Kansas City Police Worry About 'Catering' to Islamic Rituals at Airport

Originally posted by thematrix
Before having a heated debate about this, might be cool to post a source for the article that isn't WND, which is widely known to either make up stories or distort the facts to the point the story could just well be made up entirely.

APC contacted a radio station in Kansas city who plans on addressing it between from 9-11am CST. Tune in at KMBZ.com


I saw we are past the deadline for the show but did check her show notes and apparently last nights shooting in KC took precident so only can hope she covers it tomorrow if they feel it is news worthy.



[edit on 4/30/2007 by shots]

I've put in an email to KCI and am awaiting response.

But I would suggest listening to the radio show I referenced in my previous post tomorrow from 9-11am CST. They have regular press contacts at KCI and I suspect will have some form of interview or release to provide.

>
reminder they have not stated they will report during the show tomorrow. Only that it will be covered. If they don't get to it tomorrow it is likely because they are still putting the story together.

[edit on 30-4-2007 by apc]

Foot washing facilities in public areas that are federally funded --- ewww. I don't agree with that at all. Yuck.

Originally posted by apc
If they don't get to it tomorrow it is likely because they are still putting the story together.

Appreciate your taking the time APC, that way if they report it will take out the suspected bias claimed by some

So, anyone know an answer to my question?

To restate it, will these facilities be able to be used by everyone,
or will it only be for Muslims?

Originally posted by iori_komei
So, anyone know an answer to my question?

To restate it, will these facilities be able to be used by everyone,
or will it only be for Muslims?

Again APC is trying to get a local station to cover the story which hopfully will have more details for us. We just have to wait. Unfortunately last night they had that shooting at a mall that killed three I think which is taking up their news or so it appears.

Originally posted by shots
Appreciate your taking the time APC, that way if they report it will take out the suspected bias claimed by some

It may prove the story to be real, which I personally don't disbeleve, but I wouldn't count on it eliminating the bias.

I received a response from KCI.

Dear Mr. Cook:

Thank you for your email. Please allow me to set the record straight.

All restrooms in Kansas City International Airport’s terminals feature standard amenities such as sinks, baby-changing stations, water closets and urinals. None of the rest rooms in the terminals have “foot baths”.

In 1998, the Kansas City Aviation Department built a facility separate and away from the terminals for taxicab drivers as a holding area where they could wait and be dispatched for travelers needing ground transportation at KCI Airport. Taxicab drivers are charged a $1 per trip fee to help fund the construction and operating expenses, as well as the dispatching operation. Using no general taxpayer dollars the Aviation Department constructed the facility to meet the needs of taxicab drivers. Many are there virtually all day waiting for arriving travelers to take them from the airport to their destinations.

Recently, a small expansion was made to the building. The expansion included one sink, one water closet and two urinals. Also included were wash areas can be used for any wash purpose by any of the users, including filling car wash buckets. As it is common for drivers to be onsite for 12 hours or more, some use the wash areas to “freshen up” for their customers (face, arms, hands, etc.) Most drivers who wash their feet as part of their religious observations do so in a janitorial sink in an older part of the building. As constructed, nothing was built for the exclusive use of any ethnic group or culture.

As operators of a public facility, the Kansas City Aviation Department is chiefly concerned with serving the needs of our customers while ensuring the safest and healthiest environment possible.



Regards,


Joe McBride
Group Manager - Marketing & Communications
Kansas City Aviation Department

Good work there apc, now Shots does this eliminate the bias or prove the bias?

You can call it bias if you want, and I'm sure some of you will. I see it as an assault on the U.S. way of life. It's being done a little bit here and a little bit there. A woman claims she has to have her burqa (sp?) on for her drivers license photo, taxi drivers in Minnesota say they won't transport any passengers with alcohol, now these guys want to have the government build them a foot washing facility. Chipping away. Chipping away.

Sorry, I have to agree with thematrix that your religion and its practice need to be kept to yourself. You want to practice a religion based on rituals from the 600's AD, then you and your fellows need to take up a collection and fund your own foot washing - or whatever - facilty. The government cannot be involved in this.

Even better, consider dumping all the rituals that don't square with life in a modern, secular country. That's right, I'm suggesting a quick fast forward to the 21st century.

Hmmm. wonder how many other problems that would also solve ...



[edit on 4/30/2007 by centurion1211]

Originally posted by centurion1211
......... now these guys want to have the government build them a foot washing facility.......

But they didn't.....

