Islam Ads on Buses

[Cup Lion]

Muslims turn to bus ads in Seattle to create awareness about Islam

 

 

 

The Seattle chapter of the Islamic Circle of North America is sponsoring bus ads to stir conversation and steer people toward information about Islam.

 

 

 

By Janet I. Tu

 

 

 

Seattle Times religion reporter

 

 

 

Local Muslims contributed to the nearly $5,000 campaign to get ads onto the outside of six Metro buses and the inside of about 25.

 

 

 

Local Muslims contributed to the nearly $5,000 campaign to get ads onto the outside of six Metro buses and the inside of about 25.

 

 

 

The ads are simple and stark.

 

 

 

Running on the sides of several Metro buses, they merely say: Q: Islam. A: You deserve to know, with a phone number and Web site.

 

 

 

For Bilal Aijazi, a Bellevue software developer, the ads are meant to stir conversation and steer people toward information on Islam.

 

 

 

As a Muslim, Aijazi sometimes fields questions about his faith. Especially during Ramadan, which began about two weeks ago, people ask Aijazi why Muslims fast during this Islamic holy month.

 

 

 

Then there are the questions he gets other times of the year: Why some women wear head scarves; whether Muslims condone terrorism.

 

 

 

We feel often Muslims dont have a voice, said Aijazi, one of about six people who helped coordinate the local effort to get the ads onto the outside of six Metro buses and the inside of about 25. About 10 local Muslims contributed to the nearly $5,000 campaign.

 

 

 

This is just a way to present the community with a source of information about Islam that comes from Muslims themselves, he said.

 

 

 

The ads, scheduled to run until November, were designed by the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) and direct people to a toll-free number and Web site sponsored by the group. ICNA is a New York-based nonprofit that seeks to educate people about Islam and has 22 U.S. chapters in the U.S.

 

 

 

In addition to Seattle, the New York and Chicago chapters plan to run ads on public transit this year. The bus ads havent stirred controversy in the Seattle area, but in New York, where 1,000 of the ads are scheduled to go up in subways later this month, U.S. Rep. Peter King urged subway officials to not display them.

 

 

 

In a letter to transit officials, the Republican congressman said he doesnt oppose the ads content. But he objects to the campaigns support by Siraj Wahhaj, a Brooklyn-based imam who was a character witness for an Egyptian cleric convicted in 1995 for conspiring to attack New York landmarks.

 

 

 

Wahhaj, who was the first Muslim to lead a prayer before the U.S. House of Representatives, was one of several imams the New York chapter had asked to tape video commentaries posted to YouTube in support of the campaign, said ICNA secretary-general Naeem Baig.

 

 

 

Our goal is to create this awareness about Islam, that Muslims are Americans. That Muslims are your neighbors, your colleagues, Baig said. People may have questions in their minds but dont know where to go.

 

 

 

Marlina Soerakoesoemah, of Redmond, co-founder of Azizah, a magazine for Muslim women, likes the ads and says they make information about Islam more readily accessible.

 

 

 

Its great to get it out there in the public view, she said.

 

 

 

But whether such campaigns have any effect is up for debate.

 

 

 

A 2007 poll from the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life showed that 58 percent of Americans surveyed said they knew little or nothing about Islam a figure thats changed little since 2001.

 

 

 

And Americans attitude toward Muslims and Islam appears to have gotten slightly more negative in recent years. The same Pew poll showed that 43 percent of those surveyed had a favorable opinion of Muslims, down from 48 percent in 2004.

 

 

 

I dont think the ads will change anybodys mind, said Aijazi, the Bellevue software developer. People will have whatever feelings theyll have about the issue. But at least theyll talk about it.

 

 

 

Link

 

Note: Ignore everything previous to the article. I read the article earlier in the day and forgot to write down the site, so I just googled it to find the text. Though, it is quite an interesting title of the site: "News, History, & Analysis of Events Leading to WWIII".

