After a federal judge overruled the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit's request to delay the use of a racially, politically, and religiously charged ad in the metro system, the ads were posted Monday. The ad makes sweeping generalizations about Muslims, referring to them as savages and urging the reader to "Support Israel. Defeat Jihad." The ad, run by the American Freedom Defense Initiative, was delayed but posted under the defense of the first amendment. The DC transit system pushed for the delay of this ad due to the recent and violent reaction to the online video, "Innocence of Muslims." Like so much of the American media, this ad ignores that majority of Muslims who support Jihad non-violently and uses marginal extremist examples to paint the picture of a violent and hateful Middle East. It is yet another factor playing into the growing American prejudice of the MENA region. The ad completely ignores the Muslim teachings of piousness and religious tolerance, but that would be counterproductive wouldn't it? If this ad had been offensive to Christians or Jews, would the response have been the same? There has been some protest in DC, one woman covered the sign with post-it notes that spelled out the sayings "Choose Tolerance" and "If you see something hateful, say something peaceful." The overall message is bigoted and unnecessary, especially in the nation's capital where so many different religions and cultures coexist.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-nyc-subway-ad-post-it-notes-20121009,0,6695941.story
As an Israel supporter, this ad is offensive to me not only because of it's bigoted insensitive and racist message but because it gives most of the people within the pro-Israel movement (most of which are for a two-state solution and peace with their neighbors) a bad name. Unfortunately, neither the Israelis nor Palestinians can shake off the radical fringe movements that hurt the peace process like the one that created this abomination of a "support" ad.
ReplyDeleteIsraeli Jews and Arab Muslims are brothers and sisters not only through their vastly similar religion but even through genetic and cultural qualities. It is sad that there are those uneducated few who believe otherwise.