Washington, DC, December 7, 2005--The Coalition for a Secure Driver's License is launching a new billboard campaign in New Mexico and North Carolina, which contains extremely negative and racist images of Arabs and Arab cultural symbols.
The billboards unfairly conflate the question of immigration and national security, and further enflame fears about Arabs and Arab Americans. In doing so, the Coalition for a Secure Driver's license misleadingly utilizes false stereotypes and racist rhetoric to push an anti-immigration agenda.
The ad depicts an individual whose face is covered by a Kufiya (the traditional male headdress in some Arab countries,) carrying a hand-gernade with what appears to be a blood smear and a driver's license. The billboard also features nonsensical Arabic letters that were simply lined up without forming any words. Additionally, there are two figures in the background wearing military fatigues, black masks, and green bandanas on their heads with what appear to be Arabic words. Superimposed on the images is a caption that reads "Don't License Terrorists, North Carolina!" To view the billboard visit http://www.securelicense.org/site/PageS ... rdCampaign
The fear is that the imagery, which very blatantly depicts a stereotypical Arab man as a threat to national security, will insight further mistrust towards Arab Americans and Arabs. While the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) values fair and honest political debate, this billboard unfairly portrays Arabs and Arab cultural symbols as dangerous. The advertisement transgresses the boundaries of political discussion and instead relies on stereotypes and hatemongering to support its views.
ADC understands that billboard companies do not want to infringe on the first amendment rights of its advertisers. However, hate speech and images that perpetuate racism and false stereotypes are unlawful and should not be tolerated. Billboard companies also have a responsibility to their costumers not to display ads that are racially offensive, and which contribute to the worsening problem of racism and prejudice towards any ethnic group or minority, including Arabs, Muslims, South Asians, and those perceived to be.
It is worth nothing that the Coalition for a Secure Driver's License has a history of negative ad campaigns and racial profiling. In the past, ADC has objected to a television ad, which seemingly depicted a stereotypical Middle Eastern man as a threat to national security. To view the ADC Action Alert for this ad visit http://www.adc.org/index.php?id=2461
ACTION REQUESTED:
ADC urges you to contact the Coalition for a Secure Driver's License, North Carolina Governor Michael F. Easley, and New Mexico Governors Bill Richardson to express your dismay at the contents of the billboard, as well as past ad campaigns. For your convenience, ADC has prepared a letter that you may choose to send by visiting http://capwiz.com/adc/issues/alert/?ale ... 26&type=CU
You may get in touch with the Coalition for a Secure Driver's License directly at:
1920 L Street, NW, Suite 210 Washington D.C. 20036
_________________ "Though some may think there should be a separation between art/music and politics, it should be reinforced that art can be a form of nonviolent protest." - e.v.
Joined: Thu Dec 16, 2004 1:54 am Posts: 7189 Location: CA
Umm... I'm sorry but what other ethnic group do people think of when they think terrorists? I don't think that these billboards imply that every Arab that wishes to enter the US is a terrorist, but rather that there are terrorists who wish to enter the US. Last time I checked it wasn't Canadians or Chinese who have large well financed terrorists groups whos spoken purpose is to kill Americans. So we should do our best to not acurately depict those who wish to kill us because we might offend some people? Or would you be happier if they put a picture ofTimothy McVeigh next to one of the 9/11 hijackers?
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 1:14 am Posts: 37778 Location: OmaGOD!!! Gender: Male
simple schoolboy wrote:
Umm... I'm sorry but what other ethnic group do people think of when they think terrorists? I don't think that these billboards imply that every Arab that wishes to enter the US is a terrorist, but rather that there are terrorists who wish to enter the US. Last time I checked it wasn't Canadians or Chinese who have large well financed terrorists groups whos spoken purpose is to kill Americans. So we should do our best to not acurately depict those who wish to kill us because we might offend some people? Or would you be happier if they put a picture ofTimothy McVeigh next to one of the 9/11 hijackers?
And this driver's license thing will help how exactly?
