Islamophobia meets a new Lowe

[Symmetry]

This has been getting a fair bit of play here in the UK. For those not up on the story, the chain store Lowes pulled its advertising from a reality show about Muslim Americans basically because of a series of complaints by the Florida Family Association over concerns that the Muslims being shown weren't terrorists.

[BigBallinStalin]

Bunch old white people in Florida causing trouble again.

[PLAYER57832]

This has been getting a fair bit of play here in the UK. For those not up on the story, the chain store Lowes pulled its advertising from a reality show about Muslim Americans basically because of a series of complaints by the Florida Family Association over concerns that the Muslims being shown weren't terrorists.

Almost started a thread on this myself.

Yep, a group of stupid conservatives in the south managed to get the ear of Lowe's. What should frighten all of us is not so much this action -- the show itself was/is apparently dumb, (likely more people will watch it now.. including myself, if I can find it). However, it indicates the power that this small group of powerful individuals has here in America.

Lowes is very much tied to Walmart, currently THE biggest employer in the US.. and an extremely powerful, albiet "soft power" source.

[BigBallinStalin]

Are you implying that Wal-Mart is connected to this nefarious plot?

[PLAYER57832]

Are you implying that Wal-Mart is connected to this nefarious plot?

I am implying that the power structure of Lowes is so connected and they are both subject to similar right-wing Christian influences. (along with other stuff outside the realm of this thread).

[Ray Rider]

Yep, a group of stupid conservatives in the south managed to get the ear of Lowe's. What should frighten all of us is...it indicates the power that this small group of powerful individuals has here in America.

Lowes is very much tied to Walmart, currently THE biggest employer in the US.. and an extremely powerful, albiet "soft power" source.

Is this supposed to be the cue for the proletariat to run away, screaming in terror because the evil right wing is going to take over the US and create a theocracy like Iran or something? Sorry but I'm not feelin the vibe yet...

And where are the links/sources to this story? So far it just sounds like a lot of fear-mongering

[Baron Von PWN]

Yep, a group of stupid conservatives in the south managed to get the ear of Lowe's. What should frighten all of us is...it indicates the power that this small group of powerful individuals has here in America.

Lowes is very much tied to Walmart, currently THE biggest employer in the US.. and an extremely powerful, albiet "soft power" source.

Is this supposed to be the cue for the proletariat to run away, screaming in terror because the evil right wing is going to take over the US and create a theocracy like Iran or something? Sorry but I'm not feelin the vibe yet...

And where are the links/sources to this story? So far it just sounds like a lot of fear-mongering

Basically TLC started a show called "all american muslims" it was a bunch of american muslims doing day to day shit. Like honestly just a bunch of joe blows going about their day. Some Christian group in Florida freaked out because the Muslims on the show weren't plotting to destroy america and would therefore send "the wrong idea" about Muslims. They complained to lowes which aired advertising around when the show was playing, as a result lowes pulled its advertising. People then flipped out at lowes for bowing to a bunch of idiots in Florida.

[john9blue]

am i the only one who finds it kind of funny that this story has been getting a "fair bit of play" in the UK?

if this happened in the UK then most people in the US wouldn't even hear about it

[saxitoxin]

This has been getting a fair bit of play here in the UK. For those not up on the story, the chain store Lowes pulled its advertising from a reality show about Muslim Americans basically because of a series of complaints by the Florida Family Association over concerns that the Muslims being shown weren't terrorists.

Almost started a thread on this myself.

Yep, a group of stupid conservatives in the south managed to get the ear of Lowe's. What should frighten all of us is not so much this action -- the show itself was/is apparently dumb, (likely more people will watch it now.. including myself, if I can find it). However, it indicates the power that this small group of powerful individuals has here in America.

Lowes is very much tied to Walmart, currently THE biggest employer in the US.. and an extremely powerful, albiet "soft power" source.

1. Lowe's and Wal Mart also both pulled their advertising from Glenn Beck after being threatened with a boycott. Was that also a nefarious conspiracy or "the outcome of grassroots people power?"

Since the fall of network TV, any group of five or more people can get anyone to pull their advertising from anything by threatening a boycott. There are so many advertising outlets it's a no-loss prospect.

2. The U.S. government is the biggest employer in the U.S., not Wal Mart. I agree with Player's contention that the biggest employer in the U.S. (the U.S. government) has too much influence.

There are serious problems with religious intolerance in the world (e.g. threats to jail French and Belgian Muslim women if they practice their faith in public; prohibiting Sikh politicians from professing their faith in Quebec; Irish Catholics being assaulted by police organized mobs, etc.). Stories like this being grandstanded by the Symmetries and Players of the world juvenilize the seriousness of the topic.