 

 

 

The article pretty much is talking about how Muslims are putting "advertisements" on the sides of buses in order to spark conversation about Islam. I find this is going to be a failed attempt to get people to clarify what Islam is about, even though the advertisements contain a toll free number and a website for information on Islam. Seeing the ads might spark conversation, but people will continue to share eachother's ideas, which most likely will be biased and not the whole truth. I doubt many will actually go to the site or call the number. I don't predict it to be successful at all.

 

 

 

What are your views on this? Is it a good idea? Is the intent worth spending the money for the advertisements?

[Giordano]

In a capitalistic nation such as this, as the owner of the buses I wouldn't give a damn if it worked as long as I got the five grand. :thumbsup:

 

 

 

It's a good start, but I doubt it'll be very successful. It's not like the Arabs can't fork out a few grand after buying a new BMW. :lol:

[jackattack]

It seems like a good idea. As long as it's not a radical organization like cair doing it. I always see this ad...http://www.mathmiracle.com/

[warri0r45]

They have just as much right to as anyone else, really. If it can debunk the notion that all Muslims are terrorists, etc, then I think that can only be a good thing. I doubt it will have a significant effect, though.

[scootlaboot]

In a capitalistic nation such as this, as the owner of the buses I wouldn't give a damn if it worked as long as I got the five grand. :thumbsup:

 

 

 

It's a good start, but I doubt it'll be very successful. It's not like the Arabs can't fork out a few grand after buying a new BMW. :lol:

 

Not to sound like an [wagon], even though I am one, technically The USA has a capitalist mixed economy, but it still rings the same, as long as the bus company gets paid, its all good.

[Lateralus]

I don't have any problem with it. The slogan seems stupid though.

[mrpez]

when muslims pay for advertisements on buses its a big deal. but when christian come to your house to ask you to donate to their religion, its routine.

[Intriguing]

I don't really care. I don't pay much attention to advertising. Not nearly as bad as those bloody door-knockers..

[mmmcannibalism]

actually a really good idea, i should probably do some research on islam come to think of it.

 

 

 

only problem is with the "intelligence" of a lot of americans we will get a lot of people making terrorist jokes and other ignorant observations.

[warren211]

I couldn't care less what the bus ads say. I never listen to them anyway. Go ahead, fork out 5 grand. I'm not sure how many people you will convert, but you won't start an Islamic revolution with bus ads if that's what you're planning.

[BlueLancer]

I couldn't care less what the bus ads say. I never listen to them anyway. Go ahead, fork out 5 grand. I'm not sure how many people you will convert, but you won't start an Islamic revolution with bus ads if that's what you're planning.

 

 

 

Pretty sure no religion can cause a revolution in western countries anymore, general intelligence and critical thinking has gone past that stage (where it wasn't even back in 1940's when a lot of europeans were still farm workers), unless there's some serious food shortage/surge in unemployment in USA/Eu which will cause people to panic and think irrationally, that will never work.

[obfuscator]

it seems to me that they want to give people the oportuntity to find out more information about what they really believe, seeing as there are many misconceptions about Islam. I have no problems with bus ads.

[Mercifull]

I approve of the ads. The more people that realise what a barbaric religion it is the more likely people are to stay well clear of it.

[baalboy5]

I approve of the ads. The more people that realise what a barbaric religion it is the more likely people are to stay well clear of it.

 

K, well that came out of no where.

[Faux]

I approve of the ads. The more people that realise what a barbaric religion it is the more likely people are to stay well clear of it.

 

you are awesome Matt :lol:

[EdgedThesis]

I suggest that everyone tagging a religion as barbaric actually call up those numbers.

[Ginger_Warrior]

I suggest that everyone tagging a religion as barbaric actually call up those numbers.

 

I would concur. That doesn't just apply for Islam either.

[obfuscator]

how is it a barbaric religion? i'd be interested in hearing your assumptions, because im sure your're incredibly well informed.

