By coincidence October 18, 1989 also marked the opening of the San Francisco Marriott Hotel. For months before its opening Herb Caen, the universally read San Francisco columnist, had derided the hotel as the “Jukebox Marriott.” My wife and I had no idea when we would be able to get out of the City, so we decided to spend the night in San Francisco. We looked for a hotel. I thought, What a lucky break for the Marriott! Instead of being laughed at, they can now become a part of San Francisco lore, opening on the day of the big earthquake, providing shelter to a great many of the stranded commuters.

Alas, when we got there, the Marriott had locked their doors. They wouldn’t let anybody in unless they already had a doorkey to a room at the Marriott. I suppose it might have cost them a few extra bucks, with perhaps some overtime and extra help. Fortunately other hotels in the City were far more hospitable, trying to make people comfortable while the hotel waited to see how many no-shows they had as a result of the quake.

Alas, the Marriott bean-counters really blew it. I see they haven’t changed.

John Judge
Alameda, CA

Today’s dose of NIF – News, Interesting & Funny … It’s Kerry-180 Tuesday (+ Open Trackbacks)

The reality is, Marriot likely uses an objective standard in determining what they allow and do not allow. They probably grant a lot more leeway as far as an organization (even on as openly hostile as CAIR) is concerned when they are holdin an event, than they do when there is a potentially volatile political event being held. A symposium may go on for days, and as such the protests would go on for days, interrupting and perhaps effectively destroying the Marriots ability to cater to its regular customers in those particular days. A banquet is over in a few hours, unlikely to require extra security, and would not interfere in the least with guests. If I were simply looking at these two events as “Events” and not through a poltical lens, I would make a similar decision.

Marriot is a private corporation, and as such, is able to do this. Boycott them, if you must, but get all of your information first. Find out Marriots actual intent, find out how they determine what events are registered before you accuse them of being pro-Muslim.

Unfortunately, there is no warning of some very graphical and shocking photos on their front page. I was in the Army and have seen dead bodies in real life, so I have a tough enough stomach. But to show up front the picture of one of the girls butchered in Indonesia/Malaysia without warning is excessive. I am glad I was not doing this at home with one of my children nearby.

Perhaps I can understand a little better that particular hotel’s concerns on PTF. However, the CAIR decision is still wrong of them. I will send them my opinion on hosting that group, but won’t push them on PTF.

Marriott is not a private instution by any definition economic, social or governmental.

Marriott is a publicly held business entity which can rise or fall just like any other such as ATT, Xerox, Polaroid, Studebaker. I mention those, because they were all giants that lost their public.

Oh, the agony of the reality.

The fight is with CAIR.

Suppose CAIR decides to organize against Barnes and Noble to stop them from stocking books that present “unfavorable” views of Islam. As always, in such cases, it is the clerk and the shift manager who are on the front line and must deal with the screaming loonies. The real management is on the 18th floor in a place far, far away where they bunker down with lawyers, consultants and their own egos.

Marriott has proceeded ham-handedly in this. They are being “outed” for their largely small-minded decision process. Good.

But understand, Marriott is completely correct in assuming that they will encounter far greater grief by confronting or irritating CAIR supporters than nearly anyone else on the horizon.

There is an excitable CAIR contingent in this country which so far has not broken out into the activities we have witnessed in London and throughout France.

You can not appease these people, because they have a radical agenda. Neither can you ignore them.

A private institution that the public can’t control. Oh the agony of it all.

Where is the NAACP to attack Marriott?

A while ago, a hotel was sued for shutting down rather than host a “Black Student’s Week” where much damage had occurred in the past from similar events.

Were they implying that Blacks were more violent than others?