[PLAYER57832]

This has been getting a fair bit of play here in the UK. For those not up on the story, the chain store Lowes pulled its advertising from a reality show about Muslim Americans basically because of a series of complaints by the Florida Family Association over concerns that the Muslims being shown weren't terrorists.

Almost started a thread on this myself.

Yep, a group of stupid conservatives in the south managed to get the ear of Lowe's. What should frighten all of us is not so much this action -- the show itself was/is apparently dumb, (likely more people will watch it now.. including myself, if I can find it). However, it indicates the power that this small group of powerful individuals has here in America.

Lowes is very much tied to Walmart, currently THE biggest employer in the US.. and an extremely powerful, albiet "soft power" source.

1. Lowe's and Wal Mart also both pulled their advertising from Glenn Beck after being threatened with a boycott. Was that also a nefarious conspiracy or "the outcome of grassroots people power?"

Glenn Beck is not " grassroots people power", no matter how much he tries to grandstand himself into that label.

Since the fall of network TV, any group of five or more people can get anyone to pull their advertising from anything by threatening a boycott. There are so many advertising outlets it's a no-loss prospect.

Very true. disagree except in ridicule.

2. The U.S. government is the biggest employer in the U.S., not Wal Mart. I agree with Player's contention that the biggest employer in the U.S. (the U.S. government) has too much influence.

LOL.. except, unlike a corporation, its not one influence, but many and directed by the voting public or (in the case of the "ologists") science.

There are serious problems with religious intolerance in the world (e.g. threats to jail French and Belgian Muslim women if they practice their faith in public; prohibiting Sikh politicians from professing their faith in Quebec; Irish Catholics being assaulted by police organized mobs, etc.). Stories like this being grandstanded by the Symmetries and Players of the world juvenilize the seriousness of the topic.

Here you are wrong. Religious intolerance comes in many forms. Like a frog in water, just because it begins gently doesn't mean its not potentially harmful.

BUT.. there is a big difference between saying "hey, this bears watching" (which is what I said) or (in symmetries case) "what's up with this?" and saying "let's go burn down Lowe's now". I have not even advocated the boycott of Lowe's. My first reaction was to say "pfft.. it was a bad show" they made a business move. BUT, then I heard Lowe's "apology".. just before symmetry posted this, and well.... now I wonder if it isn't a harbinger of worse thinking to come.

[saxitoxin]

This has been getting a fair bit of play here in the UK. For those not up on the story, the chain store Lowes pulled its advertising from a reality show about Muslim Americans basically because of a series of complaints by the Florida Family Association over concerns that the Muslims being shown weren't terrorists.

Almost started a thread on this myself.

Yep, a group of stupid conservatives in the south managed to get the ear of Lowe's. What should frighten all of us is not so much this action -- the show itself was/is apparently dumb, (likely more people will watch it now.. including myself, if I can find it). However, it indicates the power that this small group of powerful individuals has here in America.

Lowes is very much tied to Walmart, currently THE biggest employer in the US.. and an extremely powerful, albiet "soft power" source.

1. Lowe's and Wal Mart also both pulled their advertising from Glenn Beck after being threatened with a boycott. Was that also a nefarious conspiracy or "the outcome of grassroots people power?"

Glenn Beck is not " grassroots people power", no matter how much he tries to grandstand himself into that label.

Reading Comprehension: D+

Lowe's and Wal Mart also both pulled their advertising from Glenn Beck after being threatened with a boycott. Was that also a nefarious conspiracy or "the outcome of grassroots people power?"?

2. The U.S. government is the biggest employer in the U.S., not Wal Mart. I agree with Player's contention that the biggest employer in the U.S. (the U.S. government) has too much influence.

LOL.. except, unlike a corporation, its not one influence, but many and directed by the voting public or (in the case of the "ologists") science.

Belief in Fairy Tales: A+

[Symmetry]

Yep, a group of stupid conservatives in the south managed to get the ear of Lowe's. What should frighten all of us is...it indicates the power that this small group of powerful individuals has here in America.

Lowes is very much tied to Walmart, currently THE biggest employer in the US.. and an extremely powerful, albiet "soft power" source.

Is this supposed to be the cue for the proletariat to run away, screaming in terror because the evil right wing is going to take over the US and create a theocracy like Iran or something? Sorry but I'm not feelin the vibe yet...

And where are the links/sources to this story? So far it just sounds like a lot of fear-mongering

Sorry- I usually try to put a few links into my OPs.

