'No Muslim parking' signs spark outrage

[cbayer]

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/08/09/no-muslim-parking-signs-spark-outrage/

August 9th, 2013
02:00 PM ET

From CNN affiliate KPRC

Houston - New signs posted outside a mosque in Spring Branch, Texas, have sparked outrage from Muslims nationwide.

In black letters, the signs reads, "No Muslim parking in the Westview Shopping Center. Your car will be towed."

The posters lined the street near the El Farouq Mosque, where Muslims heading to worship services said they were were offended.

"I feel sorry for the person who wrote it," Ahmed Hassan told CNN affiliate KPRC. "This is what comes to mind because obviously he has a lot of hate."

more at link

[msongs]

1. christian churches post similar signs, usually using language like "church parking only". the

sign in question ought to have said "parking only while using the mall", which would be non-discriminatory unless of course the intention was to be bigoted

[Drale]

2. Or No Mosque Parking

The park across the street from the local Catholic Church as signs that say No Church Parking so No Mosque Parking should be fine, unless there is not really a problem with the people from the Mosque parking in the lot and the owner is just a racist POS who hates Muslims

[cbayer]

5. Right. It's the wording that is creating the outrage.

So, if I'm Muslim and I want to shop at your stores, I can't park there?

Blinded by bigotry, I say.

[Igel]

7. But that's not the clear intent.

It's what somebody who wants to find a reason to be outraged wants the clear intent to be.

Should have said "No Mosque Parking." Easy solution: Go to the manager of the mall and point out that he probably didn't mean to give offense, but that would tell the mosque attendees that they are specifically never to use the mall parking lot, even Saturday afternoon when shopping there. Suggest better language for the sign: "No Mosque Parking."

Which would have made it precisely in line with "No School Parking" across from a high school, "No Church Parking" at the BBQ place next to a Methodist Church I pass fairly often, "No Daycare Parking" at the nail place next to where our kid gets dropped off.


I know that the whole "good will" and "social trust" thing is so, well, 1930s and hopeless outdated and anti-everything-we-believe-in. But you know, sometimes it does cut down on animosity, tension, and lets both sides stop hating (although that doesn't mean that one side's virulent hatred isn't just the purest expression of deep and abiding progressivism and empathy founded in a sense of love and compassion for one's fellow human being).

Made a mistake probably rooted in lack of knowledge, I'd say.

[cbayer]

8. Can't disagree with what you are saying here and

I think that is what actually happened.

It may have been rooted in the lack of knowledge, but discriminatory acts and language often are.

Perhaps those responsible actually learned something here

[ZombieHorde]

3. Exactly.

There is a difference between "Customers Only" and "No Parking, Demographic X."

[Tien1985]

4. I think

"Customers Only" would have been perfectly reasonable. But I don't think the poster was trying to be reasonable at all.

You'd have to a) be a complete idiot b) have lived on Mars for the last 40 years not to realize that sign would provoke a negative response.

[okasha]

6. +1

Exactly.

[LostOne4Ever]

9. Oh God....

Why did I read the comments section.


Sooo much islamophobia, hate and ignorance....

Someone hold me...

[cbayer]

10. I haven't read them

Thanks for the warning! Think I will skip them.

[gopiscrap]

11. WTF what a douchebag