The original post from the Oregonian is http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1169261741297940.xml&coll=7

"Wiccan ex-barista sues Starbucks over religion
Saturday, January 20, 2007

A former Starbucks barista in Hillsboro has sued the coffee giant, saying it discriminated against her based on her Wiccan religion.

In a complaint filed Jan. 8 in U.S. District Court in Portland, Alicia Hedum said a manager at Starbucks' Hillsboro Landing cafe asked her to remove her Wiccan cross several times, even though other employees, including the manager, wore Christian crosses."

Sheesh! Will the stupidy never end?! I sincerely hope Alicia carries through and makes the point clear... prejudice, religious or otherwise, is still prejudice. Prejudice people, especially those who push their prejudice in the work place, are just plain annoying. Now, I am all for work places demanding that their employees wear or display no religious symbolism. I can accept that very easily. I can even accept that in certain environments certain religious symbols should not be worn if they could provoke a disfavorable response for their wearer... BUT if you let one, you better let them all, regardless of your opinions about their faiths.

I don't know if other relgions have symbols that adherents like to wear, which identifiy their faiths, but I would suspect most if not all do. I am not trying to read between the lines in this story, but its seems obvious to me the problem was that the other employees were displaying Christian symbols, which is okay for the manager, but a non-christian symbol is not acceptable. !!!!!! Would a symbol of Islam, Buddhism, or Hinduism have been as ill perceived? I really wonder.

I hear stories like this from time to time, especially among friends who work in public positions.I feel real bad when I do. Maybe its my personality, presence, I dunno... but most folks don't have squat to say to me when I display a pentagram. So, I can't sympathize, but I do feel for them. My advice is always the same however:

DON'T remove that symbol from yor neck, finger, or wherever it is! Don't be a matyr, but don't bow down and bend because someone doesn't "like it" or thinks it is not appropriate. Its not their choice, and if it is company policy, certainly obey policy, but not individual preference/prejudice.

(If it were me, and my boss told me to remove my symbol of faith, they would have to remove it from me themselves, and I will always preach peace, but I suspect they might end up walking away a few digits short of $9.99 special.)

"Harm None" does not equal "be a doormat" either! We do not seek converts, we do not pound the streets with "our message", and I think most of us couldn't care less what someone else thinks about our faiths, but that doesn't mean we should allow others to restrict, limit, or rob us of our freedom to religion - now, if you live somewhere in the world taht doesn't afford you that liberty... well, that is another issue, but with a similar response from me ;o)

Hoorah! Go Alicia! I really hope she pushes the issue all the way. I have know idea where anyone gets off telling others what is acceptable religious expression and what is not, but I am certain it doesn't come from a place of spiritual maturity ;o)

Now, let's see... how do we get something rolling to let Starbucks know that we are sincerely dissapointed in their regard towards employees? And how do we find out if they would prefer Pagans/Wiccans not provide them business? How do we show Alicia support in this?












Xero User: Login To Leave A Comment |No Comments