_________________ Unfortunately, at the Dawning of the Age of Aquarius, the Flower Children jerked off and went back to sleep.
Joined: Sat Oct 16, 2004 11:04 pm Posts: 39920 Gender: Male
Yeah, when exactly did it become ok to target Muslims as the only potential terrorists? Just because they happen to be the people doing it the most now doesn't mean they're the only one capable of it. 15 years ago it was probably the Irish or something. Please to be stopping the profiling of the brown skinned peoples.
The advertisement transgresses the boundaries of political discussion and instead relies on stereotypes and hatemongering to support its views. - B
Now that was funny. Since when are billboards places for political discussion?
Now we have to have politically correct billboards eh? Put a few other races up and it'll suddenly be okay?
No offense, but I think most American-Arabs wouldn't have a problem with the concept of it. I think they'd be offended by the wrong arabic letters, but most Arab American's are against terrorists, and I'm pretty sure that most Arab American's would support secure driver's license's. This would be like assuming Mexican immigrants are all about loosening immigration restrictions to Hispanic people. That's just flat wrong.
That entire article is a joke to me. Equate the bible to porn? That's cool, and an expression of freedom of speech. Have a billboard that exposes the simple fact that our main national security threat now comes from middle aged Arab males that typically dress in standard male Islamic garb (go figure) , and it's hatemongering, racial profiling, hate speech, an image that perpetuates racism, and false stereotypes.
I still don't get it. How's that perpetuating racism and hate speech. You say some Arab males are terrorists and suddenly you're a racist? Come on.
Quote:
ADC urges you to contact the Coalition for a Secure Driver's License, North Carolina Governor Michael F. Easley, and New Mexico Governors Bill Richardson to express your dismay at the contents of the billboard, as well as past ad campaigns.
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 2:46 am Posts: 12953 Gender: Male
Isn't that just plain stupid ?
You can't deny that it's pure ignorant racist crap, come on...And the point of it is unclear, it's just really really dum.
Isn't that just plain stupid ? You can't deny that it's pure ignorant racist crap, come on...And the point of it is unclear, it's just really really dum.
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 7:22 pm Posts: 4715 Location: going to marrakesh
simple schoolboy wrote:
Or would you be happier if they put a picture ofTimothy McVeigh next to one of the 9/11 hijackers?
actually, this wouldn't be a bad idea. since the oklahoma city bombings, 60 radical right-wing terror plots have been foiled. it's been ten years since okc, which comes out to six terrorist threats per year. you can read that article here if you don't believe me: http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/artic ... natsec.htm
the white house says in a news release that they've foiled ten al-qaida terrorist attacks since september 11th. however, only three of those have been within the united states. this comes out to about an attack a year. the press release is here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases ... 006-7.html
it would appear that the more imminent threat for a terrorist attack comes not from outside our borders and muslim extremists, but from within our borders and right-wing radicals. i guess they should start making billboards with skinheads and kkk members on them, too.
[/url]
_________________ and our love is a monster, plain and simple though you weight it down with stones to try to drown it it floats it floats
Joined: Sat Oct 16, 2004 11:38 pm Posts: 4412 Location: red mosquito
lemoncoatedafterworld wrote:
simple schoolboy wrote:
Or would you be happier if they put a picture ofTimothy McVeigh next to one of the 9/11 hijackers?
actually, this wouldn't be a bad idea. since the oklahoma city bombings, 60 radical right-wing terror plots have been foiled. it's been ten years since okc, which comes out to six terrorist threats per year. you can read that article here if you don't believe me: http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/artic ... natsec.htm
the white house says in a news release that they've foiled ten al-qaida terrorist attacks since september 11th. however, only three of those have been within the united states. this comes out to about an attack a year. the press release is here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases ... 006-7.html
it would appear that the more imminent threat for a terrorist attack comes not from outside our borders and muslim extremists, but from within our borders and right-wing radicals. i guess they should start making billboards with skinheads and kkk members on them, too.
