An Open Letter TO Steve Wareham, Director, Minn-St. Paul Airport

[Nur]

To: Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport Director;

Mr. Steve Wareham.

 

 

Dear Sir,

 

I read in the news today the problem of Muslim cabbies refusing to transport passengers who carry alcohol. As an immigrant citizen myself, I thought it would be my civic duty to contribute my opinion to help you take the best course in your decision making.

 

America was founded on the toil of immigrants, each and everyone bringing along their heritage, culture and religion, and for the past four centuries the mix of immigrants and their hard work has benefited the union immensely, contributing to its internationl reputation as the land of opportuinty and justice for all.

 

Most Immigrants start their American dream from the rock bottom, they come prepared to do the most undersirable jobs as long as it earns them a decent and honorable living. Some immigrants on the otherhand, live on the public handouts and usually become a burden on tax payers, while at the same time they are more prone to commit illegal activities to get rich quick.

 

A job survey once listed taxi driving as the second to prostitution as the worst jobs among many jobs, and for a good reason as many cabbies have been attacked by drunken passengers.

 

Clearly, every American enjoys freedom of their chosen lifestyle and belief, however, its wise that government officials handle these sensitivities in a way that suits everyone. Each side of this equation presents pros and cons, the decision of the Airport must be based on a winning formula that accomodates the maximum benefit to the Airport Service. But we all know that the best Airport Service can not be provided by a de-MORALIZED cabbies, (meaning cabbies who can not be trusted with passengers), since a devout Muslim Cabbie who refuses to carry alcohol is otherwise the safest to transport our citizens, children and women, and their valuable possesion. Because by the same token in which a cabbie observes the moral religious edict about alcohol, he will also observe the Airport Code of ethics by serving the Airport Passengers conveniently and professionally with added safety and security measures rooted in his faith, far better than that of a cabbie who is only observing the visible secular laws.

 

Thus, my advice is as follows:

 

Some International Airports have run into problem about smoking, some passengers claiming to have the right to smoke, while others demand freedom from second hand smoke. To solve such a problem, Some Airports have designated Smoking Area to accomodate smokers.

 

Likewise, the Taxi Line Starter can designate a pool of cabs who are willing to transport alcohol carrying passengers and if necessary giving them preference over others in the cabbie waiting line, so that each cab driver can have a choice, this way everone can win including the passenegrs and the Airport.

 

 

Nur