Muslim Punk?

The October 4, print edition of Rolling Stone has an article on a recent tour of Muslim Punk Bands called Taqwatour.

How cool is that?

I love cultural fusion.

Some of the bands mentioned include The Kominas, Vote Hezbollah (it's a joke), Al-Thawra, and Secret Trial Five.

Blind Man vs. Muslim Cabbie

First, there was a dispute over the rights of cab drivers in Minnesota to refuse service for passengers who were carrying alcohol.

Now, a blind man from Vancouver, B.C. has sued a cab company over being refused service because of his seeing eye dog.

Both cases dealt with a balancing of the religious convictions of the Muslim drivers and the rights of passengers to get a ride without too much hassle.

This discrimination might not require a great deal of government intervention, if it wasn't for the fact that the drivers were operating under a license to drive a cab. Such a privilege should come with some public responsibilities. After all, where would such religious convictions end? Should it be permissible to discriminate against passengers who carry pork? An unmarried couple?

I'm all for accommodating religious beliefs, but not at the expense of the work being done.