Arabic Signs Panic Virginians

Publius' Forum ^ | 12/19/06 | Warner Todd Huston

[Mobile Vulgus]

The AP is reporting that a program operating near Richmond sponsored by the Virginia Interfaith Center is raising eyebrows and causing some members of the citizenry to worry that secret Terrorist messages are being left across the city.

The small beige signs bearing black Arabic script have been appearing all over town on buses and at colleges.

The signs, which below the Arabic script carry English translations and comments that indirectly caution against jumping to conclusions, are part of a campaign by A More Perfect Union, a program of the Virginia Interfaith Center, and are aimed at dispelling some of the public's fears toward the Muslim community. Organizers hope to eventually expand the program statewide.

Of course, the signs are not a secret terrorist message, but an attempt to soften the image of Islam. The idea is to get Virginians more at ease with seeing Arabic script and not to automatically associate it with terrorism.

"As people see Arabic, they immediately make an association with terrorism," said the Rev. C. Douglas Smith, executive director of the Virginia Interfaith Center, a nonpartisan coalition of faith communities that work for change through education and advocacy. "That's probably because since Nine-Eleven, not only is fear overwhelming us, but that's how we're being trained to think."

This campaign is, however, a most disingenuous and, ultimately, insidious one.

Insidious in that, should this campaign truly work to make Americans cease to be alarmed at signs of Islam, we will surely be giving Islamofascists succor and freedom. It can do nothing but assist Islamist extremists to tear down American defenses and allow them to more freely roam about our country to commit their murder and mayhem at will given cover by all lack of alarm at Islamic activities.

The AP story gave us a perfect example of its disingenuousness, as well.

Bias toward the Muslim community is a continuing problem across the country and in Virginia, said Imad Damaj, president of the Virginia Muslim Coalition for Public Affairs.

"There's so many lazy, unexamined assumptions about all of us and how we react to people," Damaj said. "We need to challenge ourselves."

Schoel said history has proven that Americans can learn to let go of irrational fears toward other cultures.

"After World War II, when people saw Japanese script it was scary," she said. "But now we see it and it's fun, it's hip, it signifies a cool culture."

"That's a huge turnaround."

Sure it's "fun, it's hip" and "cool" to become fond of Japanese symbols now because Japan is an ally and has gone from a militaristic, monarchy to a democracy. THAT is why it is now "cool" and "hip", not because Americans have successfully "challenged" themselves about Japan, but because Japan has itself changed to be more deserving of interest and respect. The Japanese people have given us a reason to become at ease with their culture. The Japanese have gone out of their way to become a respected, benevolent people and have joined the civilized nations in commerce, entertainment and culture.

Islam has most certainly not given Americans any reason whatsoever to trust it or become at ease with it and the Virginia Interfaith Center knows this full well, hence the disingenuousness.

This program acts as if it is we Americans that must somehow change, to accept Islam better, to be more "tolerant" of it, instead of Islam's to show us why we should be more tolerant of it. Islam has not done a single thing even to meet us half way to convince us that it is, in truth, a benevolent -- or even benign -- ideology.

Americans have absolutely no reason whatever to become at ease with signs of Islam.

Not one single reason.

This obsequious campaign by the Virginia Interfaith Center should be opposed until Islam gives us a reason not to be biased against it and displays of its symbols.

[Mobile Vulgus]

Islam is a cancer.

[Rummyfan]

Of course, the signs are not a secret terrorist message, but an attempt to soften the image of Islam. The idea is to get Virginians more at ease with seeing Arabic script and not to automatically associate it with terrorism.

WHY????

The Reverend better wake up and realize that islam will not coexist with Christianity when it reaches sufficient numbers. I would tear these signs down!

Here's another sign of islam:

[iceskater]

Richmond ping.

Have any of you seen these signs? I haven't.

[I see my hands]

"Serving as an associate office for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s state public policy network, the Virginia Interfaith Center works with Lutherans across the state engage in faithful citizenship to fulfill their call to advocate for dignity and justice for all people. The Center is both proud and honored to partner with the ELCA and considers itself a practical way individuals and parishes can live out the church’s mission."

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America now equals Islam. Beware.

[iceskater]

This program acts as if it is we Americans that must somehow change, to accept Islam better, to be more "tolerant" of it, instead of Islam's to show us why we should be more tolerant of it. Islam has not done a single thing even to meet us half way to convince us that it is, in truth, a benevolent -- or even benign -- ideology.

Bears repeating.

[Fudd]

If I saw that "stop" sign, I would run it just to have a judge explain to me why that sign is legal.

[Rummyfan]

The more I think about this the more it p*sses me off! Panic over islamic signs? No, no panic, just revulsion and anger! And hey, why not Vietnamese signs, and Spanish signs, and whatever other minority is deserving? Why arabic, the language of a moon-god cult which seeks to destroy, subjugate, and usurp wherever it has flourished? And looking at the Middle East, a backwater which if not for the existence of oil would remain a true sh*t-hole (as it is it's only three-quarters of a real sh*t-hole!), why should I give a rat's rear about arabic? Other than to learn it to learn more about my enemy!

