CHUD.com Community › Forums › POLITICS & RELIGION › Religion A-Z › The Islamic bodega
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

The Islamic bodega

post #1 of 28
1/16/07 at 3:41pm
Thread Starter 
One of my local bodegas - previously a favorite - recently remodeled, and when they re-opened, they stopped selling beer. They said it was a license thing. Today I noticed that their deli case is pretty much without pork - they do have bacon on the menu for breakfast, but they're also pushing the turkey bacon pretty strong.

It seems obvious that these changes are based on religious belief. I wouldn't go to an evangelical Christian run bodega that refused to sell condoms - should I be going to an Islamic bodega that forces their religious beliefs on my purchasing options?
Reply
post #2 of 28
1/16/07 at 3:46pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by devincf
One of my local bodegas - previously a favorite - recently remodeled, and when they re-opened, they stopped selling beer. They said it was a license thing. Today I noticed that their deli case is pretty much without pork - they do have bacon on the menu for breakfast, but they're also pushing the turkey bacon pretty strong.

It seems obvious that these changes are based on religious belief. I wouldn't go to an evangelical Christian run bodega that refused to sell condoms - should I be going to an Islamic bodega that forces their religious beliefs on my purchasing options?
Logical consistency would demand that you avoid both places of business. If they're going to limit pork on religious grounds, shouldn't they be getting rid of it altogether? That doesn't make a lot of sense.
Reply
post #3 of 28
1/16/07 at 3:47pm
Pork tastes much better than spiritual peace.

Since these people don't have their priorities straight, you should stop giving them money.
Reply
post #4 of 28
1/16/07 at 3:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Overlord
Logical consistency would demand that you avoid both places of business. If they're going to limit pork on religious grounds, shouldn't they be getting rid of it altogether? That doesn't make a lot of sense.
Baby steps. One day they cut down on 90% of the prk they serve, the next they're stomping out the skulls of infidels.
Reply
post #5 of 28
1/16/07 at 3:49pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Overlord
Logical consistency would demand that you avoid both places of business. If they're going to limit pork on religious grounds, shouldn't they be getting rid of it altogether? That doesn't make a lot of sense.
I was thinking about it - bacon was the ONLY pork I could find. Now, assuming it's REAL bacon, maybe they just found they couldn't phase it out of their breakfast menu? They probably make more money from the people on the way to the subway in the morning than they do from drunks like me.
Reply
post #6 of 28
1/16/07 at 3:53pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by devincf
I was thinking about it - bacon was the ONLY pork I could find. Now, assuming it's REAL bacon, maybe they just found they couldn't phase it out of their breakfast menu? They probably make more money from the people on the way to the subway in the morning than they do from drunks like me.
If they're going to be religious zealots about your product choices, the least they can do is be consistent, damn it! Bowing to the realities of commerce while simultaneously maintaining a facade of Islamic purity makes a mockery of the Prophet's teachings.

You should find another place to frequent. Unless, of course, you're really hungry/thirsty at some point and they're the only option. Then it's okay to buy from them, but make sure you feel conflicted while doing so.

I hate arbitrary religious restrictions on dress, diet, etc. with a passion.
Reply
post #7 of 28
1/16/07 at 3:55pm
Thread Starter 
I'm totally cool with going to Kosher delis, btw - but they're advertised as such. Also, they let me buy milk and meat at the same time. But if the bodega advertised as halal, I wouldn't even think twice.
Reply
post #8 of 28
1/16/07 at 4:04pm
Turkey bacon is so weird. I only discovered it in 2005, it seems kind of pathetic, especially if Muslims are pushing it, like "No its not bacon, its turkey, but if you squint you can pretend your eating bacon and not feel bad about it!"

I dont see much of a problem with this bodega, if they dont sell what you want then buy what you want somewhere else, no need to avoid it outright. There's nothing extreme or too erratic in the picture you've painted for us.

When they start telling your girl to cover up....

...you can make a thread about it here and we'll say amusing things together.
Reply
post #9 of 28
1/16/07 at 4:05pm
Thread Starter 
Not selling beer is about the most extreme thing a bodega can do.
Reply
post #10 of 28
1/16/07 at 4:10pm
I can imagine stumbling around like a lost child in a bodega that doesn't have beer.... looking stupidly at the owners as they told me there was no alcohol, not comprehending.

But eh, drug stores are the best place for cheap cases of beer.
Reply
post #11 of 28
1/16/07 at 4:11pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by devincf
Not selling beer is about the most extreme thing a bodega can do.
Hah, true.

It does seem the life has been sucked out of the place, but maybe the management are not necessarily Muslims themselves, but are just catering to their primary customers, who we'll assume are Muslims; makes business sense.
Reply
post #12 of 28
1/16/07 at 4:12pm
Can these little stores really survive without selling beer?
Reply
post #13 of 28
1/16/07 at 4:30pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Alexor
Can these little stores really survive without selling beer?
You know, that's a good question. I have 3 bodegas all within a 1 1/2 block radius of me and they all sell beer. Even though I don't buy beer, I think I'd be very confused if I went into one of the stores and didn't see any. Very confused. Although, I also get confused if I walk into a bodega and they don't at least sell "Country Club" (Dominican Republic's national soda).
Reply
post #14 of 28
1/16/07 at 4:40pm
Does the Dominican Republic actually have a national soda, or are you referencing County Club malt liquor (which is potent and affordable, btw)?