Joined: Thu Dec 16, 2004 1:54 am Posts: 7189 Location: CA
lemoncoatedafterworld wrote:
simple schoolboy wrote:
Or would you be happier if they put a picture ofTimothy McVeigh next to one of the 9/11 hijackers?
actually, this wouldn't be a bad idea. since the oklahoma city bombings, 60 radical right-wing terror plots have been foiled. it's been ten years since okc, which comes out to six terrorist threats per year. you can read that article here if you don't believe me: http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/artic ... natsec.htm
the white house says in a news release that they've foiled ten al-qaida terrorist attacks since september 11th. however, only three of those have been within the united states. this comes out to about an attack a year. the press release is here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases ... 006-7.html
it would appear that the more imminent threat for a terrorist attack comes not from outside our borders and muslim extremists, but from within our borders and right-wing radicals. i guess they should start making billboards with skinheads and kkk members on them, too.
[/url]
I get that, but lets face it - most of the time the skinheads don't have the smarts to pull it off. Which is a good thing for the rest of us.
Or would you be happier if they put a picture ofTimothy McVeigh next to one of the 9/11 hijackers?
actually, this wouldn't be a bad idea. since the oklahoma city bombings, 60 radical right-wing terror plots have been foiled. it's been ten years since okc, which comes out to six terrorist threats per year. you can read that article here if you don't believe me: http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/artic ... natsec.htm
the white house says in a news release that they've foiled ten al-qaida terrorist attacks since september 11th. however, only three of those have been within the united states. this comes out to about an attack a year. the press release is here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases ... 006-7.html
it would appear that the more imminent threat for a terrorist attack comes not from outside our borders and muslim extremists, but from within our borders and right-wing radicals. i guess they should start making billboards with skinheads and kkk members on them, too.
[/url]
I get that, but lets face it - most of the time the skinheads don't have the smarts to pull it off. Which is a good thing for the rest of us.
...and most of the time Islamic extremists aren't able to pull it off, either.
_________________
Quote:
The content of the video in this situation is irrelevant to the issue.
Or would you be happier if they put a picture ofTimothy McVeigh next to one of the 9/11 hijackers?
actually, this wouldn't be a bad idea. since the oklahoma city bombings, 60 radical right-wing terror plots have been foiled. it's been ten years since okc, which comes out to six terrorist threats per year. you can read that article here if you don't believe me: http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/artic ... natsec.htm
the white house says in a news release that they've foiled ten al-qaida terrorist attacks since september 11th. however, only three of those have been within the united states. this comes out to about an attack a year. the press release is here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases ... 006-7.html
it would appear that the more imminent threat for a terrorist attack comes not from outside our borders and muslim extremists, but from within our borders and right-wing radicals. i guess they should start making billboards with skinheads and kkk members on them, too.
[/url]
I get that, but lets face it - most of the time the skinheads don't have the smarts to pull it off. Which is a good thing for the rest of us.
Go take a look at the message board at stormfront.org to get a feel for how "stupid" skinheads are. I went there once to laugh at it - and then I found out that the board had pretty much the same dynamics as here. There were the dumb ones, of course, but many of them were, like the occasional kid that you see on the news who goes to the Middle East to become a terrorst, genuinely intelligent people who are seriously misguided (or have chosen to be) for some reason or another.
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 1:14 am Posts: 37778 Location: OmaGOD!!! Gender: Male
lemoncoatedafterworld wrote:
simple schoolboy wrote:
Or would you be happier if they put a picture ofTimothy McVeigh next to one of the 9/11 hijackers?
actually, this wouldn't be a bad idea. since the oklahoma city bombings, 60 radical right-wing terror plots have been foiled. it's been ten years since okc, which comes out to six terrorist threats per year. you can read that article here if you don't believe me: http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/artic ... natsec.htm
the white house says in a news release that they've foiled ten al-qaida terrorist attacks since september 11th. however, only three of those have been within the united states. this comes out to about an attack a year. the press release is here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases ... 006-7.html
it would appear that the more imminent threat for a terrorist attack comes not from outside our borders and muslim extremists, but from within our borders and right-wing radicals. i guess they should start making billboards with skinheads and kkk members on them, too.
