Lowe’s and the Muslim controversy

In an effort to “build bridges of understanding and respect” in our community and the world, we’d like this page to be a place of reflection, information, and discussion about the issue raised from Lowe’s Home Improvement’s withdrawal of sponsorship for the new TV reality show, All-American Muslim.

We invite you to send responses and comments to us on this topic.

We just learned of a new blog that dialogued beautifully on this topic and would like to share this link from ‘FAITH ON THE FRONT LINE: Producing Stories for a Digital World’ with you (1/12/12):  CLICK HERE.

The following was added to our site December 14, 2011:

Responses from our AIFM Board Members and Friends…

From AIFM Executive Director, Dr. Paul Eppinger:

A bold new TV reality show, All-American Muslim is a marvelous show that follows the daily lives of five Muslim families in Dearborn, MI, which is one of the most established and largest concentration of Muslims in America.  One of the key sponsors of the show was Lowe’s Home Improvement.  But recently, the conservative Florida Family Association organized an email campaign aimed at Lowe’s to urge it to drop its support of the show.  They said the show is “propaganda that riskily hides the Islamic agenda’s clear and present danger to American liberties and traditional values.”  Unfortunately, Lowe’s succumbed to the pressure.  Though they have since apologized, this is another example of anti-Muslim rhetoric and attitudes.

In our tiny globalized world where instant communication and rapid travel have formed us, not just into a global village, but rather a global family, we must learn how to understand and care for one another.  Religious bigotry has had its day and it cannot be allowed to teach tatred and animosity against any group.  The ARIZONA INTERFAITH MOVEMENT was established and is seeking to counter all religious ignorance and misunderstanding.  Our trhree supportive principles are understanding, respect, and support.  Whever a Synagogude has swastikas painted on its doors, when a Mosque is defaced, when a Church is burned, when the Hari Krishna Temple has graffiti spray painted all over its walls, the ARIZONA INTERFAITH MOVEMENT is there to give compassion and support.

Religious bigotry and hatred, either locally or nationally from mega corporations cannot be allowed to belch out animosity and lies.  This is America.  We are “one nation under God,” whichever way a person or group chooses to worship and serve God.

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From Anne Taylor, Christian Science Board Member / AIFM Business Mgr.:

I’m glad for Lowe’s apology about this – it is never good to generalize and assume that all people of a particular faith are alike (i.e. terrorists, extremists).  I am a devoted Christian, but when I listen to my Muslim friends share insights about Islam, I feel a kinship with then in viewing a LOVING God who cares for all His children. Arizona Interfaith Movement has helpful educational programs to help clear up these kinds of misconceptions so they don’t turn into something like what just happened with Lowe’s. There are Muslims trying hard to speak up for what is genuinely true about their faith – I hope they will be heard.

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From Azra Hussain, President and Co-Founder, Islamic Speakers Bureau of Arizona (ISBA)

Recently, Lowe’s, the home improvement store, faced opposition from a well-organized campaign put together by special interest groups and buckled under pressure to pull its advertising and sponsorship of a television program on a TLC show, “All American Muslim”. In response to this move, several organizations and communities have publicly condemned the campaign and the actions of Lowe’s, an American business.
Among these are State Sen. Ted Lieu (D-California) who according to an LA Times article “wrote a letter Saturday to Lowe’s Chief Executive Officer Robert A. Niblock in which he called the decision to pull advertising from the show ‘bigoted, shameful, and un-American’ and ‘profoundly ignorant.’ He demanded that the company rescind its action and apologize or face boycotts and legislative action.”

If you feel that the campaign against mainstream inclusion for Muslims in America forged by these special interest groups is an egregious affront to American ideals and values, I encourage you to join with me and consider the following:
1. Learn more about this issue and the general issue of Islamophobia. See: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/allamericanmuslim/
2. Sign this petition: http://signon.org/sign/defend-our-american-values (if the petition gets 10,000 signatures, Moveon.org will adopt it and push it out to millions of others)
3. Share this note with others in your organization, congregation, or community.
4. Consider addressing this issue in your congregational service or newsletter.
We cannot remain silent in the face the on-going demonization and marginalization of an entire community.

Thank you for all that you do to promote, understanding, respect and peaceful coexistence.

Sincerely,

Azra Hussain, President and Co-Founder
Islamic Speakers Bureau of Arizona (ISBA)

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Another perspective from Dr. Zuhdi Jasser, American Islam for Democracy (AIFD) President

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCWfo-6wno0&list=UUo38RfzUWX1HI0tkVTna5cg&index=1&feature=plcp