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| Olde Tyme Religion |
| Muslim students want a place to pray at Northwestern games |
| 2007-01-15 |
| Muslims say they need quiet room at Welsh-Ryan Yes, yes. That's allllll they want... Amid the cheering Northwestern football fans at Ryan Field, all Ashar Wasi wanted was a quiet place to pray. The only place he could find was a spot of less-than-clean floor in a public walkway. "We had to pray in front of the concession stand, in front of all the people," the McCormick junior said. Yes. Doesn't sound like a setup to me, does it? Perhaps someone noticed. At last Wednesday's ASG meeting, the Muslim-cultural Students Association proposed a bill establishing a designated prayer area at Welsh-Ryan Arena for Muslim students for football and basketball games. McSA President Amir Siddiqui estimates more than 20 Muslim students are in attendance at nearly every game. "Oftentimes while students are at sporting events, the prayer time falls during the game," the Weinberg senior said. "If there was a space to pray, or even an opportunity for students to leave and re-enter, things would be better. Right now, it can be difficult." Well...if praying's that important to you, stay the fuck home. John Mack, associate athletic director of external affairs, said McSA contacted him about the problem as early as mid-October. Despite discussing the request in staff meetings, Mack said they couldn't provide a solution. "This is a request we took seriously," he said. "We appreciate all student support, but we didn't feel there was a suitable area for prayer. There's not enough space in the arena." Oh-oh. Nasty letter from CAIR in 3...2...1... Mack said the athletic department doesn't allow any spectators to leave and re-enter the facilities during an event."When you give preferential treatment, while respecting their group's religion, it's tough to determine where to draw the line in terms of our entire fan base," he said. Yep. Don't know what we'd do without all our Muslim fans... Regardless, some Muslim students said the current rules present an inconvenience that warrants more discussion. "Right now, we have to pray late afterwards or early and it's annoying," said Ramah Kudaimi, a Medill senior. "It's a lot more convenient to have a designated area than having to pray at different times." Again, if praying's that important to you, stay the fuck home. . Kudaimi said she occasionally uses the designated prayer area in Parkes Hall on Friday, the Muslim holy day. Another area was established in the Technological Institute for a similar purpose. "It's a lot more comfortable for other students who may not want to come upon someone praying," she said. How nice. Thinking of others. Suuuuure you are... Siddiqui said he hopes the ASG resolution, if passed, will open up a dialogue with the athletic department."If we just had an opportunity to talk, we could find a solution," he said. Hey, I've got one! If praying's that important to you, STAY THE FUCK HOME!!! For his part, Mack said he would be willing to listen again. He doubts, however, that much can be changed for this season. But Wasi, who frequents the prayer area at Tech five days a week, wishes it were different. Yeah. I wish I was a billionaire, but guess what... "All I want is a little bit of privacy, he said. "Carpets would be nice. It doesn't need to be soundproof, just clean." Sure. Put a carpet in one of the shithouses and tell them to say hello to Allah. |
| Posted by:tu3031 |
| #23 Do these Einsteins realize the focus of this game is a pigskin? |
| Posted by: ed 2007-01-15 23:03 |
| #22 "#17 I always go to a football game when I feel the need to pray. In fact, I think half-time should be devoted to prayers. I want a cathedral on the 20 yard line where I can stop play, insist the crowd drop to their knees and wave their ass in the general direction of the Vatican." Ummm, if you're a San Diego Chargers' fan, you'd better start praying of deliverance in 2007. |
| Posted by: Lancasters Over Dresden 2007-01-15 22:45 |
| #21 #2 And it better be a skybox on the 50 yard line. Posted by Wasi 2007-01-15 15:04 Yes, but only if it is pointed toward Mecca. |
| Posted by: Lancasters Over Dresden 2007-01-15 22:44 |
| #20 What the hell is wrong with the bathroom stalls? Of course it might offend the Porcelain God.... |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2007-01-15 22:19 |
| #19 Dr. White, report to the quarantine and deprogramming facility, STAT! You have been infected with progressivitis, a debilitating and potentially fatal disease! If caught early, it can be treated with minimal side-effects. |
| Posted by: Chuck Darwin 2007-01-15 20:43 |
