Why?
I am diabetic. In other words, there are items distributed by the pantry that I should not eat - I am not perfect, but I do try and watch the amount of carbs I eat (breads, cereals, rice and pastas etc.) - regretfully the "box" from the pantry is filled with these items. I do understand why, they a lower cost food items that can be stretched and used in many ways thereby helping more people put food on their tables. Granted it may not be the "healthiest" food but it meets the bare minimum standards
A second reason, although I am no longer vegan nor do I consider myself a vegetarian, I do not eat a lot of red meat. Chicken is my staple meat and occasionally pork; if I want a burger, it's made with turkey. Again beef hamburgers and ground beef are common to what the food pantry offers. I also try and avoid any type of processed or boxed food, but that is a preference, not a necessity.
So should I go down and "protest" that they carry foods that I can eat? Now I understand I would be an army of one (literally, but that's another story). But a case could be made that all of "us" diabetics could band together and demand that the pantry offer no-carb product and I believe "we" would have a much better standing than those demanding such on religious grounds as in this case. In "our" case it is a medical necessity as compared to a dogmatic belief.
It's a damn belief people, your rights are not being violated, "'It’s about human rights also, basic human rights to get the proper food and also healthy food,' said Imam Hassan Mohamud." As Firma points out, they are "dictating their demands for special religious freebies as if they were entitled to them."
And I do agree with Firma's suggestions,
One is that the protesters, perhaps mindful of the old adage that beggars can’t be choosers, learn to content themselves with the plentiful food-shelf products that already do not contain pork. A more than decent selection of the foods on offer (all fruits, vegetables, breads, beef and chicken dishes, and desserts, for starters) is perfectly unaffected by pig cooties.Two final points.
Not good enough (for whatever reason)? Fine. Then the other solution is that the Muslim community in the Twin Cities recognizes the apparent need for a separate halal food shelf, and provides just that using donations – that is, private money, without claiming a made-up entitlement of hundreds of thousands of dollars in government funds.
I have had people, in the past, ask me why I don't go to the food pantry and just use what items I can and donate back what I can't. Answer, I do get SNAP and I do work though my wages just cover my rent. If I am careful and plan accordingly, I can make my SNAP last all month. Yes there are a few lean meals and no snacks but I can do it. If I am lucky and can get a ride to Save-A-Lot (a discount type food store like Aldi's) my SNAP allotment is not an issue and I can have some fun making my meals; and I do home cook 99% of my meals. But the primary reason I don't use the food pantry, there are other people worse off than I that might not get the help they need if I take up a slot I don't really need.
A second point, and this is from the comments, "I thought Islam allowed for violations of its own dietary code, if survival was at stake."
"You are correct. Quran 2:173: He has only forbidden to you dead animals, blood, the flesh of swine, and that which has been dedicated to other than Allah. But whoever is forced [by necessity], neither desiring [it] nor transgressing [its limit], there is no sin upon him. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful."
Think I may need to re-read the Quran, it's been a long while.
Minnesota Muslims Demand No-Pork Freebies, Declare Halal Food a Human Right
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