A great fracas is evolving because a labor union successfully represented the interests of its members in negotiations with a major corporation. That doesn't seem like it would be a big deal except that those members are Muslims and the corporation's concession is letting them have the important Muslim holiday, Eid Al-Fitr, as a paid day off instead of Labor Day.
The hate mail the union is now receiving -- “You are a union that is proud of achieving a Muslim holiday and prayer room? A union in the U.S.A., a country based on Christianity. You call yourselves Americans? Have you forgotten 9/11?” -- is so depressing because this is a case where the system worked! This is exactly how new communities should be integrating into American institutions, with give and take on both sides. Instead, what seems like a good faith effort by all parties involved is being attacked. Even more ironic: The Union has worked the last 23 labor days -- it's not usually taken as a holiday but employees received extra compensation.
--Tim Fernholz
