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Home Front: WoT
Muslims use billboard to counter perceptions
2006-12-18
Muslims are trying to show a different side of their faith in a high-visibility place: along Interstate 95.

A new billboard near the Boynton Beach-Delray Beach line encourages drivers to "Explore the life of the Prophet Muhammad," and directs viewers to the Council on American-Islamic Relations Web site, www.Cair.com. The sign sits along the southbound side of the highway, but faces drivers heading northbound.

People who go to the Web site can request a book or a DVD on Islam, said Altaf Ali, CAIR executive director for Florida.

Ali said CAIR decided to go on the offensive after last year's Danish cartoon controversy, in which 12 Danish editorial cartoonists depicted Muhammad in unflattering ways. Chapters throughout the United States began designing billboards to counter negative perceptions. Placards in California last year said: "Even a smile is charity. A message from your Muslim neighbor," with smiling Muslims in the background.

"There are a lot of negative perceptions about Islam and the life of Muhammad," Ali said. Many see the religion as advocating violence, but he believes those who study closely will see a peaceful, charitable faith.
Odd, the closer I look, the worse it gets.
"We're not proselytizing. We're just getting information to people," said Rubina Hossain, a Muslim from Palm Beach Gardens. "A lot of it is our fault that we don't get the word out."
Right.
Hossain said her first-grade daughter brought home a pamphlet recently that explained the world's many faiths, but Islam was not included.
Lol. I call bullshit.
"People think we don't believe in the same God, that we're a tribal, desert cult," Hossain said.

CAIR, a national civil rights group, estimates about 70,000 Muslims live in South Florida, with about 7 million in the United States.
A "national civil rights group". Lol.
Ahmed Hijazi, a Muslim from Pompano Beach, hopes the campaign encourages drivers to open up to a new view of the faith. "Maybe they have a friend who is a Muslim and there are things they always wanted to know," Hijazi said.

The I-95 campaign will last for a month, Ali said. So far, only one person has contacted CAIR for a DVD, he said.
One too many. Unless the goof needed a coaster.
Or opposition research ...
Posted by:.com

#17  Hunky Dory, But their competition is sexy slinky twenty-something? South Korean + Japanese babes in heels and mini-skirts.
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2006-12-18 21:36  

#16  Any Floridians in the audience? Could you please get 5 gallons of gas and take care of this small, obnoxious problem ?
Posted by: SpecOp35   2006-12-18 20:31  

#15  I got one of those free CAIR Korans last year. My cat likes it too; she's sleeping on it right now...
Posted by: Raj   2006-12-18 19:55  

#14  And Sura 9 is perfect for my pig bookmark:
Posted by: exJAG   2006-12-18 19:33  

#13  Yep, CAIR's Koran goes for $55 ($39.60 at Amazon). It's three inches thick, the size of a physics textbook, and weighs as much too. I don't know about strong but soft, but it sure is a handsome pedestal for my stuffed pig named Otto.
Posted by: exJAG   2006-12-18 19:31  

#12  They'll figure out that we're messing with them.

In'sallah
Posted by: Shipman   2006-12-18 18:27  

#11  Please don't link to the free Koran website via Rantburg, though. They'll figure out that we're messing with them.
Posted by: Zhang Fei   2006-12-18 18:20  

#10  exJAG: A couple of years ago, CAIR launched a huge "free Koran" campaign. I wanted to see which version they were sending out, so I requested one. Turns out it was the "Now! With 20% Extra Antisemitism!" version by Muhammad Asad -- formerly Leopold Weiss, a Polish Jew. They had to pick that one.

It's still on offer. But you have to pay $7.65 for shipping. Which is still not a bad deal for a hard cover job. They claim it retails for over $50.
Posted by: Zhang Fei   2006-12-18 18:19  

#9  "People think we don't believe in the same God, that we're a tribal, desert cult."

-not that 1300 years of documented history says the same or anything.........
Posted by: Broadhead6   2006-12-18 17:40  

#8  "People think we don't believe in the same God, that we're a tribal, desert cult."

Can't imagine why.
Posted by: DepotGuy   2006-12-18 17:11  

#7  I remember seeing another such billboard, I think along I-95 in Deleware.
Posted by: Eric Jablow   2006-12-18 16:59  

#6  "Even a smile is charity. A message from your Muslim neighbor," with smiling Muslims in the background.

Why are they smiling? Have they just got word about the follow-up to 9/11?
Posted by: Flineque Flaviter1681   2006-12-18 16:30  

#5  But exJag, are the pages strong yet soft?

Otherwise we may as well stay with the Charmin.
Posted by: CrazyFool   2006-12-18 16:27  

#4  A couple of years ago, CAIR launched a huge "free Koran" campaign. I wanted to see which version they were sending out, so I requested one. Turns out it was the "Now! With 20% Extra Antisemitism!" version by Muhammad Asad -- formerly Leopold Weiss, a Polish Jew. They had to pick that one.

It was also huge, glossy, and clearly expensive, and they were requesting donations from the ummah to pay for them all, which gave me an idea. I asked Mr. exJAG to get the word out, so practically half of 10th Mtn Div ordered one, to deplete their resources. A few were squrimy about giving their address to CAIR, but c'mon, what are they gonna do.

So, I'd actually encourage everyone you know to order free stuff. Never hurts to see what the enemy's saying, it's good for target practice, and above all, each one in our hands takes a bite out of their da'wa campaign.
Posted by: exJAG   2006-12-18 16:17  

#3  they'd get way more support if the frikkin billboard said "we abhor the atrocities performed in our name." It would be even better if they condemned al qaeda, bin laden, suicide bombing, etc.

but no. I guess they don't think that's the way to change our perceptions.

I'm not sure what they're expecting to make happen from this. it's downright condescending.
Posted by: PlanetDan   2006-12-18 16:13  

#2  "Explore the life of the Prophet Muhammad,"

Child rapist, mass murderer, common thief. There you go, it's all you need to know about Allah's lap dog.

"People think we don't believe in the same God, that we're a tribal, desert cult," Hossain said.

LOL! No shit you moon god worshipping Kaaba stone kissing fruit cake! History's a bitch.
Posted by: Icerigger   2006-12-18 16:01  

#1  Wow. I'm convinced.
Where do I sign...
Posted by: tu3031   2006-12-18 15:18  

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