here we go again

I've been absent from blogging for ages, but I had to come back for this. In October 2005 I wrote about birth control pills at Target. My letter has turned out to be a prediction.

Here's a little snip from that letter:

Why does your company hire workers who can refuse to perform their job? Do you hire stockboys who can refuse to work on friday nights because it is a date night? Do you hire cashiers who refuse to "check-out" customers who are of a different belief system? I see this as a slippery slope where Catholic cashiers can refuse to let customers purchase condoms, Mormons refuse purchases of coffee, and Muslims refuse purchase of pork products.

I wish there was another example, because Muslims are being unfairly hassled because of 9/11, but here is a quote from the an article in the Star Tribune:

"She made me scan the bacon. Then she opened the bag and made me put it in the bag," said Dsouza, 53, of Minneapolis. "It made me wonder why this person took a job as a cashier."

Now I have no problem with religious or personal beliefs, and religious beliefs are protected by the Civil Rights Act of 1964, but if I thought alcohol was evil I would not work at a store that sold it. If I was a vegetarian, I would not take a job at a meat counter. Anyone in America has the right to their own beliefs, but not a right to a job where if you don't believe in performing your assigned duties, you make the customer do it. As the article states, a cashier could call over another cashier to do it. I see this like an underage cashier calling over another to ring up alcohol. I guess grocery stores in NM don't sell wine:

"If we ever get to the point of selling wine in grocery stores, I imagine some folks will be excused from doing that," Hesse said.

Here in Illinois, our grocery stores sell wine. I avoid the line with a 16yr old looking cashier when I'm in a hurry, because I don't want to wait while she pages for someone to come ring up my purchase for me. I guess I'm age-ist for that, and I would be discriminating to avoid a cashier with a hijab.

However, I haven't come across other orthodox religious believers taking jobs that conflict with their faith. I guess if you only believe that it is wrong for you personally to drink alcohol or consume pork, but it is ok for others to do it, everything works out if it comes through your checkout line. I'm sure there are Jewish cashiers who keep a kosher home, but may not work in an all-kosher environment. Catholic cashiers may ring up condoms, but choose not to use them at home. In the checkout line we each mind our own business. I buy what is in my cart and the cashier scans, bags, and takes payment.

Now if you can't even touch the prohibited food item, why are you working in a job where you will be handling all sorts of food items? Religious accomodation is a day off for a religious holiday, not requiring two cashiers on duty at all times so one doesn't have to touch what the store sells. There are lots of tasks in a grocery store besides cashier, and there are cashiers at every store retail store. Choose a different job.

As I told the pharmacists, if you can't do the job, get a different career. Better yet, work for a different company. There are already religious bookstores, why not religious pharmacies that sell only products allowed in their religion? Even large chain stores like Hobby Lobby allow religion to influence their business practices, they closed on Sundays "to allow time with family and for religious observance". (I think that's what the sign on the door says, it's been awhile.) So, work for a family owned store that matches your beliefs, or a corporation that does. Vegans, Animal rights activists, and people who only buy organic have already voted with their dollars to support and shop at stores that match their belief system. I'm sure that many choose jobs that do too.