[MPM]

In a capitalistic nation such as this, as the owner of the buses I wouldn't give a damn if it worked as long as I got the five grand. :thumbsup:

 

I feel the same way, and I think it would be a good idea because it would encourage discussion of the religion, and some ACTUAL research by other people. America has a problem with believing everything the media says, and currently media says that Islam is bad...

 

 

 

Merc, have you ever read through the Quran? In my opinion, it's just as barbaric as the christian bible.

[MicroLegionnaire]

I approve of the ads. The more people that realise what a barbaric religion it is the more likely people are to stay well clear of it.

 

 

 

Barbaric religion? Lol...

 

 

 

Islamic Terrorists : Al-Qaeda (Among others)

 

 

 

Christian Terrorists : Irish Republican Army (IRA), Lord's Resistance Army, Klu Klux Klan

 

 

 

Buddhist (Sort of anyway) Terrorists : Aum Shinrikyo

 

 

 

Hindu Terrorists : Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)

 

 

 

Every single major religion will have a bunch of nutters trying to blow up everyone else. Don't start insulting each others religions. Please. There are as many Christian terrorists groups as there are Islamic ones.

[Barihawk]

The Klan is not religious. They do hate people for religious reasons but they are not a religious group. They basically hate anyone who is not germanic. They actually refuse to endorse most Protestant denominations because those groups publically chastise them for being evil.

 

 

 

Basically being in the Klan is saying "I hate everybody and everything."

[MicroLegionnaire]

The Klan is not religious. They do hate people for religious reasons but they are not a religious group. They basically hate anyone who is not germanic. They actually refuse to endorse most Protestant denominations because those groups publically chastise them for being evil.

 

 

 

Basically being in the Klan is saying "I hate everybody and everything."

 

 

 

I guess I assumed they were Christians because they waved all the crosses and whatnot. But there's no denying that a majority of them are Christians right?

[Mercifull]

I never claimed that islam was more or less barbaric than any other religion, MicroLegionnaire, nor did I associate it with terrorism. The barbaricy in the koran is quite clear and graphic.

 

 

 

2:192 Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful ^_^

 

 

 

edit: I did quote a bunch of my favourite passages from the koran but didnt want to be flamed for taking things out of context so apologies for the short reply.

[Barihawk]

The Klan is not religious. They do hate people for religious reasons but they are not a religious group. They basically hate anyone who is not germanic. They actually refuse to endorse most Protestant denominations because those groups publically chastise them for being evil.

 

 

 

Basically being in the Klan is saying "I hate everybody and everything."

 

 

 

I guess I assumed they were Christians because they waved all the crosses and whatnot. But there's no denying that a majority of them are Christians right?

 

 

 

The cross it not just a symbol of Christianity. They use the cross to represent the ancient crucifix used to kill. Remember that Christ was not the first to die on a cross. The burning cross, if I remember my Birth of a Nation, represents cleansing through death.

 

 

 

Most Klan members are going to be random Protestant (non-practicing) or atheist/agnostic. Or maybe they have their own little personal messed up religion.

 

 

 

Remember that they persecute Catholics and are chastised by most churches.

[BlueLancer]

 

Most Klan members are going to be random Protestant (non-practicing) or atheist/agnostic. Or maybe they have their own little personal messed up religion

 

 

 

Funny you mentioned that.. Heard of neo-pagan religions? Not strangely enough, they seem to be popular with racists, ultra-nationalists, white supremacists etc., doesn't mean Odin is actually a racist and wont let black people or samurais into Valhalla, or that Ares really despises greeks and non-romans... Hatred/ignorance and barbarism have little to do with religion and more with the people behind those ideas.

 

 

 

Hindu Terrorists : Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)

 

 

 

I don't agree at all. LTTE is a legitimate resistance front against obvious oppression of minority ethnic groups in Sri Lanka, giant corruption, robbing of natural resources... If anything, the SL army should be labeled terrorist, it's a national army and tortures civilians/hires mercenaries to do bombings in Tamil areas to force them into submission

 

 

 

But the other ones you mentioned, agree... (though some people would disagree as IRA being viewed as a terrorist organisation)