Why is this racist bus driver still employed? If we knew who the fucker was, I think we should video tape 10 young black males with student bus passes and but no student ID get on the bus wearing a burka. When he freaks out and tells them they are not allowed on the bus with their head and face covered, take them off. I figure that should send him over the edge.
—disgusted
This article appears in Mar 12-18, 2009.
Yeah, but what would send him over the edge even better would be if EVERYONE that rode his bus wore burkas.
FWIW, I’m told the driver has personally apologized to the woman.
In a forgiving mood, I can understand how an older guy, maybe grew up in typically mono-cultural Nova Scotia, might have freaked out in a culturally challenging situation. No doubt he blew it. But, if he recognizes that, made an apology, learned from the situation, then, well, what more can we ask?
Also, talking with the union people today, they seem to get it, have acknowledged publicly that it was the driver was wrong, and that in the future people in traditional garb will be accorded all the rights and respect due everyone else.
There are other issues at play, and I’ll be discussing those Monday morning, 7:45am, on CBC’s Information Morning.
Don’t be so sure that this militant, poisonous union “gets it”. Their head honcho was on CBC tonight blaming management for not providing sensitivity training. Sounds to me that what these operators need is more like common sense training.
After spending considerable time in the UK, burkas are so part of the norm – while I don’t agree with religon in general, they are entitled to their traditions, just as Christians are entitled to theirs. He apologized so let’s just get over it and go forward. I only hope he learned a valuable lesson in tolerance.
I don’t understand this whole controversy
The girl didn’t have a student ID. To get on the bus with a student bus pass, you need a student ID.
So, er, it’s entirely HER fault. People.
Erm, sorry, I was thinking about a different incident. One that didn’t involve a head scarf.
Heard about that story on the CBC News Radio. What in the fuck is wrong with this guy. Has he been taught any cultural skills. Is there such a course for an HRM bus driver to take. Maybe he failed it miserably if there is one. He ranted and vented almost to the point of blowing a gasket from what I have heard and or read and or gleaned. The “HRM” bus people are looking into it. I wouldn’t be surprised if that letch is put on ” paid ” fucking unions, suspension. That dude needs to get his shit together, or find another means to earn his keep.
Incidents like this only underscore what a narrow-minded hillbilly backwater burg Halifax can be.
…Everyone in burkas and Raybans – bahawhaw.
I’m not 100% sure if we can chalk this incident up to racism rather than over-the-top insistence on the bus driver’s part to follow Metro Transit’s rules. They do have a rule where a passenger cannot cover their face on the bus, and I think that this driver was mostly ignorant of the fact that this woman was covering hers for cultural reasons. Was he wrong, for sure. Is he racist, I’m not convinced.
BRoc brings up a good point. In this society, we’re quick to scream racist the minute somebody does something unacceptable to someone of another background. I’m not condoning what the driver did; in fact, what he felt he was doing was his job. So, if that’s the case, it’s probably not a situation where he felt he would discriminate against an Arab woman for the face covering. If it was something different, like him standing up and saying that he doesn’t like Arabs on his bus, well, that’s racism. The dude apologized as well, and that really does take a set of stones, especially since it’s been blown up so much, not to mention too, if the driver was indeed racist, he wouldn’t.
Point of clarification:
An Arab is a member of an ethnic group, i.e. Saudi, Jordanian, Palestinian. A Muslim is a follower of Islam and not defined by ethnicity. This woman may or may not have been Arabic. She may well have been Malaysian, Afghani, African, etc.
Many North Americans use Arab and Muslim interchangeably, but there is a world of difference.
Thank you for clarifying Three, however, the full body covering (the burqa) is only practiced in certain areas of the world. Primarily Saudi Arabia, some Afghans (less prevalent now since the fall of the Taliban in that region, which equated to more religious freedom) and potentially some more extreme cases from the areas you mentioned. I say extreme, because the Qur’an dictates that a Muslim man or woman shall act in modesty in public. This was translated to society that they shall cover up what is felt to be sexual; usually skin, hair. In most Muslim cultures that is satisfied by the hijab, which is the head covering only, and there was never any mention of a fully face and body covering. Even some more strict Muslim followers like Pakistani or Malaysians usually only wear the hijab. So this is also a confusion as well.
I wouldn’t consider this racism, but cultural intolerance. The problem is, where do we draw the line with cultural intolerance?
Okay, so she’s wearing a face covering – which is against the terms of riding on the bus, but because wearing a face covering is part of her culture, it’s okay. And those who enforce the rules we impose on our citizens collectively for safety are called out if they don’t make these “allowances” for religiously inclined people.
