KathyWdrf

This thread is, unfortunately, degenerating.

Speaking of the Bibles and Books of Mormon in hotel rooms, I KNOW that in some hotel somewhere I actually did see a Koran next to the Bible in the nightstand! Can't remember where though. (Singapore would be a logical place, but it may not have been there.... Could have been in Europe somewhere. I dunno.)

Anyway, the Koran's presence didn't bother me either.


Kathy

amanuensis

I actually wouldn't mind finding a Koran in a hotel room. I have read a couple of the chapters and so it certainly seems like a potential source of positive inspiration to me.

LastClass

Silly me, I thought OMNI was closed...

csb

In a sense both!

Marriott would be the world's largest porn purveyor through the in-room entertainment billings. But, it's also my understanding that given the Mormon church's large stake in Marriott, they also become one of the world's largest pornographers

Eastbay1K

Marriott - Profit over principles. I was "tested" awhile back in my own business with a profit v. principles issue - and my instinctive natural reaction was to the "principles." As the anti-semetic remark came out of the potential client's mouth, I said "sir, I am THIS CLOSE to telling you to pick up that box of **** and getting the hell out of my office." The wife looked on horrified. (The way they tried to get around saying "but you don't look jewish" was comically-sad.) After it happened, I was glad what my instinctive reaction was to the incident.

Julie the Newbie

Gee, thanks. Simply saying, "He/she was joking." would have sufficed.

In my defense, it was in just *one* post that I didn't "get" the sarcasm. I haven't been in a hotel room for about two years, but frankly it wouldn't surprise me if Bibles were not there anymore thanks to the easily "offended" minority. Enough said.

I LOVED the post by Beautiful Feet:

"A business owner has the right to post or display anything they choose. You as a travelling consumer have the right not to use that service. I have been in many business establishments that have Buddhist shrines, New Age cyrstals, Kwanzaa scenes, etc. Many Applebees have crucifixes posted over the door (have you ever noticed?).
As a traveller I can either ignore it, be offended by it, or choose to learn from the people who express their faith or traditions openly. I opt for expanding my knowledge of those who share the world around me."

*Aaahh*, how refreshing, and what a great way to live! What's really silly is folks who don't get *that*.

Julie the Newbie


[This message has been edited by Julie the Newbie (edited 08-27-2003).]

Ken hAAmer

Really? I thought America was "one nation, under Canada."

BTW, let me know if you find any "heathen cards." I collect them.

amanuensis

I have no idea whether The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints owns shares of publicly-held Marriott. (I assume that the decision on whether to hold shares would be based on what the Church's investment advisors suggested, not by the fact that members of the founding family are members of the faith.) I assume that the franchisees that actually own most of the properties have great latitude to mangage their hotels as they see fit. If the corporate offices told franchisees to not show any cable channels that anyone objects to, not allow any smoking anywhere (including guest rooms), close down the bar, not serve coffee or wine in the restaurants, and require all of the guests to prove that they have read from that Book of Mormon in the guest room before allowing them to check out, I would think that Marriott would have very few franchisees left (even in SLC) AND the shareholders would be suing the board of directors for not acting in the best interests of the shareholders.

BeautifulFeet

Thank you! This was one of the benefits of 20 years in the Army. I was taught to be open to the culture I was in, how to respond politely, and learn. That never meant I had to agree. It meant I had to first listen with respect.

That's the attitude I've tried to have on all my travels.

zurbec

It seems to me that all the affirmations of this practice are from the perspective of a private individual purchasing a service from a private company. Problem with this single perspective is two-fold:

1. It is disrespectful to the employees of AS who are required to distribute religious messages in the course of performing their assigned tasks, regardless of their personal religious beliefs.

2. AS does not sell tickets solely to private individuals. A significant portion of their business is providing transportation services to public employees travelling on official business on behalf of municipalities, state agencies and the federal government. AS submits bids to public agencies for the right to provide services to public employees conducting official public business, public expenditures should not include the distribution of religious materials. Public employees should not be presented with religious messages by businesses that have executed contracts to provide a service to a public agency.

Eastbay1K

Actually, you bring up an interesting point, because doesn't AS receive government subsidies to provide service to some of the villages? (Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong).
http://www.alaskasworld.com/newsroom...108_164110.asp

birdstrike

Ah, but it only became the national anthem in 1931. Before that, Key's composition was but one of many patriotic songs. I'm sure we all know others by heart.

I do like the national anthem, but I am seriously offended by the way it is rendered at many of our sporting events.

Edited to add: 119 years later.

[This message has been edited by birdstrike (edited 08-27-2003).]

RustyC

I guess I've been so preoccupied with the "What would Jesus drive?" question that I haven't even thought about the airline side. AS must be it.

Not that the airline flying would be necessary. Nor would the driving, but strangely the question about driving seems the more resonating of the two.

RustyC

Also, I don't know how many of you in FT-land have flown on Royal Brunei, but they have a nice prayer to Allah on their TV monitors that runs as the last thing before takeoff.

RustyC

I thought AOL was the world's largest porn purveyor ("You've got porn!")

Though I'm sure they secretly wish they were still able to charge by the hour.