Salat at a particular time and in a particular direction, etc., is not an absolute!
The Quran and Hadith give accommodations for those who, due to travel or work requirements, can not conveniently pray at prescribed times. How many times have I heard, “Islam is not supposed to be difficult.” And it isn’t. Those who behave like those walk-outs did are not just demanding that they absolutely be permitted to leave their work responsibilities to pray. They are demanding that the schedule and culture of the company they work for be centered on Islamic traditions. I would be more impressed if they first demanded that the company close on Saturday for Jews, on Sunday for Christians, and only allow vegetarian food and snacks on the premises for Hindus. What they are doing is self-centered. As such, it does not belong in a nation of immigrants who assimilate. Our melting pot has cooled down far too much. We need to turn the heat up again, to apply that heat to immigrants, so that they become part of America rather than that they partition America.