Most drivers who wash their feet as part of their religious observations do so in a janitorial sink in an older part of the building. As constructed, nothing was built for the exclusive use of any ethnic group or culture.

If this statement from KCI is true, then there is no chipping away in this story.

Originally posted by Koka
Good work there apc, now Shots does this eliminate the bias or prove the bias?

For all any of us know that airport official might be covering it up. The original allegation did ask not to be named so I would not be too fast to judge just yet. Give the rest of the media time to catch up at times it takes them a week or so.




Note he is speaking in the present tense while the other spoke in past tense

You may very well be right

[edit on 4/30/2007 by shots]

Well... Joe McBride has a positive reputation around here. Is it impossible that he is lying? No. But based solely on their reputations, I trust him more than WND.

Personally I don't care what the truth is, as long as it's the truth.

Originally posted by apc
Is it impossible that he is lying? No.

Anyone and everyone can lie and we still have yet to hear from the radio station. Perhaps they might have a different version no one knows for certain at this point.

Actually he is one of their press contacts for KCI. He's who I usually hear them interview when something goes on with the airport that the public is interested in. They most likely went to him first.

But I'll be listening tomorrow as I usually am. We'll see if they found anything creepy crawly under any other stones.

[edit on 30-4-2007 by apc]

Originally posted by apc
Actually he is one of their press contacts for KCI. He's who I usually hear them interview when something goes on with the airport that the public is interested in. They most likely went to him first.

But I'll be listening tomorrow as I usually am. We'll see if they found anything creepy crawly under any other stones.

I also sent off a request to WND telling them there seems to be conflicting information and want to see if they are wrong if they will issue a correction.

my email to them

----

You recently ran the story about a tip from a source that wanted to remain unnamed and as most followers of the problem did we submitted your link and many started to question the story and its accuracy here is a reply one member received from KCI airport

This was not addressed to me but someone else and I was hoping you could help resolve or confirm the accuracy of the claim

Thank you

----

at that point I left off the names that you listed for safety reasons

Airport Debunks Islamic Foot washing Myth Or do they

Airport officials reacted real fast to APC and had an interview denying it yet if you watch the video what they show that was installed do in fact appear to be floor mounted devices. Note it shows shower heads not faucets as a standard sink would have nor is there any sink.
Something is smelling fishy here.


[edit on 4/30/2007 by shots]

Well I don't think it was a prepared statement if that's the implication. It is apparently typed in response to my email and not copy/pasted.

But this report makes sense to me. That time frame coincides with around when they completed rebuilding some main terminal parking lots which complimented previously implemented taxi service. Instead of having taxis line up in front of the terminals, one taxi waits in a holding location. When someone calls for a cab from the terminal, the taxi is dispatched and another takes its place in holding (I was thinking about making a bid for a camera system they wanted to use earlier last year). Naturally this means on slow days some drivers get to hang out all day long. [not to mention they probably don't smell so great after they get back from long runs on hot days] Showers would likely be inappropriate and uncomfortable for some, but providing a place for them to get cleaned up on occasion seems reasonable.

I'm going to have to say that as they have done in the past, WND took the opinion of someone and ran with it as if it were fact. The only question now is how they respond to the contradicting reports.

[edit on 30-4-2007 by apc]

Originally posted by apc
I'm going to have to say that as they have done in the past, WND took the opinion of someone and ran with it as if it were fact. The only question now is how they respond to the contradicting reports.

Airport Debunks Islamic Foot washing Myth Or do they

Well I would not be so fast to jump to conclusions watch the video closely the height of the benches/seats. Note the height of the men in the video in relation to the water outlets. Ok then explain why the camera at one point appears to be at the same level of the bench/seat. Why is that? Perhaps they wanted to deceive is my guess but when you see the men standing in front of it with hands you get a whole new perspective. Now view this




Note the example is for boys but do you see the similarities between what is used and what was built??


I do not know where you come from but I have some reasonable doubt as to the airport telling the truth. I mean would you want to have to admit to the public you built something for one specific group in your airport. I know I sure, as the devil would do what appears to be the case here which is make a quick cover story up.


[edit on 5/1/2007 by shots]

Well the similarity is undeniable. However Kansas City, while being a city very tolerant of gays with a fairly liberal midtown and a hypersegregated east-side, is largely conservative. The media here often panders to that conservative base. If there is some sort of coverup, FOX4 at a minimum will be all over it. Not to mention KMBZ980 and KCMO710 (FOXNews Radio).

[edit on 1-5-2007 by apc]