[NittanyLion]

Haven't noticed them...

[Corin Stormhands]

Haven't seen them.

Thanks for the ping.

[Last Laugh]

If I saw that "stop" sign, I would run it just to have a judge explain to me why that sign is legal

If it's not in ENGLISH, I am NOT obeying it, whatever it is

I'm sick of this islamic krap. If I saw a sign like that in these parts, well, I would assume that vandalism by someone would take place.

I WILL NOT roll over to islam like a yellow dog.

[snarks_when_bored]

First, acclimate the animals...

[rabidralph]

Any true Christian would not align themselves with any group that had "interfaith" in their name.

[ninergold3]

Good Grief - I need another cup of coffee. I saw the title as reading:

Arabic Signs Panic Virgins!

Good Grief! ! !

[RightWhale]

The sign shown in the image appears to be in Arabic rather than islamic, islamic not being a language.

[dangus]

The writing on that Stop sign looks like the drawings from that "Power Station" video.

[kstewskis]

If I saw that "stop" sign, I would use it for target practice, before I run into it just to have a judge explain to me why that sign is legal.

There ya go.

[pgkdan]

Of course, the signs are not a secret terrorist message, but an attempt to soften the image of Islam. The idea is to get Virginians more at ease with seeing Arabic script and not to automatically associate it with terrorism.

What the hell?? I DON'T want to become more at ease seeing Arabic script! We should be doing the exact opposite and everyone in this country should associate any written sign, note, statement or any other type of document written in Arabic script with terrorism until it's proven to be otherwise.

[kAcknor]

[the OlLine Rebel]

"The AP is reporting that a program operating near Richmond sponsored by the Virginia Interfaith Center is raising eyebrows and causing some members of the citizenry to worry that secret Terrorist messages are being left across the city.
.....The idea is to get Virginians more at ease with seeing Arabic script and not to automatically associate it with terrorism."



ROFL I find this pretty funny!

[the OlLine Rebel]

See. You need to go to MO Synod or WI Synod or anybody else. The traditionalists.

[Conservative4Life]

Michael Savage's book "Borders Language and Culture" predicted all of this. he may a bit of a fanatic... But he is right. We MUST secure our Borders, Establish ENGLISH as our official and ONLY language, and we must protect our Culture against the "pc" crowd and the thugs on the left from destroying us from within.

[x_plus_one]

Yesterday at a stoplight the Honda Odessey in front of me with a mom and 3 kids had a bumper sticker that read

I Miss Bill ....Clinton Presidential Center.

It was dark blue with white lettering. I reviewed the current trespassing and/or assault laws in my head and decided to say and do nothing.

[the OlLine Rebel]

Actually, I think that pix is a photoshop fun. The article says nothing about "stop" signs and mentions signs that are "beige". Red is not beige.

[the OlLine Rebel]

I don't get that.

[Ghost of Philip Marlowe]

"...part of a campaign by A More Perfect Union, a program of the Virginia Interfaith Center, and are aimed at dispelling some of the public's fears toward the Muslim community."


Also known as the "drop your guard" campaign.

[VirginiaMom]

I've not seen any of these signs when I go into Richmond to visit my sons. I daresay if the "Interfaith" center tries to put any up out Powhatan way.....uh, they wouldn't last long.

[Leftism is Mentally Deranged]

"dispelling some of the public's fears toward the Muslim community."
I would have no fear if there hadn't been a 9/11, bombing in Madrid, Paris, London, and all the other murderous acts perpetrated by the wonderful people that this idiotic thing is about.

[Last Laugh]

Actually, I think that pix is a photoshop fun. The article says nothing about "stop" signs and mentions signs that are "beige". Red is not beige.

I thought that was funny that "beige" was mentioned, but the sign was red. I should have known, LOL

BUT

This could be a precursor to arabic signs, a lot like all the Spanish billboards in my area. I'm tolerating the Spanish, but I will be INTOLERANT of arabic signs of any kind and will boycott businesses or organizations that ever put them up.

[Lizavetta]

A More Perfect Union, a program of the Virginia Interfaith Center, and are aimed at dispelling some of the public's fears toward the Muslim community.

Wrong. It's a deliberate effort to train American citizens to keep their mouths shut as Muslim customs, belief, and eventually law infiltrate the United States.......also known as the frog in boiling water scenario.

Now, people, you see what the real goal of the multi-culti obsession was......to train us to shut up and take it when the invasion arrives. Because to object is to be racist and as we've been indoctrinated there's nothing on earth worse than that.

[Stultis]

Are they secret messages from terrorists? one panicked bus rider asked. Should the FBI be contacted? What do they mean?

Actual translation: "Paper or plastic?"

The signs, which below the Arabic script carry English translations and comments that indirectly caution against jumping to conclusions...

Along with the "paper or plastic" sign, there are two others — one which is the Arabic version of the "I'm a little tea pot" rhyme and the other roughly translating to the English equivalent of "rock, paper, scissors." Accompanying the translations at the bottom of the posters are comments such as, "Misunderstanding can make anything scary," and "What did you think it said?"

