Job Discussion Forums

[jeddahteacher]

local6.com (Fla.), Aug. 4


ORLANDO, Fla.—A Central Florida woman was fired from her job after eating “unclean” meat and violating a reported company policy that pork and pork products are not permissible on company premises, according to Local 6 News.

Lina Morales was hired as an administrative assistant at Rising Star—a Central Florida telecommunications company with strong Muslim ties, Local 6 News reported.

However, 10 months after being hired by Rising Star, religious differences led to her termination.

Morales, who is Catholic, was warned about eating pizza with meat the Muslim faith considered “unclean.,” Local 6 News reported. She was then fire for eating a bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich, according to the report.

“Are you telling me they fired you because you had something with ham on it?” Local 6 News reporter Mike Holfeld asked.

“Yes,” Morales said.

Holfeld asked, “A pizza and a BLT sandwich?”

“Yes,” Morales said.

Local 6 News obtained the termination letter that states she was fired for refusing to comply with company policy that pork and pork products are not permissible on company premises.

However, by the company’s own admission to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, that policy is not written, Local 6 News reported.

“Did you ever sign to or agree to anything that said I will not eat pork?” Holfeld asked Morales.

“Never,” Morales said. “When I got hired there, they said we don’t care what religion you are.”

Attorney Travis Hollifield is representing Morales in a lawsuit against the company.

“It’s just un-American,” Hollifield said. “It’s not in compliance with the laws of this country.”

Local 6 News reported that the case has precedent-setting issues because it addresses employee rights and religion in the workplace.

“It’s a classic case of religious discrimination,” Hollifield said. “They have not articulated a single reason other than religious reason behind the policy.”

The CEO of Rising Star, Kujaatele Kweli, told Local 6 News that they have tried to create an office that accommodates anybody’s religion—not just Islam.

“Clearly you’re accommodating,” Holfeld said.

“Yes.” Kweli replied.

“And you have an ecumenical philosophy,” Holfeld said.

“Yes,” Kweli replied.

“(Then) shouldn’t you be able to accommodate all faiths in the same lunch room?” Holfeld asked.

“We do, we can,” Kweli said.

“But you’ve dismissed one of your employees for eating pork in the lunch room,” Holfeld said.

“Yes, pork is considered unclean,” Kweli said.

The Koran forbids Muslims from eating pork. And according to Kweli, Morales and every employee at the company is advised of the no pork policy.

“Our point of view is to respect the laws of the land and the laws of the land as I understand it is to the accommodate people’s right to practice their religions if you can,” Kweli said.

“Even if it impacts other people?” Holfeld asked.

“Well, it always impacts other people,” Kweli replied.

Orlando attorney Mark Nejame is close to the Muslim community, Local 6 News reported. He said Kweli’s intentions may cross constitutional parameters, according to the report.

“They’re making it seem that if you don’t follow a certain set of religious practices and beliefs then you’re going to be terminated and that’s wrong,” Nejame said. “If this case prevails, what it will mean—the implications of this case—is it will eliminate accommodations of religion.”

Both sides are steadfast in their belief that they are right. Morales is taking the company to court charging discrimination, Local 6 News reported.

(Posted on August 4, 2004)

[Saudi4Ever]

that happened in florisa, why is it posted here. this board is not about whT PEOPLE EAT IN AMERICA. IF YOU WANT TO COMPLAIN ABOUT NOT BEING ABOUT TO HAVE A SUAGE PIZZA OR BLT SANDWICH IN KSA THEN THIS MAY BE THE PLACE.

[shadowfax]

Those who have a passing acquaintance with the ebullitions of 'Saudi Forever' could scarcely be surprised by his/her irascible and narrow-minded response; nor with the reflexive and ill-considered propensity to establish arbitrarily, with peremptory rudeness, the paramaters and reference points of an issue.
As for the nomenclature appropriated by this purblind lapwing polemicist, dear readers, I am sure that most of you do not think for one minute that the person in question has the best interests of Saudi Arabia at heart (and most certainly not in mind) merely because they name themselves thus. No more so than many of those who label themselves most raucously and volubly as Muslims have the least concept of the meaning of Islam. Indeed, my counsel to such opportunist anti-porcinists as 'Saudi Forever' is to focus upon peaceful submission to Allah Himself, rather than to indulge in idolatrous and stuperose submission to the prose meanings of the Qran.
Saudi Arabia ill deserves such bald and crude 'apologists', whose intellectual calibre and probity is inversely proportionable with the majusculity of their characters (or should I say fonts, for the modernists amongst us).

[mli_vet]

Please . . . stop! I'm having a craving bacon attack. Time to sneak down past the lingerie aisle where non-halal meats are discretely sold. MMmmmmm, mmm. Can smell that hickory smoked savory aroma now. Crunchy bacon with spots of chewy fat on the sides . . .


MLI Vet
Over and Out

[jeddahteacher]

One ought to strive for balance.
http://www.angryharry.com/esPolygamyTheProsandCons.htm

Polygamy - The Pros and Cons

[Saudi4Ever]

[shadowfax]

A baseness of imagery shared with usool. Images of feculence are a sure sign of coarse ideologies as well as personalities.
Arise, awake, or be forever fallen!

[4ward]

I decided to have a browse at the link recommended by 'Jeddahteacher' and all I can say is that it appears that poor old Jeddahteacher appears to be running mad in Jeddah, or wherever he or she is. I think you need to take a break!!!
I must agree with Saudi4ever regarding your first article. What on earth has that or your last link got to do with this English language forum? In fact, instead of taking a break, why don't you leave for good? I don't think Saudi needs idiots that are ready to spoil it for other expats who are far more open-minded, more tolerable and less 'anti-Islam' as can obviously be highlighted in your pathetic link about polygamy.

[scot47]

No shortage of crazies in KSA ! Both local and imported !

Makes me feel almost normal when I am in the Majik Kingtom !

[Cleopatra]

Ego-boosts for Saudi ex-pats include the following:

1) If one is a rather naive female, you can feel that you are the most irresitably attractive woman ever to have lived;

2) If one is a po-faced "Westerner" one can look down one's turned-up nose at the uncivilised locals and non "Western" ex-pats;

3) If one is of questionable mental health... see Scot's comments.

[jeddahteacher]

One must be truly deficient in brainpower to conclude that an article that can find no "cons" to polygamy is anti- Islam.

[Cleopatra]

I would say that an article that can find no "cons" to polygamy might be anti-woman.

[scot47]

Polyandry is better.

[shadowfax]

[4ward]