As for the store, I'd stop going there because they weren't selling the stuff I wanted to buy anymore, not as some kind of statement on their religious beliefs.
Reply
post #15 of 28
1/16/07 at 4:46pm
That does not make sense to me. One of the few Muslims that I have known that didn't drink did own a bar. Of the 20+ Muslims that I know all seem to feel you could do penance for drinking alcohol, but pork was a mortal sin, or the closest thing to it. So why would they sell bacon, but not beer?
Reply
post #16 of 28
1/16/07 at 5:07pm
To elaborate, normally I wouldn't care about why a store did or didn't stock a particular item; it's a supply-and-demand thing, either they have what I want or they don't.

I can see what you're getting at with the condom example, I wouldn't particularly want to give such a store my business. However, that's because condom availability is more of a public health/safety issue, in a way that pork or booze availability aren't.
Reply
post #17 of 28
1/16/07 at 5:21pm
It's beef bacon. I can guarantee they're not selling any pork.

All the bodegas near me are the same way, and more and more Islamic bodegas all over the city aren't selling beer anymore. There was an article about it in the Times a while back.

At least with the No Pork Halal Kitchen, you know exactly what you're getting. Unfortunately, their food is fucking awful.
Reply
post #18 of 28
1/16/07 at 5:46pm
I'm afraid to say this, but this is the first time I found a new word: 'bodega'.
Reply
post #19 of 28
1/16/07 at 5:56pm
I find 'halal' establishments hilarious in concept. 'Halal' simply translates as 'permissable' (as opposed to 'haram' which is forbidden, in terms of diet: pork, blood and any food not invoked in God's name) and customers to these places have to assume that for the meat being sold, when the animals were killed, the butcher said an Islamic prayer while doing so. They have absolutely no proof that this is so, of course, thus any shrewd business person can set up a store in a Muslim neighbourhood, not sell pork, slap a sign saying 'halal' on it and make money. There's dozens of KFC knock-offs where I live with 'halal' posters; makes me laugh.
Reply
post #20 of 28
1/16/07 at 6:45pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Schwartz
Does the Dominican Republic actually have a national soda, or are you referencing County Club malt liquor (which is potent and affordable, btw)?
From everything I've ever heard and seen, the Country Club soda I'm referring to is the Dominican national soda. I've tried looking for a link on the net for chewers to see, but all I found was stuff about the malt liquor (which I don't think I ever knew about). There are different flavors for the soda. I'm a fan of the Raspberry. My wife can't stand the drink since as she says "Its like drinking liquid sugar." Can't disagree with that and I make sure to have only a half-cup with a meal. But its so damn delicious.
Reply
post #21 of 28
1/16/07 at 6:46pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by cognizant
I find 'halal' establishments hilarious in concept. 'Halal' simply translates as 'permissable' (as opposed to 'haram' which is forbidden, in terms of diet: pork, blood and any food not invoked in God's name) and customers to these places have to assume that for the meat being sold, when the animals were killed, the butcher said an Islamic prayer while doing so. They have absolutely no proof that this is so, of course, thus any shrewd business person can set up a store in a Muslim neighbourhood, not sell pork, slap a sign saying 'halal' on it and make money. There's dozens of KFC knock-offs where I live with 'halal' posters; makes me laugh.
Why is this funnier than kosher?
Reply
post #22 of 28
1/16/07 at 6:51pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by devincf
Why is this funnier than kosher?
Things that are new and strange are much funnier than what we are familiar with.
Reply
post #23 of 28
1/16/07 at 6:58pm
"Forcing their religious beliefs on you"? I'm pretty certain you can shop at other places, Dev.
Reply
post #24 of 28
1/16/07 at 7:36pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by devincf
Why is this funnier than kosher?
The thread's called Islamic bodega, thus my preoccupation with halal hijinks.
Reply
post #25 of 28
2/15/07 at 2:18am
Quote:
Originally Posted by cognizant
There's dozens of KFC knock-offs where I live with 'halal' posters; makes me laugh.

Hell, you can get 'halal' chicken nuggets at the McDonalds' in Dearborn, muslim capital of the US.
Reply
post #26 of 28
2/15/07 at 3:12am
Halal is the Islamic version of kosher. If the meat is halal and its tasty, who gives a shit? I don't get why its an issue. Not to mention I love bacon to the point where its not good for me, so that they offer turkey bacon at all is a plus.
Reply
post #27 of 28
2/27/07 at 9:14pm
Maybe you'll get lucky and WalMart will drive them out of business. Or you could call Homeland Security and tell them that this bodega is funnelling its Slurpy money to the Taliban. Or you could convert.

Allah be praised and pass the porkey.
Reply
post #28 of 28
3/2/07 at 4:14am
Well, this thread has officially been derailed.
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Religion A-Z
CHUD.com Community › Forums › POLITICS & RELIGION › Religion A-Z › The Islamic bodega