February 27, 201511 yr On a side note, I understand why LA did that. There is nobody more annoying that a recovered alcoholic/drug addict thumping their Bible at a gym. I've run into it a few times. They make it uncomfortable to say the least. If they allow this man to exercise his religion, even as quietly as he did there, then you have to allow the Bible thumpers. That could potentially cause some issues at the gym as well. Again, how can they "ban" standing in silence? You can't ban prayer. I'm not saying that because I think it should be allowed anywhere any time, or anything like that. I'm saying it because it is 100% impossible to do. They can ban him from standing in silence I guess, they can ban calling attention to oneself, they can ban anything that is demonstrative, but then he can just pray as he's walking to the equipment, or while he's changing, or while he's showering, etc. It's impossible to ban.
February 27, 201511 yr There's a simple solution. Designate the sauna as "Sauna and Prayer Room." No one would know if you're praying or just sweating, since most people sit motionless with their head down. Good point. Those people that sit there in the sauna motionless and without saying a word make me feel uncomfortable. We should ban the sauna now.
February 27, 201511 yr I don't totally disagree with your premise that anyone should be able to pray anywhere, anytime but in the land of the free I do think privately owned businesses have the right to decide what is allowed on their private property. In other words on my point, I do not think we have an absolute right to do whatever we want, whenever we want on someone else's private property. Of course we do not have the right to do whatever we want, whenever we want on someone else's private property. The article is about a man being asked to leave a business because he was praying. My point, praying, no one can control me praying because it's inside of me, even on private property. They can ask me to leave their property but they can't stop me from praying. I am the one who decides when I pray.
February 27, 201511 yr Is there a difference between this man's actions and, say, a family of five praying before/after eating out at Bob Evans? I think not. Some people acknowledge their deity before/after eating lunch at a for-profit private business. Some people choose to do same before/after a workout at a for-profit private business.
February 27, 201511 yr Again, how can they "ban" standing in silence? You can't ban prayer. I'm not saying that because I think it should be allowed anywhere any time, or anything like that. I'm saying it because it is 100% impossible to do. They can ban him from standing in silence I guess, they can ban calling attention to oneself, they can ban anything that is demonstrative, but then he can just pray as he's walking to the equipment, or while he's changing, or while he's showering, etc. It's impossible to ban. I guarantee that he wasn't just sitting there quietly. You can't do the Islamic prayers that way I believe. He may not have been saying anything but he was going through the physical actions of the prayer. for the record, I have no problem with this type of prayer. I do have a problem w/ what would be allowed following this.
February 27, 201511 yr I guarantee that he wasn't just sitting there quietly. You can't do the Islamic prayers that way I believe. He may not have been saying anything but he was going through the physical actions of the prayer. for the record, I have no problem with this type of prayer. I do have a problem w/ what would be allowed following this. I'm just going off the article. That's all we can go off of as of now, correct? If it happened as the article states, what then?
February 27, 201511 yr Of course we do not have the right to do whatever we want, whenever we want on someone else's private property. The article is about a man being asked to leave a business because he was praying. My point, praying, no one can control me praying because it's inside of me, even on private property. They can ask me to leave their property but they can't stop me from praying. I am the one who decides when I pray. We agree no one can control what is inside of you (Conversion Therapy doesn't work, right?) and we agree they can ask you to leave their property.
February 27, 201511 yr I'm just going off the article. That's all we can go off of as of now, correct? If it happened as the article states, what then? then I am with you. However, unless those fine folks are clairvoyant, I have to think that he was kneeling towards Mecca in the locker room.
February 28, 201511 yr We agree no one can control what is inside of you (Conversion Therapy doesn't work, right?) and we agree they can ask you to leave their property.
February 28, 201511 yr LA Fitness does have a diversity HR department after all .. LA Fitness Oakley employee: 'None of us told Muslim to stop praying' - Story Another thought… If someone sits or stands in a corner and meditates (by many, considered a buddhist ritual), which is done often in fitness centers, should they be asked to quit or leave?
February 28, 201511 yr Is it possible to stand and pray as a Muslim? I am sure that it is. I have seen soccer players do it walking onto the field. If THAT is what they kicked them out for, then they are idiots. A ton of attention brought for nothing. Who would really notice that.
February 28, 201511 yr They cannot stop anyone from praying. That is absolutely impossible. How many people are in there everyday, sweating and in pain, praying "Oh dear GOD! What was I thinking?!" Seriously, people of all faiths pray silently. Everywhere. They may be in a gym, in a bank, in an interminable long line at Walmart. But no one can take away the ability of a person to pray. This gentleman adapted the requirements of his faith to inconspicuously offer prayer, and he should be able to do so. Real life example: At one hotel I worked at, during Ramadan (sp?), our Muslim employees washed their feet in the employee restroom sinks. They didn't inconvenience anyone or impact anyone negatively. They adapted the requirements of their faith to the circumstances.
February 28, 201511 yr LA Fitness does have a diversity HR department after all .. LA Fitness Oakley employee: 'None of us told Muslim to stop praying' - Story Another thought… If someone sits or stands in a corner and meditates (by many, considered a buddhist ritual), which is done often in fitness centers, should they be asked to quit or leave? And the other side...makes sense
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