Alaska Airlines ditching prayer cards

Responding to complaints, Seattle-based Alaska Airlines is eliminated in-flight prayer cards 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 to customers Wednesday.

Some of you enjoy the cards and associate them with our service. We also know some of you consider the cards to be a tradition that reflects your own spiritual beliefs. 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.

Alaska started handing out the cards in the late 1970s, after an executive borrowed the idea from another airline. Since Alaska stopped meal tray service in coach class six years ago, it has provided the cards only in First Class.

Patrick Smith, Salon's "Ask the Pilot" columnist, asked Alaska about the cards in 2004 and reportedly was told: "The quotes have application across many Judeo-Christian beliefs and are shared as a gesture of thanks which reflect the beliefs of this country's founding as in the Declaration of Independence, the Gettysburg Address, Pledge of Allegiance and every U.S. coin and dollar you handle."

That didn't sit well with Smith, who wrote:

The carrier takes a fully defensible gesture and promptly makes it as offensive as possible by coupling it with nationalistic ideology. Maybe it's just me, but when I see the words "Judeo-Christian" in the same sentence with "Declaration of Independence" and "Pledge of Allegiance," my blood pressure begins to soar. Alaska Airlines has the right and privilege to hand out prayer cards, rosary beads, ACLU membership forms, or the biography of L. Ron Hubbard if it so chooses (some of you, doubtless, will contest this right, but I'm sticking to it). However, I'm greatly disheartened to see the matter of religion dragged, yet again, onto the stage with patriotism and the alleged essence of what it means to be a true American.

A note about the decision on Alaska's Facebook page Wednesday drew some praise, such as: "Thanks Alaska for respecting the diversity of belief systems of your passengers."

But most commenters opposed the decision. Here are some examples:

Oh no AA..what have you done!!!! Not only have I enjoyed these cards for the many years with you...but they also made me feel as tho God always held the airplane up in his hands in our travels It does give the appearance of a change in core values...if the world requests porn magazines will you add that? I think you are doing a great disservice to the one that has blessed your company with greatness. There is much reassurance when flying with a company that gives prayer cards. I think you may have lost the "perfect co-pilot" in your decision to deny Him to the public because He will deny you.

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