afghanistan's busiest highways — a route often filled not only with cars and trucks but Afghans on foot and bicycles.

"They were firing everywhere, and they even opened fire on 14 to 15 vehicles passing on the highway," said Tur Gul, 38, who was standing on the roadside by a gas station and was shot twice in his right hand. "They opened fire on everybody, the ones inside the vehicles and the ones on foot."

How the heck do you know what jesus ate? are you 2000 years old. Your ignorance is astounding. There is no concrete proof jesus even existed let alone what he ate you moronic idiot.

Well said, jenewman! Well said!

When I lived abroad, a few of my American friends traveled as Canadians. Why? They did not want to be associated with the image you so accurately portrayed above. Too many Americans are the, "ugly American," when they travel abroad—demanding that the locals speak English, being loud and obnoxious, etc. My friends discovered that they were often treated with more kindness and respect if they pretended to be Canadian. I wonder why?

I think you are right-on with your analysis as well. The reason so many get so upitty and cry assimilate or go back home is that they cannot deal with discomfort and change. I would suppose that ultimately this has to do with the fact that deep down, these people are insecure in their own ideals, beliefs and faith.

Wouldn't you be scared if suddenly, everything you believed in was not the be-all, end-all of everything? Wouldn't you be scared if you were wrong?

He said Hijab not burka. Which means he could see her face.
Jim

I find it ironic that while some Muslims working at Target find it to be against their religion to touch the pork products that Target sells, they are still willing to share in the profit from the sale of the pork products.

Target profits from it sale of pork products and its employees pay checks are generated from that profit.

It may be an obvious matter of "form" to refuse to touch the pork products, but considering the "substance" of their belief, Muslims who truly believe that they cannot be associated with pork products should not be working at Target at all.

If they believe so strongly in their religious stance against pork, they should not want to receive any of the benefits that the selling of pork products generates.

It is inconsistent and easy to argue that Muslims do not want to touch pork products when it is convenients while alternatively being willing to profit from its sale.

The reasons that muslims cant touch the pork products is that if something is not allowed in their religion then assisting somebody else in doing that same thing is just as bad. So if you are going to the bar, or eating pork, or cheating on your wife, a muslim can not be involved in assisting the person drive to the bar, or scan the pork, or anything of that nature. You will always find muslims who are willing to scan the pork or drive the person to the bar because not all muslims are practicing their religion. If people have a problem with these muslims working in target why dont you take it up with Target? they are the ones who hired them and target im sure was well informed about what they are allowed to do and not do. Im sure if there were enough non-muslim workers to work at these places for $8 an hour and no insurance target would rather hire those "regular" people. Muslims arent taking other people's jobs but rather doing the jobs that nobody else wants to do.

As an atheist, I have never had a problem with any religious denomination. I am not an 'angry atheist'. My philosphy is "live and let live". If the greater part of the people want to believe in god. That's fine with me, just don't "shove it down my throat."

IMO the Target issue is about "shoving it down our throats". In the 21st century, superstitious beliefs such as not touching pork or dogs, or alcohol have no place. People who belive such things are not dependable to make normal every day decisions, because they don't have reasonable thought.

AFAIK, nothing in a container is going to hurt you execpt for something that is radioactive.

I welcome the open discussion of religious philosphy of all faiths. I believe there is something to be learned in all of them. However supertitious fear does not belong nor advance our country.

Agreed. So, you don't proceed in the afterlife if you believe that because you scanned pork at Target or drove a cab that had a dog or a fare with Alcohol? Are you kidding me? People actually believe that? Next silly belief...

Perhaps all Muslims should migrate to the Middle East and all the non-Muslims should migrate out of the Middle East. That way, the Muslims can have all the sharia law et al they want and leave all the pro-democracy non-Muslims alone. The Islamic militants can then take their jihad to the Middle East too and leave all the rest of us alone. The rest of the world outside the Middle East also need not interfere with what's going on in the Middle East henceforth as it's their sharia law. All other countries should also prevent Muslims from migrating to their countries and encourage the Muslims within their midst who cannot tolerate their host countries to migrate to the Middle East. Meanwhile, the rest of the world should take serious steps to reduce dramatically their reliance on oil and use non-oil energy resources, and then we can all leave the Middle East to their own devices.

Osaka Bill - Sure I knew it was a taunt, but I was not responding to him, I was responding to Melissa. She may not realize that the goal of the imams is to promote "the future religion of mankind" by any means. Have you not read any of their proselitzing blogs? Have you not tried to engage any of them in converstation? They are single-minded to the extreme, so paralyzed by fear of what the imams tell them that they live and breathe nothing else. They do change the character of many neighborhoods and cause inconvenience by their refusal to obey any laws but Shar'ia. "Osaka", huh? Where do you live? Not threatened or inconvenienced yet in your neighborhood?

Emilie
Port Orchard, WA --

If they can't do as we Americans can do here,while working in the USA,they can just get the HELL out and stay OUT!!!!

May God Bless............

If these people don't appreciate all the good things America offers to them they should go back to their miserable country.

They came here and we gave them an opportunity of a better life, and liberty that has costs the lifes of many Americans and they don't appreciate that?

I'm more than happy to scan my own products at stores with self checkouts, after all these people are stupid and I won't want them processing my sales.

I will never ride a taxi driven by a muslim.

I agree. I think these muslims should migrate back to the middle east if they think it's so bad here. Why come here and try to change us when they can stay the hell where they came from and be with their own like-minded people? If they don't like their motherland, then they should try to change their own country rather than ours!