Ras is a member of the Rake Religion whose practice forbids using yard rakes for
ID: 402020 • Letter: R
Question
Ras is a member of the Rake Religion whose practice forbids using yard rakes for any other reason than worship. Three times a week, Ras attends religious services where a silver rake was erected on the altar. Each member would cite the religious rite as they bowed down to the rake. Recently, "Hotdogs", where Ras was employed, began to require employees to go outside and rake a small patch of grass located by the trash cans. Corporate headquarters had just recently had the grass planted for aesthetic purposes only. "Hotdogs" manager told Ras that he would have to rake the grass each Friday. Ras refused. He contended that the restaurant had an obligation to make a reasonable accommodation to his religious beliefs and not demand that he rake the yard. Is Ras correct? Discuss why or why not.
Explanation / Answer
A hay rake could easily be made byanyfarming peasant, using materials found in the woods, hedgerows and lanes. Rakes were not generally used on soil at that time.
A piece of green (new) ash wood made the head of the rake and the teeth. The long handle was of coppiced hazel, split at the top for about 20 inches and wedged open until it retained this forked shape. Coppiced hazel is second-growth wood that grows tall, thin and straight.
The handle would be bound tightly with a strip of tree bark just below the split, to prevent the wood splitting any further.
Holes were drilled in the ash head with an auger (a twist-drill) and the teeth were hammered tightly into these holes. As the ash wood dried it would shrink, holding the teeth firmly in place without glue. Two more holes were drilled in the side of the head for the split ends of the handle to fit into; small oak wedges were used to fix these permanently in place. No glue, no nails, no screws or other metal fittings.
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