| #18 You f**kers can walk over to the lake where its nice and quiet. Go right to the edge and bang your skulls on the rocks. Hold your rags under water for 5 minutes. Any more problems we can help with ? |
| Posted by: SpecOp35 2007-01-15 19:16 |
| #17 I always go to a football game when I feel the need to pray. In fact, I think half-time should be devoted to prayers. I want a cathedral on the 20 yard line where I can stop play, insist the crowd drop to their knees and wave their ass in the general direction of the Vatican. Because I'm pious an' better than youse all. So drop and give me 20. |
| Posted by: Thinemp Whimble2412 2007-01-15 18:35 |
| #16 According to things I've read here -- and I'm claiming no expertise whatsoever -- Muslims are allowed to skip prayers and otherwise accomodate to circumstances when outside the Ummah, which is certainly where Northwestern University appears to be located. For both players and spectators, tu3031's point holds, "Well...if praying's that important to you, stay the fuck home." This isn't about players taking a moment to pray that nobody be seriously injured during the game; this is about a few individuals desiring to engage in daily prayers that back in the old country they went to the neighborhood mosque for, analogous to Catholics going to a church with a proper priest to lead the service. Now oddly enough, Muslims and Catholics (and the rest of us) can engage in prayer at any time, simply by stepping away from others to do so... or even just by closing our mind to the outside world for a moment. If what is good enough for the rest of us won't do for these Muslims -- noting that there have been Muslim students at Northwestern for decades without this demand being made -- then these Muslims really should find a place more suited to their particular needs. Mr. Wife has certain food allergies that could kill him. He didn't demand that the school cafeterias ban apples and pears, or the pineapples and cherries that for him merely triggered asthma attacks, or even provide him special meals without those ingredients; rather, his mother prepared and froze fourteen meals a week, and brought them to him (fortunately he went to school only across town!), and otherwise he lived on pizza and such. I've been known to eat entire dinners except for the pork loin and shrimp cocktail -- amazingly enough, one can survive quite well on salad, side dishes and desert, while participating in polite conversation. This sounds like those idiot imams who prayed at the top of their lungs in the airport, then engaged in such provocative behaviour on the airplane that they were kicked off. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2007-01-15 18:27 |
| #15 Mr. White says the request for a prayer room at the stadium is not jihad. Yes, in fact it is a form of jihad. These students are merely seeing how far they can push the envelope Around the office we call it "the soft jihad". Much in the same way the jihadist cab drivers want a pass on transporting passengers carrying bottles of booze. Or seeing eye dogs. Much in the same way the muslims in New Zealand want tax payers to pay for muslim only swimming pools. It's jihad. Just because it doesn't draw blood doesn't mean it's not jihad. |
| Posted by: Mark Z 2007-01-15 18:21 |
| #14 The muzzies should be sent to the Amish to learn how to accommodate to living as a minority in a hostile culture. If they don't like it, they can leave. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2007-01-15 18:15 |
| #13 Crusader: my home isn't the issue. It's players who ask for a small area somewhere at the stadium/arena. I wouldn't make an accomodation for students, but players of any religion could be easily accomodated. That's the issue. No, it's NOT the issue. From the story: McSA President Amir Siddiqui estimates more than 20 Muslim students are in attendance at nearly every game. Ain't talkin' players. Talkin' spectators. |
| Posted by: Rob Crawford 2007-01-15 17:44 |
| #12 This isn't assimilation and this isn't jihad. This is accomodating something reasonable. No, it's not. It's reasonable to ensure the restrooms are handicap-accessible; it's not reasonable to be forced to set aside a room for two dozen members of a single faith who are merely inconvenienced. What next? Prayer rooms in the local mall? Laws requiring every public building to carry the call to prayer over the intercom at the appropriate times? And, honestly, I doubt this is all they'll ask. The next step will be a requirement that non-Muslims stay out of the room. Then there will be complaints about the quality of the room. Then they'll complain about the pork and beer served by the concession stands. There are probably as many professed Wiccans at those games as Muslims. Should there be special accommodation for them? |
