The internet was buzzing last week after an article in the Shelbyville (that's right, I said Shelbyville), Tenn. Times-Gazette reported that Tyson Foods Inc (NYSE:TSN) employees at the local poultry plant could take off the Muslim holiday Eid Al-Fitr, which celebrates the end of Ramadan, instead of Labor Day. As you might expect in year seven of our 'war' on terrorism, some readers went apoplectic at the thought of an American corporation granting a non-Christian holiday.
Now Tyson is in a full-court press to respond to the story, and I think the company deserves consideration. Its press release explains that the exchange affects only this plant, and was granted in response to a request from the Retail, Wholesale and Department Stores Union. Around 250 of its members are Somali immigrants, legally in the U.S. as political refugees, who work at the plant.
Perhaps the company would have been wiser to choose another day to swap for Eid Al-Fitr, but which? I suspect much the same (or greater) furor would have resulted if the 4th of July or Christmas or Memorial Day had been chosen instead. Labor Day honors American laborers, which include these immigrants. If they choose to work on the day set aside to honor them, too, what's the loss to us?
I think that too many people in our country are ready to condemn all Muslims; this makes as much sense as condemning all Christians for the actions of Jim Jones. Certainly, Tyson did nothing wrong by recognizing its employees' constitutional right to freedom of religion.
Me, I'm going to eat more chicken. Tyson chicken. And maybe some goat.
Thanks to Snopes.com.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-06-2008 @ 1:56AM
John said...
I liked the article, with the exception of the Jim Jones analogy. He was a cult leader not a Christian leader.
8-06-2008 @ 7:55AM
TX CHL Instructor said...
Muslims are past masters at using the tolerance of their host countries to stealthily implement their own brand of intolerance, the logical conclusion of which is the total implementation of sharia law.
Islam is the most dangerous superstition on the planet.
8-06-2008 @ 3:46PM
wayne d said...
This story is bull to the max. When in America do as the Americans do. This country was started with Christian Religion. If they want to take off without pay, find. excuse them. However, the next step is to not take off for Christmas. Give these people an inch and they will take over the whole company. Do you have foot wash stations at the door. Do you stop the line so they can pray.
I will never buy your product ever again.
8-09-2008 @ 11:18PM
Bob M said...
I too have to scratch my head and wonder just what in the heck Tyson corporate executives were thinking. If they believe that this holiday was deserved then give it to them, but to take away one from the American people, the majority of the workforce, is off base, out of line, and economical suicide for the business and it's workers. Once again corporate greed has showed itself by choosing to eliminate a present holiday for another instead of rewarding their workers with any other kind of perk.
The door has been swung open for all the other minorities to eliminate our American holidays for their own.
I also will not purchase Tyson products again.
8-10-2008 @ 3:42PM
Rick said...
I see this article has brought out the usual bigots. So what if the Muslim employees want to exchange one holiday off for another. Is it hurting anyone? No! I just wish some so-called "Christians" would get off their self-righteous high horses and show a little sympathy to their Muslim brothers and sisters.
8-10-2008 @ 6:15PM
freedomforall said...
Whoa people have you lost your minds, America was not founded as a Christian country. It was founded by men and women seeking religous freedom. And people that claim to be christian, well have any of you read the bible lately, maybe if you did you wouldn't be drinking alcohol, or letting your daughters go out half naked, commit adultery, and get a divorce when the slightest problem arises and maybe you wouldn't eat pig either. Our forefathers put the freedom of religion as one of our basic freedoms for a reason, and did you know that Thomas Jefferson had a Quran, yes the Thomas Jefferson, does that mean hes muslim no, but that does mean that he respected others.And if your so concerned about muslims taking over maybe you should divert your attention to the jewish population, who have established holidays in this country and have a major power in this country (hmm maybe thats why we always back israel). These muslims living here legally by the way see everyone else enjoying there holidays, so whats the problem with ignorant people who wont let these people have a holiday for themselves.
8-10-2008 @ 6:30PM
Steve said...
No more Tysons products for me!
8-11-2008 @ 6:24AM
sarah said...
People are seriously boycotting Tyson over this? The description 'dumb American' is apparently not unfounded. Since when does America mean conform to Christianity? Why do Jews get off for Yom Kippur or Rosh Hashanah? Would there be such an uproar if Hindus requested Holi off? Any of you gracious, loving Christians ever met a Muslim? Oh wait, do they not deserve compassion? Are they not fellow human beings? Oh wait, how many of them were terrorists? Thank you Tyson, although I find it strange so many Somalis request off for Eid from Tyson, which as far as I know, does not do halal meat.