Pork Rinds - A Dangerous Idea
John Thomas, the producer of the following video sent me this introductory note:
"A Dangerous Idea" is a satirical look at one of America's favorite snacks, and how the snack caused a dilemma for one Muslim shop owner.
Are pork rinds halal? After delivery of a box of pork rinds to a Muslim owned convenience store, a discussion ensues between the shop owner and his son as to whether or not it would be morally appropriate to sell something called "pork" rinds. The surprising ending elicits a comedic response from the shop owner.
The film, while satirical, does raise questions about religion and commerce. Does it go against Islamic beliefs to sell pork rinds, even though the product may or may not contain pork? The son counters that condoms, pornography and cigarettes are for sale. Do these items run against traditional beliefs? To broader question, would it be appropriate for a conservative catholic shop owner to sell edible condoms? Or a Jewish deli owner to sell imitation crab? A plurality of consumer choices have created a gray area for many believers. Is it religion versus profit? You decide!
I have written quite a number of times that Jews outnumber every other ethnic group in New York and despite holding this distinction for more than a century, no public school in the city has ever banned pork from its cafeteria. Yet, a few Muslims infest Michigan for only a couple of years and wham! several school districts removed pork products from their cafeteria offerings. Dearborn schools banned pork completely to avoid even the teeniest of possibility that Muslims students might unknowingly eat it (1).
Pretty soon even the word pig may be outlawed for fear of offending Muslims - except in the case where we are referring to greedy Jewish banker pigs.
ENDNOTES
(1):
Israpundit, Outlawing the Pig
Orthodox Jews, who follow kosher laws that prohibit the consumption of pork, have never demanded such special considerations for their chosen dietary habits nor have Jews feared accidental pork ingestion. They privately moderate their consumption according to their religious observances and often consume food prepared at home according to prescribed regulations.
Contrast this to how Muslims and their dietary habits are treated. In April 2007, a 13-year-old middle school prankster was suspended and his behavior labeled a hate crime for placing a bag with a ham steak on the lunch table of a group of Muslim students. That same month, Muslims started a Facebook group, “Fight Against Pork in Frito-Lay Products.” The more than 1,800 participants sought to pressure the company to remove pork enzymes from its cheese seasonings.
Last year, Somali Muslim employees at a St. Louis Park, Minn. Target store refused to handle pork products, citing religious reasons. Target made special allowances for Muslim employees, who now scrutinize customer purchases and can call for assistance when a pork product appears at their check stand. Presumably, the Muslim employees knew they would be encountering bacon and pepperoni pizza when they signed on for their jobs and have no problem collecting a salary paid out of profits from pork sales.
In 2007, the Year of the Pig, an imam in Taipei complained after receiving a greeting card from Taiwan’s foreign minister depicting celebrating pigs. When “Year of the Pig” postal stamps were issued, the Taiwanese government cautioned citizens about using them on letters and parcels to Muslim friends or to Muslim countries. That year, China banned pig images and the mention of pigs in television advertisement to avoid offending the country’s Muslims.
This year, the popular story, The Three Little Pigs, was banned in a primary school in the United Kingdom as the school’s administration thought references to pigs might offend Muslim pupils. Another school removed all books containing stories about pigs, including the talking pig ‘Babe’ from classrooms following complaints from Muslim parents. In 2007, a UK church school production of The Three Little Pigs was renamed The Three Little Puppies to maintain multi-cultural sensitivities. Ironically, the pig is mentioned often in the Koran as a derogatory reference to Jews.
This article available in Danish here.