I should be allowed to ride the bus wearing a Jeffrey Dahmer mask and a trench coat. All I have to do is say it’s part of my religion, and those who won’t accept me are culturally intolerant. It’s no different than that.
I should be able to have mass animal massacres in my basement and to bath in vats of blood if it’s a part of my religion, right? Where do we draw the line?
While I agree the bus driver was probably in the wrong for worrying about her face covering, we should not forget that he was only doing his job for enforcing the rules. The woman had no student ID, and only a student bus pass, not allowing her to ride for that alone would doing his job.
It’s time to change our laws, change our rules, change society but DO NOT victimize the people who enforce the regulations we have given them for today.
The concealment of one’s face while riding on a bus would be totally unacceptable for any other reason than religion – even during the coldest night of the year, someone adorned with a full-faced ski mask would not be allowed on. The cultural significance of the garment isn’t the question, it’s the principle of safety.
This simply reminds me of other news stories across Canada where religious beliefs clash with regional or national laws – a Sikh in Ontario who refused to wear a bike helmet over his turban; a Muslim girl in Winnipeg who is fighting to be allowed to wear her hijab during judo competition.
There are plenty more, and they all make national news because it is absolutely forbidden to challenge someone on their religious beliefs – even when it is for their own safety (i.e. the two cases above), or the safety of the public (i.e. the woman in the burka).
At the risk of being called racist, I’m gonna say this – when in Rome, do like the Romans, at least when it comes to laws and regulations. If the law says you must wear bike helmets, wear bike helmets. If headscarfs in judo competitions are forbidden, take off the headscarf or start your own league. And if bus policy states that anyone concealing their face cannot ride, well, sorry, but thems the breaks.
Bus driver isn’t racist, just following guidelines, completely agree with Bastard Fish, as always media spins everything out of control and creates a victim.
Reminds me of the guy with “people skills” in Office Space.
Reading the comments posted on the Chronicle Herald site regarding this incident are almost even more disturbing that this story itself. Sure, there are guidelines. People need to be aware of these. However, arguing that “suicide bombers are a common occurrence in 2009” and “this is canada, so you need to adopt to our culture or leave” is Definitely not the answer and is so ignorant I am lost for words. Suicice bombings ? Men chopping heads off on Buses ? WTF does this have to do with a woman wearing a veil. If someone wanted to infringe on someones safety they could/ would do so wearing a veil or not. Theoretically every grocery bag on a bus could be filled with tortue weilding devices. Yet bus drivers do not check these bags “to ensure our safety”. If you are so concerned for your safety on a bus, you should probably buy a car….ride a bike or walk. Canada is diverse. That is what makes it great. These people suggesting that every culture but their own should “get with it”, should (however, probably never have) never travel anywhere. If you dont speak French, dont even think about travelling to France or India. What about your 5 star all inclusive english speaking resorts in Cuba/ Mexico/ Dominican ?? These people have completely changed their culture to suit your ignorance. If they were to adopt the same practice, you would be shit out of luck. Pay them some fucking respect and read a book on cultural diversity.
The driver is an idiot plan and simple.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pa…
It is not part of the Muslim religion. Just an example of mad male mullahs subjugating women.
Back to the Middle ages.
She won’t be allowed to vote in a Federal election dressed like that. Soon she won’t be allowed to give evidence in court dressed like that.
Maybe prospective immigrants should be given cultural sensitivity training before buying the plane ticket. Can a woman get on a plane dressed like that ?
Can’t get a drivers licence or passport dressed like that.
Silly me, if she is dressed like that she won’t be driving a car -her fella won’t allow it.
Joe blow- Totally agree with you on that one. Why should we be the ones that have to take cultural diversity classes “quirky-boy”, when they are coming to Canada for a better life, they should have cultural sensitivity training. A bus driver wouldnt let me on while wearing a ski mask, and it is in MY culture to wear one on very cold days.
Ah Metro Transit… http://thechronicleherald.ca/Front/9011076…
This shit is too funny.
close the border if you think so negatively about people who come from other cultures to live in canada.
don’t forget, everybody in this country is an immigrant except for aboriginals. and this country did its best to make the aboriginals more like “canadians” and it failed miserabely.
so pretty please, with sugar on top, stop being so white and dumb, folks. you’re not the only race on tthe planet.
stop being so white and dumb, folks. you’re not the only race on tthe planet.
Posted by Donairious BIG on March 16, 2009 at 3:04 PM
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Ah. The root of his hatred for jews and gays? It seems like the trouble began here. His sixth post on the site. Let’s see how fast it goes downhill and when exactly The Coast began to support his hate propaganda campaigns.
OH GOD OLDHANDJOB IS BACK.
I’m going on vacation until he slithers back to his mom’s basement.
Someone send me a FB msg when he’s gone.