Constitutional Violations

If there are five people in this country that can't get a fair trial, OJ Simpson is 3 of them and the other 2 have to be Muslims.

An airport in Indiana wants to install a foot washing sink so their many Muslim visitors can have a place to wash their feet before they pray. This way, you don't have a bunch of barefooted dudes germing up the floor, swapping Athlete's Foot like men swapping wives at a Sandals Resort.  As a user of public bathrooms, I personally appreciate the hygiene upgrade.

And, naturally, this is being fought because its a violation of the separation of Church and State. Not at all because these folks are Muslims in an airport. Not at all.

What say you, Grievers? Who's the asshole here?

Comments

[Jack Klompus]

I have no problem with a tax payer-funded foot sink, so long as it's not Muslim-only. On more than one occasion I've been sitting next to someone on plane that felt it necessary to let their stankin' feet run naked during the flight. Not good times. I doubt those people would probably use the foot fountain, but it's wishful thinking.

[Art Vandelay]

Well apart from the disgustingness of people walking into public bathrooms, taking off their shoes, and sticking their grotty feet in the sink that people wash their hands in, I'm confused as to why all these Muslim taxi drivers have to pray at the airport? I don't see this as a Muslim thing at all. I wouldn't expect an airport to have to accomodate that for any religion.

[Assman]

I wouldn't expect an airport to have to accomodate that for any religion.

I'm not sure they're accomodating for the religion here. They're noting that people are walking into their bathrooms and washing their feet in the sink. A lot. Whether the reason is religious or not, they're curtailing a health code violation by granting an alternate foot washing area.

I dunno why you'd pray in an airport either.

[Craig]

Assuming that the sink is not restricted, there is no problem here. It's a place to wash your feet. No religion needed, just a desire to not funk up the place.

And to be honest, there is nothing wrong with accomodating people's religion. The only things that is prohibited is the establishment of a state religion or restriction of a religion. It is perfectly fine for them to say "Hey, these guys need to wash their feet, let's do something about it." as long as they are willing to do the same for other groups.

I dunno why you'd pray in an airport either.

Perhaps if you'd read one of the billion articles recently about pilots flying drunk.

[Art Vandelay]

Wouldn't it be easier to just tell them that they can't wash their feet in the bathroom sinks?

[Schmoopie]

Many major airports have chapels, you know. Some hold Catholic masses there, many have chaplains on duty, and O'Hare offers Friday services for Muslims.

If you object to accommodating footbaths for Muslims wishing to pray, then you'd better work on getting all those other chapels shut down too.