Religious groups denounce anti-Muslim subway ads

[rug]

By Jeanie Groh| Religion News Service
Updated: Tuesday, September 25, 3:42 PM

Religious leaders are rallying against controversial ads placed in 10 New York City subway stations that insinuate that Muslims are savages.

The ads, purchased by the American Freedom Defense Initiative say, “In any war between civilized man and the savage, support the civilized man. Support Israel. Defeat Jihad.”

New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority initially rejected the ads, citing a policy against demeaning language. However, after AFDI filed suit, a federal court upheld the ads.

The American Freedom Defense Initiative is led by Pamela Geller, a right-wing blogger and activist best known for her staunch opposition to a proposed Islamic community center near Ground Zero. The Southern Poverty Law Center has labeled Geller’s Stop Islamization of America as a hate group.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/on-faith/religious-groups-denounce-anti-muslim-subway-ads/2012/09/25/1f2d3298-0749-11e2-9eea-333857f6a7bd_story.html

[cbayer]

1. That's really ugly. I'm surprised that it hasn't been defaced.

[rug]

3. Oh, you do New Yorkers a disservice.

?t=1348613308

http://thinkprogress.org/security/2012/09/25/903431/pam-geller-new-york-ads-racist/?mobile=nc

[cbayer]

5. Glad to see it. I hope they plaster every single one of them.

[chaplainM]

2. What if the choice is between two competing forms of uncivilized, primitive superstition? eom

[rug]

4. What if the choice is between blunt stupidity and nuanced understanding?

[cpwm17]

6. If you don't recognize what is wrong with that ad

your racist radar is seriously broken.

[Dorian Gray]

7. Ouch

The poor Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center has to share ad space with THAT!

I think the ads will all be defaced in due time. I don't promote grafitti in my city, but in this case, I have no problem with people defacing that property. I can't believe my city is allowing the ads to be run in public.

[cbayer]

8. Update: Woman arrested for marring anti-jihad NY subway ad

Woman arrested for marring anti-jihad NY subway ad

Source: CBS News

NEW YORK — An Egyptian-born U.S. columnist was arrested Tuesday for spray-painting an advertisement equating Muslim radicals with savages at a New York City subway station.

Mona Eltahawy, 45, of New York, was arrested on charges including criminal mischief and making graffiti, police said. Her arrest was captured on video by a New York Post camera crew and posted online.

Eltahawy is a women's rights defender and lecturer on the role of social media in the Arab world. She calls herself a liberal Muslim who's spoken publicly against violent Islamic groups. She's seen in the video spraying pink paint on the ad while another woman tries to block her.

"This is non-violent protest, see this America" Eltahawy said in the video as police officers were arresting her. "I'm an Egyptian-American and I refuse hate."

Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505245_162-57520541/woman-arrested-for-marring-anti-jihad-ny-subway-ad/

[Oregonian]

9. Religion = madness and division

Every time. This is right up there with Chik Fil A, the American Family Association, and the KKK. All use religious absolutism as their basis.

Embrace rationality.

[pinto]

10. The Southern Poverty Law Center has labeled Geller’s Stop Islamization of America as a hate group.

Yep.