Somali group wants tax money to support religious based food shelf

[Texashiker]

What is a food shelf? I am going to guess it is like a food bank? A place people can go to get free or discounted food?

Anyway, a group of Somalis want the tax payers to fund a food shelf that will meet their religious dietary needs. They claim this is a human rights issue.

http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2014/09/15/somali-group-pushes-for-non-pork-food-shelf/

But many in the Somali-American community say finding a food shelf that caters to their religious dietary restrictions is almost impossible.

“Some food shelves are trying to meet the need, but some of them already got canned beans that have already been mixed with pork — and there is a literacy issue here,” said community activist Fartun Weli.

Why should tax money go to provide for someones religious needs?

 

[Rakehellion]

Swap the pork n' beans with just beans. Not that hard.

 

[Rakehellion]

Oh, and deliberately misleading thread title.

 

[TheSiege]

What is a food shelf? I am going to guess it is like a food bank? A place people can go to get free or discounted food?

Anyway, a group of Somalis want the tax payers to fund a food shelf that will meet their religious dietary needs. They claim this is a human rights issue.

http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2014/09/15/somali-group-pushes-for-non-pork-food-shelf/


Why should tax money go to provide for someones religious needs?

I think the better question is:
Why should religious institutions not pay tax?

 

[Texashiker]

Oh, and deliberately misleading thread title.

Explain your accusation.

The group wants $150,000 to start a food shelf for halal foods.

 

[cabri]

Oh, and deliberately misleading thread title.

Once you read the article, the title is accurate.

However, I disagree that the food is not healthy. it is just that they choose to not eat it because of religious reasons.

Which should take precedence;food or religion?

I am sure that there is other food available in the charity system; what they are pushing for is targeted food for their desires, not needs.

 

[nehalem256]

So the regular food shelf doesn't stock any non-pork food?

 

[Orignal Earl]

There is already groups promoting this in Europe.
If we don't make a stand now this could spread to America

 

[Texashiker]

So the regular food shelf doesn't stock any non-pork food?

From what I see they want an entirely separate food shelf for halal foods.

 

[Orignal Earl]

From what I see they want an entirely separate food shelf for halal foods.

OMG the humanity...

 

[smackababy]

From what I see they want an entirely separate food shelf for halal foods.

And, their argument on that is that there is a literacy issue with Somali Muslims. Having a dedicated section would ensure those that cannot read or understand the ingredients, don't accidentally eat non Halal foods.

Besides the high amount of money asked for, I don't have a problem with this. Minnesota has a large Somali community (no idea why), so this isn't some kind of stupid request.

 

[Texashiker]

Besides the high amount of money asked for, I don't have a problem with this. Minnesota has a large Somali community (no idea why), so this isn't some kind of stupid request.

You do not have an issue with tax money going to help religious groups?

What about this little thing called separation of church and state?

 

[cabri]

And, their argument on that is that there is a literacy issue with Somali Muslims. Having a dedicated section would ensure those that cannot read or understand the ingredients, don't accidentally eat non Halal foods.

Besides the high amount of money asked for, I don't have a problem with this. Minnesota has a large Somali community (no idea why), so this isn't some kind of stupid request.

How difficult is it to create a shelf in the food bank(s) with labels on it and not stock the non-acceptable foods. And have a sign when one walks in to look for such displays..
Not $150K

They are looking for additional handouts; not trying to use common sense to resolve a problem that is not a problem, but an irritation.
Unless those that are food shopping can not read, so they "need" are complete food bank to help with their religious concerns.

One would wonder if they can not read (any language), how they are able to process within the community?

 

[nehalem256]

And, their argument on that is that there is a literacy issue with Somali Muslims. Having a dedicated section would ensure those that cannot read or understand the ingredients, don't accidentally eat non Halal foods.

Besides the high amount of money asked for, I don't have a problem with this. Minnesota has a large Somali community (no idea why), so this isn't some kind of stupid request.

Maybe if they learned English they could afford their own food?

Sounds like this situation is an excellent example of why we shouldn't be accepting uneducated 3rd worlders as immigrants.

 

[Victorian Gray]

It certainly is an odd idea having food shelves for people with special religious dietary needs.


St. Louis Park Emergency Program (STEP)
6812 West Lake St
St. Louis Park, MN 55426
952-925-4899
STEP provides transportation assistance, emergency assistance, food shelf services (including Kosher food shelf), homeless prevention services, and back-to-school program.

