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May 02, 2007

What's the Big Deal Over Foot Baths?

Can someone please explain to me why the outrage over the fact that some public facilities are beginning to install foot baths to accommodate Muslim members of the community? The hullabaloo has been going on for awhile, but it began in earnest a couple of weeks ago when it was reported that the Minneapolis Community and Technical College was proposing the installation of the foot baths for its Muslim students, who have been conducting their 5-times-a-day required prayers and foot washing ceremonies in the restroom sinks. The Minnesota Legislature responded by requiring equal spending and accommodations for all religions, which had the effect of blocking the project. Now the uproar has been renewed with the revelation that the Kansas City airport, home to many Muslim taxi drivers, has just installed four foot baths in one of its public restrooms. The facilities were funded by the cab drivers, 70% of whom are Muslim, and not by taxes, and yet you would think by the reaction from the nutcases on the right that we had just officially become a Muslim country.

Michael Savage was the bigot who really got it going, and it's not surprising considering his last name is really Weiner. In other words, he's a Jew who hates Muslims. And his listeners are a bunch of ultra-conservative haters themselves, so they're naturally spewing the same trash. Again, no surprise.

What is surprising is how this reaction on the right has apparently freaked out the airport. Its spokesman is trying to pass the foot baths off as an Internet "myth," saying they are nothing more than "wash areas" that can be "used for any wash purpose by any of the users, including filling car wash buckets." This makes the provided prayer rugs a bit hard to explain, however.

Also confusing to me is the fact that the Airport Police have been struggling with the question of whether they should overtly tell people of the Islamic faith where they can go to prepare for their prayers or whether doing so would be "catering" to Islamic rituals. They are particularly concerned because airports have been used and targeted by Islamic terrorists such as the 9/11 terrorists, who conducted ritual bodily cleansing – or foot washing - prior to martyring themselves. My guess is they probably ate a "last supper" as well, but we aren't looking at closing all airport restaurants. In any case, the lack of foot washing facilities at the airport did not prevent their hijacking the planes and killing thousands of people.

Lest you think the Worldnet Daily article is unbiased in its reporting, note that accompanying it are links to other past articles of interest on the subject, some of which are "Everlasting Hatred: The Roots of Jihad," "Report: 'Moderate' Islamic charities back terror," "'Terrorist apologist' CAIR to meet in Capitol," and, comically, "Internet, talk radio blamed for 'anti-Muslim violence,'" as well as many more just like them.

The response from the public on this is absolutely amazing to me. For instance, a thread at Google Groups began like this:

The latest attempt to Islamize America comes in the form of tax-payer funded Muslim footbaths - Michael Savage did his entire show this evening on the subject. The crux of the discussion centered on the Separation Clause - that is the argument that the state should not be paying for religious practice. We've had foot baths for the Dirty Muslims here at De Paul and at various Islamic "Prayer rooms" (they used to be called gay bars) for a few years now so we must all strive for diversity. I was speaking with a good friend of mine about this who suggested a great solution: Since the Muslims can have foot baths, I AM ENTITLED TO A TESTICLE BATH! My Friend all say I've got balls and suggested I ought to wash them before prayers - so HOW ABOUT IT ?

I mentioned this to a gay friend of mine later and he suggested a PENIS BATH FOR GAY MEN and a Lesbian with him suggested a DOUCHE BATH FOR GAY WOMEN TOO! Someone had better tell Alderperson TOM TUNNEY! (D 31st)

If the Muslims can wash their filthy feet (at taxpayers expense): I HAVE A RIGHT TO WASH MY BALLS!

This really has potential and can lead to great things (and some wild sights) - so let's all Wash whatever part we want and get the government to pay for it!

Praise the Lord and God Bless America.

I hope Leonid will notice that I was not the one who associated hate with the Good Lord. Here's another less repulsive, but equally ignorant post on the subject:

Turn on any news program lately and you’ll likely to come to the conclusion that the world is going to the dogs. Actually, that might not be a bad idea…

For instance: Just now I’m listening to Michael Savage who is outraged at some of our country’s universities building special foot baths for Muslims to wash their feet. I have to agree with him on this one. If we can’t say a Christian prayer, or even mentioned Jesus without the thought police (ACLU) coming down on us, then Islamic practices should not get special privileges that the Christians do not have.

And if we keep this up, we will have to get rid of our dogs, because Muslims don’t like them. Dogs will not be allowed on the streets because they OFFEND them.

God hope it never comes to that, but hey, someone has to warn America.

Today foot baths, tomorrow…your dog.

I'm sure I don't need to remind any of our regular readers about the great lengths to which the ACLU has gone to protect religious freedom in this country, but I would also note that if Christians were required to wash their feet prior to praying, and they had to do it five times a day, we would have foot baths in every single restroom in this country and nobody would be asking why. Providing accommodations for a growing population in order to protect their safety (washing feet in a sink is risky business) and protect the public's health (do you want to be washing up where someone washed their feet?) is nowhere close to the same thing as Christian prayer in public school or posting of the Ten Commandments, which include forced rest on the Sabbath, in a court of law. Nobody is making anyone wash their feet or say a prayer.

Geez, I don't think these people will be happy until they've managed to lock all the Muslims up in internment camps (and had a bit of frat-boy fun with them, too).

Posted by Becky at May 2, 2007 02:27 PM