[/url]
Yes, but right wing radicals can get a driver's license legally, even though most of them don't want one.
Wipe up THAT dripping irony.
_________________ Unfortunately, at the Dawning of the Age of Aquarius, the Flower Children jerked off and went back to sleep.
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 7:19 pm Posts: 39068 Location: Chapel Hill, NC, USA Gender: Male
The funny thing is, look where they're placing the billboards. They're putting them in states trying to make it easier for Hispanics to get licenses/services. They're using the myth that Arabs are getting illegal licenses to scare people out of closing a gap in services to the Hispanic immigrant population, who are rarely, if ever, plotting major terrorist attacks.
_________________ "Though some may think there should be a separation between art/music and politics, it should be reinforced that art can be a form of nonviolent protest." - e.v.
The funny thing is, look where they're placing the billboards. They're putting them in states trying to make it easier for Hispanics to get licenses/services. They're using the myth that Arabs are getting illegal licenses to scare people out of closing a gap in services to the Hispanic immigrant population, who are rarely, if ever, plotting major terrorist attacks.
Joined: Thu Dec 16, 2004 1:54 am Posts: 7189 Location: CA
B wrote:
The funny thing is, look where they're placing the billboards. They're putting them in states trying to make it easier for Hispanics to get licenses/services. They're using the myth that Arabs are getting illegal licenses to scare people out of closing a gap in services to the Hispanic immigrant population, who are rarely, if ever, plotting major terrorist attacks.
Large numbers of them are plotting terrorist attacks on my gastrointestinal tract. This is a proven fact.
The funny thing is, look where they're placing the billboards. They're putting them in states trying to make it easier for Hispanics to get licenses/services. They're using the myth that Arabs are getting illegal licenses to scare people out of closing a gap in services to the Hispanic immigrant population, who are rarely, if ever, plotting major terrorist attacks.
A top 50 al qaeda fugitve was caught last month living 20 miles across the mexico-texas border. I also bet most of us would have trouble distinguishing many arabs and hispanics. Alas, that sad fact is way off topic.
The point is this. Illegal immigrants are illegal immigrants. They steal services our nation has put in place to help the poor citizens and legal immigrants. Build the fence and pitch them all back over. We should honor our legal immigrants, those who worked hard and scrounged and saved to come here.... not fucked them over because someone else was more conviently located.
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 1:14 am Posts: 37778 Location: OmaGOD!!! Gender: Male
broken_iris wrote:
B wrote:
The funny thing is, look where they're placing the billboards. They're putting them in states trying to make it easier for Hispanics to get licenses/services. They're using the myth that Arabs are getting illegal licenses to scare people out of closing a gap in services to the Hispanic immigrant population, who are rarely, if ever, plotting major terrorist attacks.
A top 50 al qaeda fugitve was caught last month living 20 miles across the mexico-texas border. I also bet most of us would have trouble distinguishing many arabs and hispanics. Alas, that sad fact is way off topic.
The point is this. Illegal immigrants are illegal immigrants. They steal services our nation has put in place to help the poor citizens and legal immigrants. Build the fence and pitch them all back over. We should honor our legal immigrants, those who worked hard and scrounged and saved to come here.... not fucked them over because someone else was more conviently located.
I can't say I disagree with this, but denying illegal immigrants driver's licenses does nothing more than to put more unlicensed, and uninsured drivers on our roads. If they came here without papers, what makes you think they won't drive without papers?
_________________ Unfortunately, at the Dawning of the Age of Aquarius, the Flower Children jerked off and went back to sleep.
He could have gone through every security check without any problems anywhere in the world if only the arabs are targeted. By targeting a specific group, terrorists will find other ethnic group to commit their crimes. I sure they can find a lot of extremist african muslims.
I don't know how to resolve this but I'm sure that ethnic targeting is not the answer.
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Now that was funny. Since when are billboards places for political discussion?