The old "we're not just superior to you troglodytes, we're also smug about it" approach. Yeah, that'll win over the common folk. (It's almost funny how stupid, and oblivious about their stupidity, the "smarter than us" elites are.)

[P8riot]

How could you tell if you had, with all of the gang graffiti spray painted everywhere? They might make good targets.

[jla]

Haven't seen any, but if I do they'll soon be firewood.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

The Evandhimmical Lutheran Church?

[iceskater]

That sounds about right.

[Flora McDonald]

I wrote it last night:

There are just so many things about this "project" that are stupid, contemptuous, arrogant and just plain wrong. It sounds like a college prank of some sort but no, some uptight religious types got together and plastered signs in Arabic all over the GRTC buses and on a couple of campuses in the Richmond area. They supposedly translate into silly, innocuous words.


(translation: paper scissors rock )
(what they really wanted to say: stupid infidels ride buses)

From an article at DailyPress.com titled New Virginia Program Aims To Dispel Fears Of Muslim Community.

"As people see Arabic, they immediately make an association with terrorism," said the Rev. C. Douglas Smith, executive director of the Virginia Interfaith Center. "That's probably because since Nine-Eleven, not only is fear overwhelming us, but that's how we're being trained to think."

Hellooooo... I may be mad as hell about what terrorists did to my country on 911, but overwhelmed by fear? No, sir. And I don't know who trained Rev. Smith to think, but my coaches were a good Christian momma, Bishop Fulton Sheen and William Wallace. I win.

"The transit company has already fielded several calls from concerned riders, said Gretchen Schoel, executive director of A More Perfect Union. One woman Schoel described as a well-educated university employee placed a frantic call to the bus company's manager, suggesting the FBI be called in to investigate. Even after the signs' English translations were explained to her, she remained concerned that they might contain secret messages, Schoel said."

Ms. Schoel, are you mocking this woman? Frankly, since the reporter doesn't include any direct information from Greater Richmond Transit, I find no reason to believe the incident happened, much less in the manner described. In fact, there doesn't seem to be any follow up with passengers or students. In fact, this reads suspiciously like a *gasp* press release modified to look like journalism! Oh no, that can't be true. Let's just blame it on the way I was trained to think.

"After World War II, when people saw Japanese script it was scary," she said. "But now we see it and it's fun, it's hip, it signifies a cool culture." "That's a huge turnaround."

Good grief. That has got to be a misquote. AFTER World War II, when we had DEFEATED the Japanese up one side and down the other, they were anything but scary to Americans. Our GI's in the rehab years came home with Japanese brides and tons of ceramic geegaws. Nowhere is there a recorded incident of an American freaking out after hanging a bamboo calendar in their kitchen.

Bias toward the Muslim community is a continuing problem across the country and in Virginia, said Imad Damaj, president of the Virginia Muslim Coalition for Public Affairs. "There's so many lazy, unexamined assumptions about all of us and how we react to people," Damaj said. "We need to challenge ourselves."

You lost me on lazy, Damaj. Hint: if you want to change the way people perceive you, do not insult them. You go right ahead and challenge yourself all you want, though. It's still a free country. Hat tip to FreeRepublic.com

[CholeraJoe]

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America now equals Islam.

The faithful in the Wisconsin Synod have known that the ELCAs were demonic for decades.

[Charles H. (The_r0nin)]

Nope. But then, being a productive and employed citizen, I've never been on a GRTC bus, either. The good 'ole GRTC, exporting cultural blight to the suburbs since 1973...

[AmusedBystander]

Good Grief - I need another cup of coffee. I saw the title as reading: Arabic Signs Panic Virgins!

Me too. Then I thought that with all the Arabs being sent to Allah to greet their 72 virgins courtesy of the US military, it didn't seem all that far-fetched.

[Mobile Vulgus]

You are right, it was a photochop used as a graphic for the article.

It was not meant as an example of the actual signs. As the article states, the actual signs are beige and on busses.

[SwampFoxOfVa]

I hope they put them up here in Fredericksburg, we can use the targets.

[R. Scott]

It was on the news last night, but I haven’t seen any down here.

[R. Scott]

"There's so many lazy, unexamined assumptions about all of us and how we react to people," Damaj said. "We need to challenge ourselves."

Yes. They do need to challenge themselves. They need to stand up against the terrorists who are controlling their religion.

[Uriah]

"After World War II, when people saw Japanese script it was scary," she said. "But now we see it and it's fun, it's hip, it signifies a cool culture.

Yes and once we've whipped the radical elements of the islamic faith perhaps we will think the same about those that are left.............probably not

[ballplayer]

Looks like a campaign sign for W

[AMERICAN B]

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IS FOR AMERICANS NOT MUSLIMS LET THOSE RAGGERS STAY IN THE SAND... ENGLISH IS FOR AMERICA NOT THERE WORDS, LETS GO OVER THERE AND PUT UP ENGLISH SIGNS EVERYWHERE...OH THATS RIGHT THEY NEED TO LEARN HOW TO SHOOT 1ST ... BECAUSE OUR MILITARY IS THE GREATEST...LET ONE OF THOSE RAGGERS PRAY NEXT TO ME...