Exactly Gurney - respect goes both ways, in my book. Anyone planning to visit or live in another country needs to make sure that they understand the culture and rules of that country sufficient to avoid causing problems for themselves and others.

If the culture and rules of a country not your own offend then you have the choice of not staying or adjusting. It should not be necessary for the locals to have to adjust to you, whatever your culture or religion. On another thread it has been said that some Muslims refuse to scan pork items when working as cashiers in stores. IMO that is not acceptable. If they want the jobs they should do the work, otherwise, find an occupation that will not bring them into contact with items they consider unclean.

I also feel that way about pharmacists who refuse to dispense the Pill as it goes against their own beliefs. Fine for them to hold those beliefs but, again IMO, they are not entitled to force their beliefs on others. If you can't do the whole job then don't do the job at all.

Too many people in positions of authority seem to bend over backwards to accomodate other cultures whilst totally ignoring the indigenous culture, whatever that may be. Much as I hate them I can see why parties like the BNP seem to be on the up. There needs to be a turn around in the atitudes of those responsible for this pussyfooting before there is a danger of a backlash from the silent majority.