You can read about it:

Financial Times
The Atlantic
NYTimes

It seems to be pretty widely reported, so that's just a semi-random cross section, but should give the basics.

[pimpdave]

Pretty sure the Republicans have been desperately trying to institute a theocracy here for the last 40 years. Ever since the ascendance of Jerry Falwell, etc. Before that, Christians just tried to alter the law (see Prohibition, keeping slavery legal, banning immigrants, genocide of American Indians).

[BigBallinStalin]

This has been getting a fair bit of play here in the UK. For those not up on the story, the chain store Lowes pulled its advertising from a reality show about Muslim Americans basically because of a series of complaints by the Florida Family Association over concerns that the Muslims being shown weren't terrorists.

Almost started a thread on this myself.

Yep, a group of stupid conservatives in the south managed to get the ear of Lowe's. What should frighten all of us is not so much this action -- the show itself was/is apparently dumb, (likely more people will watch it now.. including myself, if I can find it). However, it indicates the power that this small group of powerful individuals has here in America.

Lowes is very much tied to Walmart, currently THE biggest employer in the US.. and an extremely powerful, albiet "soft power" source.

1. Lowe's and Wal Mart also both pulled their advertising from Glenn Beck after being threatened with a boycott. Was that also a nefarious conspiracy or "the outcome of grassroots people power?"

Glenn Beck is not " grassroots people power", no matter how much he tries to grandstand himself into that label.

Since the fall of network TV, any group of five or more people can get anyone to pull their advertising from anything by threatening a boycott. There are so many advertising outlets it's a no-loss prospect.

Very true. disagree except in ridicule.

2. The U.S. government is the biggest employer in the U.S., not Wal Mart. I agree with Player's contention that the biggest employer in the U.S. (the U.S. government) has too much influence.

LOL.. except, unlike a corporation, its not one influence, but many and directed by the voting public or (in the case of the "ologists") science.

Scale of 1 to 10: How much would player rage when she finds out about Public Choice?

[Phatscotty]

I wonder how a Muslims feel about this, I also wonder how Muslims feel about Liberals always taking up their business and speaking for all Muslims.

[saxitoxin]

This has been getting a fair bit of play here in the UK. For those not up on the story, the chain store Lowes pulled its advertising from a reality show about Muslim Americans basically because of a series of complaints by the Florida Family Association over concerns that the Muslims being shown weren't terrorists.

Almost started a thread on this myself.

Yep, a group of stupid conservatives in the south managed to get the ear of Lowe's. What should frighten all of us is not so much this action -- the show itself was/is apparently dumb, (likely more people will watch it now.. including myself, if I can find it). However, it indicates the power that this small group of powerful individuals has here in America.

Lowes is very much tied to Walmart, currently THE biggest employer in the US.. and an extremely powerful, albiet "soft power" source.

1. Lowe's and Wal Mart also both pulled their advertising from Glenn Beck after being threatened with a boycott. Was that also a nefarious conspiracy or "the outcome of grassroots people power?"

Glenn Beck is not " grassroots people power", no matter how much he tries to grandstand himself into that label.

Since the fall of network TV, any group of five or more people can get anyone to pull their advertising from anything by threatening a boycott. There are so many advertising outlets it's a no-loss prospect.

Very true. disagree except in ridicule.

2. The U.S. government is the biggest employer in the U.S., not Wal Mart. I agree with Player's contention that the biggest employer in the U.S. (the U.S. government) has too much influence.

LOL.. except, unlike a corporation, its not one influence, but many and directed by the voting public or (in the case of the "ologists") science.

Scale of 1 to 10: How much would player rage when she finds out about Public Choice?

[Symmetry]

I don't really get the Walmart bit, but Lowe's come across as pretty Islamophobic out of this. They seem to have pulled advertising based on the idea that a show didn't portray Muslims as extremists.

[saxitoxin]

I don't really get the Walmart bit, but Lowe's come across as pretty Islamophobic out of this. They seem to have pulled advertising based on the idea that a show didn't portray Muslims as extremists.

A 60-second Bing-Dot-Com search finds other shows Lowe's has pulled advertising from under threat of boycott:

- Glenn Beck (over inflammatory speech against Muslims)
- All-American Muslim (over non-inflammatory speech against Muslims)
- Big Brother (over offence to autistics)
- Desperate Housewives (over offence to suicide survivors)

You and Player's 17 kids could send a petition to Lowe's tomorrow saying you were staging a boycott unless Lowe's pulled advertising from Man vs. Wild because Bear Grylls makes you dangerously horny and they'd pull it.

