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Anti-ground zero mosque campaign takes to NYC buses
Published: 20 August, 2010, 11:50
Edited: 23 August, 2010, 15:15
US, New York: A part of a tower can be seen after the collapse of the first World Trade Center Tower 11 September, 2001 in New York. (AFP Photo Doug Kanter)
(19.0Mb) embed videoTAGS: Religion, Protest, Human rights, USA
A provocative advertising campaign hitting the streets of NYC draws a line between terrorism and Islam. The PR move is the latest offensive made by critics opposing the development of an Islamic Cultural Center.
Here in the US Media Capital, millions of messages flood the streets. But only one advertisement rolling through the roads of New York City draws a parallel between terrorism and Islam.
The horizontal bus ad shows two images: on the left, a plane crashing into the South Tower on September 11th, 2001, on the right, a rendering of the proposed New York mosque. The text, in bold red letters, reads "Why there?" A double ended arrow connects the phrase "September 11, 2001: WTC Jihad Attack" to "September 11, 2011 Mega mosque."
American Freedom Defense Initiative, a group opposing the development of an Islamic Center and Mosque two blocks away from Ground Zero, is sponsoring the month-long campaign.
According to the Metropolitan Transit Authority, AFDI paid $8,000 to post the ads on 26 buses through the Big Apple.
Some New Yorkers tell RT the ads promote Islamophobia and religious prejudice. "It’s inflammatory." "I think the ad is just ignorant." "I find the ad very offensive," were some of their sentiments.
Those opposing the Islamic Cultural Center, known as Part 51, support the provocative PR move. "I think it’s a great ad and I think it’s an absolute disgrace to build a mosque where three thousand New Yorkers and Americans died," said one individual.
In a country founded on religious freedoms, polls show 63 percent of Americans oppose the development project.
Critics say Muslim-Americans shouldn't worship so close to hallowed ground, calling it insensitive to the memories of 9/11 victims.
However it might be a bit too late.
RT took and exclusive tour inside the 19th Century would-be Mosque building. As it turns out, the location has been serving as a place of worship for the past year.
Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesperson for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, described the campaign against the mosque as a cover for anti-Muslim hatred fueled by a growing hate filled agenda.
A new poll showed that 70% of people oppose the building of the mosque, showing a growth in Islamophobia.
“I’ve never seen it like this. Even after 9/11 there was a reservoir of good will. There were people brining flowers to mosques that were vandalized. But really in the last few months it’s really skyrocketed,” said Hooper.
Hooper argued that the controversy has been manufactured. There should be no problem or controversy, he said. It was created by groups of Islamophobes . The proposed location is already used as a mosque and prayer area.
“We’re now in a situation where it’s a test case for American freedom,” said Hooper.
20.08.2010, 04:13
The rise of new media over the oldThe news media has changed drastically over the past few decades. While newspapers and network television used to dominate the news cycle, these traditional forms of media are fading out. |
21.08.2010, 02:43
1 comment
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Well, that's certainly a tinder box. US has built up over the past decade Islamophobia so they have popular support in their wars, the so called "War on Terror". What is sad is this is just a distraction from important issues facing America, like the economy, health care, taxes, and illegal immigration. All these things the government have severely failed at and now they will get off the hook by planning playing on the nerves of people. If it was already being used for one year, why is it now an issue? Come on people, you already were duped by slogans Yes We Can, Hope, and Change... People are so easily manipulated, it is just sad.
The Mosque at Ground Zero is nothing more than a hallow PR stunt in the hope of fooling the Muslim world. The Mayor of New York-who apparent supports this mosque project- has failed to support the Muslims of New York win a day off during end of the fasting month of Ramadan and other key Muslim religious Holidays. President Obama has done nothing to end Israeli the siege of the second Holiest place for Muslims-Al Aqsa!. In fact, it is cynical gesture based on deceit and PR spins- because at the moment when the U.S us consolidating its grip on Iraq, Afghanistan, the U.S has failed restrain Israel from its seizure of Palestinian land- we have this clever story of the little Mosque at Ground Zero! It is smart PR idea- but it is cynical and it will not win the hearts and minds of many Muslims. Another story back in the media is the claim that 1/3 Americans think that Obama- so Obama and his people now have to deny he is not a Muslim! In doing so- he plays the double game of Islamphobia- by denying it and inciting it. It works in his favor last time- first for the Muslim world to give him the benefit of the doubt and for Americans to vote for him in the hope he will change U.S foreign policy toward the Muslim world. He failed in both account. What the U.S needs is act according to its own laws and professed moral claims and all will be fine again.
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