Alaska Airlines said on Wednesday that it would end a decades-old tradition of distributing prayer cards on customers meal trays.
The 30-plus-year tradition of presenting prayer cards in Alaska Airlines’ in-flight meals began in the 1970s as a marketing strategy and to put passengers at ease. But this tradition which was borrowed from Continental Airlines will be discontinued starting Feb. 1.
“This difficult decision was not made lightly. We believe it’s the right thing to do in order to respect the diverse religious beliefs and cultural attitudes of all our customers and employees,” Alaska Air Group Chairman and CEO Bill Ayer and Alaska Airlines President Brad Tilden wrote in an email Wednesday to regular customers.
The email said some of its customers enjoyed the cards but others find it inappropriate on an airplane.
“Some of you enjoy the cards and associate them with our service,” they wrote. At the same time, we’ve heard from many of you who believe religion is inappropriate on an airplane, and some are offended when we hand out the cards. Religious beliefs are deeply personal and sharing them with others is an individual choice.”
“It is important that everyone know that this decision does not change our core values nor our care for our customers,” the email said.
Since 2006, the prayer cards have only appeared on meal trays of first-class passengers when the airline stopped providing meals to customers in the main cabin.
Many people expressed disappointment with the airline’s decision and flooded the airline’s Facebook page with comments after Alaska created a Facebook note explaining the decision.
Passengers could just refuse the card when they are handed to them. This is just another way that atheism is getting a foot hold and pushing their beliefs. If we don't believe in God or the Prayer Card.
just don't accept one but don't keep the airlines from giving them out to those that want them.
I AM OFFENDED!!!!!! We can’t say Merry Chritmas, we can’t
get prayer cards. This is our country, and if the United States is so coveted that every countries people want to come here, why should we change our country not to offend someone’s beliefs from another country. This is AMERICA, and it is my country. I am offended that I can’t continue to live in America with the Judeo Christian ethics that this country was founded on. This may not be a Godly country to someone of higher position, whom I won’t name……….. BUT IT IS to most of us. I’m tired of having to change everything we believe in for foreigners coming to our country who want everything changed.. Why did you come here then??? According to this, I should be able to go to the Muslim country and build a MEGA Church who teaches Christ crucified and and raised from the dead, and I want that country to change all their laws and rules for me. Christians, you had better wake up………….
“I AM OFFENDED!!!!!! We can’t say Merry Chritmas, we can’t
get prayer cards.”
You are offended because others are offended? You can say Merry ‘Chritmas’ all you want, and you can certainly bring your own prayer cards if you wanted. Perhaps they have some collection of prayer cards available in the form of a large religious book? That would be something you’d want, if you considered yourself religious
“This is our country, and if the United States is so coveted that every countries people want to come here, why should we change our country not to offend someone’s beliefs from another country. ”
You are right, this IS our country. Not just yours. This means that there has to be a compromise in how public places operate. They can’t discriminate against anyone because it’s WRONG. What you want is the old “your way or the highway”, completely oblivious to the views of anyone else. But now that you don’t get your way, you are throwing a fit. You are claiming that to stop giving your group special treatment is not fair. It is the EXACT definition of fair. You never deserved that treatment. You are an ungrateful brat for not seeing this.
“I am offended that I can’t continue to live in America with the Judeo Christian ethics that this country was founded on.”
A common delusion among U.S. Christians. I’ll leave you with 2 quotes to google. “Most of our influential Founding Fathers, although they respected the rights of other religionists, held to deism and Freemasonry tenets rather than to Christianity.” and “As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquillity, of Musselmen” Notice it says Musselmen. That means Muslims. They are saying they are not a Christian, crusade-fighting nation. That we were different, new and free. They absolutely were not the devout church-going mama’s boys you are picturing. You are the descendants of treasonous, native-murdering church rejects from England. We made up our own fairy tales to fill in the gaps, and now uneducated hicks like yourself show up and feverishly defend the lies their parents told them. Pathetic.
“I’m tired of having to change everything we believe in for foreigners coming to our country who want everything changed.. Why did you come here then??? ”
They came here because they heard it was a free country that wouldn’t execute them for exercising the freedoms we take for granted. They had no idea there were hateful, terrified bigots, waiting in the shadows of a house built on stolen land, that would have them cast back into their third-world poverty hole rather than have to practice your own redneck religions slightly more privately. Gee, i’m sorry they put you through so much trouble.
“According to this, I should be able to go to the Muslim country and build a MEGA Church who teaches Christ crucified and and raised from the dead, and I want that country to change all their laws and rules for me.”
And the truth finally comes out. That you are mind-bogglingly stupid, and actually believe the words that come out of you. Why would you be able to build a mega church in a Muslim country? It’s a Muslim country, not a free one. Is that why you’re so confused? You thought this was a christian nation? It’s not, so It would appear you are the one that needs to be looking for a new country to live in. Goodbye; we won’t miss you. Good luck on finding an all-Christian country.
“Christians, you had better wake up”
Which Christians? There are 33,800 estimated denominations of Christianity. And wouldn’t you know it- none of them agree with one another. Hmm, imagine that.