| Posted by: Rob Crawford 2007-01-15 17:42 |
| #11 Silentbrick: does that apply to Christians, Jews and Zoroasterians as well? Crusader: my home isn't the issue. It's players who ask for a small area somewhere at the stadium/arena. I wouldn't make an accomodation for students, but players of any religion could be easily accomodated. That's the issue. Prayer is an important issue. My prayers as a Catholic are important to me. |
| Posted by: Steve White 2007-01-15 17:35 |
| #10 We should set aside prayer rooms for Muslims. In return will pay an additional 25% of their yearly income in taxes to support these set asides. Failure to pay the tax means that you get deported. I have no problem with supporting them in this manner, as long as they pay the dhimmi tax for their death cult. |
| Posted by: Silentbrick 2007-01-15 17:16 |
| #9 The Muslim players want to be able to commune, and their rules are different. I have no problem providing them an appropriate (small) space in which to do that. How about dedicating an appropriate (small) space in your home for that purpose, just in case Muslims drop by and the prayer time occurs during their visit? I imagine your response to such a proposition would be alot closer to the "stay the fuck home" sentiment than it would be of accomodating the inflexible observors of an inflexible religion. |
| Posted by: Crusader 2007-01-15 16:26 |
| #8 I understand your argument, but I still think there's a reasonable argument on the other side, Steve W . . . There are many activities that are incompatible with religion. For example, there are Somalian cab drivers in Minnesota who believe it is against their religion to carry passengers with alcohol or dogs. Isn't it reasonable that they simply find a job that doesn't violate their beliefs (and there are many such jobs). Orthodox Jews don't take jobs that require them to work on Saturdays. In fact, since college football is played on Saturdays, orthodox Jews, presumably, don't attend any games. Should games be played on days other than Saturday? As we speak, there are pharmacists whose religious beliefs are violated by dispensing birth control and RU-486 (and yet, are being compelled to fill the prescriptions, by law). Basically, the question is, "How much accomodation is too much accomodation?" If you read in what I have said that I have an answer, know that I don't. My fear, however, is not the principle of reasonable accomodation. I am concerned that those who seek it do so for less noble reasons. Their motives are political (much like the wearing of the hijab, in europe). |
| Posted by: PlanetDan 2007-01-15 16:11 |
| #7 Perhaps the University could magnanimously give them Ryan (formerly "Dykes Stadium") Field during basketball season. |
| Posted by: eLarson 2007-01-15 16:05 |
| #6 There's no mention of muslim players needing prayer space Steve. It's Muslim student fans who want prayer space. I say to them stay the f*ck home or show up to the game late. |
| Posted by: Broadhead6 2007-01-15 15:57 |
| #5 Nope, sorry, disagree. We have lots of situations in which the Christian atheletes on a sporting team pray. Their rules are different, and they have no problem just creating space wherever they are -- locker room, practice field, arena, stadium, etc. You see this on TV frequently; the Christian players will huddle for a short prayer. The Muslim players want to be able to commune, and their rules are different. I have no problem providing them an appropriate (small) space in which to do that. This isn't assimilation and this isn't jihad. This is accomodating something reasonable. The Muslim players make it clear that they're football/basketball players dedicated to the team. I see no problem. |
| Posted by: Steve White 2007-01-15 15:48 |
| #4 "Right now, we have to pray late afterwards or early and it's annoying," Poor fellow, having to face life's greatest hurdle: the annoyance. Almost makes you weep for the inhumanity of it all. |
| Posted by: Rob Crawford 2007-01-15 15:23 |
| #3 Northwestern should provide the space - their football team needs all the prayers it can get. |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2007-01-15 15:23 |
| #2 And it better be a skybox on the 50 yard line. |
| Posted by: Wasi 2007-01-15 15:04 |
| #1 Someone throw in the BS flag. If the games or activitites are that inconvient then don't participate. I am a rabid football fan (as is God) and if I am blessed enough to get tickets for a Sunday game God will understand if I miss a Mass. |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge 2007-01-15 14:57 |