# Boycott of Arab products and brands **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 30, 2006, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycott-of-arab-products-and-brands/342189 "2006-01-30T09:28:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2006, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycott-of-arab-products-and-brands/342189/81 "2006-02-04T15:09:30Z")
You know, there is a business opportunity here. Franchise an operation throughout the Islam world selling easily-lit “Flags of Countries That Piss You Off.” Buy three flags of lesser Satans, get a flag of the Great Satan free! Matches included. Step 3: Prophet! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![booklyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e57/32.png) [@booklyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/booklyn)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2006, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycott-of-arab-products-and-brands/342189/82 "2006-02-04T16:01:30Z")
> [@kidchameleon](#): > > Do you have a crime involved here? Or just a summary judgement? If upsetting people is a crime, Hollywood execs should be the first to go. Death to the Idolators!!! ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2006, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycott-of-arab-products-and-brands/342189/83 "2006-02-04T17:14:52Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > You know, there is a business opportunity here. Franchise an operation throughout the Islam world selling easily-lit “Flags of Countries That Piss You Off.” > > Buy three flags of lesser Satans, get a flag of the Great Satan free! Matches included. > > Step 3: Prophet! 😃 Actually someone is already doing that. I forget who, but there’s a company that has the market essentially cornered over there. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2006, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycott-of-arab-products-and-brands/342189/84 "2006-02-04T17:39:02Z")
Of course, the Arabic press would never dream of causing offence by publishing vile anti-semitic cartoons that Julius Streicher himself would have been proud of, would they? What’s sauce for the goose … ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2006, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycott-of-arab-products-and-brands/342189/85 "2006-02-04T17:46:52Z")
[Anti-semitic cartoons in the Arab media.](http://www.adl.org/Anti_semitism/arab/cartoon_arab_press_080702.asp) ---
**Author:** ![Polerius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d78d45/32.png) [@Polerius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polerius)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2006, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycott-of-arab-products-and-brands/342189/86 "2006-02-04T19:41:14Z")
> [@booklyn](#): > > Mohamad (pbuh) has a bomb in his turban. What happens if you say “Mohamad” and you don’t say “pbuh”? Do you go to hell, or does your head explode? ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2006, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycott-of-arab-products-and-brands/342189/87 "2006-02-04T19:41:47Z")
> [@CC](#): > > Yes, Cerri, - it’s just the image that’s offensive. No image of Muhammad is allowed. And yet the Suffis have many beautiful paintings and tapastries of Mohammad. I think it may be more of a case of “they can’t do that to our prophet. Only we can do that to our prophet.” ---
**Author:** ![Polerius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d78d45/32.png) [@Polerius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polerius)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2006, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycott-of-arab-products-and-brands/342189/88 "2006-02-04T19:45:36Z")
> [@Walloon](#): > > [Anti-semitic cartoons in the Arab media.](http://www.adl.org/Anti_semitism/arab/cartoon_arab_press_080702.asp) A lot of those cartoons confuse being against Israel’s policies with being anti-semitic. (although I’m sure there are many real cases on anti-semitic cartoons in Arab media) ---
**Author:** ![Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4da419/32.png) [@Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gala_Matrix_Fire)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2006, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycott-of-arab-products-and-brands/342189/89 "2006-02-04T19:54:07Z")
Thanks for posting those cartoons. I disagree that they are anti-semitic, though. Every one of them is clearly targeting Israel’s policies, not Jewish people. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2006, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycott-of-arab-products-and-brands/342189/90 "2006-02-04T19:55:00Z")
An [example](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/4e/Miraj_manuscript.jpg): the Prophet Mohammed on his miraculous night journey from Mecca to Jerusalem, from a 15th-century manuscript. ---
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2006, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycott-of-arab-products-and-brands/342189/91 "2006-02-04T20:10:48Z")
Just so. Sure there are images of Mohammed. :smack: So, then, what’s all the hub-bub, Bub? Now, I’m really confused. Maybe it really is about being pimped - not some rule about visages. Maybe a lot of these guys don’t even know their own rules. It feeds into my theory about why so many Moslems appear to be extremists and fundamentalists: they are not as well educated as members of the other religions. People in those regions of the world are still living tribal lives, or remnants of same. They’ve had virtually no infusion of modern thinking over the years. They’ve lost whatever edge they had when they were Persia. They’re isolated from China and India and Europe. And Israel. And Africa, which has had, in places, contact with the rest of the world. They’re still backward. They’re still calling for death for offenses. Their national games involve dragging a dead goat around. They behead people. They keep women inside black bags. They kill their own daughters for being raped. Their societies are not advanced in many ways, and their people are not very educated by virtue of their isolation. They’re still living ancient ways. Other cultures and religions have allowed themselves the luxury of reason and compromise. Cults and extremists tend to be isolated, or isolate themselves and I think these severed connections cut off access to knowledge. Anyway, ignorance seems to be part of this equation for me. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2006, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycott-of-arab-products-and-brands/342189/92 "2006-02-04T20:37:57Z")
Well now they’re [burning](http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/02/04/syria.cartoon/index.html) shit over the 'toons. Surreal. ---
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2006, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycott-of-arab-products-and-brands/342189/93 "2006-02-04T23:35:39Z")
Did anyone happen to read this most excellent article? [http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/0,1518,398853,00.html](http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/0,1518,398853,00.html) boy, I wish I knew how to turn this into an active link. [URL= [http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/0,1518,398853,00.html](http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/0,1518,398853,00.html) ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2006, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycott-of-arab-products-and-brands/342189/94 "2006-02-05T00:12:36Z")