[Symmetry]

I don't really get the Walmart bit, but Lowe's come across as pretty Islamophobic out of this. They seem to have pulled advertising based on the idea that a show didn't portray Muslims as extremists.

A 60-second Bing-Dot-Com search finds other shows Lowe's has pulled advertising from under threat of boycott:

- Glenn Beck (over inflammatory speech against Muslims)
- All-American Muslim (over non-inflammatory speech against Muslims)
- Big Brother (over offense to autistics)
- Desperate Housewives (over offense to suicide survivors)

You and Player's 17 kids could send a petition to Lowe's tomorrow saying you were staging a boycott unless Lowe's pulled advertising from Man vs. Wild because Bear Grylls makes you dangerously horny and they'd pull it. There are an almost infinite number of shows on which they can advertise.

As a non-American I don't know what an almost infinite number would be, and I have never eaten at a Bear Grills.

[saxitoxin]

I don't really get the Walmart bit, but Lowe's come across as pretty Islamophobic out of this. They seem to have pulled advertising based on the idea that a show didn't portray Muslims as extremists.

A 60-second Bing-Dot-Com search finds other shows Lowe's has pulled advertising from under threat of boycott:

- Glenn Beck (over inflammatory speech against Muslims)
- All-American Muslim (over non-inflammatory speech against Muslims)
- Big Brother (over offense to autistics)
- Desperate Housewives (over offense to suicide survivors)

You and Player's 17 kids could send a petition to Lowe's tomorrow saying you were staging a boycott unless Lowe's pulled advertising from Man vs. Wild because Bear Grylls makes you dangerously horny and they'd pull it. There are an almost infinite number of shows on which they can advertise.

As a non-American I don't know what an almost infinite number would be, and I have never eaten at a Bear Grills.

1. one less than infinite
2. the correct word usage is "eaten out"

[Symmetry]

I don't really get the Walmart bit, but Lowe's come across as pretty Islamophobic out of this. They seem to have pulled advertising based on the idea that a show didn't portray Muslims as extremists.

A 60-second Bing-Dot-Com search finds other shows Lowe's has pulled advertising from under threat of boycott:

- Glenn Beck (over inflammatory speech against Muslims)
- All-American Muslim (over non-inflammatory speech against Muslims)
- Big Brother (over offense to autistics)
- Desperate Housewives (over offense to suicide survivors)

You and Player's 17 kids could send a petition to Lowe's tomorrow saying you were staging a boycott unless Lowe's pulled advertising from Man vs. Wild because Bear Grylls makes you dangerously horny and they'd pull it. There are an almost infinite number of shows on which they can advertise.

As a non-American I don't know what one less than an infinite number would be, and I have never eaten out at a Bear Grills.

Fixed?

[saxitoxin]

I don't really get the Walmart bit, but Lowe's come across as pretty Islamophobic out of this. They seem to have pulled advertising based on the idea that a show didn't portray Muslims as extremists.

A 60-second Bing-Dot-Com search finds other shows Lowe's has pulled advertising from under threat of boycott:

- Glenn Beck (over inflammatory speech against Muslims)
- All-American Muslim (over non-inflammatory speech against Muslims)
- Big Brother (over offense to autistics)
- Desperate Housewives (over offense to suicide survivors)

You and Player's 17 kids could send a petition to Lowe's tomorrow saying you were staging a boycott unless Lowe's pulled advertising from Man vs. Wild because Bear Grylls makes you dangerously horny and they'd pull it. There are an almost infinite number of shows on which they can advertise.

As a non-American I don't know what one less than an infinite number would be, and I have never eaten out at a Bear Grills.

Fixed?

fixed

[Symmetry]

Seems fair.

[saxitoxin]

Meanwhile, in Canada - a third-rate TV show few people have hear about lost an advertiser.

Oh no wait, that was a typo. Sorry.

Meanwhile in Canada, practicing Muslim women are now banned from becoming citizens.

http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/TopStories/20 ... ns-111212/

Sorry for the CTV link - as of the timestamp of this post, it didn't seem to be getting a fair bit of play on Auntie Beeb, otherwise I would have linked to it there.

[Baron Von PWN]

Meanwhile, in Canada - a third-rate TV show few people have hear about lost an advertiser.

Oh no wait, that was a typo. Sorry.

Meanwhile in Canada, practicing Muslim women are now banned from becoming citizens.

http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/TopStories/20 ... ns-111212/

Sorry for the CTV link - as of the timestamp of this post, it didn't seem to be getting a fair bit of play on Auntie Beeb, otherwise I would have linked to it there.

not quite. they are required to show their face in order to receive citizenship. Though I disagree with the law, as I find it to be a useless one which corrects a non issue.