 

[Texashiker]

STEP provides transportation assistance, emergency assistance, food shelf services (including Kosher food shelf), homeless prevention services, and back-to-school program.

Is STEP taxpayer funded?

Isn't offering kosher but not halal a form of discrimination?

 

[rudder]

I think the better question is:
Why should religious institutions not pay tax?

So let's say my church has a collection to provide some halal food to some Somali immigrants. So now, the money I give that was taxed when it was earned, gets taxed by the IRS as church income. Then the church has to pay taxes to purchase the food for charity with money that has already been taxed twice.

What this has to do with the OP... I do not know.

 

[Londo_Jowo]

Why should you care, it not in East Dumbshit, Texas,

 

[Victorian Gray]

Is STEP taxpayer funded?

Isn't offering kosher but not halal a form of discrimination?

You want taxpayer funded?

Law aims to boost halal, kosher food for poor

"DETROIT (AP) — For the first time, the federal government is required to purchase and provide food banks emergency supplies of kosher or halal products, serving a population whose survival could otherwise be at odds with strictures of faith.

The void was first revealed in the wake of Superstorm Sandy, which wreaked havoc on the East Coast in the fall of 2012 and led to food shortages for those most in need.

A Jewish philanthropic organization in New York alerted lawmakers to the rising numbers of people coming to its food banks and often finding shelves devoid of kosher offerings. That led to legislation aimed at boosting emergency supplies for food prepared in accordance with Jewish and Muslim dietary rules, and, after some unsuccessful attempts at passage, the measure was tucked into the sweeping federal farm bill signed into law in February."

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/law-aims-boost-halal-kosher-food-poor

 

[smackababy]

How difficult is it to create a shelf in the food bank(s) with labels on it and not stock the non-acceptable foods. And have a sign when one walks in to look for such displays..
Not $150K

They are looking for additional handouts; not trying to use common sense to resolve a problem that is not a problem, but an irritation.
Unless those that are food shopping can not read, so they "need" are complete food bank to help with their religious concerns.

One would wonder if they can not read (any language), how they are able to process within the community?

I agree it shouldn't be hard for food shelves to have a section dedicated to Halal food. And, if they don't, it isn't a huge deal as the faith plainly states if Halal food is not reasonably available, they can (without sinning) consume non Halal food.

Maybe if they learned English they could afford their own food?

Sounds like this situation is an excellent example of why we shouldn't be accepting uneducated 3rd worlders as immigrants.

I have a feeling they are more like refugees than immigrants. You know, considering Somalia's government collapsed, the country is a lawless shithole, and many first generation flee anywhere that will take them.

Maybe they should just pull themselves up by the bootstraps like a good ol' America loving, red (but not Commi red) blooded conservative! God forbid we accommodate their religious beliefs, but make it illegal to pray to a Christian god in schools! OMG the outrage!

 

[Texashiker]

You want taxpayer funded?

No, I do not want my tax dollars funding someones religious beliefs.

A Jewish philanthropic organization in New York alerted lawmakers to the rising numbers of people coming to its food banks and often finding shelves devoid of kosher offerings. That led to legislation aimed at boosting emergency supplies for food prepared in accordance with Jewish and Muslim dietary rules, and, after some unsuccessful attempts at passage, the measure was tucked into the sweeping federal farm bill signed into law in February."

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/law-aims-boost-halal-kosher-food-poor

Well, aint that something. Tax money funding religious beliefs.

My personal opinion, your religious beliefs are your responsibility.

 

[smackababy]

My personal opinion, your religious beliefs are your responsibility.

Is that so? And by that, you mean your non Christian religious beliefs are not worthy of any kind of law using them as a backing, but my Christian beliefs are?

 

[Londo_Jowo]

My personal opinion, your religious beliefs are your responsibility.

Does that mean you're finally going to shut up concerning women's rights to get an abortion? After all it's their responsibility and not yours.

 

[Texashiker]

Does that mean you're finally going to shut up concerning women's rights to get an abortion? After all it's their responsibility and not yours.

<not derailing thread>
Nope, because murder is a social issue and not a religious issue.
</not derailing thread>

I think I am going to start a new religion and call it the holy church of jack daniels.

Then I am going to petition the government to supply food banks with jack daniels whiskey.

 

[MrPickins]

Why should you care, it not in East Dumbshit, Texas,

Thanks for the good laugh. I needed it. :biggrin: