US firm drops 'terrorist support ad'

[belfastuniguy 18]

US chain drops 'terror scarf' ad

By James Coomarasamy BBC News, Washington

Dunkin' Donuts said there was a "possibility of misperception"

The US chain Dunkin' Donuts has pulled an advert following complaints that the scarf worn by a celebrity chef offered symbolic support for Islamic extremism.

The online advert for iced coffee featured the well-known US television chef Rachael Ray.

She was wearing a black-and-white checked scarf around her neck that resembled a traditional Arab keffiyeh.

This fashion choice incensed at least one prominent conservative blogger, who said it evoked extremist videos.

The blogger, Michelle Malkin, called the garment "a regular adornment of Muslim terrorists appearing in beheading and hostage-taking videos".

Stylist's choice

Other criticism followed and the coffee and doughnuts chain has now decided to drop the advert.

Fashion statements may seem insignificant, but when they lead to the mainstreaming of violence - unintentionally or not - they matter Michelle Malkin

In a statement, Dunkin' Donuts said the silk scarf had been "selected by Rachael Ray's stylist and that no symbolism was intended.

"But given the possibility of misperception the commercial was no longer being used."

This has caused a fair amount of consternation in some quarters but the conservative blogger at the centre of the row has praised the decision.

"Fashion statements may seem insignificant, but when they lead to the mainstreaming of violence - unintentionally or not - they matter," Ms Malkin has written.quote>

I find this story completely hilarious and concerning at the same time. I have been to America and have American friends and I know what decent Americans believe. This reaction and indeed the response just further enhances the incorrect image to more misinformed people that America is full of xenophobic, racist individuals that have no capcity to distinguish between an Arab and a terrorist.

Its also somewhat shameful that Dunkin Donuts actually pulled the ad. There's another nail in the coffin of  American freedom of press and expression. I mean look at the picture...CLEARLY you see a terrorist with a bomb or whatever and not a young attractive women with an iced drink.

[toxicpiano 125]

It only takes a few...

[Duke87 1,070]

Every time something is changed to be politically correct, god calls a small African American person a "Black Midget".

[Explodingsims 3]

Wow, this is taking 9/11 Paranoia to a new level. Makes me want to walk to the mall wearing this, and leave a backpack unattended in the shrubs.

Okay, Ignore that last part, just a bit of sarcasm going over the top.

[hamsterTK 93]

Isn't she the same nut who's been against those Che t-shirts?

I'm surprised Dunkin Donuts stooped to this, if anything they should be taking the heat

[fukuda 351]

Totally ridiculous...

[Godzillaman 21]

Terrorists are taking us down...one meal at a time...sure... ...

[Zelgadis 638]

So does my rainbow Canadian flag t-shirt mean that I'm supporting homosexual causes in Canada?

Wait... don't answer that...

ISF

[krbe 193]

And look at the woman they use—isn't she a terrorist too? (the short sleeve is there almost certainly to decieve us!)

[JanYpe 17]

...this just in: Michelle Malkin is still a loud idiot.

[coolotter88 2]

yeah, doesn't she work for Fox?

[ilikehotdogsalot 307]

http://michellemalkin.com/2008/05/23/of-donuts-and-dumb-celebrities/

There's the idiot's blog. Makes me want to go make an account and call her names.

[GMT 389]

whoever complained about this piece of clothing as a muslim-terrorist item should come to europe.

like every 2nd teen runs around with such a thing, it has become (at least in central europe) a symbol of left-wing policy. (EDIT: policy might be too political, it's mainly non-parliamentrian left-wing organizations)

in fact, it's not a terrorist symbol but an anti-Semitic, anti-israeli symbol common in the middle east, especially around the PLO (Arrafat's private club), worn by supporters of the anti-israeli movement that started with the declaration of israel.

It's "so america" to think only about this being a terrorist symbol (what a coincidence, muslim terrorists wear anti-israeli symbols, wasn't the islam one of the mayor anti-semitic movements ever since).

other than that, I guess about 75% of those (in western countries) who wear this scarf don't know a thing about it's political symbolism (and as the article tells those who think they know about it in fact no nothing aswell) but consider it as a piece of fashion "everyone wears in europe so we gotta apply it in the states aswell"

and now bash me for I'm well informed about both the israeli history and the anti-semitic tendencies and their symbols inside the islam

[Patricius Maximus 236]

Have the people that put out the ad notice that they can put out what they want?

It's called FREEDOM OF SPEECH, and FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, protected in the 1st Amendent of the Constitution of the United States.

It makes me very angry that such paranoia and censorship is going on in relation to this 'terrorism' business. Your sympathies should not be judged by the clothes you wear or what you say, it is what you do.

And, with all of the paranoia of "terrorist sympathies", I feel free to say that I hold a some sympathies with their objectives, but the methods are totally without honor. Islam is not a religion of brutality and war, it is about Muhammad, Allah, and peace (except when provoked into jihad, ex. Crusades).

Call me a communist, a terrorist, Islamofascist, or 'Unpatriotic', but that is what I believe, and that is what I say, and the American government cannot put me in jail for that.

Indeed, if they did, then they would have lost all respect for human rights, and failed in it's function to serve and carry out the will of the people.

That might be a liberal ranting, but I hope you see what I mean.

- Patricius Maximus

[Easy Bakes 253]

wow.

One person can make a change.

[nazaguy 0]

Originally posted by: GMT whoever complained about this piece of clothing as a muslim-terrorist item should come to europe.

like every 2nd teen runs around with such a thing, it has become (at least in central europe) a symbol of left-wing policy. (EDIT: policy might be too political, it's mainly non-parliamentrian left-wing organizations)

in fact, it's not a terrorist symbol but an anti-Semitic, anti-israeli symbol common in the middle east, especially around the PLO (Arrafat's private club), worn by supporters of the anti-israeli movement that started with the declaration of israel.

It's "so america" to think only about this being a terrorist symbol (what a coincidence, muslim terrorists wear anti-israeli symbols, wasn't the islam one of the mayor anti-semitic movements ever since).

other than that, I guess about 75% of those (in western countries) who wear this scarf don't know a thing about it's political symbolism (and as the article tells those who think they know about it in fact no nothing aswell) but consider it as a piece of fashion "everyone wears in europe so we gotta apply it in the states aswell"

and now bash me for I'm well informed about both the israeli history and the anti-semitic tendencies and their symbols inside the islamquote>

No, Arabs just wear it on weekends. We've been wearing it for 100's of years before Israel was even thought up of. And for the record anti-Israeli doesn't  anti-Semetic. Im not going to give a huge lecture on Israel, I support the Palestinian cause but, i am far from anti-Semetic.

And for the record, not all evil in the world is caused by Islam, so please stop saying so. I'm Muslim, and i find it offensive.

[krbe 193]

Originally posted by: nazaguy And for the record, not all evil in the world is caused by Islam, so please stop saying so. I'm Muslim, and i find it offensive.quote>

You don't have to be offended (unless you really want to of course), because you're just making this part up.

[Meg 368]

Originally posted by: GMT

in fact, it's not a terrorist symbol but an anti-Semitic, anti-israeli symbol common in the middle east, especially around the PLO (Arrafat's private club), worn by supporters of the anti-israeli movement that started with the declaration of israel.quote>

When I was a kid, the PLO was considered to be a terrorist organization.  Many still consider it to be one.

I imagine that Dunkin' Donuts wasn't trying to make a political statement; they were just trying to be "ethnically diverse".

[GMT 389]

Originally posted by: nazaguy

Originally posted by: GMT whoever complained about this piece of clothing as a muslim-terrorist item should come to europe.

like every 2nd teen runs around with such a thing, it has become (at least in central europe) a symbol of left-wing policy. (EDIT: policy might be too political, it's mainly non-parliamentrian left-wing organizations)

in fact, it's not a terrorist symbol but an anti-Semitic, anti-israeli symbol common in the middle east, especially around the PLO (Arrafat's private club), worn by supporters of the anti-israeli movement that started with the declaration of israel.

It's "so america" to think only about this being a terrorist symbol (what a coincidence, muslim terrorists wear anti-israeli symbols, wasn't the islam one of the mayor anti-semitic movements ever since).

other than that, I guess about 75% of those (in western countries) who wear this scarf don't know a thing about it's political symbolism (and as the article tells those who think they know about it in fact no nothing aswell) but consider it as a piece of fashion "everyone wears in europe so we gotta apply it in the states aswell"

and now bash me for I'm well informed about both the israeli history and the anti-semitic tendencies and their symbols inside the islamquote>

No, Arabs just wear it on weekends. We've been wearing it for 100's of years before Israel was even thought up of. And for the record anti-Israeli doesn't  anti-Semetic. Im not going to give a huge lecture on Israel, I support the Palestinian cause but, i am far from anti-Semetic.

And for the record, not all evil in the world is caused by Islam, so please stop saying so. I'm Muslim, and i find it offensive.quote>

first of all, where the hell did I say all evil is muslim?

second, as you're a muslim, I guess I don't need to cite anti-semitic verses throughout the quran, do I? oh, I guess I have to:

9:30 says allah curses the jews

5:41says jews are dishonored in life and punished in death

2:88 says allah cursed the jews to be misbelievers

5:64 says the jews claimed allah's hands to be tied and should therefore be punished and cursed

5:51 says that muslims should not take jews (and christians) as friends and who does belongs to them

also, 2:61 5:52 and 9:29 speak of the jews as a subordinated, defeated  and coward.

Hence, although Mohammed himself initially called the Jews, Christians and other monotheistic religions as "just", but after all it was him who ordered to banish and kill the Banu n-Nadir, Banu Quraiza and Banu Qaynuqa (the 3 local jewish tribes around Medina) for they refused to join the islam

just to name a few. further, a more or less traditional anti-semitism can be found throughout the islamic world since the early 19th century as a result of above cited excerpts of the quran.

Also, the denial of the holocaust is omnipresent throughout the islamic world, most famous since the iranian president said so in 2006...

and so on and so forth.

if that makes you feel offended, ok, but I'm just telling the truth.

EDIT: ok, truth might be exaggerated, but at least it's facts.

Although I must admit that I'm not at all against islam.

The quran and the sharia offer a hell of a lot of good points. It's just that all these good points are only valid as long as it concerns the togetherness of muslims.

as soon as non-muslims are named, it get's a little too harsh imho.

[Meg 368]

okay, let's step back a bit and take a deep breath.

You can "racist" quotes anywhere in any "holy book" written years ago.   The Bible has it's share of them too.

I agree with nazaguy's point that not all Muslims are terrorists.  If they were, we would truly be in a mess because there are approximately a billion Muslims in the world.  Fortunately, only a small percentage of them are terrorists.

It is also true that not all terrorists are Muslims.  Last I heard, back when I was a kid, they didn't bomb abortion clinics or cause "the Troubles" in Ireland. 

[Bumdark 3]

Well said, GMT.

Back on topic, I just find this so absolutely ridiculous... Of course, it can't be that the scarf may just look good and be comfortable, and make a nice fashion accessory... Unthinkable! It has to be terrorism supporter symbol!

This is paranoia to a whole new level... and it was high before already. This just keeps getting worse and worse... I pity the day when we start banning scarves... (Not that it would affect me, however, I never wear the damn things.)

*Sigh* What the hell kind of world are we living in?

(Oh, and may this Michelle Malkin be stoned! Stupidity at that level shouldn't be allowed to live. It'll be Jim Jones all over again.) (Yes, that last part was (a feeble) attempt at humor.)

[krbe 193]

Originally posted by: SkiGeek When I was a kid, the PLO was considered to be a terrorist organization.  Many still consider it to be one.

I imagine that Dunkin' Donuts wasn't trying to make a political statement; they were just trying to be "ethnically diverse".quote>

Your State Department doesn't believe so, not even under the ridiculously strict definition they have adapted.

But why stop at the scarf? The girl itself looks like the typical terrorist. Sure, she might be displaying a little too much skin for the terrorists ideal society, but one has to expect fifth columnists.

In fact, better safe than sorry: Lock her up ASAP.

Why does this Michelle Malkin want a new swastika? Why would we want anything like the current German rules?

EDIT: Just saw a photograph of Mrs Malkin. She looks a bit too foreign to me. Again, better safe than sorry: Lock her up.

[Meg 368]

Originally posted by: krbe

Originally posted by: SkiGeek When I was a kid, the PLO was considered to be a terrorist organization.  Many still consider it to be one.

I imagine that Dunkin' Donuts wasn't trying to make a political statement; they were just trying to be "ethnically diverse".quote>

Your State Department doesn't believe so, not even under the ridiculously strict definition they have adapted.  quote>

There is a reason why I used the past tense. 

The Anti-Terrorism Act of 1987 declared, in part:

    (a) Findings

The Congress finds that -

(1) Middle East terrorism accounted for 60 percent of total

international terrorism in 1985;

(2) the Palestine Liberation Organization (hereafter in this

chapter referred to as the "PLO") was directly responsible for

the murder of an American citizen on the Achille Lauro cruise

liner in 1985, and a member of the PLO's Executive Committee is

under indictment in the United States for the murder of that

American citizen;

(3) the head of the PLO has been implicated in the murder of a

United States Ambassador overseas;

(4) the PLO and its constituent groups have taken credit for,

and been implicated in, the murders of dozens of American

citizens abroad;

quote>

and so forth and so on.

As you pointed out, in 2005, 

Bush Waives Provisions of Anti-Terrorism Act on PLO Office

Some people have not yet adjusted to the "oh, they're the good guys now" concept.

EDIT: Just saw a photograph of Mrs Malkin. She looks a bit too foreign to me. Again, better safe than sorry: Lock her up.quote>

I trust you are being sarcastic.  Unless you plan to start locking up people of Filipino descent.

Originally posted by: Bumdark

Back on topic, I just find this so absolutely ridiculous... Of course, it can't be that the scarf may just look good and be comfortable, and make a nice fashion accessory... Unthinkable! It has to be terrorism supporter symbol!  quote>

This does sound a lot like the idea of renaming "French Fries" to "Freedom Fries.

[Bumdark 3]

Uh... you are joking with this "renaming to Freedom Fries" bit, right? I know I'm not as up-to-date on current events as most others, but if this is true... I'd better get a cast ready for when I splinter my ribs laughing like a maniac.

[Meg 368]

The history of Freedom Fries

Hope you have strong ribs. 

Edit:  if you think Wiki is making it up, here is another source.

[krbe 193]

Not the first time

[ricb 19]

Countdown put up a picture of another celebrity wearing a similar scarf. It was John McCain's daughter.

[Barbarossa 51]

.

  Edited September 7, 2012 by Barbarossa  

[GMT 389]

I'm a no logical person. yeehaw

[Easy Bakes 253]

Why cant a scarf just be a scarf?

Im more worried about her wearing black in spring.  A major fashion violation.

Does this mean i can buy a Rachel Ray cook book at dunkin doghnuts?