> [@Wolfian](#): > > :rolleyes: > > I bet I could fine equally stupid and violent talk from the fringes of any group, but don’t let me spoil your little jihad. Have you noticed how far they’re taking it? :rolleyes: , indeed. ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2006, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycott-of-arab-products-and-brands/342189/95 "2006-02-05T00:15:25Z")
From the linked article: > [@CNN](#): > > The building also houses the embassies of Sweden and Chile, neither of which are involved in the dispute. Sweden and Chile are being dragged into it. Actually, I think I’d be more surprised if there weren’t non-participating countries being punished. ---
**Author:** ![Jotun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/46a35a/32.png) [@Jotun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jotun)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2006, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycott-of-arab-products-and-brands/342189/96 "2006-02-05T02:12:36Z")
> [@gum](#): > > "About 500 protesters who gathered in London on Friday carried signs with slogans such as: “Freedom of speech, go to hell” and “Kill, kill Denmark!” > > As they walked through the British capital, they shouted: “What do we want? Jihad! [holy war!] When do we want it? Now!” > > “The only way this will be resolved is if those who are responsible are turned over so they can be punished by Islamic law, so that they can be executed,” Abu Ibraheem, a 26-year-old protester in the British march, told the Associated Press. “There are no apologies … Those responsible would have to be killed.” > I’m so pleased I don’t have to ridicule Islam anymore. > They’re doing a splendid job themselves. See, this is why/how religion will destroy this world. Maybe it’s because I just finished _The End Of Faith_ by Sam Harris, but does this scare the shit out of anyone else besides me? The whole thing is unreasonable. We (are supposed to) live in a society where we (try to at least) tolerate our differences. Can you imagine living in a neighbourhood filled with people (be they Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Muslim, or even Atheist) who acted this way when they were offended by something? Christianity, and Christians have stifled free speech plenty of times. They apply pressure to politicians, boycotts, letter writing campaigns, among other things when a large enough group of them feels offended by something. In contrast, we see how a sickening amount of Muslims deal with being offended. For example, this guy wants executions over a f\*cking political cartoon! I’m sorry if this sounds terribly negative, and I sure hope I didn’t inadvertently offend anyone. I have heard what some of the Muslim girls I work with think of this whole thing. They thought the cartoons were tasteless, but they understood that having free speech means that everyone is bound to be offended at some point. Even before that, I realized that most Muslims are just (as CC put it) trying to raise their families and get by. However, I am still genuinely afraid of the future. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![booklyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e57/32.png) [@booklyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/booklyn)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2006, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycott-of-arab-products-and-brands/342189/97 "2006-02-05T06:46:43Z")
> [@Walloon](#): > > An [example](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/4e/Miraj_manuscript.jpg): the Prophet Mohammed on his miraculous night journey from Mecca to Jerusalem, from a 15th-century manuscript. Thank you for this. Adds a degree of historical perspective, and levity! 😉 **JOTUN** Do not concern yourself with the future, it is in your mind. There is only NOW. This stuff is wack, but not new. The whole set of threads having to do with the cartoons, and freedom of expression, and racism, and religious tolerence are very revealing of the SDMB politics. A good sample or cross section of information system friendly folks who virtually hang. Folks much like the rest of the planet who like most people really like to talk,eat, sleep, have sex, make art, read ,etc. Rather than fight and die. Sometimes one goes to the fight, and some times the fight comes looking. It is polarizing issues like these that bring platitudes out by the raftload. Direct action gets results. “Fear is the mind killer!” ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2006, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycott-of-arab-products-and-brands/342189/98 "2006-02-05T08:56:49Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > But I really don’t see how throwing stones at cars that are legally driving on a public street because they are breaking a religious prohibition that you follow counts as “more or less self-protection”. Nor do I see how that description applies to riot or assault committed in response to plans to legally build a road or legally perform an autopsy. Calling such violent reactions “more or less self-protection” strikes me as a pretty indefensible double standard. Not to excuse the idiots who did this, but I suspect they don’t throw stones at Palestinians who drive on the Sabbath, since that is perfectly legal. Might I point out that in many Islamic countries those who break religious laws face far more serious penalties than rocks from a kookish minority? Egyptian TV had a series on the Protocols of the Elders of Zion, as if it were true, I believe. Yet no one went around burning Egyptian flags or embassies. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2006, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycott-of-arab-products-and-brands/342189/99 "2006-02-05T13:26:16Z")
> [@Polerius](#): > > A lot of those cartoons confuse being against Israel’s policies with being anti-semitic. > (although I’m sure there are many real cases on anti-semitic cartoons in Arab media) It’s not the text of the cartoon that’s anti-semitic, it’s the ways they portray Jews. Say you saw an American cartoon criticizing the Rev. Al Sharpton (a perfectly legitimate target) that portrayed him as an eye-rolling, bulging-lipped [“coon”](http://www.ferris.edu/htmls/news/jimcrow/coon/). Wouldn’t you consider such a drawing racist, regardless of its stated point? ---
**Author:** ![Crandolph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7cd45c/32.png) [@Crandolph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crandolph)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2006, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycott-of-arab-products-and-brands/342189/100 "2006-02-05T14:05:22Z")
I think the fact that Denmark has (an admittedly small) number of troops occupying Iraq is driving some of this too. In fact if they weren’t I think it’s possible no one would’ve noticed the cartoons were published to begin with… in fact I wonder if they’d even exist! Is this the most cordial Pit thread ever?! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycott-of-arab-products-and-brands/342189.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycott-of-arab-products-and-brands/342189.md?page=6)