Veiled Islamic woman kicked off bus still upset
Saturday, December 16, 2006
By Kyla King
The Grand Rapids Press
GRAND RAPIDS -- Five months after she was denied a ride on a public bus because her face was covered by a traditional Islamic veil, Tasha Douglas still is unable to talk about the incident without becoming upset.

Douglas said she only now reluctantly is speaking out because her experience was made public last week when officials from The Rapid bus system cited it as the reason they rescinded a policy that barred people with face coverings from boarding.

The 30-year-old Grand Rapids resident hopes by coming forward she will raise awareness that public agencies and private businesses should be sensitive to religious dress.

"I cannot express enough how this has devastated me. I was hurt. I was humiliated. I wanted to cry," said Douglas, who broke down in tears while being interviewed. "I didn't tell my family members. I didn't tell anyone at first. But I have a daughter and I don't want her to be ashamed to cover her face."

Douglas, who does not have a car, said she has not felt comfortable riding the bus since the July 3 incident and instead has relied on taxi cabs or rides from family. Since September, attorneys from the American Civil Liberties Union working on her behalf have been in talks with the transit agency.

Her attorney, Miriam Aukerman, said while the ACLU's focus is on changing the policy and ensuring The Rapid trains its employees to be sensitive to religious issues, they believe Douglas should receive a cash settlement.

"She's a low-income person ... she doesn't feel she can ride the bus again ... she's got to have a way to get around town," Aukerman said. "We think some compensation is appropriate, given what happened."

Aukerman would not discuss the details of her negotiations and would not rule out legal action.

"It's not enough to say, 'We made a mistake,' it's important to know how you could have a policy approved like this at the top levels of The Rapid," Aukerman said. "It's not like anyone would dream of saying to a nun or an Amish woman or a black person, you're not allowed to board the bus."

Peter Varga, executive director of the agency that operates The Rapid bus system, could not be reached for comment.

Rest of the story at this link:

MLive.com: Everything Michigan

I aint buying it. The only people in America running around with their faces covered are criminals. Another attempt to force us to lower our standards of defense. Not me. If I ever had to ride a bus and saw a person getting on with their face covered, I'm off that bus. Let's see if the bus company can stand up to them and not give in to dhimitude.

Quote:

Originally Posted by alias I aint buying it. The only people in America running around with their faces covered are criminals. Another attempt to force us to lower our standards of defense. Not me. If I ever had to ride a bus and saw a person getting on with their face covered, I'm off that bus. Let's see if the bus company can stand up to them and not give in to dhimitude.

Alias,
For the record, many who are Christian missionaries in nations that are mostly Muslim, veil themselves. To bridge from heart to heart. To not stand apart, to surrender freedoms.

All things are lawful to me, but not all things are expedient.

Like Paul the Apostle said, that he would become all things to all people.

OD

/

Happy to oblige ya, JayD.

OD

Serving All Men I Corinthians 9:

19For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; 20 and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the *law, that I might win those who are under the law; 21 to those who are without law, as without law (not being without *law toward God, but under *law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; 22 to the weak I became *as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23 Now this I do for the gospel's sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.

/

So who's going to check her out to see if that's a bomb on her chest, or...

Were supposed to trust her because, after all, Islam is a religion of peace.

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends .John 15:13

Guess to make friends, we got to take our chances...Jesus did. Is that what it maybe means to take up our cross too?

OD

I WILL!!!!
I WILL!!!!


Mehhhh... Naaaaaahhhhh... Not even close to being worth it.