Jesus at The Mall

SF-TX · 03-09-2010, 22:50

I suspect many would consider Ruth Nasrullah a moderate Muslim. Would she have been alright had Jesus been profaned? Miss Nasrullah is a frequent blogger on the Houston Chronicles "Believe Out Loud, Houston Belief" website.

Quote:

March 09, 2010
Jesus at the mall

I hate clothes shopping, so I admit I was already a little irritated yesterday when I stood looking at jeans in a large department store and realized that I was no longer hearing the overhead muzak but rather Christian songs playing rather loudly from a radio at my feet. I was confused at first, and then annoyed. It wasn't a Christian store, and I'm not Christian. Moreover, the fact that Jesus was being praised while I, wearing hijab, shopped gave me an unwelcome feeling and then ticked me off.

I went to the customer service department and told the woman at the desk that I wanted to point out that this music was being played and that it was troubling. She called a manager, who immediately assured me she would have the music stopped.

I left the store, and all afternoon wondered if I had done the right thing, but more importantly if my response had been warranted.

I wrote a post a while back about another situation where I unexpectedly felt like an outsider in a Christian world, but concluded that a private place of business can play whatever music they choose to, and if I don't like it I can go elsewhere. But this wasn't the department store playing the music; it was apparently some employees who had chosen to drown out the store's music with a Christian radio station.

I suspect there was also a latent cultural bias behind my irritation. I don't think this would ever happen in the northeast, the part of the country that I will always think of as home. A Christian radio station playing in a well-known department store - I just can't imagine it happening, or at least not happening without protest. That's the norm I'm familiar with.

So what's your take? Were the employees right to listen to Christian music while they worked? Was I right to be offended? I'm entirely open to discussion because I'm not certain my response was right. I can only say that every time I think about it I just can't help but feel they were wrong to play religious music in a non-religious setting.

Posted by Ruth Nasrullah at March 9, 2010 09:52 AM

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GreenSalsa · 03-10-2010, 05:15

Instead of complaining just shop elsewhere.

YOUR Store, YOUR Music. I will reward or punish you with my business and frankly so will the larger community.

I usually draw the line at when YOUR music or YOUR activity, boil out into public space.

Personally as a manager, I would have been polite and apologize that the music "offended her" but wouldn't change a thing and suggest she shop somewhere else--say 8-9 thousand miles away, where that choice wouldn't be an option.

JJ_BPK · 03-10-2010, 05:59

Quote:

So what's your take? Were the employees right to listen to Christian music while they worked? Was I right to be offended? I'm entirely open to discussion because I'm not certain my response was right. I can only say that every time I think about it I just can't help but feel they were wrong to play religious music in a non-religious setting.

Posted by Ruth Nasrullah at March 9, 2010 09:52 AM

My $00.0002

The Cause: She is showing how much of a bigot she is.

The Cure: Go to another store, or better, another country where her bigotry is tolerated and/or encouraged..

Back-side: The store should allow the employees to organize and vote in a union, so they can get paid to play the music of their choice. I'm hoping they pick Barry Manilow

PS: I am not one of those that espouse inclusion. Humans have been selectively bigoted sense the get-go. As soon as God created Eve, the Snake was put on the "do not invite" list.

Green Light · 03-10-2010, 11:12

Go to a Muslim country and shop. When you here Muslim music be sure to complain - see how far it gets you. I don't think you'll enjoy the reception.

However, in the US, you can play whatever music you like in your shop. If it drives folks away, it's on you. Some folks go out of their way to be offended.

Axe · 03-10-2010, 11:19

I have ridden in a lot of taxis here in the US playing all manner of foreign, ethnic, and religious music that seems strange to me based on my upbringing. I have managed to handle those experiences without significant psychosocial trauma.

If I went to most places in the Middle East, I would expect Muslim religious custom to permeate daily living, and I wouldn't publicly complain about it.

Ms. Nasrullah needs to realize it is a great big world out there, and everyone else isn't here on the planet to cater to her personal beliefs and selfishness.

Richard · 03-10-2010, 12:00

Did she let Paul Blart know - he woulda taken care of it for her.

And so it goes...

Richard

**Team Sergeant** · 03-10-2010, 12:01

It's amusing no one sees the bigger picture. This mooslem islamic moron is not offended with the "life size" posters of scantily clad (nearly nekid) men & women in the windows of the mall, nor is she sounding off about the foul mouthed music you sometimes hear when one of "America's" youth has his IPod on too loud.

This islamic idiot is targeting christian music and damn it she wants it to stop.

Have you ever thought the individual that owns that particular store is reading the islamic idiot's blog and smiling that the music has done it's job and this islamic idiot will not be returning to his/her store again?

Deet for mosquitoes, Christian music for islamic extremists, is it really that easy?

I can see a whole lot of stores starting to play new music.

TS

[Note to self: pick up a very loud and utterly obnoxious Jesus music for IPhone to play at malls when cloth shopping to keep the hijab wearing idiots away.

]

**Kyobanim** · 03-10-2010, 13:02

An enterprising store manager could really mess with their heads and play recordings of prayer times randomly throughout the day, maybe change up the store clocks for added effect.

Gypsy · 03-10-2010, 18:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kyobanim

An enterprising store manager could really mess with their heads and play recordings of prayer times randomly throughout the day, maybe change up the store clocks for added effect.

With arrows pointing....say...North?

Maybe this broad should meet RL's friend.

incarcerated · 03-10-2010, 19:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by JJ_BPK

The Cause: She is showing how much of a bigot she is.

IMHO, she’s not just intolerant: she is seeking to further her cause by claiming discrimination in the form of having suffered offense. This dovetails nicely with our Civil Rights movement.
In this fashion, our enemies use our system and our freedoms against us.
Meanwhile:

Swedish cartoonist receives fresh death threats

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6293ZX20100310

frostfire · 03-10-2010, 19:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Green Light

Some folks go out of their way to be offended.

Very well said.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Team Sergeant

Deet for mosquitoes, Christian music for islamic extremists, is it really that easy? I can see a whole lot of stores starting to play new music.

TS

[Note to self: pick up a very loud and utterly obnoxious Jesus music for IPhone to play at malls when cloth shopping to keep the hijab wearing idiots away.

]

LOLOLOLOLOLOL...maybe I'm high on sugar or something, but that royally cracked me up silly! I (or someone) should copy TS post and put it on the blog.
Thanks for giving a cheerful start on my day, TS.

monsterhunter · 03-10-2010, 22:47

I suggest she go the **** home where they probably blast their own religious music from a loudspeaker mounted on a tower over the whole freakin' city. Don't think they would be interested in my opinion in their country.

Guy · 03-10-2010, 23:31

Lucky I was NOT the store manager.

Stay safe.

craigepo · 03-10-2010, 23:43

Unfortunately, in our society, the squeaky wheel often gets the grease.

Wonder what she would think if the Jesus jams were instead playing from every tower in town like the muslim call-to-prayer in some places I've been?

akv · 03-11-2010, 00:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monsterhunter

I suggest she go the **** home where they probably blast their own religious music from a loudspeaker mounted on a tower over the whole freakin' city. Don't think they would be interested in my opinion in their country.

Absolutely, let's deport her to Weehawken, or Hoboken, or ... Rutherford

They blast Bon Jovi where she is from.