British airways have banned a christian employee from wearing a very small cross from around her neck, they say she can wear it so long as it is not visible, even though muslems, sikhs, and other ethnic groups CAN wear there jewelry, this lady has been suspended without pay for two months and after an appeal , which was turned down she is going to lose her job.
2006-11-23 07:01:06 · 25 answers · asked by patrick m 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
As I understand the facts BA say they are not being intolerant of religious beliefs, just anti jewellery wearing as that they say is establihed company policy. BA also appear to be saying that other faiths can wear symbols of their faiths on the basis that those symbols are not jewellery and can not be hidden from view. eg a turban or similar can hardly be hidden beneath a uniform cap. This to my mind is splitting hairs and unworthy of BA. My asians friends confirm to me, and I know it as a fact that many Sikhs for example do not wear a turban so why do BA not insist that Sikhs wear a standard issue cap? The other symbols of their faith, the so called five K's can and are hidden. Please do not misunderstand me I am not anti Sikhs just a 'gora / admi ' who feels that tolerance and latitude should be equally extended. Neither the 'gwrdwara' or a 'church' denies access to its believers just because they do not wear the symbols. As far as the christian employee is concerned she does not see her cross as mere jewellery but a symbol of her faith which she wishes to proclaim. One could even argue that those who wear a religious symbol as mere jewellery witjout acknowledging its significance are wrong. To those who say the lady knew the rules when sher joined, what if since joining she has found religion and feels the need to proclaim it in that very small positive statement of wearing a religious cross ? As to her employment status I understand that BA have said she can work, but effectively out of sight of the public and not in her present position, and wear her cross. Effectively she has, or will, therefore lose her job. For what it's worth I think this is a PR disaster for BA and they have needlesly picked a fight on an inoffensive woman when they have consistently shown that they cave in on the bigger issues such as disputes at holiday times when the 'spanish practices' of the unions ruin lots of flight plans and cost them a fortune. Yes I would be inclined to boycott BA, no I'm not overly religious myself, I think all faiths that aim for equality of opportunity, fairness and compassion to our fellow man, protection of the sick and hungry, respect for the earth and its resources and similar, are but branches of the same tree and we grasp that branch in the way that is most comfortable for us to comprehend.
2006-11-23 08:05:53 · answer #1 · answered by on thin ice 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I would have to say yes. But the thing that could be the reason behind just bothering with a cross is that the cross and crucifix are easily recognized by the general population, where as the other ones are not. Another possible reason is that someone could have complained about the cross and not the other symbols because that one offended them. Either way, it's ridiculous that people don't keep in mind that they are in public, so they're going to have to except the fact that their religion and what not are not the only ones in existence. People keep on asking for equal treatment, then they twist it around to try to get special treatment.
2006-11-23 07:09:23 · answer #2 · answered by gaygoddevil 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There is a growing Christianaphobia in this country, the PC brigade, the trendy liberals and the secular humanist State deliberately target Christianity because, they not only hate what it stands for, they also regard it as an extremely soft target for their bigotry.
Now it seems we even have commercial concerns jumping on the bandwagon. However, commercial concerns should be extremely careful about this sort of anti-Christian bias because they could potentially face financial damage if Christians decided en mass to boycot their goods and services.
As a former shareholder in British Airways I think it is an absolute disgrace that the management should act in this way. The excuses about health and safety are nothing more than obstinate pettiness, and I hope those behind this (to be charitable I will simply call it stupid) decision are given a roasting by the shareholders. The best way to ensure this is for us to boycott British Airways until they reverse their decision.
So yes! people should definately boycott them.
2006-11-23 08:00:08 · answer #3 · answered by A.M.D.G 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
properly, if it is real, and if there wasn't the different reason (like i don't be attentive to, say working example a secure practices situation, simply by fact a crucifix is metallic, and metallic could be in a roundabout way risky...). So, if the rationalization is solely religious intolerance, then it relatively is alright to boycott. i be attentive to that for the duration of specific activities, gamers at the instant are not allowed to positioned on crucifixes, watches or rings in the sphere, simply by fact it relatively is risky for his or her own actual integrity. A soccer (soccer) goalkeeper broke his finger for wearing a marriage ring. He exchange into going to capture a ball, and the hoop exchange into caught in the internet of the purpose, and he fell, and so broke his finger. yet that would not recommend there exchange into an intolerance for married men.
2016-10-12 23:48:16 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes! I will be boycotting BA on this principal, us Christians are forever being kept down and supressed, we are always having the wotsit taken out of us, you try that with a Muslim and see what you get! The UK has been a Christian country for over 1500 years, what do they want? Do they want all us Christians to dissappear to the dungeons again to hold mass in secret so we don't upset the Muslims? I find it unacceptable that Muslims are defiant to the last and refuse to stop wearing their religious regalia, and some of it I find very offensive, yet we Christians are supposed to hide our religious jewellery and paraphenalia in case it offends or upsets, and we are supposed to just shut up and accept it, why should we? The muslims sure as hell dont! Now I know that BA claim non religious grounds for banning this woman wearing her crucifix, but quite frankly I think they are being totally PC to make sure that they don't get a complaint or something because some Muslim fanatic spots a Crucifix on ones person, it's about time the christians stood up and made as much noise as the muslims about our religion, and we will not hide, we will not have the rise taken out of us anymore, we will not put up with anymore PC 'scared to upset the muslims' crap, this is our country, Britain is a CHRISTIAN country and has been as I say for over 1500 years, we have every right if not more right to wear our religious jewellery. I'm totally disgusted with BA and all other companies (There are a few out there) that bow to this PC behaviour and ban christian things, I even heard of a jeweller up here in Scotland who stopped selling Crucifixes on the grounds that they had a muslim salesman that comes in and didn't want to offend him, or any muslims that may look in their window, and that is a true story, as god is my witness! They are even trying to have a go at trying to ban Christmas, apparently we no longer have Christmas Lights in some parts of the country, it's FESTIVE lights apparently or WINTER lights in some others, bloody ridiculous!
2006-11-23 07:26:40 · answer #5 · answered by Mr Sarcastic 3 · 4⤊ 2⤋
Well personally being a devout aethiest i've got to be honest and say that i couldn't a flying one if they let that lady wear a crucifix or not, when i go into an airport all im interested in is getting on board, being comfortable and not dying at some point in the process so theres not much chance of me joining the bible bashers' crusade to turn BA into the new axis of evil.
2006-11-23 07:16:00 · answer #6 · answered by thecoldvoiceofreason 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I think, there is no harm for the lady to wear the cross visable, what would be the problem with that. if this lady will feel more psositve about her day to day work and would feel more appreciated then why not. how is the cross going to be a problem. mind you, we are not sure why they banned jewelry, it could be a health and safefty issue, but if it is proven that will not effect any health and safety etc.then they should review their policy and allow people to do that.
2006-11-23 07:48:43 · answer #7 · answered by sweetdays 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes, and I will never fly on British Airways!
2006-11-23 07:05:31 · answer #8 · answered by Mr. Right 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
all they did was ask people not to put their jewelry on display, its something that even my workplace enforces, (mainly because I work in a factory) but also its health and saftey, if this woman doesn't like the rules, then she can go work for some other company that doesn't care about the well being of their staff.
2006-11-23 07:46:15 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Would she wear the same cross if she worked for a Saudi airline? What about the check- in at Baghdad airport?
2006-11-23 07:13:36 · answer #10 · answered by ED SNOW 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